“WE.”

A video protest statement by 15Mbcn

75th anniversary of the bombing of Guernica

"Last Thursday marked the 75th anniversary of the bombing of the Spanish town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War. The bombing was carried out by Nazi Germany’s Luftwaffe at the behest of general Francisco Franco. It is regarded as one of history’s first air raids on a defenceless civilian population. Guernica was far from a military target; it was a town of 5,000 civilians, attacked on market day, when the number of casualties would be highest. Franco hoped the attack would break the morale of his enemies, the Republicans. For Adolf Hitler, the bombing was a chance to test the capabilities of his Luftwaffe."

In cold irons bound

"Communist leaders, union leaders, monarchists and activists made up a significant amount of the clientele at Carabanchel Prison. Opening up for business in 1944, Carabanchel was one of the biggest prisons in Europe and was very busy during the Franco era.



Following the panopticon design created by Jeremy Bentham in the late 1800s, Carabanchel was inescapable, and the political prisoners kept there knew it all too well, as they were the ones who built it. Notoriously brutal, the prison began housing your run-of-the-mill criminals, social deviants, and terrorists after General Franco's regime ended in 1975, and closed its gargantuan doors for good in 1998."

For more text, and extraordinary videos and photos click here at Atlas Obscura.

Our sickness = Their profits

"Privatisation." When the government sells off public services into the hands of private companies whose greatest interest is making money from "customers" who have the bad luck to be ill.

At a hospital in Olot in Catalunya, "private activity" was recently agreed to by the hospital authorities, undoubtedly because of budget cuts by the Mas government.

A letter of protest against the certain "changes" to the quality of care has been sent by the Dempeus per la salut pública collective.

Atheist groups suspend [planned] Easter procession in Madrid

"A second attempt in as many years by atheist associations to hold a march on Maundy Thursday has been quashed by the central government delegation in Madrid, a decision that was backed by the regional High Court.

Luis Vega, of the Madrid Association of Atheists and Freethinkers (AMAL), said it had been decided to postpone the march until the end of the month. Last year the protest was held in May, without incident.

The five organizations also based their decision on the “aggressive and anti-secular” words of police chief Ignacio Cosidó, who described Holy Week as a “dam against lay currents.”

AMAL also stated that the ruling spoke of “provocative groups.”

“These are veiled threats because the police, who should protect us from such individuals, seem to be telling us that we will suffer the consequences if we hold our march when we are peaceful people with old people and children in attendance.”"

Marta Fernández Maeso in El País.

A Polish view on Spain’s difficulties

"It is hard to see how the stifling austerity measures are going to get the Spanish economy out of recession and decrease unemployment. What is certain is that even if the EU manages to save Greece from bankruptcy-- something which most economists agree is at best doubtful-- in the case of a similar crisis involving Spain there will not be enough money for a bailout."

Text of article by Krzysztof Kęciek from 'Przegłąd' magazine.

Translated by blogger Czarny Kot, a former Spanish resident.

Read more here.

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This article makes some pretty valid points. The use of computers is a bit behind the times...though that is now changing. Mentalities are more often the problem but it is the old fashioned nature of this country that can sometimes be its best points.

The only point I would dispute in this article relates to the claim that "the [construction] boom was fuelled by mortgages." This is only partly true because it does not acknowledge the pushing up of land/property prices by those who bought up big time despite living outside Spain.

Equally, the author does not mention share prices and other financial market speculation as a major factor in overheating the economy. His suggestion that the protestors have largely stopped protesting is also incorrect.

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.

Remembering Walter Benjamin

"Stairs leading down a narrow passageway to the churning ocean waves are suddenly blocked by a pane of glass. Etched in German are the words: "It is more arduous to honor the memory of anonymous beings than that of the renowned. The construction of history is consecrated to the memory of the nameless."


Taken from Walter Benjamin’s On the Concept of History, the memorial honors the German Jewish philosopher in the town where he spent the last hours of his life...

Created by Israeli artist Dani Karavanhe, the memorial to Walter Benjamin is on a clifftop by Portbou’s municipal cemetery. It was named "Passages" in remembrance of Benjamin’s final passage from France to Spain, as well as his enormous unfinished work Passagenwerk (Arcades Project) on 19th-century Paris..."

Source here.

"Made in Catalonia" film festival: Melbourne, Australia.

Melbourne’s fourth 'Made in Catalonia' Film Festival (MiCFF) will be screened at Cinema Nova, Melbourne [an old home town of mine.] Over the first weekend in March. Organised by the Cultural Catalan Centre of Victoria, the Festival's aim is to promote the lively film culture of Catalonia.

Read more here.

The man with a wooden heart

This week marked the completion of a detailed record of the oldest and most outstanding trees in Catalunya’s Alt Penedès region [our home for the last 6 years.]

Manel Córdoba from Vilafranca del Penedès has now compiled this guide of more than 800 examples of nature’s treasures, a feat that took 10 years of rambling through the area’s forests.

Córdoba discovered a significant number of extraordinary trees, many of them seemingly unknown and previously undocumented. These include several huge olive trees, four of them being dated at over 2,000 years of age and a 7 metre high great oak near Font Rubi.

In 1999 Cordoba published a complete guide to the natural spring water “fountains” of the region but his current work has yet to find a home. He has also compiled lists and photographs of the waterfalls, lakes and dry stone huts of this part of the country.

[Photo above from an article in La Fura. Text translated from Catalan by Hugo and Brett Hetherington.]

Catalunya protests labour law "reform"

Tommorrow (this Sunday) February 19, two of Catalunya’s trade unions, the CCOO and the UGT have arranged a number of demonstrations across the region to protest against planned reform to the country’s labour laws. These changes would see a further weakening of pay and conditions for millions of working people.

Under the slogan, "No to labour reform! Injustice to workers! Inefficient for the economy…” the protests will take place in…

- Barcelona: 12 midday at Passeig de Gràcia - Avinguda Diagonal
- Tarragona: 12 midday at l'Estàtua dels Despullats (Rambla Nova)
- Lleida: 12 midday at la Plaça Ricard Viñes
- Girona: 12 midday at Plaça de la Independència
- Tortosa, 12 midday at la Plaça del Carrilet

For more details see the link to their blog here.

2nd Annual Festival/Congress of Organic and Ethical Food

Today and tomorrow in Barcelona the 2nd Annual Festival/Congress of Organic and Ethical Food is taking place.

For details [in Castillian Spanish] click here.

The Grandparents Who Protest: the "Iaioflautas"

An inspiring group of older individuals who are proving the point that legitimate social protest in this country is not just limited to youth movements.




“They call themselves “the children” of 15M despite the fact that the majority of them far exceed the age of 60, they are retired, they are “iaios” (grandparents, in Catalan) and they are veterans of long-term activism.

Celestino Sánchez [pictured above], Antonia Jover, Adrián Rísquez, and Rosario Cunillera are some of the members of the the “Iaioflautas,” a collective that emerged in Barcelona last October alongside the camping grounds in Plaza Catalunya. Its objective is to support the youth in their own way. But the fight, they assert, is the same: “for a dignified democracy by name and social justice against conspiratorial bankers and politicians.”

The “iaioflautas,” whose name was invented in solidarity with the “perroflautas” (gutter punks) — a derrogatory term with which the president of Madrid used to refer to the young occupiers — combine some of the methods they used in the anti-Franco, labor union, local or leftist fights with their learning about new technologies.

To summarize, they organize a “direct action” in the street once a month, almost in secret, and do not announce it on their Twitter account, @iaioflautas, or blog until it has already begun. That way, they avoid problems with the police.

The first event took place in November, when they occupied a Santander Bank office in Barcelona. The most recent one, called “Operation #RebelionBus,” occurred on Wednesday, February 1. Some 70 “yayos” (grandparents) arranged to meet in the very center of the Catalan capital and “hijacked” a bus in protest of the abusive increase in public transportation fares.”

More text, pictures and video from Lali Sandiumenge’s excellent, in-depth Global Voices online article [translated by Marianna Breytman] can be read here.

A map of health cuts in Catalunya

Protest group Indignadas x los recortes en Sanidad has produced a comprehensive map of the cuts to health services across the region.

It makes for disturbing viewing.