The return of Tri-lengua readings in Barcelona

Tri-lengua event on Sunday, March 18th, at 6:30 - 8pm at the aDa gallery (C/del Salvador, 8). The featured writers this month will be:

Georgina Tremayne (prose, English)
Kate Kirkpatrick (poetry, English)
Celia Espona Pernas (prose, Spanish, ie. Castellano)
Jessica Rainey ( poetry, English)
Valerie Collins (prose, English)

and music by: Beth Trollan

“Holy” shit

An imam in the Catalan city of Terrassa has allegedly been encouraging his followers to beat unruly women and inflict violence on females who do not follow their husband’s orders or strict Islamic law, the local police said in a statement on Tuesday.

In his sermons, the imam, Abdeslam Laaroussi, a Moroccan, would offer examples on “how to beat” women and isolate them, and discourage men from having sexual relations with them. According to police, Laaroussi told his followers that it was best to punch women or use a stick on different parts of their bodies without breaking their bones or making them bleed.

The Catalan police force, subpoenaed the man to give a statement, after complaints were filed that he was trying to foment gender violence.

While he refused to give a statement, he was charged after investigators found his speeches and sermons contained elements that promote discrimination.

Source: here.

Migrant health in Spain and Europe

Last week I was invited to a public forum called “Health and Migration: perspectives from Asia and Europe.”

This event was organized by the Asia-Europe Foundation and Casa Asia and was also sponsored by the Japanese government. I couldn’t get there but I was encouraged that such an organization exists at all.

It’s a well-established fact that, in general, migrants suffer health problems relatively more than those who have established roots in their own region.

Public attention on this issue is a genuine development in understanding how migrants live and why their health is a crucial issue for any country who relies on them [us!] for various kinds of labour.

The "hole-fillers:" Spain's millions of temporary workers

A shocking picture of this country's rapidly increasing numbers of "temps" by J. Sérvulo Gonzalez [in English.]

I call them "hole-fillers" because in the past I have been one myself in my own teaching life. As a disregarded, menial part-timer who is just plugging a hole in a timetable gap.

[Photo by Javier at sic]

General strike called for March 29

Ignacio Fernández Toxo, Secretary of the 1.1 million member CCOO Trade Union today announced a nation-wide General Strike to be held on March 29 [M-29] this year.




Under the slogans "No to labour reform, defend public services" and "They want to finish off everyone's labor and social rights" the union is arguing that the Spanish government's response to the current economic crisis across Europe is too harsh on working people and is doing nothing for the unemployed either.

"Eurovegas" gambles on over-coming local protest

Catalan President Artur Mas has said it will make this country “a leader of tourism in Europe” but the so-called Eurovegas casino project is meeting with plenty of objection from residents in the Viladecans and Gavà area around Barcelona’s El Prat airport.



In fact, the governments of both Madrid and here in Catalunya are competing for the patronage of North American business magnate Sheldon Adelson who has schemes for a 12 hotel, 36,000 bed site complete with 6 megacasinos and 3 golf courses.

Free land and exemptions from legal restrictions are said to be part of the deals being offered to Mr Adelson.

Protected birds and fauna in the coastal marshland area next to the aurport are believed to be under threat and an on-line petion against this and the other disadvantages of the proposals is being launched.

Less help for Spanish Civil War victims' families

Yesterday, the new PP Prime Minister Rajoy closed the office of “attention to victims of the Civil war and the dictatorship.”

This action, taken as part of a reorganization of the Ministry of Justice by the Spanish Government, gets rid of the public body which was created in 2009 by the Socialist government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. Its aim had been to provide advice to victims of the Franco regime, on issues such as the mass graves.

Now, the functions of this former office will supposedly be “diluted” into another pre-existing section of the Justice department.

JOAN RUSIÑOL’S article for ara.cat here.