Today, I’m on strike. As are various media organisations, making it difficult to stay up to date with developments around the country.
Here’s a crowdmap made by Graeme (South of Watford)
And here’s a widget from El País with up to date info.
Category Archives: Politics
The bou embolat and Catalonia’s bastard politicians
Last week, Catalonia’s political parties sent their latest signal in their campaign to made it clear that they’re petty, thick and best ignored.
Having achieved a great thing by banning bullfighting over the summer, Catalonia had once again managed to paint itself as an advanced and forward-thinking region. Accusations were made that this was only done to attack allegedly ‘Spanish’ culture, in revenge for the constitutional court deciding to cut Catalonia’s statute of autonomy.
So just as Catalan politicians enjoyed their first taste of a kind of international political capital, they went and fucked it all up by voting to exempt certain cruel ‘Catalan’ bull torturing festivities, including the corre-bou and the bou embolat.
The reason that the parties have exempted these practices from the ban is simple: in some rural communities, these ‘festes’ are still popular. CiU, ERC and the PSC are all desperate to hold onto votes in these communities and so like the disgraceful way they pandered to anti-immigrant fervour by banning burqas, so they are now revealing themselves for the bare-faced hypocrites they are. Only Iniciativa (ICV – the Green-Communist group) voted against the exemption.
Christ, imagine if we were a separate country. We’d be screwed.
Why I’ll be taking part in Spain’s general strike (29S)
This September 29th, a general labour strike will take place across Spain. The strike is supported by all the major trade unions (CC.OO, UGT, CGT, CNT et al).
The strike has been called against economic and labour reforms proposed by Zapatero’s PSOE government, ostensibly to save Spain’s economy. Those of us taking part reject the PSOE’s legislation for various reasons. Here are some of them:
- Sacking people will be made easier and cheaper for businesses, with some of the cost absorbed by public funds.
- It’ll be made easier for companies which choose not to correctly apply collective labour agreements.
- More permanent workers will be forced onto temporary contracts with fewer rights.
- Labour will be further marketised, and safety standards will drop due to the use of temporary employment agencies.
- The reforms will force workers to compete for worse paid jobs, with fewer rights.
- Freezing pensions will increase the number of people living in poverty.
- Public services will suffer by withdrawing funding and cutting salaries.
- Taxes on the rich have not been increased.
- The banks, who are to blame for much in this country, have received much public money they’re yet to return.
- Now the IMF and OECD are calling for investment, not cuts, to protect our economies and our societies.
- There is a general attempt across Europe to break our social model and push for a less equal society. This must be resisted.
- Failure to show solidarity and resistance this time around will only mean worse if the PP get in after the next elections.
All workers are permitted to take part in the general strike. The law states that you must inform your employer at least 5 days before the strike of your intention to take part.
I urge my fellow workers to join in and show your disapproval of Zapatero’s reforms.
(Update: The text above has been adapted into an English-language flier for non-Spanish speaking workers in some workplaces in Barcelona. You can access the flier for printing and distribution here.)
Some questions for an opponent of Catalan independence
Following on from June’s ‘Some Questions for a Catalan Independentist‘ , here are some questions I’d like to pose to those of you who are opposed to the idea of Catalonia becoming independent. These have been harder to for me to formulate for one simple reason: in a debate such as this one, the onus is really on those proposing change (in this case, the independentists) to explain why the rest of us should go along with their proposal. That said, I do feel that there are some questions which do deserve to be asked of those who oppose independence. From my experience in the real world, their arguments against independence often seem to be the most fallacious of all.
- If a suitable majority supported it, why shouldn’t Catalonia be independent?
- How would you describe your stance against Catalan nationalism?
- Are you aware of the independentists’ historical claims? Do you think they are inaccurate, or irrelevant?
- Do you think its possible that your position is the result of political media campaigns against independence?
- Do you oppose the independence of all ‘nation’ states, or is your opposition selective?
- Even though you oppose it, do you feel any empathy for those who genuinely believe that their country isn’t ‘free’ unless it’s an independent state?
- What action would you take should Catalonia become independent?
- What action should Spain take to prevent Catalonia declaring independence?
- Do you think that Kosovo’s independence from Serbia sets a legal precedent?
- Are there any conditions under which you’d accept Catalan independence (e.g. constitutional protection of Spanish speakers)?
- Should Catalonia become independent, would you insist that FC Barcelona be excluded from the LFP?
- Have you ever found yourself chuckling at the epithet ‘Cataloonies’ while strumming away to the old Iberian Notes blog? (You don’t have to answer this one if you really don’t want to).
And that’s it for the moment. Let me know if you think I’ve missed out something really glaring. And do feel free to answer some or all of the questions for an independentist too.
thebadPoll: Is Bullfighting a vital part of Spanish culture?
Before I go to Menorca [which, according to my own rules, I should be calling ‘Minorca’, damn it!], there’s just time for a new badPoll. Today’s poll is a really special one, because it’s presented in partnership with a very special guest:
Yes, that’s right: thebadrash.com is very pleased to announce that this badPoll is sponsored by none other than ‘Uncle’ Mariano ‘Wild Eyes’ Rajoy!
And it gets better! Uncle Mariano has agreed to abide by the results of this badPoll, meaning that your votes could make the difference between Una, Grande y Libre and the kind of namby-pamby commie, animal husbanding Catalan-loving hellhole that ZP, the judiciary (some of the time) and their Barça-supporting cronies want.
The question is really simple: Is Bullfighting a vital part of Spanish culture? You might rephrase it by asking: is Catalonia’s decision to ban bullfighting ‘an act of genocide’ (thanks, Jorge ‘morro’ Moragas!)? Or can Spain live without this barbarity celebration of torture killing a cow in public?
As always, you can vote in the sidebar over there >>>
UPDATED: Banning the bullfights has nothing to do with l’Estatut
UPDATE: The Catalan parliament has voted in support of removing the exception permitted to bullfighting from its animal cruelty law. Bullfighting has been outlawed here!
Catalonia’s parliament will likely vote today to finally ban bullfighting within Catalonia. This is a decision that has been approached in a very stop-start manner, and which has been under debate for quite some time. I think I’ve made my feelings quite clear about the barbarity that is La Corrida, and I welcome the ban, and hope that it’s eventually extended throughout Spain.
Various parties seem to be trying to make this a question of revenge for Spain’s constitutional court rejecting passages of Catalonia’s statute of autonomy recently. It has nothing to do with that whatsoever. This is about banning a vile celebration of animal torture. Just as the Canary Islands did in 1991, Catalonia will freely make the right decision today.
Incidentally, right-wing PP leader, Mariano Rajoy’s un-rousing speech yesterday, where he said “Just as you can’t force someone to go to a bullfight, so you can’t prohibit them from doing so!” – is one of the stupidest things I’ve ever heard. And I moved here when Aznar was still in power. That statement in particular, could be applied to any activity you like. Try it with “a walk in the park”, “a bank robbery”, “have a carajillo in the morning and then drive your police motorbike”, “spout shite”. These are some of my favourites, but I’m sure you’ll find your own. Bon dia.
Utter nonsense/Why I’m not walking down Passeig de Gràcia
Utter nonsense: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/10/AR2010071001224.html
A good example of how shoddy journalism sucks. Yawnville style.
Why I’m not walking down Passeig de Gràcia: I won’t march when the PSOE/PSC/José Montilla lead the demonstration. They are the problem. Not the solution.
thebadPoll: Catalonia’s ‘Estatut’ in Madrid’s court
It’s a long time since I ran a poll on this blog. Hell, it’s a long time since I did anything on this blog.
This week, the question is simpler than it sounds: do you think Spain’s constitutional court was right in cutting various passages from Catalonia’s new statute of autonomy, approved by referendum some years ago?
VOTE EARLY, VOTE OFTEN, as usual.
Lleida and its racist ban on the burqa
A couple of weeks ago, the Catalan town of Lleida became the first municipality in Spain to introduce a ban on the full Islamic veil, or burqa and niqab. The veils are now prohibited in municipal buildings.
Lleida’s Socialist party mayor, Àngel Ros, claims that the ban is a strike in favour of equality. The ban was backed by the Catholic Catalan conservatives, CiU. And now they and the PSC are planning introduce a similar ban in Tarragona. The truth is that Lleida’s city hall has been involved in a protracted battle with a Muslim community it does not want. Indeed, the PSC is just applying policies called for by none other than arch racist, Josep Anglada, leader of the utterly mental Plataforma Per Catalunya fascist party.
Times of financial hardship always breed racist reactions. I’m not in the least bit surprised that the PSC, a party of hopeless twats to a man (or woman), would stoop this low to try and shore up their position in Catalonia. If the party was serious about gender equality, it would ban the huge brothels that line the carreteras here, packed with thousands of young African and eastern European women. It won’t, because for the PSC, ‘equality’ is just a useful excuse for pandering to nasty provincial racism.
Some Questions for a Catalan Independentist
In just over a week, many Catalan towns will hold ‘consultaions’ about Catalan independence. These consultations (consultes) take the form of a mock referendum. They’re not legally binding in any way, and voting in them is so open that even I can join in! The thing about these consultations is that they do make it feel (however superficially) like Catalonia is starting to seriously consider its status as part of Spain. The organisers and political groups involved are certainly keen to make it look like that, at any rate.
On this blog, I’ve been careful to avoid a categorical endorsement of Catalan independence for many reasons. So I decided to ask some open questions to anyone interested in answering them. And you don’t have to be in favour of Catalan independence to take part: if you think you’ve got a point to make, make it. I plan to do something similar directed at opponents of independence over the next few days. Feel free to answer whichever of the questions you like.
Some questions:
- Why should Catalonia be independent?
- What exactly do you think will be gained if Catalonia becomes independent?
- What model do you see an independent Catalonia adopting? Some sort of republic? How would it be organised?
- Do you think that the current crisis is a good time to decide something like this? Why?
- What damage do you think this would do to Spain? Do you worry about that?
- Is an independent Catalonia an economically viable state?
- What should the process be in the result of a vote in favour of independence?
- What should be the status of Spanish citizens in Catalonia? Would dual citizenship be allowed?
- What about immigrants? Would they become citizens? What would the immigration policy be?
- Would you expect all the political parties in Catalonia to break ties with their Spanish equivalents?
- What would happen if the EU had trouble accepting Catalonia as a member?
- What would happen to Catalan government agencies aimed at trade and business? Would they be absorbed by embassies?
- Who would be the head of state? Would you deny Juan Carlos’s claim to sovereignty?
- Would the Catalan constitution guarantee the right to receive state services in Castilian Spanish?
- How would you deal with people potentially wanting to leave for Spain proper?
- What flag would you have? Senyera or Estelada?
- What would happen to utilities like the phone/data system?
- What sort of rights would be included in the constitution anyway?
- How would you deal with other parts of the ‘Catalan Countries’? Would you seek their absorption?
- How important would the status of FC Barcelona be? Do you think the Spanish league would still have them?
- Would you bother with armed forces? If so, how?
- What would happen if there was a Spanish boycott of independent Catalonia?
- What would happen if there was a Spanish military response?
- Can a constituent part of an EU and NATO member even declare independence?
- Would you demand that companies trading in Catalonia establish separate entities in Catalonia? How?
And that’s enough for now. I know that I’ve asked a lot of questions. But these are just some of the questions that will be asked should Catalonia approach a genuine referendum.
So, what do you say?