Catalunya Acció - Foreign Office

Censorship dressed as a fairy

2011-12-02T21:29:00.001+01:00

Salvador Cot wrote that the journalists and photographers at El País did not give credit to what was happening in front of their very eyes, when Núria de Gispert appeared dressed as a fairy to a photographic session that has immortalized her as one of the greatest ignominies from a high political representative of Catalonia. The infantilism of the President of the Parliament will remain for the posterity.

In fact, the picture was premonitory because as a spoiled brat -those who have had everything without any effort, has reactions of that age. If somebody embarrass them, they react randomly and believe to be above from everybody. The President of the Catalan Parliament is one of these cases and throwed the toys out of the pram when the MP's from Solidaritat per la Independència (SI) said that "Spain steals from us". Mrs de Gispert thinks that "is not beautiful " in a Parliament that she would like full of fairies and smurfs. Then, her wand becomes, magically, the censor hammer to the MP's supporters of independence. She does not mind to sympathize with those MP's from Ciudadanos and the People's Party who have qualified as nazis all Catalans who defend the Catalan language in the schools of Catalonia. The President of the Parliament only wants that all the MP's to sing and dance as in the school yard.

Mrs de Gispert will be very busy if she believes that with this totalitarian decision will end with the debate for independence of Catalonia at the Catalan Parliament, that has become now military barracks instead of a fair. Our fairy want to be "the General". Does she know what she is doing? She must know that having the House she thinks is governing as she pleases has cost a lot of Catalans their efforts and lives, and amongst them, a lot of people who wanted independence and were convinced that, in fact, "Spain robs from us". If she thinks that has to silence the voice of freedom for Catalonia to keep her back garden looking tidy, will soon have to learn how to deal with it. We will not keep our mouths shut even with the full powers of her magic wand.

However, the saddest of this matter is seeing how the ruling party, always full of democracy and the right of Catalans to decide, has been unable to raise a single voice against this censorship. We must not forget that not even the President of the Spanish Parliament banned Herri Batasuna's MPs -ETA's political branch- from using similar expressions when they threw really fiery speeches towards Spain. Thanks to Núria de Gispert, José Bono will be a complete democrat. We define this as the degradation of Catalonia. Mrs President of the Parliament, put your wand up your ... head and make yourself disappear.

Santiago Espot
CEO Catalunya Acció

Mrs de Gispert as she appeared in the aforementioned photo.

We must add people's will to political determination for Independence

2011-11-22T00:50:00.001+01:00

"No Nation can go any further than where its politicians want to take it". Maria Torrents, Catalunya Acció.

As an example, I can tell you that half the World's population and a lot of North-Americans could not stop war in Iraq, and I will tell you that half Italy could not sack Berlusconi. It was Bush and Merkel, who were and are politicians with strong will. They could do it, they were able to conduct a war that was not wanted by millions and to fire Berlusconi, supported by half Italy. And they did it in a matter of days.

We must add for Independence, coordinate and make both wills grow. For Independence we must also build two entities. The one with all supporters of independence -people- and the political parties supporters of independence -those that make politics for independence. Let's prepare for Independence! Do not stop here! Salvador Molins.

It should be noted that participation in these elections could have had a short-term interest, practical, focused not in the Spanish Parliament but within our country. Creating and visualizing a wide, diverse, unmissable and united front for the common and priority benefit of independence. It has not been possible. Anyway. The conditions are on the table. In any case, on November 20th, the social base that might have found their space of expression has a tutti-frutti of possibilities to choose from. There will be who will abstain from voting, directly; who has printed a separatist ensign to vote conscientiously null and who will choose amongst the existences. And more, possibly.

That is right. But the really relevant question, for the country, for this Principality of Catalonia that has majorities for independence, and for the rest of the Catalan Countries that do not cease of observing it, will not appear on the 20th, but today, 21st. Because it is time to focus our attention in what is really important. Times have changed. It is time to begin to specify. Tic-tac. Now it is time to prepare the transition to independence.

Núria Cadenes

We are forced to overcome

2011-09-28T01:31:00.000+02:00

Catalans are forced to overcome. Thousand years of History, culture, language and identity are not casual. They are not casual because despite all blasts, hatred, wars, division of our Nation, the constant try of genocide and extermination suffered, even nowadays, we are the living example of a resistive, combative nation proud of oneself, even if this pride is not always explicitly shown.

We are forced to overcome. Because a nation that has been able to resist blows of constant hatred for centuries is destined to disappear not but to overcome. Because we form part of a country which, when everything seems lost, when the cruelty of the knives against our skins seems to reach our bone marrow, this country, the holly Catalan Nation, has the capacity to emerge from the ashes and resprouts within the patriot's hearts the strength and nerve that appeared deadly wounded.

We are forced to overcome because we are at war. Catalonia is in war against hatred, against hatred to the difference we represent; hatred against our inner capacity of resistance, against our stubborn will to continue existing; against our persistance. And we are at war against a political class who, with their inaction, their fiscal teasing and their complicity following the Spanish and French establishments, perpetuates and legitimates a colonial situation that is taking Catalonia to a sure death.

We are forced to overcome because are indebited to the thousands of Catalans who, during Centuries, have died defending the Independence of the Catalan Nation. For all those Catalans who during Centuries, suffered execution, looting, prosecution, torture, mockery, contempt, violation... only for being Catalan. For all those who, in the last decades, have suffered torture under presumably democratic regimes, only for being supporters of independence. We have the moral right to honour our patriots, philosophers, poets, painters, architects, scientists, musicians, soldiers, national heroes... and glorify their names at the altars of the future that we are beginning to conquer.

We are forced to overcome because our is the battle of love. An infinite and unnegotiable love for our roots, our language, our Catalan identity, our geography, to the memory of our ancestors, freedom and dignity. And love to recuperate the Catalan State to live fully and normally within our own country. The battle for independence is not just another battle, is the battle of love against hatred.

This love towards ourselves is what has fed our people and given them strength to resist the rushes of Spanish and French hate. And this love is today, again, the force that feeds the soldiers of freedom, the soldiers of the freedom of Catalonia.

Catalans, on September 11th come out to proclaim a victory that we want -and will- be real, and proclaim with our heads up our pride of being Catalan. And that, conscious of the strength that this love and our moral duty will bring us the final victory. Do not doubt, we shall overcome.

Visca Catalunya Lliure!

Albert Ubach
Member of Catalunya Acció

Heribert Barrera's name will be written in golden characters in our History books

2011-08-29T01:08:00.000+02:00

Heribert Barrera defended the Independence of Catalonia until his last minute. Thank you!

The ex-president of our Parliament, and ERC -Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya- historical leader has died at the age of 94.

Heribert Barrera, after an extraordinary career in defense of Catalonia, and at his 94 years of age, marched in front of the last demonstration in support of the independence of Catalonia, with a header "For our future: INDEPENDENCE". This was on July 9th, just a month ago, in Barcelona. Shame on the high profile politicians who remained at home that day.

In that rally, this honourable and venerable defender of Catalonia, alongside Drs Broggi and Domènech had to be lifted with a small forklift onto a makeshift scaffolding to be seen during their speech at the end.

This was the last real homage from the "Ignobles" to one of the most significates and corageous defenders of actual Catalonia, Heribert Barrera.

His name will appear in golden letters in our History books whereas todays ruling Ignoble will be forgotten forever.

Some of whom will publicly homage Mr Barrera at his funeral, will have to be ashamed of their own meanness.

Salvador Molins
Counsellor of Catalunya Acció

Spain's secret conflict

2011-05-24T01:24:00.000+02:00

Former IMF Chief Economist says Catalonia would be "one of the richest countries in the world" if it were independent

2011-04-23T00:57:00.000+02:00

CNA / F. Javier Rodríguez Baena Barcelona (ACN).
“Catalonia, as an independent nation, would be one of the richest countries in the world”, stated the former IMF Chief Economist, Kenneth Rogoff, in an interview to Capital magazine, in which he reviews the Spain’s economic situation. Rogoff, currently professor at Harvard University, defends that Spain “has many strong points” such as “excellent companies and regions like Catalonia”, but he thinks that “there is a high probability that Spain may have to be rescued”. This would be the case, as “Greece, Ireland and Portugal would have to reorganise their debt. And when this happens, markets would go crazy” and the rescue would be almost unavoidable, explained Rogoff. If Europe did not rescue Spain in that case, the entire Eurozone would be at risk and even France could fall.

The interview with Kenneth Rogoff at the 'Capital' magazine (by ACN / Capital)

Rogoff said it is “unimaginable that Europe would leave Spain to go bankrupt without lending any help”. But, “if it was to suspend payments, things would not end this way. It would spread to Belgium, Italy... and France”. The prestigious economist warns today the Spanish debt is already at “a dangerous level to deal with but if it increases another 30%, then it would not be able to be governed in any way”. Rogoff warns Europe that it should set a “red line” in the case of Spain. The former economist says that the Spanish Government has not reacted fast enough, but admits that recent reforms have strengthened the country.

The United States of America endorse the linguistic immersion in Catalan

2011-04-22T11:05:00.000+02:00

The USA have endorsed the linguistic immersion in Catalan, in their 2010 annual report on Human Rights. The American Secretary of State considers that "there have been cases where Catalan speakers have shown worries by the fact that Catalan language does not receive the same treat of favour".

In this sense, they report that "this Government, as well as the previous one, have endorsed the actual educational model and sustain that the decision by the Supreme Tribunal refers to three determined cases and that the actual Catalan linguistic policies are adequate. The Spanish Supreme Tribunal sentenced that Spanish language should prevail in all communications and classrooms in Catalonia. Catalan leaders in favour of the actual model of immersion affirm that pupils end up having the same knowledge of Catalan as well as of Spanish".

Ultimately, about Catalan exams for University lecturers, it is highlighted that "the Decree allows Universities to waive this requirement for personnel working full-time in research or lecturers who teach in a foreign language, so not to lose talented lecturers and professors. Universities may delay this exam for a period of two years after the effective start of the contract".

Espot: "They want to feed the Spanish anthem through our blood"

2011-04-19T23:10:00.000+02:00

Solidaritat Catalana considers that the sound system to be used for the Spanish anthem, prior to the Spanish Cup final, is an aggression to public health.

The Spanish FA has contracted a 100000W sound system to silence the possible whistling to the Spanish anthem by Barcelona supporters. However, this measure is having its political repercussion.

This afternoon, Santiago Espot, candidate to Mayor of Barcelona for Solidaritat Catalana, has threatened to sue the Spanish FA due to "this power of noise violates the civic ordinances of Valencia. It is an attack against public health; they want to feed the Spanish anthem through our blood". Santiago Espot was sued for instigating a whistling action during the Cup final two years ago, in 2009, when FC Barcelona played against Athletic Club Bilbao.

In this sense, Espot has deplored that "no political institution in Catalonia has regretted this, even though there will be Catalans attending the football match FC Barcelona-Real Madrid". "Contracting this power of noise is typical of sick minded", he asserted.

Why "Solidaritat Catalana"?

2011-03-14T19:29:00.000+01:00

I have always been convinced that the process of independence of Catalonia had to be galvanized by a new political force. I mean: I would not like that was only starred on its own. Support for independence of Catalonia is too polyhedral and transversal for this to be possible. Moreover, Catalans have not the gregarious spirit possessed by other nations as to dance at the same time to the same tune. Look at the Parliament of the Principality of Catalonia, there now coexist eight political formations, since the last act of desertion of a Member of the Parliament. And that now happens when everywhere, it tends to the concentration of the vote in only a few options. This only certifies that our country is very difficult, politically speaking.

From Catalunya Acció, and following this script, since the beginning of 2009, have talked about this new political option to activate a process of creation of an independent Catalan State. After what surrounded the elections on November 28th, one political party was erected the winner: Solidaritat Catalana (SI). However, we must reckon that too often, too many expectations from the new or emerging actors on stage have been disappointing only beginning. Who does not remember ERC -Esquerra Republicana- or the names Colom and Rahola?

This has not been the case of SI, only with the Declaration of Independence Act and the support for the independence poll next April 10th, has done more to break with Spain that other who, calling themselves supporters of independence, have dragged their feet for years and years on the corridors of the Parliament of Catalonia. In fact, this last declaration, has achieved an unlikely and determining fact to allow the Parliament, one day, to proclaim unilateral independence of the Catalan State. Our Congress recognises itself as home of the sovereignty of the Catalan People.

The parliamentary action by Solidaritat has demonstrated that their goal and their priority is of the declaration of independence. The same one Catalunya Acció was asking for since its creation, the beginning of 2005. In such situation, what did we had to do? Do as any other small group and say that we did not agree with the colour of the trousers or the tie of their MP's? The famous "unity" that we asked for starts by praising other people's achievements. At least, we do not hurt by celebrating Tena's, Bertran's Strubell's, Valdero's or Lopez Bofill's good doing and of the thousands of who have adhered to the project of SI, despite the differences we might have had in the past. This is not the residual support for independence, it is the emerging one, and "express"! Because this service is the fastest, most modern and efficient, unlike the Spanish civil servant mentality characterized by the infamous "come tomorrow" which has grafted within a lot of our nationals, visiting too often "Carrera de San Jeronimo".

For all this, the best way, from the ranks of Catalunya Acció, to grow and to make stronger Solidaritat Catalana, is to coordinate efforts of both organizations, beginning by being me, after yesterday elections, in their candidate to Mayor of Barcelona. And I can assure, in case I am elected, that my political action within its Council will be well clear, to make our city the spearhead of the process for independence of Catalonia. Only in this way is how our capital city may start acquiring a personality and character of the capital of the next Catalan State.

Santiago Espot
CEO Catalunya Acció

Article published by Nació Digital

"Ciudadanos" fears that the independence of Catalonia will be achieved in 4 or 8 years

2011-03-05T10:43:00.000+01:00

On the right: Albert Rivera, presenting the petition against independence of Catalonia in Madrid

The President of "Ciudadanos" (C's), nacionalist Spanish party in Catalonia, has requested the Spanish President, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, to "react" and stop the debate at the Catalan Parliament about the independence of Catalonia. Ciudadanos alerts that support for independence might win "in four to eight years". Albert Rivera, President of Ciudadanos, affirmed that the Bureau of the Parliament committed "a big mistake" when it allowed a process that "dynamites coexistence and the Constitutional system" the go-ahead. The debate about our independence is as serious as if "it legally requested annexation of Valencia to Catalonia".

The petition by C's

C's reclaim that the Spanish government presented, before two months, an appeal to unconstitutionality against the decision by the Bureau of the Parliament of Catalonia. This decision was for allowing the debate the Unilateral Independence Act, proposed by Solidaritat Catalana per la Independència. Not appealing against that, in Ciudadanos' opinion, will be fatal to the unity of Spain. Mr Rivera explained that, although might not succeed now, the debate will create a precedent and "what today might not win in vote, perhaps in four to eight years would be possible".

Stop the proposal

The President of C's asked the Spanish government to act in the same way they did against the Consultations via Referendum Act, and presents an appeal to the Constitutional Court to stop the proposal. In C's opinion, "it is absurd that an autonomic Parliament, lacked of sovereignty and capacity to debate the establishment of new borders within Spain, pretended to do so".

Link to the news (in Catalan) http://www.naciodigital.cat/noticia/22901/tem/independencia/arribi/anys

This is Spanish "democracy". Never mind Catalans and what the majority of them think and act upon.

Inauguration of the four columns by Puig i Cadafalch

2011-02-08T10:30:00.000+01:00

On Sunday, February 27th 2011, at 11:30 hours, Montjuïc, Barcelona.

Finally, the day of the inauguration has arrived, and we ask for your help to spread the good news amongst your contacts. It not like any other day and not like any other inauguration. It is a historical date.

The restitution of an emblematic monument demolished by that Spanish dictator (Primo de Rivera) who could not allow its symbolism of the four Catalan paly. After 72 years, we have achieved to revoke their will of annihilating our most emblematic and magnificent ensign of identity, reinstituting it almost in its original place.

Yes, our ensign of identity, our will to exist so criticized nowadays by all those who, from within and from the outside, would like another one.

Reasons for the restitution:

To honour the memory of all those men and women who have fought for our National freedom.
Because it is the most representative monument of our Nation.
Because it is an act of self-esteem and Historical affirmation.
Because democracy has to recuperate what a dictatorship demolished for being a symbol of Catalonia.
Because it is an important part of our Historical memory.
Because it was heritage of great value, linked to Mediterranean and Hellenic cultures, universal values that fund Western culture.
Because the restitution of these columns is a reaffirmation of our nationality in front any dictatorship.

For all these reasons, we ask for your collaboration and do everything possible to spread these good news, precisely in a moment when, actual Spain nationalism, in the same way of Primo de Rivera or Franco, wants to take us to the times where we need to ask for mercy for being Catalan. It is the time now to increase our self-esteem.

Many thanks for your collaboration.

Enric Pedrosa. President Associació J-N Roca Ferreras

Original columns and pictures from their demolishing

The same old song

2011-01-10T20:51:00.000+01:00

One of the main goals pursued by the electoral strategist of CiU was to make people believe that Artur Mas had firmly turned towards positions they called "soverignist". Have they succeeded? Unfortunately, we must recognize that yes, they have done so. We have to look at the actual climate for independence that is to be perceived in the country and the results from the last elections to establish a direct correlation. What has happened? Very simple. Last November 28th, large part of Catalans thought that CiU will bring us independence at the touch of a button dancing to Caribbean rhythms.

It all began with the tune about the "economic concert", as the previous step to the construction of a future Catalan State. We cannot negate that this script, in such candid people -politically speaking- as Catalonia, had the success assured. Moreover, voting CiU meant to end the Way of the Cross of the "Tripartite". En such a favourable situation, everything was to be won by the moderate nationalists.
However, do not think that this discourse responded to that they had discovered by themselves that the coexistance of Catalonia and Spain is actually impossible. What has happened is that since the poll at Arenys de Munt, the axis of the political debate in the Principality of Catalonia has been about independence of the Nation and the traditional voters of CiU have openly positioned towards secession.

That gesture made all us believe that freedom is possible, and from that moment everything was rushed at their headquarters on carrer de Còrsega so as not to remain on the fringes of this climate of breaking from Spain that was taking over the majority of their clientele. It was about to take their profit but also to slow down the possible exciting pace that the process of independence was taking at the time.

It is not the first time that CiU has encountered the same situation. In fact, during the first term of Jordi Pujol in charge, the party had supporters of independence in their ranks. Though, that time, it was very easy for the former President to tame those elements with the excuse that Catalonia was coming out Francoism and that the collaboration to consolidate the incipient Spanish democracy. The independence business had to wait a bit. Some years later, the Baltic Republics showed us that European borders were not untouchable and that Catalans saw that Lithuanians, Estonians and Letonians were models to follow. Very quickly, however, Pujol discouraged us by saying "Catalonia is like Lithuania, but Spain is not the USSR". The process of creation of a new Catalan State stopped there and then because it was a matter to ensure the "governance and stability of Spain".

But actually, support for independence, is a lot more present in the country than when that took place. It has even been the main topic of the voting campaigns of the People's Party -PP- and Socialists -PSC-. What has CiU done? Having no other choice, its leaders were told to say they were supporting independence too. They had to keep the pace as not too miss any vote. But, of course, for them, never is the right time to break with Spain. For one reason or the other. They cannot say that we must "reform" or "get boxed in" Spain because nobody would believe in them, so that the new slogan is that "we must take Catalonia out of the pothole". Although, what other name has this pothole but Spain?

Their problem is, though, despite having winked their eye to independence due to electoral obligations, they do not believe in a free Catalonia. Their slave mentality stops them from seeing our people with the same ties with Spain that Denmark might have, for instance, in an European framework. Independently from what they say, will continue to represent the script described by Carles M. Espinalt in 1986, in his essay L'error de certs catalanistes -The mistake of certain Catalanist- in which is said "there is a type of Catalan always willing to make politics their way of life and does not irritate in Madrid neither a lot nor a little. It is this Catalan that degrading his values to unthinkable limits, confuses political ability with lack of character and back-bowing with diplomacy, and possibilism with taking his pants down". Does Duran i Lleida do not come to your mind?

Santiago Espot
CEO Catalunya Acció

Article published at "El Punt", December 31st 2010.

Independence 2014

2010-11-28T14:56:00.000+01:00

Late in 2005, Catalunya Acció was born, and proposed the date of 2014 as the date to achieve the Independence of our country. Then, almost everybody defined us as fools. Those were the days when ERC -Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya-, captained by Carod-Rovira, changed their wish for independence for the Spanish federalism of Maragall and Zapatero. Times of "misty rain". But dating the creation of a Catalan State was not a witticism but a reflection and analysis process and a compromise. A decade, doing things properly, was, and still is, enough to place a winning strategy.

Later, disappointment came with ERC, after their euphemistic and absurd "right to decide", the courage of the people from Arenys de Munt and the slap from the Constitutional Court. All, necessary tolls in a process to independence. While this all was happening, it was needed, we said, to canalize this growing secessionist feeling in its electoral form. Catalunya Acció never wanted to do it alone, because we knew that a minimal unity, wisely made, was necessary. Our history shows that to succeed, we need teamwork. Undoubtedly, we are the people of the human towers and sardana. But nobody believed us because they said "it was not the right time". But because we are not the ones who wait for the moment but creates it, decided to publicize the party "Força Catalunya".

It seems that since then, everybody saw it all and they run to "reagroup", and not long afterwards, some others not quite satisfied with this, "solidarized"... but only among themselves. Then, "solidaries" and "reagroupped" recuperate the best tradition of our fraternal fights, such as "nyerros and cadells" or the "Biga and Busca". With such a view, and because the people of Catalunya Acció have overcome the time of swords and blunderbusses, the wisest is not to take part for any of the sides and we have voluntarily withdrawn from these elections.

Taking into consideration the expectations of vote for ones and the others, most surely the battle for an independent Catalan State will not be fought on November 28th, despite that if a big coalition for independence had existed, probably we could have had the opportunity to convert this Sunday into the first real plebiscite to break with Spain. Notwithstanding that what we have achieved -and this is the great victory- that in this dull electoral campaign "independence" has been the most pronounced word. Now, we are in front of four years in which we may transform the collective state of mind into a reality, provided that frivolity does not bar neither common sense nor vision of future. The elections in 2014 must be the real ones for freedom.

Santiago Espot
CEO Catalunya Acció

Article published on November 27 2010 on Opinió Digital.

The Jewish State (Theodore Herzl)

2010-11-14T22:48:00.000+01:00

What is "The Jewish State" -this capital book in the history of Judaism- in the diffusion of Zionism? Well, something like "The Catalan nationality" by Enric Prat de la Riba, or "Us, the Valencians" by Joan Fuster. A foundational text, fundamental for the comprehension of the nationality by the Jewish people, and a way to their accomplishment as a Nation.

The book is a breviary where this Jew born in Pest, and son of a rich family, journalist, playwright, Bachelor in Law, formulated the bases for the resolution of the Jewish problem: the necessary will of the Jewish people, negotiation and international intervention to look for a territory and the solution.

Herzl (1860-1904), conscious of the strength and durability of the anti-Semitism, pointed towards a solution that, ensured, will be achieved years after his death. And he enumerated the bases, the program, the method to build the Jewish Nation. Two localities appear ideal to accommodate the people of the Diaspora and the Holocaust: Argentine and Palestine.

Herzl, one year after the publication of this principal book, convoked in Basel the World Zionist Congress, occupying the presidency of the Zionist Organization.

The first step was taken. The book shook consciences and started an unheard mobilization across the globe. Second, the Judaism created a successful organizational structure, necessary tool to achieve the goal.

As a people that suffers from national oppression and the deprivation of its own State, "The Jewish State" constitutes for Catalans a necessary reading to know the experiences of other peoples wishing for their freedom.

Pere Meroño

About winners and losers

2010-11-14T22:16:00.000+01:00

Besides a jubilant Sebastian Vettel, this is the face of a Spanish loser. Fernando Alonso believed that he had to win this year's F1 title because it "had to belong to him".

But reality has shown otherwise.

And this is the very same face that the rest of Spaniards will make when Catalonia achieves its well deserved -and extremely well paid already- independence from that country. Because Catalonia does not belong to Spain or France.

Congratulations Sebastian Vettel. Thanks for not allowing Spanish hooligans destroy our country like they did when they won the football World Cup earlier this year.

The lipdub for independence of Catalonia achieves world record

2010-11-01T12:56:00.000+01:00

With a final participation of 5771 people, the lipdub for independence in the city of Vic (Principality of Catalonia), has been awarded the world largest participation ever in a lipdub by the World Records Academy.

Catalunya Acció UK would like to congratulate the participants for having achieved the award, showing that the wish for independence in Catalonia is stronger than ever.

To watch the full video, click on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muTMLuGWrp8

Addendum: Subtitles in several languages, translating the lyrics can be inserted, clicking the icon "cc" that appears at the bottom bar on the video.

The country is failing from the top

2010-10-10T13:32:00.000+02:00

Neither the interested leaders of CiU -Convergència i Unió-, with their obsessive and irresponsible "boxing" of Catalonia within Spain, nor the PSC -Socialists-, lackeys to their Spanish landlord, nor the wise Carod-Puigcercós tandem, with their childish idea of a "multinational Spain" will be able to take us out of this siding that is Spain. To which we have arrived after 30 years walking through the wrong track. The strategies by Pujol, Mas, Maragall and Carod-Puigcercós have been, and are, wrong, and thus, their results are awful -situation of the Catalan language, knowledge of our own History, infrastructures, economy, services, pensions...-. Although they were absolutely predictable due to the experiences prior to the Francoist dictatorship.

Slaves incapable to break free from their owner always look for the most comfortable way of living together. So that our political leaders have carried out absurd and negative politics for Catalonia such as "collaborate to the Spanish governability" while all the Spanish governments have looted from our taxes; "doing pedagogy in Spain" while Spain insults us on our faces; "build a federal Spain, or multinational Spain" while Spain has it clear that there is only one Spain which is already built from centuries ago.

Nobody surprises that we found ourselves where we are now, it is very simple to identify the cause -a wrong strategy for the country- and its responsibles -our political leaders-. Unless we correct the strategy and direct our direction towards the constitution of a Catalan State, we continue to walk this rocky road until we become a sad and poor Spanish region. It is simply what happens to the colonies that do not free themselves on time. There is no alternative, do not believe those wizards of the politics that have lead this country making us believe that the understanding with Spain is possible.

Because of this, it is important that we begin by preparing what is necessary to do when we reach the end of the road, when the "financing" becomes the big achievement that will be saddled at us, and the sentence by the Constitutional Court will be the last humiliation, disguised as justice à-la-Spain. When in the next months we arrive at the end of the misfire of the "boxing of Catalonia in Spain", our politicians will not know what to do, will not know how to come out from this cul-de-sac. However, knowing them as we do, they will avoid their responsibility and will pass the hot potato to the people. Some might say that there will be necessary a new referendum for the "Estatut", some others say that will be necessary to bring the people to the streets. Everything but act like proper political leaders when face complex situations.

In consequence, the only solution is relieve, substitute, our political leadership. Because of their cowardice, incompetence or bribery, or perhaps all together, and everyone apply adjectives as they please to our political leaders. And, who liked to defend them with excuses such as "they couldn't do otherwise", "they did what they were able to do", please revise their political candidness. Nobody be so naive to think that they can be pressed, expect a change in direction, changes in the strategy for the country from those who have been keeping quiet in front of the looting of our taxes -the so-called "fiscal deficit"-, have tolerated the systematic marginalization of our language in many ambits, who have been incapable to teach our History at our schools, who have allowed our pensioners to receive misery after a whole life of work, who have allowed our infrastructures to rot... The only way to readdress our Nation is to dismiss our political representatives from their comfortable thrones, and somebody menaced their statuses and privileges.

Some may think I exaggerate. It all depends if the situation of our country is seen with the eyes of the slaves that have ruled and rule us -those who have a lot to lose with our independence, and therefore try to hide the truth from Catalan people- or with the eyes of free men and women, who believe in the possibilities of our country, and in the potential of our people being simply Catalan. Which, translated to who suffer from identity schizophrenia means without "Spanish" or "French", without having to belong to Spain or France, only to the Catalan State.

Josep Castany
General Director Catalunya Acció
December 27th, 2008

Serbia drops UN challenge to Kosovo independence and its relevance to Catalonia

2010-09-09T18:59:00.000+02:00

English newspaper "The Guardian" informs us that Serbia has agreed to make last minute U-turn in its wish to reverse, question or invalidate Kosovo's independence at the United Nations. The debate had to take place at the UN general assembly on September 9th but Serbians dropped the challenge only hours before the hearing.

Serbia, then, bowed to pressure from European and US diplomacy, clearing the way for a settlement between Belgrade and Kosovo leadership and the Serbians joining the EU, which would have been compromised should Serbia had kept the challenge to Kosovo's independence. Catherine Ashton, the EU's foreign policy chief, pressed Serbian President Boris Tadic to agree on a "last-chance" formula acceptable to the rest of Europe. Joe Biden, US vice-president, reinforced the message.

Kosovo declared unilateral independence from Serbia in 2008, which has not recognized the new State. Since then, Serbia lost a case at the International Court of Justice that ruled the secession did not breach international law.

The ruling by the ICJ and the intercession of the EU and the US, to stop Serbians from invalidating the independence of its former Republic, will be very useful to Catalonia when we declare our independence. We have now the precedent of the most influent international diplomacies mediating and negotiating for the recently formed European State, not the former, Serbia. It will certainly break mental schemes of a lot of people, always scared to take the step for freedom and independence, probably due to so many years of having to bow in front of the oppressor Spain and France.

Europe and the US show us that the modern day diplomacy may help the new democratic countries, if they make themselves interesting to the World powers. Catalonia must work towards establishing international networks and lobbies throughout the world, especially US, Europe and Israel. And it has to be made soon, because Catalonia will be the next State in Europe.

Jordi Margalef Turull
Catalunya Acció UK

Information taken from "The Guardian". Click here to read original article.

Why is it never the time?

2010-08-13T23:51:00.000+02:00

"Preludi de la independència" -"Prelude of independence"- was published eighteen years ago, by Carles M. Espinalt, and its first sentence is "There are a lot of people who would like that nobody could hear not even the first note [of the Prelude]". The author is referring to those who strive to stop that support for independence for our nation concretes clearly and effectively. In other words, those who always want that the axis of our politics span around our role within this failed entity called Spain. But, how do they act to make their obsession effective? In the first chapter we may also read "Often, cowards, to not to stand out, are the most interested to silence the voices of the courageous". Who is the author talking about? Who are those pusillanimous that mask their own fears with excuses?

When Carles M. Espinalt wrote these words, it was the time when Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania declared their independence, which made Catalans see that nothing was untouchable in matter of borders. If a few little nations became independent from the mighty second world super-power, what obstructed Catalonia from doing the same with regards to Spain? Thought a lot of Catalans. Those were also the days of the majorities of Jordi Pujol, who, foreseeing a spread of the Baltic independence feeling around Catalonia, ran to manifest "Catalonia is like Lithuania, but Spain is not the USSR". Another way to abort a prelude of the independence of Catalonia, and at the same time, wash the face of who he robs, swears at and wants to make you disappear.

Years go by, faces and governments change, but the contraries to the prelude continue to make their way. It seems like they pass the relay to each other, generation to generation. Now, Catalans have not needed to look at Northern Europe to see how feasible is to create a Catalan State in a relatively short period of time. We only had to follow the example of the brave town of Arenys de Munt to believe in our own capabilities and sing the loudest prelude of independence of Catalonia. We are listening to it with all the force given by hundreds of thousands of voices who, strongly, have filled the ballot boxes of the polls celebrated throughout the Principality. "Finally!", "We are touching it!", "Nothing can stop us now!" are the most common expressions heard in these times. And this crescendo finally exploded in the biggest demonstration supporting independence never dreamt on July 10th. In front of everything, how could these Catalan voices, full of courage and hope be suffocated?

Pujol's political offsprings have tried again, by utilizing the same false paternalist used by their father when he wanted to take out our heads the example of the ex-Soviet Republics. Now, the phrase has been "we are not ripe enough to hold a plebiscite for independence", and they have have aborted any remote possibility to convoke a referendum for the independence of Catalonia. The same people who a few days earlier had admitted a people's initiative (IP) to organize a referendum, based on the Consultation Act, and now they retreated. What has happened? This proposition was initiated as a simple speculation to win the votes of those willing to break with Spain. The problem, though, is that after the demonstration on July 10th in Barcelona, these votes would get the majority and would mean the compromise to start a secession process. And this is a big problem for who does not see Catalonia beyond a sad condition of "Autonomous Community" within Spain and never believes that the time for a Catalan State has arrived. Spanish stability is always priority and the freedom of Catalonia is left eternally in a second or third plane. When elections are close, they put on the mask of Macià to hide their real face of Cambó. They are always who want the abortion, at all price, of the prelude of the independence of Catalonia.

Santiago Espot
CEO Catalunya Acció, promoter Força Catalunya
Published at "El Punt", July 22nd 2010

What kind of people Spain must be that they have to wave the flag of torture?

2010-08-12T17:54:00.000+02:00

Spain, for much that boasts, is nothing more than a people of torturers, arrogant and cowards.

How else anybody, to look brave, before taking on the opposition -the bull in this case-, would torture and wound it in the most disgraceful way?

What kind of nation, what kind of people, we have for forceful associates?

We must break, politically and nationally, with them with the utmost emergency, before they do not take us all as "bulls".

Salvador Molins
(Member BIC and Catalunya Acció)

President Montilla declared, once he voted for bullfighting, that his vote was for freedom -we must understand that for those who take pleasure contemplating that brutal performance, those who are pleased at looking at dying wounded, teased and disadvantaged bulls-. It is clear that the second part of the sentence was omitted, but in reality, stabbing, torturing and kill a disadvantaged animal is something not for libertarians but savage and bad persons. The bad work of a bad people!

Comment on the article "The land of ban", by the Economist

2010-07-31T02:06:00.000+02:00

As we are "the land of ban", we should ban every article that is written with some ill-informed journalist, talking about things that does not seem to know, from a place where everything that comes from their peripheries sound like an attack to the sacred unity of the (ex-)empire.

It seems very difficult to understand how we, Catalans, can continue to be annexed to such totalitarian way of thinking. Do you tolerate diversity? Democracy? Freedom of choice? If not, then, we, Catalans, better leave this and become an independent Nation. Yes, I said Nation. The same word that has been forbidden (hmmm, were we -Catalonia- the land of ban?) from an already meager Charter, something that was written by our representatives elected democratically, and then, was voted by our people -Catalans, of course-, and later endorsed by the Spanish Parliament -another elected organ- but what several judges -not voted in any election, cut and interpreted following Franco's frameworks. The same judges who have inserted up to fourteen times "Spain in the only sovereign nation in Spain". Fourteen times! Do they think Catalans are idiots?

To this, I answer that Catalans are not idiots, and that we shall become independent in the near future. Due to, and among other reasons, this type of reactions from the Spanish cavern. As follows, ability to not tolerate diversity, ability to plunder some €60M/day from Catalonia, lack in investments for infrastructure, magnificent and extraordinary waiting lists in the Health Service, lack of investment in Education, discrimination against Catalonia's own language in our own land. And I leave a few more.

Perhaps we are not "the land of ban" more than others try to ban us from existing. At the end of the day, our bans, like the ban on burkhas is made to protect women from that barbaric tradition of having to cover their faces "in the name of God", and the ban on bullfighting to extend the protection of animals to bulls too.

One recommendation to your journalist, do not come to Catalonia, perhaps you will be next one to be banned from entering. Or maybe we shall perform one last "corrida" using him as the object of fun, parody and ridiculous. Drugging him, sawing his horns and severing his neck ligaments prior to being teased, hooked, stabbed and finally dragged along the ring, while his killer waves his ears and perhaps his tail to the public. Would you prefer the "corrida" be banned then?

Jordi Margalef
Catalunya Acció UK

The full article can be seen by clicking on the following link http://www.economist.com/node/16706413?story_id=16706413

Beyond bullfighting, the Spanish crumble

2010-07-28T12:34:00.000+02:00

Today, the Catalan Parliament has decided to ban bullfighting in Catalonia, due to begin in 2012. One less alien tradition to Catalonia. Bullfighting, only typical from Third World countries rather than civilized and democratic Europe, will not longer exist in our country.

Catalonia, its people represented in the Parliament, has decided to embrace the advanced thinking present within the most developed Nations in Europe. Catalonia has suppressed a barbaric Middle Age hobby, disguised as ancestral culture but in fact, used as an instrument of unification by Spain. Who had not heard that the Spanish portrait is based on "sun, paella, flamenco and bullfighting"?

From today, the tourist who seeks all these in Catalonia will have to look for them in other places beyond the borders of Catalonia. We did not share some of these identity symbols with Spain in the first place, they were imposed to us with the Spanish colonization, and we shall get rid of them, as we shall get rid of Spain and become an independent Nation in the near future.

We know there will be outrage among the Spanish ranks. It is understandable, because Spain is only holding together by symbols such as bullfighting and football. Fallen one, the rest will follow, and with this alien symbolism, that artificial country itself. The big Spanish crumble is close to happen for good, being Catalunya Acció one of the main actors on the stage.

Take a look at the Spanish newspapers, their headlines are pointing more at the identity threat, and the possibility that Catalonia becomes independent, than the defence of the bullfighting itself. What more excluding, racist and degrading than condemning a whole Nation to have to hold, and enjoy, performances like men teasing, stabbing, torturing and finally killing a drugged, horn-sawed and stunned animal?

We are proud of having outlawed bullfighting. And will be even more when our duty to become independent from Spain and France will be fulfilled.

Jordi Margalef Turull
Catalunya Acció UK

Evaluation of the initiative "Solidaritat Catalana per la Independència"

2010-07-27T23:53:00.000+02:00

Following the call to create "Solidaritat Catalana per la Independència", last July 20th, by Mr Joan Laporta (ex-chairman FC Barcelona, promoter of Democràcia Catalana), Mr Alfons López Tena (jurist and member of Convergència Democràtica Catalana) and by MP Uriel Bertran (MP for Esquerra),

Catalunya Acció evaluates positively the appearance of this initiative, which is in line with the strategy and proposals that Catalunya Acció has been developing since its formation in 2004. In the sense of backing the patriotic union of Catalans in a great electoral coalition as the only way of obtaining a categorical victory of the supporters for independence in the contest of the elections at the Parliament of the Principality of Catalonia.

In front of the disorientation provoked by the appearance of new initiatives among so many supporters for independence, such as Reagrupament, Solidaritat Catalana per la Independència and the Conferència Nacional del Sobiranisme driven by eminent Moisès Broggi, Joan Blanch, Oriol Domènech, Agustí Bassols, Heribert Barrera and Antoni M Badia, we would like to confirm that is not a symptom of dispersion and disorientation in the supporters for independence, but necessary elements of clarification and consolidation for this political stage, previous to the construction of the "Great Coalition for Independence" that collected all this claim for national freedom.

We would request that Mr Joan Carretero and Mr Joan Laporta, as determining elements for this coalition to be real, that for the next days, give their utmost to resolve their differences and reach an agreement, because due to their actual political weight, they have in their hands the power to create this Great Coalition among the different political proposals in favour of independence, projecting unity and victory to the hundreds of thousands of voters who are claiming such Coalition.

The actual international context, having the International Court of Justice endorsed the legality of the unilateral declarations of independence, opens a historical opportunity for the Catalan Nation and, so, forces even more the nationalist leaders to be to be at the level of the circumstances and not defraud the longing of independence of the Catalan people.

Catalunya Acció maintains the compromise acquired since its foundation, promoting and collaborating in the construction of this Great Coalition for Independence, as the key factor in the strategy to achieve independence. Because of this compromise, Catalunya Acció will remain vigilant and alert that opportunistic, last minute climbers or infiltrates, always present in every political activity do not impair or manipulate this coalition project.Catalunya Acció

Barcelona, July 26th 2010

The International Court of Justice endorses processes of independence and affirms the that independence of Kosovo does not violate international law

2010-07-22T22:38:00.000+02:00

From http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-10730573

We trust that we, all Catalans, know how to be at the level of the opportunity that is offering us the world of constituting ourselves in state.

Josep Castany
Counsellor Catalunya Acció and General Secretary Força Catalunya

UK Parliament MP presents motion recognising Catalonia as a nation. Laura Pous, CNA

2010-07-18T14:02:00.000+02:00

The proposal expresses MP's concerns that Catalan democratic will has been over-ruled by the Spanish Constitutional Court and says that Catalonia should have the right to decide its own future.

London (CNA).- An MP has presented a motion in the Westminster Parliament in support for Catalonia and the Catalan Statute of Autonomy approved in the 2006 referendum. “Catalonia is a nation, that is how Catalans see it, and that is certainly how I see it from London”, said Plaid Cymru MP Hywel Williams, who presented the motion in Parliament. “The statement expresses our support and solidarity with the people in Catalonia”, said Williams, who noted the 'remarkable' demonstration of more than one million people that took place in Catalonia on July 10th.

The statement promoted by the Welsh MPs recognises 'the right' of Catalan residents 'to democratically determine their own future'. In fact, the protest on July 10th had the motto ‘We are a nation. We decide'. The text presented in the UK Parliament states that the protest in Barcelona was 'in favour of proper powers for Catalonia' and welcomes 'the continuing debate over the constitution of Catalonia'.

The motion expresses concern that 'future constitutional developments in Catalonia which take place with the support of the governments and people of Catalonia may face judicial review by organisations which are not neutral or independent'. The 2006 Statute of Catalonia was passed by the Catalan and Spanish Parliaments and voted on in referendum, but the Spanish Constitutional Court decided to cut 14 of its articles and reinterpret 23 others. The ruling reduced the scope of devolved powers in Catalonia and stated that Catalonia cannot be legally recognised as a nation because Spain is the state’s 'only nation'.

Williams argued that the Constitutional Court in Madrid has not been 'independent' in the ruling about the Statute of Catalonia. “We support decisions to be made in Catalonia and not to be subject to revision by people from outside”, he said. “It is important for us to make our views known as Welsh nationalists, and to show our solidarity with the people in Catalonia, and for the people of Catalonia to know where we stand”. Some Scottish and Irish MPs are also expected to support the motion, and Williams hopes that English MPs will also be sensible to the situation in Catalonia.

http://beta.catalannewsagency.com/tabid/78/ID/492/UK-Parliament-MP-presents-motion-recognising-Catalonia-as-a-nation.aspx

Towards the final victory

2010-07-12T09:38:00.000+02:00

Spaniards,

Celebrate today the title, because tomorrow Catalonia will celebrate its independence. Football is all what you have left of your "Empire".

As Catalonia is walking unstoppably towards freedom, stronger than ever, Spain can only offer misery, corruption, crisis, unemployment, bullfighting, flamenco and football.

Enjoy it while you can.

Jordi Margalef Turull
Member of Catalunya Acció

Força Catalunya

2010-07-11T14:02:00.000+02:00

Catalonia was born to become a nation, not to become a province.

The presentation of the web of Força Catalunya may seem, at first glance, a purely political act. However, to understand and grasp its deepest sense, it is necessary to view it in a broader context; the transformation of the conscience that is happening worldwide, and especially, within our nation.

The old thinking, still present in large sectors of our population, is ruled by deception, error and fear. With the conception engendered by this conscience, people, Nature and nations are reduced to objects which can be manipulated and subdued. Whoever is anchored with this conscience oscillates between weakness and despotism, producing the old game of dominations, where some act as victims and may only beg for what it is already theirs, and others who erect themselves as owners of what it does not belong to them.

This old consciousness has furnished the world that we step in as we open our front door, switch the TV on and on reading the newspapers. A world so full of such flagrant contradictions that is cracking everywhere.

The new conscience that is emerging, without too much noise, recognizes the sacred character of human being, Nature and nations. All beings deserve of this honour. This new conscience originates a clear perception of profound order of the reality and the place every man and every nation occupies. It knows that the destiny of people and countries is determined by their capacity to well their own creativity for everything necessary. This conception of reality creates a new type of relationships, respecting and valuing the others, cooperating and enjoying together the material and spiritual wealth that everybody bears inside.

The political process that the Catalan Nation is living at this moment, it is inscribed in this paradigm of change, where all submissions, and specifically the national, are meant to be overcome. We have entered in a stage where an increasing number of Catalans are not willing to continue with our nation being a Cinderella. We want that Catalonia becomes the owner of its own History.

For dignity of Catalans, and precipitate this new conscience of free men that is joining together, we cannot continue allowing that foreign nations illegally take over the fruits of our intelligence and our work as it has happened for the last Centuries. In no time, it will be the Catalan Nation who shares its national genius, equal-to-equal, with the rest of nations of the world.

Making this change of conscience visible in our nation requires men and women who love every one of their acts in front of the country, men and women who catch their sacred character and have intimate conviction of their huge capacities. Men and women who transmit with their doing the pride of being Catalans and have courage to crown with success the task of freeing our nation. Men and women who be the honourable speakers of the Catalan Nation in front of the Humanity.

So, to precipitate the emergency of the men and women who incarnate this new conscience, is why Força Catalunya has been born.

Maria Torrents
Counsellor Catalunya Acció

The meaning of Força Catalunya. July 8th 2010

2010-07-09T12:57:00.000+02:00

With the objective of opening a real hope for the freedom of our Nation, at the beginning of 2005 Catalunya Acció was born, a project of political and national regeneration that has the non-negotiable aim of taking our country to independence around 2014.

From the very beginning, we wanted that the defining treats of the project were the uncorrupted fidelity to the spirit of our nation and to the fixed objectives, intellectual lucidity and pragmatism in the analysis of the causes and the exit ways of the actual national situation, courage to extend to all corners of our nation a brave and optimist discourse, making emphasis in our abilities and our will as determining elements for our national freedom, and clear leadership and strategy to achieve the objective. This strategy has been designed to start and converge the two factors that will vertebrate our independence; popular will and institutional will. Popular will is already in a dynamic process and has come out from its identity trench of the last thirty years to fight for the entity battle, clearly and without complexes. The ballot at Arenys de Munt, which has extended throughout the Nation and Catalans overseas are an irrefutable prove, makes evident that Catalans are not capable to tolerate the submission and humiliation what we live in for any longer. Catalans want a free and prosperous nation.

Arrived into this point, the question that everybody must ask themselves, and that must open the eyes to a lot of our compatriots, still confused, is; What is stopping our independence? The answer to this question is precisely the determining lesson in this process. And the answer is; all those who have made their way of life from the actual situation of submission of our Country and work, actively or passively, to box Catalonia into Spain, condemning us to an unavoidable national decadence. The exponent of this stoppage is the current Catalan political establishment.

It is in this point where Força Catalunya comes into action. It is conceived as another tool within the general strategy of Catalunya Acció. Força Catalunya is the electoral tool that has to play a determining role in the configuration of this institutional will. Without it, our wish for independence will always suffer from systematic frustration.

It is necessary that Catalans unveil their eyes, and painful as it might be, realize that the stoppage, the cap that obstructs our independence are the politicians seated in the Parliament of Catalonia. Ones because they are the right hand of Spain, and their politics pursue the provincialization of Catalonia, its disappearance as a Nation, and the others, for their coward collaborationism, that does not go further than begging for what has always belonged to the Catalan Nation but was taken by the force of the arms and the legal imposition.

The presence of Força Catalunya in the electoral Catalan map has to serve as catalyst for the new conscience that is growing throughout our nation to emerge, clearly and strongly. To become free men, loyal and incorruptible at the Nation's service. A consciousness that will substitute the old political conscience that has brought us to the actual cul-de-sac.

To make Independence possible and the deep national regeneration that our Nation needs, is essential a political regeneration, in other words, the substitution of the actual political class for men and women contrastedly loyal to Catalonia.

Because without a real and deep political regeneration it is impossible a national regeneration, which guarantees a dignified independence and assures the decolonization at all levels of the national life.

When the two wills, popular and institutional, become synchronized, and the men who incarnate this new consciousness of courage, integrity and service take the lead of the country, Independence will fall as a ripe fruit.

And, with the Catalan State, we shall have the instrument in our hands to reconstruct this divided, colonized and impoverished nation that we have inherited.

Political independence is, then, the necessary instrument to achieve not only material prosperity, but over all, to return us our own way of being, masked and deformed during so many centuries of domination. It is in this rooting in our national idiosyncrasy what will return us the pride of being Catalans, and by showing the creating spark and strength of character that beats in the heart of the Catalan nation, will explode the spiritual glory that our nation has shown in so many moments of its History.

The challenge that Força Catalunya has now is impressive. We know that it will not be exempt of difficulties, but our strength is powerful. The same spirit that was incarnated in Guifré, Oliba,

Ermessenda and the King James I for funding the Catalan Nation, Roger de Flor, Joanot Martorell, Llull or Muntaner for enlarging it, and Verdaguer and Macià for waking it up from the sleep is now alive among us and will conduct with no obstruction to the achievement of the freedom and regeneration of our Nation.

Força Catalunya will be officially launched tonight

2010-07-08T16:52:00.000+02:00

Tonight, during his speech at the dinner called, amongst others, by Suma Independència, Santiago Espot will present the official launch of Força Catalunya. The aim of Força Catalunya will be to obtain the independence of Catalonia around 2014.

The event will count with the attendance of several important leaders in the political struggle of Catalonia for its independence. Apart from Santiago Espot, the dinner will count with the presence of Enric Canela, professor at the University of Barcelona and founder of Suma Independència; Heribert Barrera, ex-president of the Parliament of Catalonia; Dr Moisès Broggi, surgeon, holder of the St George's Cross and Toni Strubell, grandson of the great Catalan doctor Josep Trueta,exiled in England at the end of the Spanish war, holder of the St George's Cross, and other personalities.

Its website can be accessed by clicking on this link http://www.forcat.cat/

The contest for the Catalan elections has begun.

Força Catalunya!

Why are we not attending the demonstration?

2010-07-02T11:50:00.000+02:00

We understand the reasons why a lot of supporters of the independence of Catalonia are wandering whether to attend the demonstration on July 10th. To shout "Independence!", marching besides other supporters of independence, protesting against the mistreatment we suffer from Spain, and so.

Catalunya Acció respects the right of people to attend this demonstration, that is only fair, but nonetheless, as an organization, we shall never go besides nor behind the maximum responsible, our political leaders, who have led our Nation to the current situation for their sickly obsession of fitting Catalonia into Spain. Being it in form of autonomism or federalism. This failure was already announced 30 years ago and now we are living, life, the last stages before the breakage.

If our regionalist politicians want to defend the "Estatut", they must move their arses and do the job we pay them to do, it means, from the Government and the Parliament. Our regional MP's only make contact with their people when they need to save their seats and their way of life.

The motto "right to decide" is very blurred and not compromised so that everybody can assume it for their interests. Some parties are already using it as an carrot slogan for the next elections. Some others are using it to keep the subsidies from the government, and the day after, everybody will interpret the demonstration as they want.

We do not want the "right to decide", it is already ours. Catalunya Acció wants independence and a Catalan State. The only hurdle to achieve it is the nuisance, the stop that represents the actual politician class, who feel very comfortable in Spain and who we must remove urgently if we want to have a prosperous and dignified future. The country is failing from the top and until we do not solve this problem, we shall remain in the actual hole.

Catalunya Acció calls to not to attend the demonstration on July 10th

2010-07-01T01:00:00.000+02:00

Catalunya Acció calls to not to attend the demonstration that is being summoned against the sentence by the Constitutional Court which cuts considerably the powers of the autonomous government of Catalonia.

Santiago Espot, CEO Catalunya Acció, has expressed his rejection to the demonstration summoned to July 10th, 'this sentence is very well deserved to all those who have kept us in a tangle, telling us that we had to do everything possible to live in Spain together. It is well deserved to all those who have been living from the idea that Catalans had to believe that the fitting of Catalonia within Spain was possible.

We shall now see whether they have the dignity and the courage necessary to do the same to Spain that Spain has done to them, giving a very loud slap on the face'.

No supporter of independence may attend a demonstration summoned by Jose Montilla. The same man who said not long ago that "we will fight any support for independence".

Catalunya Acció sues Adidas

2010-06-23T18:39:00.000+02:00

Coinciding with the debut -and first loss- of the Spanish team in the World Cup, Mr. Santiago Espot, the President of Catalunya Acció has made public the denounce that this organization presented at the end of February against Adidas, sponsor of the Spanish team for flagrant breach of the Law of Linguist Politics. The suing was admitted by the Catalan Agency of Consumers. Moreover, Santiago Espot 'seriously observes all the official sponsors and providers of the Spanish team' and all the firms sited in Catalonia that show any collaborationism, affinity or sympathy for Spain' will be put under 'strict surveillance' and will be sued should they commit any offense or fault.

Catalunya Acció frames these actions as one step forward in its task 'for the Catalan sports teams and for the full normalization of our language'.

Catalunya Acció assures that, 'with all legal and democratic means conceded by the Estatute' will survey the companies supporting Spain, reserving the 'patriotic right and duty' to present such denounces.

Força Catalunya and I

2010-06-22T19:15:00.000+02:00

The title is not an act of personalism. Simply, it is to explain my relationship with what it will be, surely, a new political actor in this country. Or, in other words, the reasons why I link my political action with a project I am one of the promoters. I know that the critics and the predictions of catastrophe about our initiative will be present; but it is strong, a lot stronger, the urge and the need of being able to offer Catalans a political alternative for independence, where the influence of Spain and its Catalan satellites will be inexistent. Now it is the moment, and I am sure that will succeed.

It is habitual to hear that, in front of the possibility of creating a new political party, its possibilities to succeed are remotes, or near to impossible. To affirm this is to recognize the great power of the actual parties, and is understandable. Really, when somebody sees the acquisitive presence of the Parliamentary parties in the media, it is normal to think that beginning from scratch and compete with them is very difficult. We reduce it all to the minutes that we might appear on the screen. It seems like the dictatorship of the mass media is invincible. Talent and audacity without great informative coverage are sterile, we believe. I shall not be so ingenuous to negate the importance of a certain continuous presence in the media to have possibilities in an electoral contest. However, reading where the collective state of mind of the electorate is little consistent. Do we know what people want? How can we know it?

From a few years ago, the study of what people want is the centre of the strategy of the political parties within the Parliament. They have definitevely renounced to convince about an idea -any idea-, to make a simple discourse adapted to the most generalized opinion. Everybody plays the score of the surveys because nobody is able to change the collective state of mind. What is important is not what is best for the people but what is closest to what the surveys say. When everything reduces to tactics of percentages, discourses empoverish and people drive away of their leaders even though they believe they know what we think. They believe they know the thoughts of their voters, and abstention is majority. Either the surveys are wrong or politicians do not know how to say what the people want.

I may affirm that Força Catalunya will not be moved by surveys. Does Centre d'Estudis d'Opinió -important company that produces surveys- say that we are not enough supporters of independence? Ramon Llull affirmed "Qui no persevera, no va" -who does not persevere, does not go-. We will apply the recipe of the Majorcan wise man and we shall not lose our spirit until winning the great majority of Catalans. Our effort will be to make see the sons of Catalonia that not being the rulers of our own destiny, we cannot expect anything profitable. Do we have to openly denounce those who develop politics influenced by Spain and that will become a nuissance? We only know too well that by wanting to please people, no Nation has become free. As we do not ignore that occupied countries continue to be occupied because its native inhabitants are accomplices of the politics that make it possible. Will we have to face, openly and hardly, the Spanish and French power? We shall do so with the weapons of dialectics, courage and intelligence. Moreover, our discourse and attitude will denote the firmness needed to win respect from the enemies of Catalonia.

The message from Força Catalunya will be not complicated to be understood and will speak clearly, among other things, because we have had no contact with the official politics after francoism. We have neither set foot in any official office nor we have participated in any government.

Will we be told that only with a message for independence nobody can convince Catalans? There is not better political program than that who aspirates to freedom. In fact, in Catalonia, all politics that is not openly for independence is reactionary. This is why we have the obligation to constitute Força Catalunya. The tool of those Catalans who are not willing to lenghthen the beginning of the process that has to finish with the constitution of the Catalan State. The success will depend on all those who are willing to do take it. Those who alredy are in it and who will come.

Santiago Espot
CEO Catalunya Acció and promoter Força Catalunya
Published at El Punt (May 13th, 2010)

Speech by Daniela Grau at Elna, Northern Catalonia

2010-06-15T16:25:00.000+02:00

Speech made by Daniela Grau, member of Catalunya Acció, on Sunday May 16th 2010, during the acts organized with the Institut de Projecció Exterior de la Cultura Catalana (IPECC) and the Elna Town Council, remembering the massacre of 1285 at the Cathedral of the city, one of the most cruel episodes of the French Crusade against Catalonia.

Cathedral of Elna

Dear Compatriots,

how lucky we are! -despite our secular disgraces as conquered nations, and still colonized -, being able to tell so many stories about our ancestors, with the Chronicle by Bernat Desclot in the 13th Century. Moreover, we may follow the formation of the first Counties, I mean, the very Catalonia itself. As for two historians specialists in the topic, J Bolós and V. Hurtado, we have in the Rosselló, Conflent, Vallespir and Fenollet more than 600 documents earlier that 991, more than any other region within the Caroligian Empire, which extended from the Elba to the Danube. We are the memory of Europe, so too in the Middle Ages.

Nowadays, the intellectual compromised proclaim the need of the Historical Memory. This is that the Maternity of Elna has become in the last few years the most coinciding place of memory in Northern Catalonia, where some 80 girls bear the name of Elna.

To encourage our people to remember the traumas of 1939, silenced for more than 70 years, is easier, more permissible, more successful than making more ancient traumas know, voluntarily manipulated or hidden for centuries, as it is generally our History. Because by not owning a Catalan State, not having own Government, we cannot have our own elaborated school teachings. We are ignorant of our own History and cannot extract any lessons.

In the case of the massacre of Elna -May 25th 1285- by French troops commanded by the King Philip le Hardi -stratagem-, there is, without a doubt, a supplementary reason to hide; the admittance of the responsibility and guilt of a traitor Catalan leader, and, the analysis of his reasons and not distorting the context, as it was done half a century later by another Chronicler, Ramon Muntaner.

Ignoring the mistakes is condemning oneself to repeat them.

Elna had not been besieged nor massacred should James II King of Majorca, Count of the Rosselló and the Cerdanya, Lord of Montpeller, unduly mystified as 'the good King James', had not betrayed his own word, if he had respected the agreement signed six years before with his brother, Peter, King of Catalonia-Aragon. James had compromised to help Peter against the enemies and to maintain the within Rosselló the Uses of Barcelona and the Constitutions of Catalonia. Elna had not been demolished, its women raped, children thrown against the walls, the churches burnt, had not been so ingenuous as to fall in the sarcastic traps of the French King, who had the consent and the help from the Pope, to take possession of Catalonia. James knew two years before about the massacre, July 1283, when the invasion of Catalonia was the target of the Papal Crusade. During the spring of 1285, the French King concentrated an army of such power as "from an earlier century, the French Crown had not joined". The day after Easter, King Peter came to Perpinyà to speak to his brother and to stop the invasion, but James, fatigued, confined for two days in his quarters and preferred to escape through the sewers of the Royal Palace of Perpinyà, abandoning his wife and sons, and seek refuge at la Roca.

The population opposed a heroic resistance. First, Salses, the border between Catalonia and France, then el Voló and finally Elna. The Crusade finished with the victory of the King Peter, called the Great, defeating the French at the Coll de Panissars -Albera, and the death of Philip le Hardi.

James II gave the Country to the enemy, because he trusted the supposed foreign ally instead of his own brother. He trusted a foreign power more than his own, the Catalan people. Ai las! Unfortunately for us, the cradle of Catalonia, its North, History repeated again, when the Rosselló was given as ransom. It was sacrificed in exchange of a supposed help from the French, who took profit by invading the territory. However, we continued heroically resisting the invaders during the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, until the annexation to France in 1659.

And today, if we remain still here, 350 years after, is because we have remained loyal to Catalonia.

We wish, then, that this commemoration allow us to find again our memory and to reinforce the national conscience. Animating us to unmask the leaders who keep Catalonia under foreign rule, and may turn the owners of our destiny. We thank IPECC, the Institute for the Projection of the Catalan Culture for its participation, and Mr Garriga Trullols for his active collaboration. IPECC commemorates every year transcendental events for our History like the victory at Coll de Panissars and the memory of Francesc Macià at Prats de Molló, and contributes now to unveil the illustrious city of Elna, the ancient Iberian Illiberis, martyr city in the 13th century. As the historian Josep Termes said "the Nation is the result of the past and the History, but is also future will-power: Catalonia, independent State".

Daniela Grau
Elna May 16th, 2010

Only States may confederate.

2010-06-11T15:26:00.000+02:00

Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida, leader of Unio Democràtica de Catalunya 'I am not supporter of the independence of Catalonia, I am confederalist'.

Commentary;

Mr Duran i Lleida, to say 'I am confederalist', at this moment, and also in the last century, might sound very pleasant to win the votes of all those who are NOT INFORMED or others like you, who know that the confederation of Catalonia with Spain is impossible, because of the simple reason that Spain does not want to confederate. Spain does not even respect that shit of "Estatut" cut and planed of that 30th September (2006), still waiting for the sentence by the Constitution Tribunal.

When you say "I will not bring forward a ballot for independence during the elections", you have all the right of doing so, but what I think is that the facts and the freedom process of Catalonia will go through you, above and beyond Convergència and Unió, and your connivance with Spain will be uncovered and a lot of your voters, a lot of those who voted affirmatively for the independence of Catalonia will rethink very soon whether they have to give their support to a project that still trust the Spaniards, who, instead of preparing the rupture with that group of thieves and usurpers and the new Catalan State, helps Spain in the aim of destroying Catalonia.

Do not make us laugh, Mr Duran i Lleida, and do not embroil the unwary people, you should know -you know it well, though, that a Confederation is established between two sovereign States and not between two autonomous communities, so that if you are really 'confederalist', stop being silly and start working for the urgent independence of Catalonia and for the establishment of the future Catalan State. Then, you could prepare yourself for an eventual confederation with the other Catalan speaking, culture and tradition countries, demonstrating that you are not a true liar.

Catalan independence and its supporters will remove all regionalist traitors and collaborationists with the enemies of Catalonia.

Prepare yourselves, Mr Duran i Lleida and colleagues, your time is arriving. The time to settle up the matter with Catalonia.

Josep Vilalta.
President of Berguedans per la Independència de Catalunya

Salvador Molins
Member BIC and Counsellor Catalunya Acció

Now it is necessary to get the engines running for Independence from within the Parliament

2010-06-08T16:57:00.000+02:00

Catalunya Acció is not doing otherwise but following its strategy towards the achievement of the Independence of Catalonia around 2014, the objective proclaimed at its birth in 2004.

To achieve our independence, two forces must be active. One comes from outside the Parliament, the other comes from within. Naturally, it is absolutely necessary that these forces target their objectives to one direction, the independence of Catalonia.

The forces from outside have already begun and are up and running to achieve it -Catalunya Acció, the ballots, 10Mil and other multiple organizations and platforms.

Now it is necessary to bring the discourse for independence to the Parliament, we need to start the second engine. So that is the task and goal for Força Catalunya.

Salvador Molins

Counsellor Catalunya Acció

The word 'fear' does not exist for Catalunya Acció

2010-04-21T20:16:00.000+02:00

I would like to talk about fear, and especially, about the fear of the Catalans. Some might wander, but Catalans, have they fear? Well, in certain measure, do so.

We often observe that there are many people who switch languages in front of who speak the language of the Spanish and French colonizers. Many wander how can they defend our own language in front of this swarm of linguistic deserters that populate the country. The answer, surely, has more than one explanation. But is necessary to remember that, after three centuries, Catalans have been subject continuously to the tyranny of the fear.

It is so that today, we collect the fruit of a constant persecution still suffered as a nation, as a language and as individuals with differentiated character and personality.

Fear is the result of a nothing but innocent strategy. Be it by the force of the arms, first, aimed to impose over an alien country, be it with legislation which obviates the original, the ultimate aim is to inflict in the colony's population the habit of fear, and doing it so that this population acquires and internalizes it to the point of believing that is an absolutely normal and unconscious behaviour. Fear might be unconscious, but is never normal.

In fact, though, how would we want that a country subject to wars, murders, persecutions, public punishments and mockery, looting and constant illegalities during three centuries? Few countries have suffered such fierce harassment for being simply people with their own personality. In the Mediterranean, for example, we might find a similar case with the besiege suffered by the Jews.

Despite this, how do we explain that the percentage of Catalans in support of independence of Catalonia is higher than ever? Apparently, if we judge by certain attitudes that speak about a presumably acquired fear, it might seem that the need for our independence would create certain mistrust. And it is because of that, the need to end everything that has caused these fears, that is when the urgency to stop and face the abuser is demonstrated. But, who takes the first step?

The word fear does not exist for Catalunya Acció. And we are ready.

Ready to initiate a process to break definitely with Spain and France.

Ready to break definitely with the abuser and all who, from Catalonia, collaborate with them.

Ready for independence to stop being politically orphan, and to begin the journey that will lead our flag to be flown among the rest of flags of Europe.

Ready to demonstrate to Spain, France and everybody, that never, ever, it is possible to destroy winning people.

Albert Ubach
Member Catalunya Acció

We are not only the 4 provinces

2010-04-14T12:23:00.000+02:00

All who demand a Catalan State without mentioning that Catalonia is a Nation, split and colonized by two oppressive European States, perpetuate the deception of the oppressors, which is that Catalonia is a region of Spain.

We cannot claim for a State and continue to be politically corrects, that is selfcensoring in order to please. This behaviour has kept us subject to the enemy. We speak about dignity, but we will not be dignified when the truth is distorted and behave as chained slaves.

The perspective of the National problematic, meaning the denounce of the National exploitation both to the territory within the French State -the poorest, with highest unemployment index in France's departments, and the territory within the Spanish State, is not only an ethical perspective, of respect to the historical memory, fidelity to the roots, agreement with a minority -the few non-colonized Catalans, but instead is a pragmatic view. May we afford to hide the truth when the survival as European Nation is so threatened?

We must tell the truth for three main reasons, on one hand to convince the rest of Europeans about the existence of the Nation; from the other hand, to obtain help from the other European Nations that strive to obtain their own State; and finally, to encourage and pride our own compatriots, who ignore, generally, the limits of our own territory.

Europe is conscious, from decades ago, of the problems of the border regions and tried to find solutions and giving development grants. But the next step is missing, recognizing that a lot of problems of these border regions hide national problems and that conceding money to regions that have no legal reconnaissance such as the Northern Catalonia -subject to the double colonialism from Paris and Montpellier, is a temporary patch.

In Europe, is only known the existence of the Catalonia as a region in Spain and its maximum claim is for autonomy. How may we convince them that we are not a region in Spain, that we want a Catalan State, if we do not inform them that we are a dismembered Nation, doubly oppressed from three centuries ago? Moreover, bringing up the double oppression both from Spain and France make the Basques, Bretons, Alsatians, Corses and the long list of nations colonized by France overseas potential allies.

Exposing the own cause as well as defending the cause of these others is not adding forces? Is it not the reinforcement of the credibility we want to achieve? How can we explain that we glorify ourselves for our universalism, defending peace and giving humanitarian aid all over the world and yet we cannot defend our own cause? How is that we prefer to minimize, dilute, remain within a provincial framework, instead of being the speakers for the colonized nations and more particularly in one self-satisfied so-called democratic Europe?

Both Pau Casals and Oscar Ribes knew how to take advantage of a worldwide spread message to refer to the existence of the whole Catalan Countries. They situated Catalonia in the linguistic and cultural field; now is the time to denounce the inner colonialisms in Europe, the negation of the existence of nations split by false borders, victims of occult identity genocides.

Not delimiting the territories of the Catalan Nation perpetuates the betrayal by Pujol's government who affirmed in big banners hung around the Alt Empordà: "som una nació, som 6 milions" -"we are a nation, we are 6 millions"- as if Catalonia began at La Jonquera. We, the excluded, the Northern Catalans, Majorcans, Valencians, Andorrans and from Alguer, cannot allow that our Catalanism is concealed by allegedly pragmatic reasons.

The true pragmatism in the 21st Century is to make discourses to break from three and a half centuries of colonization, having the self-awareness that we have been formatted to hide, to beg, to be pleased with minimalist vindications such as the Spanish Constitution, amnesty for the Francoist executioners, the "Estatut" already defeated fifty years ago, and now, the Nation limited to the four provinces.

The true pragmatism is to break with the colonial selfcensorship, spreading the legitimate reasons of our fight, conciliating our people.

Daniela Grau Humbert
Counsellor Catalunya Acció Northern Catalonia

The Spaniards and their 'sense of humour' against Catalonia

2010-04-09T14:44:00.000+02:00

It is not new. It has happened already in recent times but we must talk about the same topic over and over.

Some small Spanish TV station -public, thus paid by Catalans too, has insulted the whole Catalan nation once more. With the excuse of the calling to public examination for teachers of Catalan by the Aragonese government, this TV station has made a supposed parody of this examination, urging the applicants to teach Catalan and 'everything it represents', such as 'mastering the stealing and blackmailing' apart from other disrespects against the Catalan language.

However, in front of such serious insults towards the Catalan people, none of the so-called 'defenders of the Catalan dignity', hence, politicians and other representatives, have come forward to demand an apology by the Aragonese TV channel or its politic representatives.

In front of such offense, Santiago Espot, CEO Catalunya Acció, has published the following public note as follows:

Barcelona, April 8th 2010. The public TV of Aragon has broadcast a gag of xenophobic character against Catalonia, branding Catalans as blackmailers. In front of such ignominious attack, the President of Catalunya Acció and promoter of Força Catalunya, Santiago Espot, has shown his indignation for the silence of all parties that should defend the dignity of Catalonia and that, in this deliberate attack from the public Aragonese TV, have not defended Catalonia.

In words by Santiago Espot, 'everything is a sample of the xenophobic character of the Spanish public media against Catalonia, which do not let escape any occasion to erode the dignity of our Nation'.

Santiago Espot added 'and it is in this sense that the passivity of the political establishment of our country, and our Government, has to be denounced. The Government that tolerates that a sister party -Aragonese socialists-, insult our country, this time through their TV station'.

To Santiago Espot, the Aragonese Government must end broadcasting this program that only represents an attack to the dignity of Catalonia.

However, Spain do not tolerate that samples of similar 'parodies' come out from Catalonia. In July 2008, not long after the Spanish Government published the so-long waited fiscal balances, which officially certified that Spain plundered an 8.7% of the Catalan GDP -at least, because the method used was very dubious to the opinion of several well-renowned economists such as Ramon Tremosa-, Lluís Suné, local Councillor in Torredembarra (Catalonia), published this picture on his blog.

The legend "An 8.7% of the Catalan GDP is not enough. Sponsor a child from Extremadura for €1000/month", caused profound outrage in Extremadura, which initiated legal action against Suné. Lluís Suné then, had to delete the picture from his blog and publicly apologise for that.

Will we see similar action against form the Catalan Government for the aggression by Aragon against Catalonia? Probably not, because attack on Catalonia comes for free. Only very determined voices, like Santiago Espot, and Catalunya Acció, will never cease to denounce the attempts to offend our Nation.

Jordi Margalef
Member Catalunya Acció

"Spanish should not be taught at all at schools in Catalonia", Prof Juan Carlos Moreno Cabrera. Interview by Carles Bellsolà

2010-04-05T14:53:00.000+02:00

Prof Juan Carlos Moreno Cabrera, linguist.

He was born in Madrid and defends the linguist immersion in Catalan. The Professor at the Autonomous University of Madrid, Juan Carlos Moreno Cabrera has published a book, "El nacionalismo lingüístico (Península) -The linguist nationalism (Peninsula), with a profoundly provocative thesis; the only linguistic nationalism existing in Spain is the Spanish. And that is very aggressive, as explained in this interview with eldebat.cat, translated to English.

In what consists the linguistic nationalism?

The most common idea in Spain about nationalism, linguist and general, is the claims of a series of regions that have stuck to, in an obsessive and exaggerated manner, the idea that their language and culture had to be recognized. Because a lot of people consider that their language and culture are already recognized within the Constitution and, therefore, all this insistence correspond to a desire of differentiation that goes against the globalization of society.

But you, instead, sustain that there is a linguistic nationalism from Spain.

In headlining my book this way, surely there have been a lot of people who have read it wanted to reaffirm their ideas. To them, my book may be intolerable, because I demonstrate something hidden, the State nationalism. Which is not recognized as such because is parted from the fallacy that once the State is established, in this case, the Spanish State, all the expectations are exceeded, including those ethnic and of identity. I demonstrate in the book that this is absolutely false. Not only the State has not transcended the national question, but is based on one Nation, one culture and one specific language, that has continued to be the Spanish.

Therefore, which side gives more signs of nationalism?

It is that, following my definition of linguist nationalism, Catalan, Basque and Galician linguist nationalisms do not exist. Why? Because the main definition of linguist nationalism is to consider that the own language is superior to the others. Which makes no sense with strictly linguist reasons. This idea, originated by Menéndez Pidal, exists within the Castilian nationalism. But I fail to see it in the so-called Catalan nationalism, nor in the Basque or Galician. I do not see anybody who claimed that Catalan is superior than Spanish -linguistically.

Thing that is done by the Spanish nationalism, following your book.

The second defining feature is that, because my language is superior, I am doing the others a favour if I impose it to them. I do not perceive this in the so-called Catalan nationalism. Catalans do not pretend that Catalan is spoken in Malaga or Castile. I do not know any Catalanist defending this. Instead, Spanish do defend that Spanish dominates in Catalonia, and becomes the main language. But they disguise this discourse under the "communication language" or the "meeting tongue". In my book, the deduced idea is that, if we apply these criteria, the Catalan, Basque and Galician linguist nationalism do not exist. A lot of people have reproached that I do not criticize the "imposition of Catalan". But, what imposition? If I defend that Spanish has to be spoken in Castile, is that an imposition? Thus, if Catalans say that Catalan must be the main language in Catalonia, is that an imposition?

But Spanish nationalists do not openly manifest that Spanish must be the dominating tongue. What they do is argue about the individual rights of speakers.

We talk about about individual rights, but languages exist within a linguist community, not being isolated individuals. If I travel to Germany, I may have every right to speak Spanish but I must speak German. Because I am integrating on a community with linguist relations where German is prevailing. To speak about individual rights in linguist matters makes no sense. And when they criticize that Catalan acquires

predominance in certain fields, do so because it entails the loss of the absolute domain, in these fields, of the Spanish. When they criticize that, even if they do not openly do so, are demonstrating what they are fearing is not that Spanish language disappear from Catalonia -nobody with a little common sense would think that Spanish might disappear from Catalonia, it is stupid, but in reality are expressing their fear that Spanish lost the absolute prevail in Catalonia.

Instead, there are studies that affirm that Catalan language is in danger of extinction.

It depends which languages is compared against. If we compare Catalan against Aragonese, it is not in danger of extinction. But Catalan has to be compared against other languages of similar demographic level. Catalan is a very important European language from the demographic point of view and is not in danger of extinction. However, is not the prevailing language within the Catalan Countries, this is clear. There are a lot of fields in which it has not been possible to achieve this domain. Understanding domain as nothing negative, but to be the tongue of habitual use, the language by defect. Logical. When two languages live together, advances against the most powerful one from the demographic, economic and political points of view are very difficult. It should never be said, though, that Catalan is out of danger, because it is in contact with Spanish.

Due to that reason, the measures to increase the use of the language like linguist immersion are appropriate?

The only linguistic immersion that I know is in Spanish. There is no linguist immersion in Catalonia. If the Catalan language is used at school, I find it normal. Might we say that teaching in Madrid in Spanish is linguist immersion? I would not say so. We understand immersion when an official language is not the tongue of the population and it is mandated to use that tongue at school, thing that occurs in several countries in the world. In Nigeria, the tongue at school is English, and every child that attends school must learn English, which is not spoken by any of the members of his or her family. Because English, and this is the question, is not the tongue of Nigeria, is was imposed by the colonial powers. But Catalan is not imposed by any colonial power, is the own tongue of Catalonia.

You, in your book, differentiate between additive bilingualism and replacing. Which is the case of Catalonia?

The bilingualism that is said to promote from the centre is theoretically additive. In other words, I add my tongue to the native and both live together. But in 90% of the cases, in reality, is a replacing bilingualism, in which the new language is pretended to substitute the native. If a Catalan child is educated in Spanish, in what there are a lot more books, TV programs, more opportunities, is promoted that the child said 'Now, I do not speak to my family in Catalan any more, because it is more interesting for me to speak Spanish well, it gives me more opportunities'. Precisely, Spanish must not be taught at schools in Catalonia. I know it is harsh, that a lot of people will criticize me for that, but it is true. In these moments, there is a profound disequilibrium in favour of Spanish. How do we correct that? Giving support to both languages equally? Then, the disequilibrium is maintained. The only solution is to give support to the native -own- language, and a lot more support than to the other one. It is evident.

There are other reasons invoked, such as 'market' or 'darwinist' reasons, as you said, to justify the prevail of one determined language.

The new discourse of nationalism is based upon economical criteria. It is said that there are tongues that have a big market and others that have a small one. This means using capitalism globalization criteria, seeing it all as markets, products and clients. This is how economies work, but we must not use this economic criteria in culture. It is like we say that at "Museo del Prado", one paint that has only been seen by 50 people must be taken to the basement because it has only been seen by a very few visitors. Culture is not economics, is something else.

Why do writers in Catalan sell so few books in Spain?

Spain has not assumed its multinational character. If true multilingual politics had been applied, children had been taught, at least, to read and understand the diverse tongues of the State. So that a literate adult would be able to read Josep Pla without having to read a translation. And a Catalan author might sell his or her work in Spain. So that Catalan authors would not think writing in Spanish. Now, logically, if a Catalan author wants to be read the maximum possible, ends up writing in Spanish. In this sense, the presence of Catalan is disappearing, and is only read in Catalonia. And even more, in little numbers.

How has your book been received in the rest of Spain?

Practically all reviews and interviews have been in Catalonia, Galice or the Basque Country. In the rest of Spain, the book has had practically no incidence. People like to read opinions that reinforce their own, not totally opposite ones.

Carles Bellsolà. eldebat.cat 14/09/2008

Covering their privates

2010-03-30T21:40:00.000+02:00

In a moment where there is a very deep crisis like now, the economic news proliferate in all media with supersonic speed and we barely have the time to separate the grain from the straw. Besides, the majority of people ignores the tricky mechanisms over which the experts pontificate their studies, is easy that we feel fooled. In fact, it is difficult to understand how is possible that if numbers are the same to everybody, one party reads them exactly opposite than the other party. Two plus two are four, whether you are right or left, people think.

In this mess of number and percentages, common people do not, and cannot, understand, it is thanked the clear words heard a few weeks ago to the economist, and Professor at the University of Barcelona, Gonzalo Bernardos, during a debate at Carlos Fuente's "Catalunya Opina", Canal Català. More or less, Prof Bernardos said that to begin to readdress the actual situation, the authentic reality of the Spanish banking sector had to be faced. Spanish banks have closed the tap to credits, which drags us towards a cul-de-sac, why? We must, then, ask. In a solitary sentence by Prof Bernardos, it is summarized; he affirms that in 2007 there were banks that had 85% of their credit conceded to the estate sector. Not long after, it has come the big downturn of this sector, and consequently, a few weeks ago, the President of the Superior Council of Chambers of Commerce, Javier Gomez Navarro, said that the estate companies in Spain owe a total of €350B, from which half are loans to buy land. Very good. In that respect, the very Prof Bernardos manifests that banks are doing "creative accountancy" to make up the fact that a lot of those plots of land that they financed are not worth, now, a 10%. All together, there is no need to have studied economics to preview that the banking sector in Spain is about to explode.

However, it has not been unique to Spain. He have all seen as the American and German governments have faced the situation and have tried to solve this cancer that was -maybe still is- rotting their financial structures. I shall not value whether they have done well or not but certainly, have made public the insides of the responsible of this chaos that has affected a great number of the companies and families. Contrarily, the internal situation of the Spanish and Catalan banks continues to be as impenetrable as the Mystery of the Holy Trinity. Why are so untouchable the figures of Botins and Forneses, when everybody guess that hide more sins than Barabbas?

I do not believe that the answer to this question is alien to an information appeared more or less a month ago, where it said that Banco de Santander accumulated debt from PSOE -Socialist Party of Spain- worth €30M. On the other side, "la Caixa" made the same with PSC -Socialist Party of Catalonia- but with a more modest figure, only €7.2M. When we see the generosity of these institutions towards who represent us, can start imagining why the governments look at the other side. How can they ask for responsibilities to whom saves them from bankruptcy? We are in front of one alliance politico-financier that invalidates any sign of authentic democracy. Who pays, rules. And PSOE and PSC are not exceptions. Their viability as political parties depends exclusively from a General Council to which they had to concede privileges to be able to finance and not having to close for administration. Do not come now with tales like popular sovereignty or similar things, because who really rule are a bunch of people with offices at the highest floors of the most emblematic buildings in Madrid and Barcelona. Talking about democracy, when the elected government are puppets in the hands of bankers who give or forgive debts when they want, is wanting to take us for granted and an insult to the intelligence of the voter. A partitocracy in the hands of a banking oligarchy is not a symptom of progress. It is a clear political and moral degradation. Does anybody like to keep voting Botin's butlers?

Santiago Espot
CEO Catalunya Acció

Article published at "El Punt", on March 29th 2010

The misery of being a colony

2010-03-30T20:30:00.000+02:00

There has not been three years since the power cut that affected Barcelona in summer 2007. Then, the interruption of power supply lasted for three days and it evidenced the actual mistreatment to that Catalonia is object, not only from Spain but from the private companies managed from Spain. In that occasion, a wave of anger and protest was started on the digital media and blogosphere. Now, only a snow storm is enough to knock down electric posts in Girona and leave a big part of the North of the country in the dark for more than a week. On the third night, Vicent Partal qualified it as Intolerable. What must be it when the time doubled?

The prejudice and the consequences are already more important than the ones suffered in Barcelona, and they go beyond the economical loss -said to be millions. A hundred people have been intoxicated by the fumes of generators and at least one has died due to that. The reaction, however, from the media and the blogosphere, has been notably minor. Is it because there is tiredness and resignation, or is it because the main affected is not Barcelona but the region of Girona?

To see how thousands and thousands of people have to spend their days and nights without electricity and below zero temperatures, due to lack of maintenance of the towers for many years by Endesa and REE, results with a pathetic image, more seen in a Third World country than a developed one, and that not long ago saw itself as an European economical motor. Colonist politicians have tried to centre the debate in the need for Very High Tension line (MAT, in Catalan) which only pretends to play in the interests of those companies and evade their responsibilities in no guaranteeing the maintenance of those infrastructures giving public services managed from Spain and divert the public's attention from the real problems of the people. Only direct information from citizens who see this situation from the spot allows us to have an approximate idea of the reality; experiences from elderly or infants being cold, fishermen emptying the petrol tanks of their ships to feed the emergency generators of the Hospital in Palamos, isolated families without enough food or water, people looking for a hotel or asking other relatives for somewhere to sleep or take a shower. The numbers of the thousands of consumers without electricity are watered down because always hide that with every consumer, more people from the family, from the firm, the hospital or school are affected.

In the reports by VilawebTV "Apagats" -"Switched off"- and "Passen les hores i no torna la llum" -"Hours go by and the power is not back"-, we can see the adventures that people have to imagine to carry on without electricity. On Facebook, the affected have set up a group, where the indignation for the abandonment to which these people are subject is very noticeable.

Economic plunder and the colonial condition of our Nation is manifested with all cruelty in emergency situations like this, but is a permanent practice more or less disguised. Because there is no difference in mentality between a public or private manager when there is a Spaniard in front of a Catalan consumer: the latter must pay or vote, and keep their mouth shut. It does not matter whether from the public powers or the private companies, the asphyxia to our economy and our decision capacity is an identity symbol. Spain grows and Catalonia sinks, while we allow this with our work and the taxes we pay. The incompatibility of wanting to live in Catalonia decently and defending dependency is progressively increasing.

All this is another symptom of the severe decadence to which Spain is leading us, fully consciously and premeditated if we do not act urgently. The solution, as pointed by Enric Canela in his weekly article on Deumil.cat, has to be rebellion. A democratic rebellion that has already begun and that has more people reacting by adding themselves to the cause of recovering the freedom for Catalonia.

Published at "Es Poblat de'n Talaiòtic"

Reasons for voting "Yes" to independence

2010-02-26T20:44:00.000+01:00

Last February 19th, at the Sports Centre in Corçà (Baix Empordà, Catalonia), a conference was called by the commission organizing the polls for independence that will be held in this town on February 28th.

I take advantage of this place to reproduce the speech I made, as the representative of Catalunya Acció invited to this act, and also thank the assistant public and the organization for the hospitality received.

Good evening to everybody,

I would not like to begin my intervention before thank you for having invited Catalunya Acció to participate in this conference, and applaud, on behalf of the organization I represent, the poll for independence that you are organizing for February 28th.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I am convinced that I am not wrong if I affirm that everybody gathered in this act -if not all of you, at least a great part- will go to vote for the independence of this country. In other words, I am convinced that on February 28th, Corçà will vote, mainly common sense. Because if something is represented by these ballots is exactly this, a popular expression of common sense.

It is true that these polls represent a democratic exercise too and are a thermometer that will measure the capacity of organization of the towns and cities despite the official silence that the politicians of this country have imposed to suffocate popular initiatives like these. But, above all this, even above the democratic exercise to convoke the people to referendum, there is a factor that make these polls more than an election anecdote, because they are, and so they must be, the primaries of our National Independence.

Because, nowadays, you will convene with me that Catalans have invested enough time demonstrating that are a democratic nation. As if Catalans, who have been one of the most old and glorious Nations in Europe, would not believe ourselves that being Catalan means to bring the democratic gene in the blood. So, I want to go one step beyond and encourage you to live these referendums as a page that you, as part of the Catalan Nation, are writing in History recovering our State. I invite you to take the relay to the spirit born in Arenys de Munt last September, taking the flame that that group of patriots -Mr Ximenis, today present too, was among them, lit up to spread around the Nation.

If Catalonia live today in a collective campaign of polls, is due -and I want to remind it explicitly, to the courage and conviction of a small group of people who demonstrated us how a whole country can be shaken up even when they had the wind against and nobody betting for them. Next February 28th, all you will have the opportunity and the responsibility to make that the spirit of Arenys de Munt continues advancing and settling the bases of our next National emancipation.

But nobody fool themselves. Nobody think that independence will come as a present from heaven. And even a friendly agreement among Spanish, French and Catalans. No! The battle for Independence will be, above all, the battle for the dialectics and oratory. Because, ladies and gentlemen, this war -because we are in a political and diplomatic war, but war, nevertheless-, will demand that we choose an army of political leaders able to confront, to the last consequences, the discourse and the French and Spanish State machine. This, dear friends, is impossible to find in this public trough and fodder spreading institution that one day was our beloved Parliament of Catalonia. This, there, now, is not to be found.

The time for those who do not speak clearly, with euphemisms, auto-censoring themselves, is over. The time of watering down our language and discourse is over. To recover this Nation's dignity is time to recover the adequate tone to express our national genius, the steadiness of our actions and the strength of our reasons. In fact, as I said in the beginning, let's impose common sense.

Our political, cultural, linguistic, social and economic future is in play. Let's be worthy of Catalonia and rise willing to conquer victory that History reserves only to those in those Nations that are called to win. If on September 13th, Arenys de Munt initiated the way to this victory, next February 28th you will become ambassadors of democracy, and will let the world know, and especially the rest of Europe, that very soon, within the heart of the European Union, a new flag will fly, symbol of freedom, justice and democracy; the four stripes of our beautiful and immortal Catalonia.

Many thanks.

Albert Ubach
Member of Catalunya Acció

Speech made at Corçà, (Baix Empordà, Catalonia), on Friday, February 19th 2010, with occasion of the poll for independence to be celebrated on February 28th 2010.

In this occasion, 80 towns and cities of Catalonia, will hold similar polls. The number of electors, older than 16, arrives to a little less than 300,000. The biggest town holding the ballot will be El Vendrell (Baix Penedès). With this second wave of ballots, the number of possible voters will increase to one million Catalans, and the speaker for the National Coordinator qualified it as the non-return point for independence in view of the third wave of polls, to be held on April 25th, in big cities like Lleida, Figueres, Reus, Girona and Manresa.

Independent without coming out of the EU

2010-02-20T11:44:00.000+01:00

One study demonstrates that neither the independent Catalonia nor the rest of Spain had to request to join the European Union as new associates.

Albert Segura

Barcelona

Ult. Act. 19/02/2010 00:49

The Spanish threat that if Catalonia became independent would automatically rest outside of the European Union is only a threat. So it is demonstrated by a study by Dr Antoni Abat, professor a the University of Stanford, California, to which Avui has had access and that Cercle d’Estudis Sobiranistes and Horitzó Europa have presented today. The future Catalan State would not have to complete any awkward procedure, and neither the new Spain. In front of the legal loophole and the absence of precedents, Abat affirms that "the pragmatical exceptionality" would be the clue that opened the independent Catalonia the doors to remain within the EU, therefore, a political decision ad hoc will have to be taken.

Well done, then, by the towns and cities, organizers of the polls for independence, to have specified in the ballot papers that the future Catalan State will be "integrated in the EU". Because any foundational document, like the declaration of independence, would be an opportunity to tie Catalonia to the EU, specifying that the new State becomes a new associate and that the European legislation is still in vigour. From the beginning, Abat advises, "any Catalan legislation" has to make clear that Catalonia assumes the supremacy of the Communitarian Right" and it has a "will to maintain the stability of the international relations and respect to the fundamental rights". It should express the will to respect the Charter of the United Nations.

They are right who say "Spain breaks". If Catalonia becomes independent, the rest of the Spain becomes a new State too, and, therefore, would play with the same conditions in the international scene. That means, Catalans may threaten Spaniards too, by answering that our secession might left them out of the EU. "Spain without Catalonia is not the automatic successor of the actual Kingdom of Spain in the international field, because these secessions are always negotiated", Abat tells us in the study Independent Catalonia within the EU, that gives us examples of the dissolutions of the USSR, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia.

Today, presentation of the report

The same would happen to Scotland and the United Kingdom, they would have the same legal status in front of the EU. "The idea that the United Kingdom vetoes Scotland to the EU is nonsense, because in the same way, Edinburgh could veto London", Scottish Prime Minister Alex Salmond defences. Today, their ex-Minster for Europe, External Relations and Culture, Linda Fabiani will participate in the presentation of this report in addition of the President of the Parliament of Catalonia, Ernest Benach, and the EMP Ramon Tremosa (CiU), Oriol Junqueras (ERC), Raül Romeva (ICV) and Izaskun Bilbao (PNB). The Vienna Convention, the study remembers, previews that when a region becomes independent, it can freely decide whether inherits or not the rights and obligations subscribed by their ex-State.

Catalonia and the new Spain would have to submit to the European Court of Arbitrage, which would distribute rights and obligations and would decide how they would be represented before the Council, the Commission and the European Parliament. While the EU is only a matter of States, the best way to be represented is by having an own one. Finnish are only 5 million inhabitants, but actually have 14 MEP's at Strasbourg, twice as many Catalan MEP's. The seven Catalan MEP's place Catalonia at levels of Slovenia, with 2 million inhabitants, or Luxembourg, with less than half a million.

Is not possible to negate to the seven and a half million Catalans, from one day to the next, the study says, the rights that they already possess as Europeans; freedom of the person's movements, goods and capitals, services, possibility of voting in local and European elections, and belonging to the inner market within the Euro. Excluding Catalonia from the EU, the rest of Europeans remained without exercising these rights in the Principality.

Article published at Diari Avui, February 19th, 2010.

If you don't go, they come back

2010-02-09T12:18:00.000+01:00

Of all the adverts we have published, full page and colour, I believe that this is the most equilibrated and potent as image. There is not a lot of text, it becomes very contrasted, with an intense black, nothing like a fly's wing, practically without any transparency from the previous page, even the paper, with a little visible surface with a slight rough grain orange-skin is useful. Magnificent from the point of view of the printer.

The soldiers lifting the flag have together three very clear meanings; fight, victory and team work!

Fight because Iwo Jima was not the last battle, after achieving victory on that one, the fight still continued for a long time. As it happens with Catalonia.

Victory because they have put up the flag and saved the island. Build another base camp. Advance, battle by battle towards our independence.

Team work and effort, because battles are not won by soldiers on their own but coordinated under a commandment and one strategy. Too many times and thousands of times a day, a lot of Catalan patriots want to go alone, not accepting neither commandment nor strategy. Their lonely effort was not fire power, they do not understand that every member within the team reinforces the others and amongst them become a winning team, like in Iwo Jima.

The sentence, battle roar, signal of hope in all and for all; "ARA MÉS QUE MAI, NI UN PAS ENRERE!" -Now, more than ever, not a step back!-. The logo of Força Catalunya identifies what it is needed the most in Catalonia, strength!!!

The star of Catalunya Acció and the star of the flag mean the Star of Freedom, the independence of Catalonia!

"Si tu no vas, ells tornen" -if you don't go, they come back-. Let everybody go so the Spanish, the supporters of regionalism and the ones who disguise independence for autonomy within Spain do not come back. Nothing that stinks of Spain, nothing that kneel down or seeks fraternal relationships with Spain.

Article by Salvador Molins. Counsellor Catalunya Acció.

Image Published on Feb 7th 2010. Diari Avui, Barcelona.

Complying with the law

2010-02-07T12:03:00.000+01:00

Catalunya Acció UK is pleased to congratulate Catalunya Acció in the Principality of Catalonia for admitting to have reported during 2009, 3000 shops and other establishments that are in breach of the Normalization of the Catalan Language Act. The Act was endorsed by the Parliament of Catalonia late in 2007 and has not been contested against the Spanish Constitution by any Spanish political party. It allows citizens to report to the authorities of those who do not comply with the terms of the Act.

In words by Santiago Espot, Catalunya Acció is doing what other associations, exclusively dedicated to the promotion of the Catalan language - but subsidized by political parties, are leaving to anonymous citizens to do. Catalunya Acció UK congratulate their brave members and invite other Catalans to join in this action to demonstrate that the ancient Catalan spirit is still alive and the actual subduing of Catalonia to Spain is within the last moments. Needless to say, only those who are against the freedom of speech in the own language of Catalonia, which coincided with those who denounced the celebration of the "illegal" plebiscites for independence, have protested against the the actions by Catalunya Acció amid claims of acting like the nazi Germany. At this moment Catalunya Acció UK wander whether those who negate the application of a, nevertheless, Spanish law are the real nazis. And also wander whether the actual authorities will apply any of the fines previewed in the Act.

Adding for independence

2010-01-22T22:23:00.000+01:00

Occupied countries have always suffered the stigma of division. It seems a previous condition to freedom. It is not strange, then, that our outstanding leaders have warned us about this danger and wave the flag of unity. One of them, writer Agusti Calvet -better known in History as Gaziel-, in the most difficult moments of our history, the beginning of the Francoist regime, wrote: "At this moment, I would sacrifice everything for the unity of Catalans. It is not that is an essential job; it is the only job".

Luckily, we do not live in a gloomy dictatorship, but we live in a time where every day, more see that our future will be well dark if we do not achieve independence. It is one of the most important moments of our history, although we are conscious that achieving our objective will not be easy and, because of that it is prevailing amongst us the spirit of the union that was defended by Gaziel.

This is the intention that has urged the manifest "Suma Independència", presented on December 17th, in Barcelona, being one of the more that 1,900 signers to the date. Some voices have presented it as a competition against other options supporting of independence more or less consolidated in the eyes of the public opinion. Furthermore, there is always who sees it as a dark manoeuvre to divide the votes of those who wish the independence of Catalonia when, in fact, this vote is already divided amongst different political forces with representation in the Parliament for many years. Take a look at the number of supporters of independence voting CiU -Convergència i Unió-, ERC -Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya- or Iniciativa. Even some of them count in the rank and file of the PSC -Socialists-, some of their members collaborated enthusiastically in the organization of the ballots on the last December 13th. And we should not forget the big number of supporters of independence that remain at home every election. Would you like a bigger division of the vote than today?

Agglutinate all this vote, making it effective with view to our independence is not easy. Among other things, because the people know perfectly that, in election to the autonomous Parliament, we can only elect those who have to administrate the crumbs that are left by the Spanish power. Overturn this situation and transform the next elections to Parliament into a plebiscite for independence of Catalonia comes by articulating a front for the "yes", the widest and transversally possible. That means, a coalition where the only common denominator among all the participants is the proclamation of the Catalan State. The origin and political profile of its constituents must be varied and represent all sensibilities. It is not being "within" but "besides". Because a coalition is a temporary alliance of people or parties with a common objective, and nothing better than representing the wish for unity that is claimed by the big majority of patriots of our country. We know that in this union, neither we are equal nor we want to be. Who does like uniformity? Therefore, there will be big ones and smaller ones. This is the key to success, know how to combine potentials. One coalition stages an authentic team spirit and their most outstanding faces may be identifiable with the different shades within the movement supporting independence. We cannot be so ingenuous to believe that all who desire the independence of Catalonia will be willing to unite in only one of these shades and achieve absolute majority.

To crystallize this initiative, it is essential to see beyond our own lines and be able to build alliances and weave complicities. We can not minimize ourselves because all forces supporting independence, be it the smallest one, are necessary in this titanic battle. Valuing strengths and possibilites of one or the other goes beyond the simple number of militants. In these determining hours of our history, there is no place for childishness and school yard envies.

Catalonia demands to leave personal interests apart and to have a vision to go beyond our own convinced. The signers to "Suma Independència" are willing to make this gesture.

Who is accompanying us to add for freedom?

Santiago Espot
CEO Catalunya Acció

Comment on the article "The future of Catalonia: Of bulls and ballots", The Economist

2010-01-08T11:54:00.000+01:00

Almost a quarter of a million citizens of Catalonia, including new coming migrants, have already backed up the independence of Catalonia by voting in some 167 illegal polls. And this is only the first wave of ballots, as two more are to come. Perhaps we should remind the journalist that they were prohibited by the Spanish Courts. Interesting datum this one!

Also, why have you not mentioned that the actual question of debate -the Independence of the whole Catalan Nation, not only the Principality of Catalonia- is illegal in the so-called Spanish democratic Constitution? Is that an interested bias from you, or does it respond to an obscure diktat by certain Spanish institutions?

Anyway, Catalonia is on the road to independence, this is unstoppable. No matter how many articles against Catalonia are published on the media. Be sure that within the next few years -perhaps before-, Catalonia will achieve its freedom and will take its seat at the European Union institutions, among the 27 other independent countries that form this organism.

Catalonia, the Next State in Europe.

Jordi Margalef

Catalunya Acció UK

If you wish to read the full article by the Economist, please click on the link below:
http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15212057#top

Evaluation of the success of the polls for independence on December 13th

2009-12-26T22:11:00.000+01:00

First, we would like to congratulate all the volunteers who have participated in the organization of the polls on December 13th. We must recognize that, thanks to their work, it has been possible to extend the first poll at Arenys de Munt to more than 160 municipalites in only three months, generating a never seen feeling of hope among the voters. All of them have worked as one and for a goal. And they have succeded.

The polls, as primaries of our independence that they really are, have made possible the quantification of 200000 Catalans ready to become active promoters of the independence of Catalonia. This is only with the first wave of ballots, without support from the big mass media, without electoral campaign or public funding. And this is the big result of these votes. And it the clear symptom of the beginning of a civic and democratic uprise that will spread around our country and has no stop.

From the other hand, these polls have been the best campaign, at national and international level, never made for the cause of the freedom of Catalonia. We have achieved that the topic of the independence of Catalonia was at the centre of the political debate, with the big mass media unable to silence it. Thanks to the big international impact and follow-up, we have been able to let the whole world know our wish for independence. As for Spain, with these polls, Catalans have demonstrated that we do not accept to live kneeling and they have not conquered nor will ever conquer us.

These votes have put on the table a new form of politics that has left all traditional political parties disarrayed. However, the initiative has been carried out making feasible and close to the people and idea that was unthinkable a year ago, an independent Catalan State.

And finally, we would like to highlight that, with the organizational quality of these polls and the overwhelming affirmative result, have sent a first quality message of democracy and order to our main allies, which will have to validate and recognize the Catalan State as a full right member within the international context at the moment we declare our independence.

Barcelona, December 17th 2009.

Remember to win again

2009-12-25T20:18:00.000+01:00

Catalunya Acció UK wish you all Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year of freedom and Independence.

Image from the offering by Estat Català at Francesc Macià's tomb, on the 76th anniversary of his death, December 25th, 1933. Barcelona.

"Yes to independence". Speech at Castellbisbal, November 27th, 2009.

2009-12-10T17:25:00.000+01:00

Ladies, gentlemen;

Firstly, I would like to thank all the inhabitants of Castellbisbal who with their commitment have made possible this presentation tonight, an I feel especially proud to have the honour to address to you in this historical moment for our country. Next Sunday, December 13th 2009, polls will take place in more than 150 towns and cities asking their inhabitants about the independence of Catalonia. Democracy in its purest state. In three months, we have gone from the first poll at Arenys de Munt to organize more than 150, thus we must be fully conscious of this qualitative jump and the political implications that this wave implies, and will imply in the future. Thanks to this initiative, to the determination and courage of the men and women from all these towns and cities, we may assure that Sunday December 13th will be a big success. It will be the beginning of our victory, and we can be very proud of.

The patriotic gesture of all of you, voting "yes" to independence of Catalonia, represents the first time in the last thirty years of watched probation, not authentic democracy -do not fool ourselves, that Catalans will come out of the identity trench where we have tried to defend our national features, be them our language, our history or our traditions. So to take initiative and going on the attack to achieve our authentic freedom as a nation, which is no other than our political independence, because no other exists. Nobody wins any battle remaining indefinitely in their trenches. Hence the importance of the polls. We might say that it represents the Prats de Molló of the 21st Century to Catalans; the primaries of our independence, which will be won town by town; the reconquest of the authentic Catalan spirit that has been tried to snatch from us with wars and dictatorships. And we must say that out loud: with wars and dictatorships, in the last 300 years, but that neither Spain nor France have annihilated.

Catalonia has no other possibility to develop in its fullness their artistic, intellectual, scientific or entrepreneurial skills without taking Spain off. If we focus on the economics -only to point at one of the issues-, the Principality of Catalonia suffers a looting of €22B/year, as our politicians talk, without giving any importance, about fiscal deficit. The total Budget of the Principality of Catalonia for the year 2009 is almost of €39B. That is, Spain keeps a bag equivalent to 60% of the budget. This is every year! With this Budget is impossible to decently manage, adequately, any population such as the Catalan, as we are more than seven million inhabitants. And yet, those €22B would be used to improve our Health Service, the schools... You must think that a children's nursery costs only €1M and now they take more than €60M/day. A District Hospital, with first quality equipment and fully staffed, costs between €55 and €60M, what is plundered every day. As I said, with these monies we could improve our Health Service, schools, universities, build infrastructures for the future or improve our retired people's pensions. We would be amongst the richest in Europe, whereas now, after paying taxes to Spain, remain at the bottom of the Spanish autonomies. You make the numbers about the fiscal toll that we, Catalans, pay to maintain this staging called Spain compared to Europe. Europe, all the potent economy that represents the EU with more than 300M citizens, gives to Spain €8M/day, because they say that Spain is poor (€2.9B/year). Remember this number. And the Principality of Catalonia, a small corner in Europe, with a little more than 7M citizens, gives to Spain, with permission of our politicians, €60M/day (€22B/year), with the same argument, of course; we are rich, they are poor and we have to be supportive. This situation cannot be corrected by any Financial Treaty. Spain has become used to live with Catalans' money, and only independence, or in other words, only the existence of a Catalan State will end with this continued situation of fiscal looting that affects directly our material well being. Without independence is not possible to save our language. And without a Catalan State is not possible to recuperate our history nor it will be taught at our schools. There is no doubt that our best economical and social policies we can achieve start by becoming independent. And we must do it soon.

Next December 13th, not only you will go to vote, you'll be accompanied by the authentic Spirit of Catalonia. On December 13th, you will have the honour of carrying the flame of the memory of all those Catalan who have wished for freedom and the existence of Catalonia. And you will have at your hands the responsibility of taking the first step, a firm one, to offer a dignified and prosperous future to the next generations of Catalans. When you go to give your voting paper of freedom, I ask you to think for a second. Look at it. Have present and honour, honour all those Catalan patriots, men and women who have preceded us because is their example what will give us the necessary strength and courage to achieve the final victory. If every September 11th, Catalans celebrate the "Day of Resistance", name it as we should, Day of Resistance, make this December 13th of 2009 the beginning of our victory. For all these reasons, I ask you to vote "yes" for dignity of Catalonia and Catalans. Vote yes to our independence. And nobody forget a moment, that Catalans are a nation of winners. If they were not, nowadays, we would not be Catalan. Many thanks.

Josep Castany
Catalunya Acció General Manager
Castellbisbal (Vallès Occidental, Catalonia), November 27th, 2009

Believe

2009-12-08T00:04:00.000+01:00

Poster for the 13th December polls.

A recent survey by the UOC -Open University of Catalonia-, still hot from the press, indicated that the number of Catalans in support of independence of Catalonia has increased significantly to a slightly more than 50% of the population. This is the first time ever than a survey, using scientific methods of research, is corroborating what the poll at Arenys de Munt, in September, started to show; that despite all tricks made by our politicians -and leadership in general- to hide under the carpet the growing numbers of people disillusioned with Spain and France, the independence of Catalonia is not only possible but it will be a reality in the next few years. The success of the poll at Arenys and the fact that on December 13th more than 160 other Town Councils will emulate the ballot is only a sign that the 96% of positive result for independence in Arenys de Munt is achievable again.

Such result is only understandable when there is an extreme feeling of burn out among our people against the actual political status and politicians. Remember the poll at Arenys was forbidden by Spain, not legally binding and was threatened by the Spanish fascists. The same pattern is observed for the polls that will happen on December 13th.

But the survey shows a small detail that must not be overseen; the support for independence grows the further the person has been born away from Catalonia, being immigrants from Africa and parts of South America who see independence 'achievable', instead of own Catalans, who are the most numerous ethnic group to see it as 'not achievable'.

Certainly, belief is not rife among Catalans, perhaps too used to lies, tricks, calculated ambiguities and political leaders more preoccupied of reaching a seat at whatever the Parliament available, with the corresponding allowances and privileges, than sorting out the real problems of their people, like the scandalous fiscal deficit -better defined as looting- or the chronic deficient state of the infrastructures.

However, belief is basic to achieve any goal. Because nobody will give us the independence as next Christmas present, it will be our job to take it and to make it happen. In the understanding that the process will be democratic, with ballot boxes and voting papers, we need the rest of Catalans to gain the necessary belief in themselves. Like the heroes from Arenys de Munt, who showed us how it is done, now the rest of Catalonia has to follow suit. Yes! These unofficial ballots are only the starter of a long distance run that will conclude in the independence of Catalonia. As said by Santiago Espot, there will be a fierce dialectical fight between the defenders of the actual privileges system and who wish to achieve independence and only who is more prepared to stand their ground, with stronger belief in their ideals will win. And, the survey shows that people who prefer to remain subdued by Spain do so because of 'feelings' but not 'reasons'. What do you want clearer that that?

Of course, Catalunya Acció accepts this challenge because is composed by men and women not afraid of giants with feet of clay. We have strong confidence in our people because we believe that they will realize of the actual real chances of independence. Catalonia has been a great nation in the past, has been divided, oppressed and invaded, and yet still stands as the most important pain in the back side of Spain and France. We are natural born winners, otherwise would have disappeared centuries ago, but only need a little more belief in ourselves.

The battle for our future as Catalans continue.

Jordi Margalef i Turull
Member of Catalunya Acció UK

December 13th, the power of the Catalans

2009-12-02T15:36:00.000+01:00

Sincerely, I think that the initiative of more than one hundred Catalan Town Councils, of celebrating, on December 13th, the ballots for the independence of Catalonia has not been valued in all its dimension. When everybody talks about what will be a historical moment, which began at Arenys de Munt, very often it is not understood that it means that Catalan people organizes themselves to vote, and decide which has to be their political status. Has anybody seen anything similar elsewhere?

Now that political corruption cases like "Palau de la Música" or Sta. Coloma de Gramenet have come out to the public, the analysts affirm that this will originate a great political disaffection. This situation, that has been going for long time, it has only been detected when the monies were not accounted for. They did not know to see beyond the sentence of a judge from Madrid.

In fact, we are installed in the disaffection and divorce between the people and their leaders. The best example is everything that has derived from the last September 13th at Arenys de Munt. From that moment, and seeing that practically all politicians of the country minimized and watered down the success and the transcendence of the poll at Arenys. Since then, a great number of patriots have started off to make the ideal happen, the one that has been systematically denied; to be able to decide, democratically, whether we want to become an independent Nation or not. In fact, what is happening is that people want to vote but is not allowed. Then, these people ignore and challenge the actual Spanish legislation, organize themselves, initiate a proper electoral process, take ballot boxes and vote. This is not only political disaffection, this is an override of the actual system and the creation of a new one. Revolutions in the 21st Century are done this way! Catalonia has demonstrated that despite the colonization suffered until now, still is a nation capable to teach lessons of democracy and civics.

The popular initiative, begun in a town of el Maresme, and that will continue wholesale on the 13th, dynamites any authority still remaining to the Spanish and Catalan governments. We are immerse in a proper power void and now is when big changes can be made. You only need to pay attention to the silent answer from the structure of the parties with representation in the Parliament. They do not know how to stop this army of ballot boxes and voting papers that is threatening to convert the Principality of Catalonia in a democratic battlefield for the breakage with Spain. They do not want to even talk about it, nor want to debate it. Sulking and hiding their heads under the wing because they know by intuition that 700000 Catalans called to vote, not controlled by them, will not bring any good to their interests. Because they do not know how to manipulate this process, do not know how to act. Will Independence be proclaimed on December 13th?, they think.

I am convinced that more than a political leader of this country is thinking about April 14th, 1931, when everything changed in the matter of hours due to the force of the votes and an absolutely putrid system, exactly like now. None of who formed the political leadership at the time remained in their places and new political actors -most of them unknown to the public- took power.

We are in front of a challenge to the powers of the State without any support by the Catalan institutions, something that gives it a popular and civic revolution smell. For the first time in many years all organizations, platforms or patriotic associations work coordinated to achieve the same objective. What it seemed impossible a few months ago, is today a reality, and everybody has understood that these ballots, in December, are the primaries for independence. Only a few days now and the foot has to floor the throttle so that we arrive at the date in the best possible conditions. He must create an authentic atmosphere of plebiscite for the independence of Catalonia. If we achieve victory it will be ours, and what could seem only a dream a few days ago will become reality.

Santiago Espot

CEO Catalunya Acció

The beginning of the Independence of Catalonia

2009-11-24T16:49:00.000+01:00

Should anything unite Spain and France, apart from their congenital culture of extermination, is that, in no time, will lose one of their last colonies.

With the independence of Catalonia, Catalans will cease to exist as a regional product, to integrate ourselves among the States of the European Union, and at the same time, the whole Continent will witness the dismantlement of this Franco-Spanish colonial remora that has nowadays nobody to grief of.

Nobody doubt it. This wave of polls unleashed after the pioneer gesture of the people of Arenys de Munt are not only a simple poll: they are the beginning of the Independence of Catalonia.

It must be why. It is normal to hear voices that minimize the effects derivable from the plebiscites among those who are eager to deride and despise the new political paradigm to which Spain and France will face. These are the tentatives by who wanted to perpetuate, eternally, the situation of political dependence and the economic looting to which Catalonia is object. Definitely, it is not the bombs but the ballot boxes what causes real concern to Spain and France. These two States, with their opposition to Catalan votes are the live portrait of antidemocracy.

When Catalunya Acció gave unconditional support to the heroes of Arenys de Munt, the pioneers of the polls, we knew that were giving support to men whose gesture incarnated the courage that is needed for a Nation to build itself. Because they were the gestures that regenerate politics and exemplify the essential winning mentality to start a secession process.

The times of political ambiguity, euphemisms, playing word games and snake enchanters are over. The plebiscites for independence will promote a clear positioning between those in favour of the "yes" and those in favour of the "no". Is there anything healthier than to know who is in favour of Catalonia and who is against it?

History of Catalonia will remember the names of their heroes and also their detractors. But nobody doubt about it, from the moment Catalonia recuperates its State, its people will build a monument dedicated to those men who, with their attitude and morale of victory, deserve to enter in the altar that every country's History reserves only to their National heroes.

At the moment, a place in Arenys de Munt needs to be reserved.

Albert Ubach
Member of Catalunya Acció

Armistice Day

2009-11-13T19:58:00.000+01:00

Ninety-one years ago, November 11th 1918, in a train carriage in the Compiègne Forest, the Armistice between France and Germany was signed. Curiously, the place is not far from where the War had begun four years before. The signature of the Armistice meant the end of the hostilities in the Western Front and was signed by Marshall Foch, the Allied Commander-in-Chief, and Matthias Erzberger, representative for Germany.

The treaty observed the end of warfare in all remaining fronts at 11:00 hours of that day, hence the saying "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month", although the definitive peace between the Allies and Germany was not signed until a year later in Versailles, Paris. The Armistice established a monthly self-renewal clause unless Germany resumed hostilities, to which the Allies would respond in 48 hours.

Here is the account by Col. Gowenlock, who served as an intelligence officer for the US Army, and was at the front line that very same day.

"On the morning of November 11 I sat in my dugout in Le Gros Faux, which was again our division headquarters, talking to our Chief of Staff, Colonel John Greely, and Lieutenant Colonel Paul Peabody, our G-1. A signal corps officer entered and handed us the following message:

Official Radio from Paris - 6:01 A.M., Nov. 11, 1918. Marshal Foch to the Commander-in-Chief.

1. Hostilities will be stopped on the entire front beginning at 11 o'clock, November 11th (French hour).
2. The Allied troops will not go beyond the line reached at that hour on that date until further orders.

[signed]
MARSHAL FOCH
5:45 A.M.

Although Spain had remained neutral, there were Catalan volunteers fighting in the French Foreign Legion. The exact numbers are still uncertain. It had been speculated with figures between 10 and 20 thousand volunteers but following investigations by David Martinez i Fiol, who searched through Joan Soler i Pla's studies and French Foreign Legion archives, rather obscure and confusing, and concluded the real figure was 954 volunteers, including 48 Northern Catalans from Rosselló. Such discrepancy in the numbers would be caused by the Catalan nationalists willing to appear important, the conception that only anti-Catalan nationalists would negate the figures and the cruel death toll of the Influenza Pandemic of 1918, which was especially increased in Spain. Martinez i Fiol sustains that a mix up in the figures of both, along with more political reasons, had originated the discrepancy.

However meagre the number of volunteers might seem, the political repercussion within Catalonia was very notable. Important nationalist political figures of the time, Domènec Martí i Julià and Antoni Rovira i Virgili, among others, considered that Catalonia ought to have independent political relationships with the rest of the world to become independent from Spain. Even Francesc Cambó, leader of the "Lliga Catalanista" gave this cause some support, quickly withdrawn after taking possession of a Ministry in Madrid. Also, the French victory at the Battle of the Marne, 1914, which stopped the German advance in Europe, leaded by the Northern Catalan Marshal Josep(h) Joffre, made the Allied cause very popular among Catalans from the South of the border.

To help Catalan Volunteers in the Front, it was created the "Comitè de Germanor dels Voluntaris Catalans", supporting committees for the Catalan volunteers in the trenches. They even minted the "medal to the Catalan Volunteers", to be given to Catalan survivors of the War. Several Catalan politicians gave them support, but the death of J. Ferrés-Costa and Camil Campanyà during the Battle of the Somme, in 1916, the two more popular members of the contingent, frustrated the creation of a solid link among the soldiers and the politicians. The disturbances of the General Strike in Spain, the fall of the Unió Catalanista, the suspension of the Courts by Dato, the death of Martí i Julià and the Russian Revolution, all in 1917, decreased the popular support to the Volunteers too. The Russian Revolution caused the French High Command to be sceptical about the political aspirations of the Catalans, considering they were revolutionaries.

One of the Catalan personalties that took a significant support for the Allies was Francesc Macià. He covered the Battle of Verdun, late 1916, for the newspaper "La Publicidad" and gave the readers a very graphical description of the causes of the conflict, life in the trenches, and the destruction caused by the war. The months that Macià spent in France had great impact in his future political thought, strengthening his nationalism. The future Catalan President, and who proclaimed the Catalan Republic independent from Spain in 1931, returned to Catalonia certainly radicalised from what he had seen in France. Just a few years later, in 1922, Macià created Estat Català, the organization in which modern Catalan support for independence is based on.

In order to never forget who has given their lives in defence of democracy and freedom for Catalonia, to recognise the significance of a war that caused around 15 million dead and 21 million wounded, let this article be a small homage from Catalunya Acció to all who gave everything in "the war to end all wars".

Jordi Margalef i Turull
Catalunya Acció UK

Treaty of the Pyrenees; 350th anniversary of the partition of Catalonia between Spain and France

2009-11-05T12:23:00.000+01:00

The Treaty of the Pyrenees -or Peace of the Pyrenees- was signed on November 7, 1659, by the representatives of Philippe IV of Castile and III of Aragon, Luis de Haro and Pedro Coloma, and the representatives of Luis XIV of France, Cardinal Mazzarin and Hugues de Lionne, on the Pheasants Island (Bidasoa River, at the limits of the Northern Basque country), and ended the conflict of the Thirty Years War. One of the consequences of this Treaty was the transfer of the county of Rousillon and part of the Cerdanya to France.

Philip IV negotiated this Treaty without consultation to the Catalan Court nor the affected. In fact, he hid it from them, and did not officially inform Catalan institutions until the Courts in 1702. The affected territories conspired for years to reunite again with the Principality, and the Catalan authorities resisted to accept partition, that was not effective until 1720.

The Catalan territory was divided against the will of the Catalan institutions, against the Oath for the Islands, from which the territories of the former Kingdom of Majorca could not be separated from the territories of the Crown of Aragon, by the will of the Hispanic monarchy to hand over the territories of the North of Catalonia in exchange for keeping the possessions in Flanders. Differently from Gibraltar or Minorca, handed over to England in 1713 by the Treaty of Utrecht, not one Spanish government has reclaimed the devolution of the Northern Catalan territories handed over in the Treaty of the Pyrenees. Usually this Treaty is considered a part of the Treaties of Westphalia, from which it is considered a consequence.

Background

France entered the Thirty Years War after the Spanish victories against the revolted Dutch, in 1620, and against the Swedish at Nördlingen in 1634. In 1640, France started interfering in the Spanish politics, positioning in favour of Catalonia during the Reaper's War, while Spain gave them support during the Fronde in 1648. In the negotiations of the Peace of Westphalia, in 1648, France won the territories of the Alsace and Lorena and cut the access of Spain to Holland from Austria. This caused the War between Spain and France. After 10 years, France –allied to England- won the battle of the Dunes, in 1658, and peace was signed in 1659.

The negotiations

During the negotiations to delimit the border, Luis de Haro, Philip IV's representative, tried to preserve the counties of the Rousillon and Cerdanya for the Crown. French negotiators presented a line for the border very favourable to their interests, while the Castilian representatives, ignoring the characteristics and customs of these territories and the illegality of the separation -Oath for the Islands-, preferred to defend the positions in Flanders before keeping territorial unity in The Principality.

The fact that the skilful negotiators chosen by Louis XIV, Cardinal Jules Mazzarin, Pèire de Marca, Plessis de Besançon and Ramon Trobat had great knowledge of the land and history of Catalonia, unlike the negotiators chosen by the Spanish monarch, while holding the talks behind the Catalan government backs, had a very negative influence in the results of the Treaty for Spain. Mazzarin defended, as indicates in a letter still kept, speaking about Monts, “j'ay fait expliquer que ce sont ceux qui separent de toutte ancianneté des Gaules d'avec les Espagnes”, “… the Pyrenees separated the Gaul from Spain since ancient times”, skilful historical vaguish that fed Spanish vanity, keen on building her own History, but that created to successive problems of definition that had to be resolved in successive Treaties.

The Treaty that established that, from the County of Cerdanya, thirty-three towns had to be handed over to France. These were defined in 1660, at the Conference of Ceret and at the definitive Treaty of Llívia, under which the new border between the territories of the two crowns was drawn and were the Philip IV’s representatives got to retain Llívia with the argument that it was a “village” and not a “town” –see the note about Llívia and the extract of the text.

In total, French crown won the territories of the County of Rosselló –that included the Vallespir, Conflent and Capcir- and half of the Cerdanya; Artois, Luxembourg and Flanders. The border with the Spanish crown was fixed following the Pyrenees only in part, except the “village” of Llívia. If the line of the Pyrenees had to be followed, by the Corberes, all the Northern Catalonia had not passed to France. In return, the French returned the Charolais and the conquests of Italy to Spain.

The Treaty previewed the marriage between Louis XIV of France and Maria Theresa of Austria, daughter to Philip IV of Castile. Maria Theresa had to renounce to her successor rights to the Spanish throne, in exchange for an economical compensation that had to form part of the dowry. This compensation was never paid and was one of the factors that concluded in the Spanish Succession War, 1702.

Consequences to Catalonia

Catalonia was a very important piece in the chequer of the international politics since the Reaper’s War. She has demonstrated largely her capacity to destabilize Spanish monarchy. Catalonia had the disgrace to be the hinge between the two great powers of the time.

The territories of the Northern Catalonia annexed to France with the Treaty (Rosselló, Conflent, Vallespir, half Cerdanya and Capcir) have reminded under French dominie since then.

The Treaty included to preserve all Catalan institutions Northern from the Pyrenees, but this part was not respected by the French King Louis XIV –the simple-. A year later from the signature, Catalan institutions were dissolved –Generalitat, consulates, etc- despite the Treaty said to conserve them.

A Royal Decree, on April 2nd 1700, to be applied from May 1st of that year, prohibited the use of Catalan language in official acts of any kind. From then, French is still the only official language and the only one that is being used in the public education. Recently, France has modified her Constitution, including in the 2nd article “la langue de la République est le français”, the language of the Republic is French. This article is often used to negate grants or to refuse the presence of the Catalan language in the bureaucracy.

After the Treaty of the Pyrenees, there are the following years of war: 1667-68, 1673-78, 1680-84, 1689-97. In all those periods, the Treaty of the Pyrenees has no effect. The very Cerdanya passed from one hand to the other in numerous occasions. There, the Church border did not coincide with the real border until 1802. Thirty-three towns of French Cerdanya still belonged to the Bishop of Urgell.

The nearest weekend to November 7th has become, every year, the date chosen for Catalans to demonstrate in Perpinyà, in favour of Catalonia and the Catalan language.

Extract

“Having convened within the negotiation that began in Madrid in 1656, about the foundation of which is this Treaty, that the Pyrenees mountains, that commonly have always been held by division between the Spains and the Gauls, were from here and always the division of the same kingdoms too”.

Article 42:

“Has been convened and accorded that the Mr King Chr will remain possessing and will effectively enjoy all the County and vegueries of the Roussillon, and the County and vegueria of Conflent, and that to Mr Catholic King has to remain the County of Cerdanya and all the Principality of Cataloina […]; well understood that if there were places of such County of Conflent only, not Roussillon, that would be found to be within such mount Pyrenees, in the Spanish part, would remain to the Catholic Majesty; as well as if there are places and the vegueria of Cerdanya only, that would be within said mountains, will remain to Majesty chris”.

The actions at Prats de Molló

2009-10-24T19:24:00.000+02:00

November 4th 1926 is remembered in Catalonia for being the feat by Francesc Macià and the hundred other volunteer patriots, who from the Northern Catalan city of Prats de Molló, showed the Catalan nation’s conflict and her wish for independence to the rest of the world.

Following what is known as “The Actions at Prats de Molló”, Catalan claims were spread worldwide. The detention of the insurgents –summoned in the county of Vallespir, due to the betrayal of a spy, who was descendant of Italian revolutionary Garibaldi, paid by the French, the posterior trial of Francesc Macià and the other soldiers in Paris, the sentence –imprisonment and fines- and his exile in Brussels were highlights in the European and American press for quite some time.

Since 1714, the name of Catalonia had not been mentioned by so many people beyond the borders. Two-hundred and odd years after Spanish occupation of Catalonia, a new generation of patriots bore arms to demonstrate to the other Catalans how independence is achieved. The belligerent character of Catalans was well alive within those youngsters, and Catalan tradition was carried out once again despite prohibitions. Coming to age where the child would be considered a grown-up man, the head of the house gave him the key, the “duro” –money- and the knife. Catalans always considered ourselves “franks” –free-, as opposed to other humans, most of whom were subjects. Freedom, determined and regulated from the origins of the Nation within the Constitutions of Catalonia, cost blood and because of that, all well-born Catalans bore arms, to defend themselves and their freedom. With Macià, this atavistic spirit, the wish for recovering the snatched freedom was reborn, and a lot of his followers abandoned everything for Catalonia: family, job, study, social position … Until the last breath, all without exception had preserved the sparkle of Independence in their eyes. Eternal glory to defenders of the motherland!

The first days of November 1926, more than a hundred Catalans demonstrated with desire for freedom and Independence that was claimed by the subconscious of a whole nation, which remained imprisoned and violated by the Spanish tyranny and barbarism represented by Primo de Rivera’s dictatorship. It was an all-level attempt of armed uprising, impregnated with courage and heroism; should it have succeeded, we would be a in front of a historical contemporary precedent of secessionism, surely very productive and hardly coverable by the “official” historiography, and actually provable. In any case, political leaders like Macià, are greatly missed in the actual Catalonia, where there is no audacity nor heroism but a great deal of complexes and genuflections.

President Macià had determination and a clear goal. This is a résumé of the declaration that Macià had to read when Independence was declared:

”TO ALL FREE NATIONS OF THE WORLD. It is Catalonia where we salute you from, free Nations of the World, at the moment of raising in arms in defence of her non-expiring right of self-government. We want a Free Catalonia for Catalans! We want a modern culture for our children, for our workers and our Colleges. We want the maximum improvement for our proletarian force and for our Higher Education schools. We want to manage our National wealth ourselves, in an Independent Catalan Republic.

Let the World know that we are not encouraged by hatred against the rest of the Iberian Peninsula, nor by any imperialist or conquering spirit. We would consider ourselves lucky, once free, to help the other nations of Spain that suffer under the same regime of reaction, so that they become free too.

We want to break the chains that have forcefully brought us under the yoke with them, and to exchange those for free and fraternal links that allowed us to work together towards international peace. Because international peace is, the ultimate goal why we raise in arms. And is to you, free nations of the world, to whom we address, first, the salutation and then an anguished yell, asking for your recognition of our right to become free.

We do this with hope and faith in freedom and justice, the fundamental principle of International Law for non-forced cooperation, but free, of all nations and for civil equality, against all privileges and against tyranny. We are convinced that peace in Europe will not be assured while the force of the armies supports imperialism and that the rights of the small nations to decide by themselves. For the right of the nations and the people! For international peace! Good Health!

Francesc Macià, Prats de Molló, 1926

Today, more that eighty years later, this declaration prepared by the Catalan volunteers leaded by Macià remains almost totally valid. A reason to reflect on, and that his experience and sacrifice be the example to not cease the fight for the independence of Catalonia.

Catalunya Acció, with an ambitious, and updated to the 21st Century project, without firearms, but with the same energy and conviction, gathers the spirit and courage of those Catalans that one day said enough and realized that the only solution is to break with Spain.

Oriol Escuté
Member of Catalunya Acció

Independence and immigration

2009-10-21T14:50:00.000+02:00

"Independence is impossible, there is too much immigration." Here we have it. The mother of all lies. How many times have heard, especially (what a coincidence) from who would want us believing that we live in a fragmented country? On one hand there are those who disgustingly discriminate between immigrants (xarnegos –from Spain-, Moors or sudaques –from South America-) and Catalans at its root, ignoring many previous waves of immigration. But others bent on maintaining economically, not just philosophically, a fictional Andalusian collective (as if everyone thought the same or belonged to the same herd) as FECAC and other mafias. Even some people want us to believe that there is a language conflict, such as the virtual Catalan vs Valencian, when the only real problem is that Spanish is still, unfortunately, official language enforced to all Catalans. Yes, Spanish is my mother tongue, but is as foreign as English in the Netherlands, Turkish in Germany or Spanish to Portugal itself. It is no coincidence that these are precisely the most manipulative of all immobilizers. What makes so much fear to change ? That instead of Andalusian collective become Catalans? That we became normal people like any other in Europe? That, without distinction as to origin or family origin, everyone wants to free the land of welcome?

Well, a Catalan writes to you , son and grandson of people from Andalusia, this Baix Llobregat massively populated by immigrant people (now or 30 years ago, the concept is the same) and their descendants. This lie about immigration is about to end it once and forever. To begin, groups such as Catalònia Acord or, in the scope language, Veu Pròpia, are causing a mental short circuit to a more than one brain of the country, because of their clarity and forcefulness. Their words can be summarized as follows: "integrated newcomers and their descendants are simply Catalans. Full-stop. We are part of one nation: the Catalan. We do not need any protection from Spanish gangs or its patrons who live installed decades within our governments”.

Non-generalizing my particular way, I think is quite significant. In primary school I was lucky that the history teacher hit my child's brain –about 12 years of age- with the phrase: "Obviously that Catalonia is a country!". We all were spoken in Catalan (we were Catalan). Later, however, at high school I was amazed that the course of history was only in Spanish (I'm afraid it still does, but that needs go change it, and quickly). Gradually, that seed planted by that teacher was germinating. Knowing Catalan history is necessary but not sufficient. Fortunately, one (only one!) of my Catalan classmates spoke the language of the Catalans to me, perhaps only because he considered me a real Catalan. It was just so I could practice it enough to become a proper speaker . And get to college, finally I could make all social life entirely in Catalan, as should be, regardless of my mother tongue or childhood surroundings. Finally after all this process of maturation and have good eyes open to everything happening around me, obviously I am Catalan, I feel like a Catalan, I suffer like a Catalan, but I also have an enormous enthusiasm in the Catalan future than any other who knows to live in a colony and not just want our country be free, sovereign, independent, mature, prosperous, but also takes action to achieve it.

Thus, in many cases the same as mine, these new Catalans, only have the name, the mother tongue and (currently) Spanish passport. Incidentally, there is a clear symptom of the disease in the country regarding immigration: each day, knowing my name, many lifetime Catalans will address to me in Spanish. I, with my Spanish name intact, answer voluntarily in Catalan to create them a mental short circuit. It will be through mental short circuits, then, that we progress. I do not believe that I will ever translate my name, as, in fact, is not prompted to a son of Germans, Russians or Senegal, with foreign name to do so. Therefore I will always be a Catalan with foreign names, particularly Spanish. And what that has to do with the future I want for my country? The answer is easy: nothing. For independence is neither necessary nor wanted to change one's name, nor have great-grandparents of Cerdanya, or vote ERC , or stop having friends in Spain or France, or to speak Catalan own family coming from 30 years of Andalusia, China or Ecuador. Wishing for independence just needs loving the country and want it completely free. Nothing more.

The Catalan identity is merely a way of thinking, understanding and acting in the world around us. It is purely mental and, contrary to what some would like us to believe, is not genetic. This way of thinking and living that make up the life of the party (generally called the Catalan people), eventually becomes dominant in each of the individuals who are born, grow up or spend a significant part of his life in. The daily experience, how people interact, socio-economic structure and the physical environment in which we move, end up determining the formation of this way of thinking and acting (ie, of being) make, for better or for worse, different from the rest of the world. In this sense, indeed there is more than the Catalans now have it explicitly clear. Catalan is because, simply, anyone who thinks and acts (ie, who is) the Catalan way.

Right now, hundreds of Catalans should be doing like me the whole process of integration, so spontaneous and natural. However, with a normalized environment (ie with their own State as other people have) would make virtually all descendants of immigrants, or at least thousands, or hundreds of thousands ... What is wrong then? What are we doing wrong? Well this answer is too easy: almost everything. Because we do not have our own State, nor act against the phenomenon of immigration as we should act while we have not.

Not having a State means that Catalan people do not have their own space where to work naturally, relaxed, their way of structuring society, to integrate newcomers, to not alienate their offspring, leaving them in no-mans Land to develop their culture and show it to the world with pride. Someone will respond to all this, to some extent, as is done now. Well, at least try. With the continuous interference of the invader, Spain, a lot of energy is wasted to perform all this work of integration. Just as they wasted on thousand other fronts that we address incorrectly as separate; defence of the language; protest against tax plundering suffered by all of the Catalan population (including Spaniards who live there!); demand own sporting teams, voice and vote in international organizations, labelling, judgments, software, audiovisual entertainment in Catalan ... (and will not end up ever). From all this, why not directly achieve independence? The integration of immigrants as Catalans would also be positively affected having their own state, because the methods and objectives would be decided by us instead of the Spaniards, who is now trying to turn immigrants into Spaniards.

With immigration, we are already making mistakes now. It is not possible to refuse up front as Catalans those who do not speak Catalan. Because we adopt the language as a natural consequence of considering becoming a member of that different group. It is a step but not the cause. Not necessarily speaking Catalan makes one Catalan. Instead, being conscious or feeling Catalan yes it does, sooner or later, to adopt Catalan, it is only a matter of time. Because the Catalan language is obviously the most appropriate, to best express the Catalanity, namely, the fact of thinking and acting in the Catalan way, ie, be and feel Catalan. The nuance is needed, however, that progress in any of the other two fields provided, is fed to one another. The fact that you are spoken in Catalan (and therefore that is conducive to you speaking it in the long term) facilitates the fact of beginning to feel really Catalan, acts as a throttle for the entire process. Recall again my mate in high school that spoke to me in Catalan. If I had not sensed like being considered Catalan probably would not have been speaking in Catalan now, probably would not have adopted the language that to me, then, was neither mother nor social but only the school (and a little by TV3). If we do not consider newcomers and their descendants real Catalans, and we do not speak Catalan to them, they note that they are just being refused to be Catalans. And finally, they are rejected as Catalans will become something else (for example, are Spanish).

This is, summarized, the tragedy we suffer. This whole process that should happen more naturally having their own state, because we have not, is not happening yet. And if does not happen naturally, then in theory should make it happen consciously, voluntarily and everyday, but we do not. Because, over time, is simply exhausting. You can not always blame the people not to continuously and consciously do what the rest of the world's people do naturally and effortlessly because they have a State. But we can blame all together to not focus our energies on achieving it. Because not only do, but we regret that, day in and day out, the consequences of not having this status. Do not put a start to achieve it, and also we lose ourselves in the desert wrapped in our own miseries.

And bound to the principle for the construction of this new State not only can not leave out the newcomers for their own moral dignity, but they and their descendants are absolutely essential. Especially for the enormous wealth of pure winning character off those entrepreneurs, who for ambition or need, and unlike others who remain, leave everything behind in their homeland and are able to take roots and integrate to the land of welcome, living there, having descendants and assimilating their way of thinking and acting (exactly what the Catalan identity is), and ultimately succeed in the goal with the initial fear of the unknown. And this is precisely what is needed to achieve independence, do we realize? Character winning decision, assumption of risk in exchange for the option for a better and more dignified future than that of the submissive slave, because the gains are usually proportional to the risk assumed in the bet.

To conclude, once again I will use my own example. My parents came here because they wanted to have a prosperous future, and I also had too, and every opportunity in life. Well, one of the biggest reasons why I work to achieve independence is that I do not like to find myself soon in the same situation as them 30 years ago. They came to stay, and I do not want to have to go to another country for my children if I ever have all chances. The Catalans are still able to make our country prosperous for many decades if we take the independence we have now more than ever at your fingertips and abandon forever this nightmare.

Imagine the extraordinary and overwhelming positive feedback from a moral and collective enthusiasm at the beginning of this enterprise that will become common in our society. Nobody is aware of that involved in this spiral of positive energy, so the result of a referendum will not be more than simply a logical and natural to join this national cohesion and winning character, ie the the recovery of the Catalan spirit.

Therefore, the Catalans, started on the path towards independence, towards a country, adult, responsible and better. It is not only imperative but also an indication, an announcement: we have already begun the journey. And above all, we are starting together all Catalans, old and new.

Juan Manuel Rodriguez
Councillor Catalunya Accio

The ideal of Catalonia

2009-10-19T13:00:00.000+02:00

All politics, to be completely effective, need of an ideal. Politics become something amorphous, routine and far from people’s feelings without it. Naturally, those who do not even want to talk about that are always saying “we must resolve the real problems of the people” or “the most important is to be good managers”. They do not know nor want to go beyond this and are incapable of conceiving any encouraging idea to go past the clichés that they have minted to justify their intellectual and dialectical poverty. Talking in these terms means to possess the concept that the people behave like pigs, only thinking of eating, sleeping, and sitting down and getting fatter. Are Catalans like this? Are we only worried of paying the mortgage, going away for the weekend and eating good shellfish?

Surely that an important part of those who are in charge of the rudder of the country would like to see us reduced to such poor condition. It would the guarantee to perpetuate in power such alarming mediocrity that, among a lot of people, the idea of having to pass a test is necessary for everybody who wants to have any post with responsibility. We cannot tolerate any longer that “being the son of …”, “brother of …”, “partner of …” or “best friend of …” is the warrant to take possession of a chair. This fact is especially alarming in Catalonia, because we have always been a Nation that have valued the effort and talent of the protagonist, no matter who he or she is. We only need to see the statues at the façade of the Town Hall in Barcelona, James I and Joan Fiveller, put up asymmetrically, equalling Kings and subjects at the time of reckoning successes. This is the way to demonstrate carelessness regarding the person’s origins when the matter is to honour the defenders of the national freedom. Favouritism disgusts us because we put it to the Antipodes of our collective and most appreciated values. If we talk about politician leaders, we especially value perseverance, humanism and resolution to confront injustice. I doubt that what I have just said has anything to see with the fact that even today, we perceive President Macià –in the picture- as model of Catalan politician to imitate. Nevertheless, even for the most interested in reducing politics to an emotionless game, people, always, as said by John F. Kennedy “demand their leaders to act with courage and integrity”.

However, it must be said that these things are not easily applied to day-to-day reality. To begin with, the ideal cannot be bought at the first corner shop we find nor may be provided by any electoral campaign strategist or any expert in political marketing. It is not a simple slogan, a webpage, Facebook or a multicultural festival. A real ideal is forged within the minds of who want it materialized. Furthermore, it takes roots with time and life experiences through challenges derived from its defence; and it is impossible to build among chairs, government commissions or general secretaries. Who politically is born among all this might be able to manage more or less successfully a budget but, do not fool ourselves, will never shake anybody’s soul and will be unable to interpret and shape collective feelings, which are what move the spirit of a nation. Perhaps would be a “technician”, at worst would be a bureaucrat.

Talking about Catalonia, we would see that all that means doing collaborationist politics with Spain is seen lacking of idealism. The main characters justify themselves saying is the only possible, although the truth is that when we see how they work, we cannot stop thinking about the phrase “when foxes cannot reach the grapes, say that they are not ripe”. Then, it is not strange that their defenders are always seen by us like people who want to take profit of something without facing the enemy. Their option is the easiest and the least compromised and then, has the courage to make us believe that have achieved a big victory for Catalonia. But the reality is that we all well know that the only fact that can shake the collective soul of our people is the ideal of freedom, that is nothing else than her independence. This is the ideal of Catalonia.

Santiago Espot
CEO Catalunya Acció

The United States of America and Catalonia

2009-10-12T22:55:00.000+02:00

The North American elections have made me think about a “virtual” visit to the States and see parallelisms between this and our nation, that some time ago was, like the Americans, a great world power and which, in Servent’s words “was in front of the Nations of the world”.

The Catalan origins of the flag of the USA

The formation of the flag of the United States of America would part from an evolution of the Catalan flag that the English took as a model for the British East Indian Company. Besides its design with red and white stripes, without precedents in England, curiously, the evolution of the number of stripes or paly coincides too ,as in the Catalan ensign, with the number of territories that would represent. From the five original territories (England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and the American Colonies), as well as the different American patriots revolutionary flags that represented the number of colonies until the flag of the thirteen stripes (seven red and six white) of the thirteen foundational colonies that became independent from the British Crown. Though the number of stripes will remain unchanged from then, and they are the actual number, the increase in the number of States of the Union would be represented by the number of stars within the flag. Because of the red colour used, design of the stripes and their territorial meaning, the Catalan influence in the historical and iconographical reference appears evident in the origins of the formation of this flag.

Evolution from the Catalan ensign to the actual flag of the United States of America

But the presence of the Catalan stripes is not an exclusive fact of the National flag, other North American States and Puerto Rico reflect an original Catalan presence that has been usurped, tergiversated and converted in Castilian under the ambiguity of the name “Spanish”.

From the left, the flags of New Mexico and Arizona

Coat of arms of San German de Puerto Rico

The proliferation of Catalan ensigns because of the Catalan presence throughout the world, the ignorance and the oblivion about our nation is so great that there are anecdotes like this one, where a Catalan saw a Catalan flag hoisted by the entrance of a Museum in honour of the USS Constitution, in Boston, and the person who had ordered it, because they had seen it in a paint of the Battle of Tripoli, who had hoisted it every day, could give this man no explanation where that flag had come from. The visitor went away intrigued to know if our ancestors had to do anything with the first international naval battle of the United States of America. If you pay a little attention, is not difficult to find Catalan references in the American films and series.

Catalan contribution in the formation of a new nation

Precisely a sea man, Jordi Ferragut Mesquida, born in Ciutadella de Menorca during the British occupation of the island, who took nautical studies in Barcelona, left Catalonia and emigrated to the United States, where he worked in the Merchant Navy and fought the British in the American Independence War. In the Battle of Cowpens, it was highlighted that he saved the life of somebody called George Washington, one of the fathers of the Nation and who would become the first President of the United States. Jordi’s son, Jaume Ferragut, would be adopted by the future Captain of the Navy David Porter, who changed his name to David Farragut, would become the first major officer of the Navy during the Civil War and was the first counter-admiral, first vice-admiral and first admiral of the US Navy. The name of Farragut is today one of the symbols of America i bear his name several military academies, schools, towns, squares and streets, monuments and appears in diverse manifestations of popular culture, as the fleet of spaceships Farragut in the Star Trek series, or the Commodore Farragut in the novel “20000 leagues under the sea” by Jules Verne. Minorcan’s immigration to Florida within that time was not punctual, even today, their descendents surprise and thrill us seeing that they keep some of the customs, preserving Catalan vocabulary and now, thanks to internet, the blog The Minorcan Factor or Minorcanculture, among some of them.

But Catalan presence in North America did not begin in the 18th Century with Minorcan immigrants or figures like Gaspar de Portolà and Fra Juníper Serra, it is shown evident from the beginning of the Catalan landing in the continent at the end of the 15th Century, with Colom and other Catalans like Joan and Sebastià Cabot in Terra Nova.

The very name of Florida would be a Catalan name too, given by Joan Pons d’Agramunt –later converted by the censorship in a Castilian called Juan Ponce de León. Intuitively, it is perceived the Catalan origin of names like California, Pensacola –from our Peniscola-, and so many others.

Catalan place names in the United States: Barcelona Harbour, València, Farragut, Juniper Serra Mountain, Montserrat, Cabot, Porter, Coloma, Montfort, Pineda, Ponset, etc...

The name of the Nation and the political structure

Like the old Catalonia, the United States of America are formed, like everybody knows and like their own name indicates, by a series of States with their own laws. The North American federal culture is expressed by a national coat of arms with the legend “Pluribus unum”, the unity in plurality. It is common too, the county as a local or regional government form, as well as it was in the Principality of Catalonia. Equally, besides the States, the Federal District, which lays besides of the dependence of any other State member. It is known as Washington DC because of the name of the city that constitutes the district, the official name of this singular territory that exercises as capital of the Nation is District of Columbia, hence the initials DC.

Like in Catalonia, too, the Americans have had their discrepancies with regards to the name of the Nation. Precisely, the denomination of the capital district answers to the remaining of what, at the time, was proposed as the name of the whole Country: Columbia. Explained in the Wikipedia, Columbia was the first popular and poetic name of the United States of America and is a grammatical feminine form derived from the name Cristofor Colom. The denomination dates from before the Independence War in 1776, but was forgotten in the 20th Century. The Americans appealed to the figure of Colom instead of the figure of the Cabot brothers, promoted by the English.

George R. Stewart says that the name “United States” was criticised for too long, imprecise and slightly poetic, and said that the Constitutional Convention in 1787 would have been the perfect moment to change it. The two characters who probably had argued more for a better name, following Stewart, would be Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. However, the Nation kept the name of “United States” although the popular support for “Columbia” remained. Finally, the establishment of a new independent country with the name of Colombia had provoked that the denomination “Columbia” was not longer available for the United States, therefore their progressive abandonment. In spite of that, the name “Columbia” appears constantly in North America and even remains as the personalization of the Nation in feminine figure, equivalent to the masculine “uncle Sam”, normally associated to the President.

Columbia, the feminine representation of the United States of America, derived from Colom, is today symbol of Columbia Pictures. The United States and Catalonia in today’s world.

The United States have always looked out for our country in the moments where new independent States have been born in the old Europe. The return of Catalonia to the international political arena is seen with good eyes by America, which need to have strategic associates in the western Mediterranean, with European States dedicating their efforts to improve their economies, and not managing internal territorial problems. But from Catalonia, we have not understood nor correspond adequately the possibilities that the international chequer offers to us.

Yet with President Wilson, the regionalist Catalan politicians at the beginning of the 20th Century missed asking him for support for having an Autonomy, that he declined for being and “internal affair” with the Spanish State, instead of asking directly for independence, in a moment where the independences of Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary or Ireland were facilitated. During the 2nd World War, too, existed a project to make, at least the Principality, an independent State to facilitate the Allied offensive against Fascism in Europe, that finally was not approved. More recently, President Clinton affirmed that “future will be either Catalan or Taliban. In a Catalan world, we would celebrate the differences, because they are a manifestation of the common Humanity. In a Taliban world, the differences are the only thing that matters”.

Events like September 11th 2001, unite one more time America with our own September 11th 1714 and increases the long list of shared symbols, even though Spain has tried to hide and usurp them. Now, the United States are to begin a new era with a new President, it is interesting to see how the American Democrats have adapted the Catalan donkey as the sign of their party. Democrats Abroad have bought copyright to the proprietor of said donkey to use it as the official sign in the campaign of Barack Obama to the American Democrats overseas. And from the Republican benches, Robert Kagan, John McCain’s assessor in international politics, referred to the supporters for independence of Catalonia and other European countries in a press article. Nobody was surprised that with the actual American President, we have another opportunity to see an independent Catalonia among the other European nations. But to do so, Catalans must have especially present this paragraph of the Declaration of Independence of the United States: “But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security”.

Published at “Es Poblat d’en Talaiotic”

What we must do now

2009-10-12T15:49:00.000+02:00

When most visible becomes our collective condition of submission, some of our compatriots inclined to demoralize would like to throw in the towel. This state of mind is not only due to our inexistent trust in our leadership –we are unable to see them giving us a victory as a nation-, but combined with the most diffused voices within the public opinion, which are constantly generating a perception that Spain is winning the battle. In addition to that, the occupiers publish what they loot in form of fiscal balances and it does not happen anything.

Among our most representative people, all are laments and calls to resistance, and the formulae to escape from them are always the same: to stay put, to use the little we have and pray to the Virgin of Montserrat. No one of our main opinion makers of the country is going beyond describing the adverse effects of the viruses called Spain and France. We lack so much in patriotic gestures that there have even been who has seen Jose Montilla’s last attitudes in the financial theme some reincarnation of Pau Claris. A victory can never be built on these foundations. Hence, what must be done? To continue with the same old unsuccessful attitudes or to have the audacity to begin walking through new pathways?

There will be who believes that there is no life beyond new political parties with representation in the Parliament. Most of these think that everything has to go through the sieve of Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya or Convergencia i Unio, and they limit themselves to force “one step beyond” the main leaders of these formations. We have been so many years without having political parties that we think that maintaining the actual ones is our least harm. But reality says that this way of seeing things has consolidated a harmful ruling of the actual political parties that has smeared all with subsidies, dropping their pants down in front of the government of Madrid and make all kind of buttering up to the great communication or economic groups. It is not strange, then, that the beginning of a sensation that who is really in power within the Principality of Catalonia are some people with office at the top floor of some emblematic buildings in the city of Barcelona.

However, I reckon that seeing the last Congresses of the two parties self-called of exclusive Catalan subjection –what a sarcasm!- it does not invite to a lot of optimism. Seeing their results and confirming that the sensation that the end of an era has arrived it is the same thing. Their principal leaders would like to lengthen to the infinite the era of blurriness, but the people with clear Catalan national awareness is fed up with waiting and want something happening. They are neither willing to wait another ERC congress in June nor they believe the euphemisms that came out in the last conclave of CiU. Patriotic people want clarity because they consider exhausted the times of fuzziness. Ambiguity would work in other times and being the essence of one political party. This characteristic has even become one of the polling clues to govern Catalonia for twenty-three years. What has remained? A profound deception and the sensation that they have eaten some ground. This is how the promoters of this politics have acted, what can we expect from their political offsprings?

For all this, the idea of a new political formation that embodies a real, authentic, modern and operative support for independence is taking shape. With faces and styles without any connexion with thirty years of abandoning own principles. Possibly, this feeling is produced at the moment in small cores but is spreading quickly, and without any doubt is combined with the incompetency of the actual leadership of the country and the colonial treatment that Spain is brooded about visualize constantly. However, who will thread the needle?
From Catalunya Acció, we shall never tire to repeat this necessary convulsion in our politic arena. Even more, we shall not remain here. We shall do everything possible to become one of the foremost makers shaping this new hope that every day claim more Catalan patriots.

Santiago Espot
CEO Catalunya Acció
(Article published at El Punt, 10-10-08)

Charles Merrill, Christopher Columbus and Jordi Bilbeny

2009-10-11T12:39:00.000+02:00

Almost a year after its publication in the States, it arrives, with perfect aiming, the translation into Catalan of Charles Merrill's book Colom of Catalonia: origins of Christopher Columbus revealed. It is a matter of the book in which he follows the information published until now, makes an estate of the question, compiles everything new might be and extracts a conclusion. And what is this conclusion? That Bilbeny was right. But not only Bilbeny, because, in reality it is a part of a tradition that begins with Peruvian Historian Luis Ulloa. And is good that the book appears now that October 12th is so near.

I encourage you to use your blogs to speak about the book, the monstrosity of the historical appropriation and Charles Merrill and Jordi Bilbeny. It would not be bad you also link the web of the Institut Nova Historia, the foundation that accommodates Jordi Bilbeny and his team. It is a very good moment to decide to become a member and help, this way, to develop these investigation even more. At the Institute, a lot of investigation and diffusion work is being done to revise History.

The book appears in a moment in which Spain does not stop receiving blows and disappointments. They will not host the Olympic Games in 2016; everybody comments that they are the only ones to come down from the economical recovery; now, President Zapatero sees how the polls are turning against him; Catalans have made explode a democratic earthquake with epicentre in Arenys de Munt; and, for afters, it reappears, with a more than oportunistic translation, a topic that they would like to have dead and buried when the book was publised last year. It is not that I feel a special pleasure in poking in the wounds of the others. I do not consider myself especially sadistic. But I do not feel sorrow for them, to be honest. So, if you would like to broaden your knowledge, there are the books by Caius Parellada, Teresa Barque, and so. But especially Bilbeny's Cristòfor Colom, Príncep de Catalunya, published by Proa.

Xavier Mir

Racist, xenophobic and excluding Spain

2009-10-04T12:42:00.000+02:00

As well as being imperialist, excluding and false –because it does not exist as a Nation-, Spain is xenophobic and racist. Somebody save it from this strong qualifications, because there is always the common people, strange to the imposing politics of the centralist oligarchy from Madrid, who do not know anything and do not understand anything…

The extreme racism against Catalonia is silently promoted by the central Governments from two centuries ago. A careful silence that is represented in the highlights of the newspapers, radio and television stations that follow suite to the cavern and play the game throw the stone, hide the hand. This racist game against Catalonia is also played regularly by the representatives of the law, the CGPJ –Consejo General del Poder Judicial-, TS –Tribunal Supremo-, TSJC –Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Catalunya-, TC –Tribunal Constitucional-, National Police, Civil Guard. Numerous cases that might be attributed to any of them appear every day, do not make me list them all or we would fill the article.

The priority for the Spaniards promoters of racism, the disqualification and humiliating delectation against the Catalan people is to make us oblivious of, to minimize and to dilute the main; the daily looting of our wallets in the form of taxes that never return where they have been paid from and, later, divide equitably among the other poor communities as per inter-regional solidarity.

Spain obviate the 20th article of the Spanish Constitution to the Catalans. It talks about freedom of speech. They put us under the microscope when we meet and when demonstrate, and they will take very short time to apply any newly invented law to illegalize our political parties supporters of independence that do not follow the game of “the yoke and the arrows” –symbols of Falange Espanola- as it has happened in the Basque Country. The situation is worrying because in Catalonia nobody uses violence to expose their political thoughts. In Catalonia, ideas are exposed and arguments are used, not weapons. But some people from the Castilian meseta and other regions do not understand that Catalan people show their ideas within current legality.

Looking at it, is normal, because Catalans have been a mere colony of Spain, whose object for looting is not oil or copper but the money we earn working hard and that, year after year, is converted in infrastructures and equipments from the Ebro to the South.

The Spanish central government does not doubt to approve a fascist demonstration of the Falange Espanola, corroborated by the TSJC, which is the heir to those whom arrived at the people’s homes at night, loaded up the lorry and shoot our ancestors by the cemeteries and other dark places, something not heard of in the civilized countries of the Europe of the 15.

The Spanish central government does not doubt to hinder all those who, always within actual legality, demonstrate their Catalan nationality or their desire for independence, as if it was a crime. Something like trying to prohibit freedom of thought, freedom of choice by the citizens. To declare oneself to support the independence movement of Catalonia in Spain, or to declare oneself as nationalist, is to call oneself “red, hairy, mason, horny and tailed evil”. As in the best times of the Francoist regime.

One of the main conditions for a country to be democratic is freedom of speech, reunion and association. It seems that in Catalonia has not arrived democracy yet. Every time that one initiative that does not agree with the unity of Spain beyond universe takes off, no matter who is in power in Madrid (either PSOE or PP), all Spanish powers bring up the untouchable and holy book of the Spanish Constitution to suppress that movement. They know that with this movement comes the unification of the Spanish Budget, more that the unity of Spain.
Visca Catalunya Lliure!

Pedro Moron de la Fuente
Writer and journalist
President of the association Catalonia Acord

Justice vs Fascism in Spain. Or not.

2009-09-30T03:16:00.000+02:00

September 13th, 2009. The Catalan city of Arenys de Munt wakes up on that Sunday, two days after the National Holiday, being the first city in the Country to convoke their inhabitants to a plebiscite where the question is: “Do you agree that Catalonia becomes a State of right, independent, democratic and social, part of the European Union?” The two and only possible answers are “Yes” or “No”.

Everything seems peaceful, in order, until two coaches arrive in the city. Those two coaches are not welcome in there. Heavily protected by anti-riot police, they bring unwanted people to the city, people whose sense of evolution has never moved from the darkest ages and who bring sad memories of war, exile, bombings, censorship and fear.

They stop at the Placa Catalunya in Arenys de Munt and start unloading the object of such protection, fifty-eight militants of Falange Espanola. They are next to nothing in Spanish politics nowadays, but they were the only political party allowed in Francoist Spain (1939-75). Ideologically fascist, openly in favour of any Spanish dictatorship and against anything that questioned the unity of Spain. They do not accept any diversity of thought, “One Spain, not fifty-one”, they say. Obviously, they do not apologise for the crimes committed during the dictatorship period nor they show remorse for not doing so. Why? They were the winner side of the war; they had the power during that regime. Spaniards had the chance to make them pay for their crimes, and lost it thirty years ago. Catalans lost, they must feel the consequences.

Despite being allowed by the Spanish Supreme Court, the fascist demonstration only counted with fifty-eight members of Falange Espanola. In front of them, a crowd of thousands of Catalans, kept by the police at long range. Despite one megaphone, the voices of the thousands of Catalans for independence suffocated the fascist’s claim for unification.

The day went by with no remarkable incident, especially after the fascists packed up, jumped up the coaches and turned back to Spain. We did not want you here in the first place, goodbye.

While the Spanish Justice authorized the fascist demonstration, did not permit this poll to occur. So that the organizers had to put in practice the "Plan B".

However, there is an unsettling feeling that seems to keep flying over Catalonia every time and never disappears completely. It comes from the so-called Spanish Justice. Now, the Superior Court in Catalonia has made public a note where the judges do not understand why “the freedom of speech has been criticized”. From Catalunya Acció we ask the Judges of such Court to wander what the hundreds of thousands of people shot by Francoist forces during the fierce repression that followed their victory in 1939 would have said. And ask the hundreds of thousands who had to exile the same question too.

At the same time, a pacific poll –an expression of democracy- is forbidden. Double standards? No, exercise of freedom of speech, say the Judges. I understand that you have freedom of speech in Spain only if you follow the official discourse and do not pretend to see a Free Catalonia; otherwise there is silence, or prison. And the –Constitutional- threat of being sent the Army without request.

As you may see, all was very democratic. And freedom of speech was protected. The winner's side's freedom, the other does not deserve it. Because they were the losers, they must feel –and fear- the consequences.

Luckily, several MEP’s from different European countries pointed at the not-so-free Spain and its flawing Justice. Why is only one side allowed to speak and show symbols and ideas that are forbidden in most European countries? From Catalunya Acció we know it is because of lack of cleansing of the roots of the Spanish system after Franco’s death, which is still full of characters directly involved with the regime that killed and obliged to exile millions of Spaniards. To clear the whole Spanish system from undesirable elements, it is necessary a full and deep regeneration. Several very important Catalan politicians have tried to reform Spain over the last hundred and fifty years, clearly unsuccessfully. Therefore, we know for sure at Catalunya Acció that the only way that Catalonia will be free to speak is with independence, which Arenys de Munt voted massively for (96%). As in this case, it will be achieved by democratic means. The trend is unstoppable, nothing will refrain us from reaching freedom, and then, Catalonia, after three centuries, will stand among the free nations of the world.

Monument at the Montjuic Cemetery (Barcelona). In memory of the executed during the Francoist regime (1939-75)

Jordi Margalef Turull
Catalunya Accio UK

The name of the Nation (II): Evolution and diversity of denominations

2009-09-29T21:20:00.000+02:00

In the last article of this series, I presented the former union or group of countries under the sovereignty of the House of Barcelona and its political structure as origins of federalism, supposing the initial application of the denomination “Catalunya” to that union.

The original denomination: Catalonia

This typical Catalan conception might be the generalized usage, albeit not the only one, because there was no official name as we define it today to refer to that group of territories.

Perhaps at the very beginning the name of “Catalonia” was used to the whole Union because the inhabitants of the Counties of the House of Barcelona might not have any identity connotation, and so it could be applied to Aragon as another possession of the Sovereign. But surely, that denomination was identified as something different by the Aragonese and they did not accept it, hence there is not a single official denomination to the whole of the Crown.

While the Mediterranean countries knew perfectly the territories of the Monarchy as Catalonia –and in this case would be known as the actual Catalan Countries-, it was not rare that Aragonese, Castilian or Hispanic in general without that political culture would call it simply “Aragon”, giving importance to only one territory of the Union, the closest and the one that possessed the title of Kingdom in front of the County of Barcelona.

These contradictions and divergences are not more than another element of the incompatibility of the political culture between Catalans and Spaniards. In fact, the communal existence of the denominations “Catalonia” and “Aragon” within the Chronicles, makes very difficult to know if they are talking about the Principality, the Kingdom of Aragon or the whole Union. What is sure, though, is that in the Chronicles, like Muntaner’s, the term “Catalan” is common in front of the term “Aragonese” to refer to the inhabitants of the different territories.

Some other clear examples, amongst a lot more others, where the denomination “Catalonia” and its derivatives appears to refer to the different territories of the House of Barcelona, its given by Benplantat in his web:

-The Juries at Palermo (Sicily) wrote “Regnum Cathaloniae” when referring to the General Court of Caspe (Aragon).

-Edward III (England) “Mercatores fifeles de partibus Ispaniae, Catalonie et Majoricam”. Majorca was independent in 1340.

-Peter the Great called himself “Heres Cataloniae”, meaning he was the heir of all Kingdoms.

-King James II, in a letter to the Dux of Venice: “…partibus imperi Constantinopolis in Sicilia et Cataloniae”, where the expression Catalonia refers to all Iberian territories.

-King Ferdinand II differentiates between subject traders as “consuli mercatorum tam catalanorum quan castellanorum” (market trades so Catalans as Castilian).

-In the same Constitutions, Vol.I 1292, it says that is not possible to separate the Kingdom of Majorca from the Counties of the North with denomination Catalonia and Kingdom of Aragon, Valencia and Counties of Barcelona, “dominatione Catalonie e dictorum regnorum Aragonum, Valentie et Comitatus Barchinone”. It is clear that the name of these Kingdoms is Catalonia.

Other references:

-1365: the representatives of Majorca wrote to King Peter the Cerimonious, “as Majorcans and populates of that island were Catalan naturals, and that Kingdom was part of Catalonia”.

-1392: Valencian governors addressed to Majorca and complain of the insecurity at sea: “Where is the vigour of the Catalan Nation, that made payable all the surrounding Nations”.

-Vicent Ferrer calls “Catalonia” the Catalan speaking part of Valencia, while he preached in the region of Serrans (Aragonese speaking): “You of the Serrania, who are between Castile and Catalonia, and so take a Castilian word and another Catalan”.

-In the Catalan Civil War (1462-72), Minorca took sides for the Generalitat against the Trastamara’s John II, father of Ferdinand the Catholic. The commotion started in Ciutadella with the chant “Visca Catalunya!”.

Catalonia as a political concept encompassing a diverse Kingdoms and territories was a comparable denomination to what Spain would be in later centuries. The same way that Charles I was known as “King of Spain” without existing any Kingdom with such name, but a set of inherited Kingdoms –almost all them from the old Catalonia, neither Catalan Crown, because no kingdom with such denomination ever existed. The King, though, could receive the treatment “King of Catalonia”, as it is written in the Chronicle of Pere Marsili, 14th Century AD, where they call James I as follows:

"Capitol XXXVII

Lo maestre del Espital per nom Huch de Fuyalalquer ab XV cavalers frares del seu orde, lo qual lo rey havia char e amich especial, e l'havia fet fer maestre en lo regne e en las suas terras per lo maestre major del dit orde, vench al rey de Cathalunya, e demaná sol parlar ab lo rey en presencia dels companyons, e dix: Senyor, pus Deus ha feta la vostra via ó carrera tant be estruga e bona, pregam la vostra pietat que acabets á nos ab los nobles e prelats que el nostre orde haja alcuna rosa en Malorcha".

There are other denominations in use with reference to the King of Aragon, that was the official title of only one of the territories, used preferably to simplify and because it was the title that was superior in hierarchy –king in front of count- and seniority –Aragon before Valencia, Majorca, etc-, to refer to the sovereigns of the House of Barcelona.

-William de Baux, prince of Orange “… to the Emperor of Barcelona”, 1210.

-Marcabru; “Avec l'aide de Portugal et de Navarre e pourvú que l'emperateur de Barcelone", 1261.

15th and 16th Centuries AD: From Catalonia to Spain and the Crown of Aragon. The use of the term “Catalan Nation”

From the Compromise of Caspe (1412) and the enthronization of the dynasty of the Trastamara, Castilian, and the incorporation of more peninsular Kingdoms, like Navarre, Castile and Granada as new partners in the Union, the name of Catalonia as referent was being substituted by Spain, an initially geographical denomination that pretended to facilitate the integration of the new territories joined to the Monarchy of Catalan origins. King Ferdinand II talked of the “Spains” whereas his wife dona Isabella talked only about Castile. This change, from Catalonia to Spain, was not due by imposition of our sovereigns but had to be readily accepted due to the Catalan pre-eminence within the new Crown and as a symbol of our domain. The same adjective “espanol”, with suffix –ol is from Catalan origin. That Spain was an increased Catalonia with new territories and Barcelona as Imperial city where the Crown expanded to the New World, with Our Lady of Montserrat as Saint patron and with a culture that gave works like “Tirant lo Blanc”, “El Llàtzer de Tormos” or “La Celestina” from the Kingdom of Valenca. A rather different Castilian Spain of today, with centre in Madrid and which have been made us believe that existed since the Big Bang.

The denomination “Spain”, originated from “Hispania”, started politically from Catalonia in the Iberian era and in the 15th and 16th Centuries AD with the beginning of a new power –Rome in one case, a dynasty of foreign origin in the other- in our territory. In both periods, the power extended throughout the peninsula and became hostile to the reality of the autochthon Iberian or Catalan population.

But as we know, from Castile, in the same way that happened before with Aragon, did not want to see their incorporation to Catalonia -or Spain- in the same way that to our Nation, and they prefer to sell their “tanto monta, monta tanto” as a political conception of union of two crowns, theirs and Aragon, never Catalonia! Effectively, the name “Crown of Aragon” began at that time and in 1493 the old “Consell Reial” –Royal Council- was transformed into the “Consell d’Aragó” –Aragonese Council-. And naturally, the name “Crown of Aragon” was imposed by the revisionists when Catalonia was governed from Castile and in Castilian way during the 16th Century.

This is the vistion that has been imposed by Spain and that is observed today as “Crown of Aragon” or even worse, “Kingdom of Aragon”, which is what is learnt by Catalans and the rest of the world as the only certain and valid History, like they say that Catalan Kings were Aragonese, that the Catalan flag was Aragonese and that Catalan conquests in the Mediterranean were Aragonese –and exclusively Castilian were the territories in the Atlantic, something absolutely false-. Burying their Catalanism under a few layers of confusion, which pretends to exclude and erase us from the past.

The transformation of the political subject of what Catalonia was within Spain by their sovereigns, with the territorial enlargement in the Iberian peninsula and the application of the name of “Crown of Aragon” to the former Kingdoms would make the Principality become the only territory where the denomination “Catalonia” would apply, in spite of the name “County of Barcelona”. Consequently, inheriting the concept of “Catalan identity” which will be more difficult to maintain in the rest of the nation. In this context, the term Catalan Nation, used long before then, becomes the natural substitute of the term “Catalonia” to refer to the territories of the Monarchy inhabited by Catalans, in front of the official use that was made of “Catalonia”, limited to the Principality and not only to the whole of the territories of the King.

Document of 1444 by the Councillors of Barcelona where “Catalan Nation” is differentiated from “other subjects” of the Prince King.

Naturally, these changes are happening slowly and diffusely, because in the 16th Century we still can observe maps where the denomination “Catalunya” is still attributed to the original territories inhabited by Catalans. Evidently, is simpler to find these references in other countries than in Catalonia, where the Spanish censorship was already working fully. Please observe these two centuries:

Map of 1505 by Andrea Benicasa, preserved at the Vatican Apostolic Library. The denomination that appears in this map is still “Catalonia”, not “Aragon” or “Crown of Aragon”.

Map of 1540 by Battista Agnese. The names that appear are “Catalonia” in one side and “Ispania” on the other, apart from “Regnu Granate”. Do not appear “Castilian Kingdom”, nor “Portugal” that seem to be incorporated to the generic “Ispania”. Neither “Kingdom of Aragon”, “Valencia” nor “County of Barcelona”, included in the generic “Catalonia”.

Map by Americh Despuig (officially known as Amerigo Vespucci), where the name of the Nation is “Regnu Tarraconie et Catelonie”. The denomination “Kingdom of Aragon” is nowhere to be found.

In Naples, the Kings successors to Alfonso the Magnanimous, where treated by the Angevin Party as “Catalans” –“Sto catalano quante ne fa!”, said about Ferdinand I of Naples-.

In Castile, the very King Ferdinand the Catholic was known disrespectfully know as “old Catalan” and “catalanote”.

1554: M. Bandello. Novelle I: "Valenza, gentile e nobilissima, che in tutta Catalogna non è piu lasciva e amorosa città."

The qualification of “Catalans” is known to be given to the Popes of the Borja family, originally from Xativa, by the contemporary Italians -"O Dio, la Chiesa Romana in mani dei catalani"- but even by themselves: Calixtus III was known as “papa catalanus” and considered his pontificate as “gloria nationis catalanae”.

Also from that time, allusions to Catalonia as a Kingdom by Catalanist manipulators like Ferran Colom, son of the Discoverer, and Joan Miquel Servent, the writer. The first, calls “Kingdom of Catalonia” the old Principality, and the latter talks about the Kingdom but also the “viceroyalty of Barcelona”, so that gives the impression that there are diverse viceroyalties, Barcelona amongst them.

From suppression of the Catalan institutions to the destruction of territoriality

As it is known, the loss of the Succession war in the 18th Century AD meant the elimination of the institutions of the different Kingdoms of Catalonia, but the territorial conception does not change in great deal with regards the previous two centuries. The old territories of the Principality of Catalonia, the Kingdom of Valencia, and Majorca preserve their denominations even though their own institutions are not maintained and they depend directly from Castile.

It is with the division in provinces in the 19th Century where a new substantial conceptual change of our territories within Spain takes place. With this model, the conception of unity among the Catalan territories aside to Spain –that was already very precarious- is destroyed, and also the unity of each one of the historical territories, now divided in provinces. Now, the denomination Catalunya completely disappears, as also did Aragon or even Castile itself. The old Principality was divided basically in four provinces –the Western Strip, disputed with Aragon for many centuries, was included and spread within the three Aragonese provinces-, the Kingdom of Valencia was divided in three and the Kingdom of Majorca was initially converted in the province of Majorca and later in the Balearic Islands. The new administrative system, of French inspiration, would only admit one Spanish national reference, with clear Castilian base.

These trials of disintegration and destructuralization of the Catalan territories would go a higher level with projects that did never become real and which pretended to separate the South of the old Kingdom of Valencia from the rest of the territory, in a zone that would include Albacete, Murcia and Alicante, while the territory of Lleida was meant to be grouped with the Aragonese province of Huesca.

This way, we have Catalonia, that, from being the denomination of a whole of the territories was the official denomination of one of those that formed part of the Union, to finally disappear.

Beginning to revert the process

With the First Spanish Republic, only lasting a few months, the name “Catalunya” was recovered as denomination of one of the federate States projected, corresponding to the old Principality, and it would not be until the “Mancomunity”, beginning of the 20th Century, that an administrative organ was created, as a simple group of four Spanish provinces, suppressed with the Primo de Rivera’s dictatorship. The name Catalonia was restored with the Second Spanish Republic in the form of autonomous government as a substitute of Catalan Republic. This autonomy was equally suppressed by the Francoist dictatorship and being restored again within an autonomous regime that put back the Principality, the Valencian Country and the Balearic Islands in charge of a minimal self management in the internal maps of the Castilian State, in company with and diluted at the same level of new autonomies within the Castilian nation like Madrid, the two Castiles, Rioja, Cantabria…

During all these centuries of Spanish distortion and with clear destructive will of our Nation, uninterruptedly have shown, throughout the territory, voices and references to the universal Catalanism of the Pricipality, Valencian Country and Balearic and Pine Islands, that more or less clearly due to clandestinity have arised. The question of the name of the Nation still reappears today, intermittently, to remind us that we have an unresolved question: recover the power to redefine us without the interference from whom question our existence as a Nation.

We must begin the recovery, without euphemisms, of the denomination of the old territories of the House of Barcelona, especially the Catalan speaking ones, as a minimal historical denomination. Aragonese Crown is not valid, and even less is Kingdom of Aragon, that would not be a denomination used by neither our Monarchs nor the Chroniclers, until it was created and imposed by the new Spanish powers in the 16th, 17th and 18th Centuries. Neither valid are other modern euphemisms like Catalano-Aragonese Crown, never used in that era which, more than reflect the reality, repeats the Spanish concept. Catalonia is a historical name that our Nation applied to the diverse territories, perfectly documented and real during the 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th Centuries, no matter that some have wanted to bury it.

Published at “Es Poblat de’n Talaiotic”

Press note

2009-09-26T21:13:00.000+02:00

INTERNATIONAL PRESENTATION OF THE BOOK “DISCURSOS A LA NACIÓ (De Catalunya Acció a Força Catalunya) by Santiago Espot.

Santiago Espot, CEO Catalunya Acció and driver of the political party Força Catalunya, will present the book “Discursos a la nació (De Catalunya Acció a Força Catalunya) in Madrid (Spain), at the Centre Cultural Blanquerna (C/Alcalá 44, 4ª planta - Madrid), on Monday September 28th, at 19:30h. The act will be introduced by Mr Josep Maria Vall, editor of the book.

Mr Santiago Espot will give the conference “Arenys de Munt marks the way to independence”, especially directed to those Catalans who reside overseas. After the conference, Mr Santiago Espot will answer the questions that the attending public and journalists might have.

Likewise the poll at Arenys de Munt on September 13th, Spanish fascist groups have threatened to boycott this presentation, demonstrating and blocking the entrance to the building, trying to make impossible the presentation. We also fear of possible physical aggressions to our colleagues or public present at the conference due to violence that such organizations have displayed in front of foreign collectives. A lot of Catalans wander whether the Olympic values apply to the candidature of Madrid 2016 and whether they are compatible with the fascist ideals that are wide spread among Spaniards. Hence, Catalonia opts for the candidature of Chicago.

For more information:
Josep Castany
General Manager of Catalunya Acció
www.catalunyaaccio.org

Catalunya Acció wins DENAES

2009-09-24T16:06:00.000+02:00

TUESDAY, 22/09/2009 - 19:15h

The Spanish High Court confirms that the jeering at the Cup final is not an offence

The Spanish High Court has ratified the last July’s resolution by Judge Santiago Pedraz, who did not admit to procedure the suing presented by the Foundation for the Defence of the Spanish Nation (DENAES) against Catalunya Acció and ESAIT with occasion of the jeering to the Spanish King and Anthem during the Spanish Cup final, in Valencia, played FC Barcelona vs Athletic Club Bilbao.

The High Court rejects the allegations presented by the same Foundation against Judge Pedraz’s resolution. Resolution which qualifies as “misbehaved” all those who whistled and understands that exhibiting an independent Catalan flag or a banner with the legend “Goodbye Spain” is a way of showing “what is preferred”. “There is nothing to say to those who are against the Institutions or symbols of the State and their form and regime fixed within the Constitution framework.

However, it may be different depending the the way in which this is manifested”, says the resolution. DENAES is the same organization that sued in 2006 against Pepe Rubianes following some declarations about the unity of Spain during the program “Les tardes d’Albert Om” (TV3).

Catalunya Accio

The name of the Nation (I): Origins of federalism

2009-09-23T14:42:00.000+02:00

Treating the question of the name of our nation, the evolution of the denominations that are applied on the whole of the territories populated by Catalans, and our own political structure is something I wanted to talk about for a long time and some comments of readers on this blog have claimed, in more than one occasion, especially as I am used to call the actual “Autonomous Community of Catalonia” with the name of “Principat”.

In the article “El misteri de la paraula Catalunya” –“The mistery of the word Catalonia”-, published last year, I introduced the possibility that the old concept of “Cathalunya” meant “Union of Countries”, a name empty of identity meaning from the very beginning and would designate the whole of the Counties that grouped together around the County of Barcelona. In another article, “Bars in the wind” we can see how the golden bars or paly of our flag would mean each one of the territories that, at each time, were under the sovereignty of the House of Barcelona. In this article and the following of this series I shall give my opinion of the conception and political structure of the Catalan Nation and explain how the denomination “Catalunya” is lost to end up to being the official name of only a part of the territories that formed part of such union.

Political structure of the Catalan Nation: The Principality and the Kingdoms of Catalonia

As it is known, the initial Counties that were formed in the Southern border of the Carolingian Empire were ruled by a Count, from which, the Count of Barcelona appeared to be head.

The Count of Barcelona would be therefore, the first among equals or –primus inter pares- of the other Counts, later in time they all belonged to the Count of Barcelona. This function of being the first among equals would give the House of Barcelona the federal political culture that characterized the territorial structure of their dominies.

The Count Ramon Berenguer IV of Barcelona, at the age of 23, betrothed Princess Petronila of Aragon, a little girl of one year old –although the wedding did not celebrate until a few years later in Lleida, in 1150. From that day, the Kingdom of Aragon –that only occupied a similar territory of what today is the province of Huesca-, that was in great difficulties and to which Castilians and Navarrese had pretensions of, was incorporated to the House of Barcelona, and the “Counts” acquired the title of “Kings” that would exercise for Aragon but kept the title of Count of Barcelona.

The Counts of Barcelona and the Kings of Aragon would be Princes, not in the sense of being the son of the King or heir to the title, because the title of the heir of that crown was “Prince of Girona”, but in the sense of exercise the sovereignty over a number of territories and the “first citizen” with the meaning given in the Roman Empire to preserve their Republican conception.
Found in the Wikipedia, one of the meanings of “Principality” is precisely, “territory where the sovereign has not any specific title or exercises in order of other title”. Therefore, in this number of Counties, we are talking about a Principatus in the Latin sense of sovereignty and was maintained without the category of Kingdom that was given to other territories later joined to the House of Barcelona: Aragon, Valencia, Majorcas, Sicily, etc.

This is when it arises the following question: why did not the Count of Barcelona proclaim as King of Barcelona and the Kingdom of Barcelona was created, as Aragon, Valencia and Majorcas? Why was a territory surrounded by Kingdoms kept that way without “elevating” it to that category? My opinion was that it was never proclaimed as Kingdom of Barcelona due to very diverse reasons i.e. initially, it would not be interesting for the other Counts and institutions to lose power –that they could apply being a Count- in front of a King, for the all time reluctance of the Church in front of the House of Barcelona and finally, but probably most important, they did not need to change a situation that worked well. Contrarily to what one think, the fact of not being a Kingdom might had been beneficial to Barcelona and the Principality because of the equilibrium of powers amongst the Catalan Crown.

The territorialization of the concept of “first among equals” and “Prince” that fell to the Count of Barcelona, implied a County of Barcelona that became “first among equals” in front of the rest of Counties and a “Principality” that, not being formally a Kingdom, was very similar and the first among the Kingdoms of the Crown, because it was the origin, the head and housed the Dynasty of Barcelona, that had created a Monarchy with its territories, each one with their laws and own institutions. With the function of “first among equals” of the Principality, the following Republican versions of Catalan Federalism that were imitated by other Nations, the “first among equals” principle would be represented by the Federal District, a territory with the same category that exercises as Capital of the Federation.

As this model has been imitated in this precise and concrete way, it must be that was right. Effectively, each Kingdom had to have a viceroy who represented the King in that territory, while each modern State of a Federation has its Governor or similar figure. The Federal District, though, is under the direct jurisdiction of the Government of the whole Federation, as Mexico DF, and its government presents some peculiarities with regards to election and naming of the Governors of the State members.

Exactly the same as the case of the Principality of Catalonia, that could not have viceroy because it was not a Kingdom and remained under direct rule of the Count-King, only in case of his absence, a Lieutenant was named as a representative.

The need of a Federal District is justified with the objective of avoiding the influence of particular interests of any member State over the territory, in the same way that was not interesting a Kingdom of Barcelona that might create conflicts between the Viceroy of Barcelona and the rest of Viceroys, whereas it was not possible between the Viceroys and the King in person. A question that still affects the Principality, where everybody seems to have the right to decide about what has to happen or to decide in questions like water, the Royal Archives of Barcelona –ill named “Crown of Aragon”-, infrastructures, finances.

Moreover, the paper of the Catalan Court has to be present. They represented a limitation of the power of the Count-King unedited to other Nations, where Catalan Constitutions were approved and other territories of the Union like Sardinia and Sicily claimed rights to send representatives to, likewise the Kingdom of Majorca. The paper of the Principality of Catalonia that was exercised by the Counties headed by Barcelona, is understood, like a feudal and primitive form of Federal District of Catalonia, and might had the particularity of being an authentic federation –union of counties- inside a bigger federation that was Catalonia.

In the same way that the City of Majorca takes its name from the island and Kingdom where it stands, like the City of Valencia and gives name to the Kingdom capital of , like Mexico DF takes the name of United States of Mexico and the City is their capital. The Principality of Catalonia takes the name of Catalonia from the Union of Countries that were in its own origin, from which was part of and was the first among equals.

The territories of the “Union of Countries” or Catalonia

The old Catalonia formed by the Principality and the rest of the Kingdoms.

It must be highlighted that the shape of the Principality, that exercised similarly to what today we know as a Federal District, is similar to the Iberian peninsular Catalonia at smaller scale. The expansion of federalism To describe the spirit of Catalan federalism, it is very useful the example in Ramon Muntaner’s Chronicle about “the bush of reed”, referred in its context to the Unity between the King Alfonso of Aragon (Valencia, Sardinia, Count of Barcelona and Urgell) and the Kings of Majorca (then reigned by James III of Majorca) and Sicily (then reigned by Frederick II, younger brother of James II of Barcelona), monarchs who carried his signal: –translated- “And nobody asked me: Muntaner, what’s the example of the bush of reed: has that strength that, if all the bush is tied by a rope, and you want to pull it out together, tell you that ten men, no matter how they pull, they will not pull it out, and even more they try: and if they leave the rope, branch by branch, an eight year-old will break it, that not even a bush will remain. And it would be like these three Kings, that if among them there is division or disagreement, God did not want that, we count that the neighbours would like to consummate them, one with each other. Because it is necessary that they guard against this step: while all three are one, they do not fear other power in the World, and this way, as I told you, will be all time sovereigns to their enemies”.

From this paragraph we must highlight the vision of Kingdoms that formed the dominies of the branches of the House of Barcelona and that implied the union of these territories even if they had different Kings, and that our neighbours do not wish more that see us divided and confronted to conquest us. The expansion of the Catalan State, first with the Spains, incorporating Navarre, Castile and Granada to the Crown and the with America, implied that the Catalan political model acquired Worldwide scale.

The Wikipedia says that the word federation comes from the latin “foedus” meaning covenant. And is convening an original characteristic of our political and juridical culture, that is reflected in the territorial and institutional structure of the State, opposed to unitary and unitarian States. Moreover, if Catalonia meant originally Union of Countries, it could be said that the actual term “federal” and the original “Catalan” not referred to a specific identity were equivalent. The explanation that is traditionally offered of our political structure is of a personal union or confederation. But the differences that exist between both systems are of hue or tradition.

Personal unions are more typical of Monarchies and would apply in our case, confederations and federations would be the normal evolution of republics. The degree of union among the State members, the power of the Central Government and the right of secession of the parts make the limits between federal and confederal states was very blurred and more theoretical than real.

Nowadays, Federal or Confederal States are the majority of the countries of the American continent, from Canada (a Federal Constitutional Monarchy with the Queen of England as Head of State) to the Argentinean Republic. From whom did they learn this system? From unitarian Castile, France or England, evidently not. Only Catalan political tradition could be the model. In Europe, we have Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Belgium and Russia. Other countries in the world that have adopted this political structure are Australia, India, Pakistan, Iraq and Sudan. And other States worldwide tend to federate amongst equals in continental organizations like the European Union.

It is curious that the Catalan Nation, the origin and the introductory of this system, is today cancelled, divided and quartered between two unitarian States; France and Spain, waiting to reappear from its ashes and be able to make new contributions to Humanity. And I do not stop saying the quote by Francesc Pujols at the House-Museum Dali in Figueres: “Catalan thinking always shoots out and survives to its dreamer gravediggers”.

Map of the actual federal and confederal countries. Countries with a genuine Catalan political form.

From “Es Poblat de’n Talaiotic”.

Building victory IV

2009-09-20T14:53:00.000+02:00

Politics of indigence

During the last years, Catalans have attended to a real and intensive Masters Degree in Political indigence. Since the first “Tripartit” (the coalition of Socialist, Comunists and Republicans in the autonomous Catalan government) proposed to renovate that Spanish Organic Law –otherwise called “Estatut”-, that Catalans have been able to evidence, ashamed, the way the Catalan Parliamentarians have starred an endless vaudeville not outclassed by The Ed Sullivan Show. Because, being frank, in a context of economical and national crisis like the actual, the border between the ridicule and the upsetting to which we have attended the “Estatut” number becomes an insult to Catalans.

It has been since thirty years ago that this country was used to sell successes that have been no more than failures and simple smoke curtains to Catalans. It was the consequence to putting in front of the country some ordinary managers of the political indigence that we have inherited today. But reality is tough and always claims its place. There is time when a lot of Catalans realise that is not true that the linguistic policy was a success, nor that we had the best infrastructures of Spain and France, or that even without State, we could use our Catalan in Europe or having National teams like elsewhere in the World. After thirty years, the mirage of linguistic policies and economic politics, social and cultural policies has vanished as the smoke of a wood shaving fire to which Catalans have attended as spectators.

Is it time, then, to stop being spectators and become actors, makers of our future? We now have the historical opportunity to reverse this situation.

Directive regeneration to independence

They say: renovate or die. When the country wants to push towards a direction but their leaders go towards the other, nobody doubt about it; we either change the leaders or we crash with them.

Here we have one of the fundamental conditions that originated the creation of Catalunya Acció. Once the diagnose of the country was made, some action had to be carried out. The first step, of course, started by the beginning of a much needed political regeneration.

But no real political regeneration may happen without a real regeneration of thought, attitude, style but principally innovation. No. There had to be new fire, new ways, new strategies and contributing with new discourse, touching, able to shake the country's morale. To recover the energy, strength, nerve in the discourse to shake the tamed Catalanism that we had in front of our Nation for the last thirty years.

To substitute this obsolete political class, what sort of leadership has to mark the way to independence? How the speeches to the Nation have to be to start a real break with everything established to date? And, especially, how can we assure that we shall not repeat the ways that have showed flaws? Certainly, political regeneration of a country is such a large range project that requires of a strategy that is not built in a few days, or even improvising.

Because, at the end, what future do we want? To create a new Convergencia or a new Esquerra that were really pro-independence, risking the repetition of organization and strategy models that have failed? No. We must go beyond that; regenerating politics coordinating these two fundamental pillars of the country that claim a change of course and an urgent new national focus. This is the change of mind that we have spoken about at Catalunya Accio, and this is, without a doubt, what will guarantee the authentic winning horse to the next elections in 2010. A Company of Companies with the standard of coordination: the Company of Almogavers of the 21st Century.

Time is not for Catalonia. The responsibility of the actual moment demands the maximal implication of Catalans to initiate the course to the authentic political transition that we provide the country with. The count down has begun. Let’s be worthy of not deceiving the country and return Catalonia the opportunity to build a collective victory that we have at our hand’s reach: Independence.

Albert Ubach
Member of Catalunya Acció

Building victory III

2009-09-19T12:07:00.000+02:00

Content and form of the political discourse of victory

What has to be the political discourse to bring Catalonia to victory? May a discourse take a country to independence?

Not long ago, the eminent Doctor Joan Solà went up the podium for the speakers at the Parliament of Catalonia and starred one of the most graphical acts in the last times; a publically telling off, at their faces, of the Members of the Catalan Parliament who do not represent the people who are said to represent any longer. And even more graphical was the fact that, at the end of his speech, the Catalan MP’s applauded, standing up as if, in the last minute, they resist to bow ashamed.

Without a doubt, this is one of the most representative images of how necessary the political regeneration of the country becomes an urgent need if we do not want to perpetuate our Parliament in this constant circus of political miseries.

Pointing out Catalan political agenda

We do not want anybody to fool themselves; the battle for independence will be won by the oratory strength of our leaders we elect to free her. It does not exist such “calm divorce from Spain and France” that CiU and ERC have claimed for so long.

Four years ago, when Catalunya Acció was born, we knew what we were talking about when we stuck to starting the political regeneration that the country needed if we wanted to break with the encasing madness of our Parliamentarians. Because to take back the country we have inherited after thirty years of nonsense we must develop an exercise of responsibility to impulse a new political style, separated from who has participated in such National breakage for such a long time.

Today, after the presentation of Força Catalunya last spring, we must celebrate that, as inspirers of this political regeneration, the Catalan political agenda of whom aspired to renovate the political discourse will have to be marked, invariably, by the way Catalunya Accio is marking from a long time.

The dialectical battle, battle for victory

But if regenerating politics asks for new faces who have not participated in the National breakage that we have inherited, the first step begins by building a discourse of renovation that shatters the forms and pusillanimous attitudes from who we are used to. Yes, we must bet for touching, vibrant, burning politics. And it must be recovered, too, a dose of necessary aggression to win the dialectical battle that Catalonia must fight in the next few years.

We have the historical opportunity to break with the past and the present, and make it not by being spectators but the makers of the dialectical combat to which Catalonia must be prepared to in the near future. And nobody had any doubts about that, this battle will be only won by the most prepared side, the most able to create the best discourse, the best oratory and the maximal political audacity.

This is the discourse of victory. And all with the aim of returning this country to her condition of European State, beginning by never again having to see as one of the most eminent figures of this country, Dr Joan Solà, had to remind us what is the authentic face of shame.

Albert Ubach
Member of Catalunya Acció

Bars in the wind

2009-09-18T23:35:00.000+02:00

With occasion of the Day of the People of Minorca, on which we commemorate the incorporation of the island to the Catalan Crown, on January 17th 1287, I have remembered that a year ago, there was an intense debate at illencs.com, on Pau Gener’s blog Sa tanca de s’era with occasion of an article where there was not even a flag. Because of this, I thought that it would not be bad to revise the possible origin and meaning of our flag, ensign or standard or how you would like to call this National symbol.

To begin with, do not believe that I shall start with the legend of Wilfred the Hairy, marking with his four bloody fingers on a golden shield what it was the emblem of the Counts of Barcelona, but before then and examining this Iberian statue from the 5th Century bC, marked too with the four bars.

Iberian statue and some representations of the territory occupied by the Iberians

What could represent the four paly that you can see in this Iberian figure? It results curious to verify that the actual Catalan Countries coincides in great part with the territories populated by the ancient Iberians, from the Northern Pyrenees to Granada, for all the Mediterranean coast, following the maps. We are, then, a Nation with roots that go into the ages a long time before the arrival of the Romans.

To start by the hypothesis that relate Iberians with Jews, it must be mentioned that following the Cabalists, the origin of the four paly of the Catalan flag is the four letters of the name of God in Hebrew, what is known as the tetragrammaton:

“The Tetragramme are the four letters of the name of God. In Hebrew there are no vowels, thus the name Jahve or Jehova is written YHVH. The tetragrammaton bears a concept of God, or better said, the Creator of everything visible or invisible –something not perceivable by the sight, smell, taste and tact. The name YHVH is a term that defines and regulates the creation process. One process that, at the same time, is marked by four phases: plough, sow, collect and elaborate. As well, sow, germinate, grow, flourish. There is one time for every thing. The creation process has four phases.

These four letters or energies make reference to the four elements of the Creation: Air, Water, Earth and Fire. There is a reference to the Cardinal points: North, South, East and West, that frame all that we call space. The four seasons of the year, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, the four basic foods to keep life…

The Cabalists do never pronounce the name of God for respect and never wrote the four sacred letters that are the expression of the name of God. What they did was to represent the sacred name, the Tetragrammaton with a sign. The name “tetragrammaton” comes from the Greek “tetra” that means four and “gramma” that means graphic or line. These four lines had a colour related with the letters YHVH; this was red on golden background. Therefore, the signal that represents God for the Cabalists, or the Tetragrammaton, is the four red paly on golden background.

It is logical to think that the symbolism of these symbols has something to do with the Kabala, and with the Tetragrammaton in particular, due to the study of the Kabala being introduced in the 11th Century AD in Catalano-Provençal lands.

In fact, this representation, known as the ensign or “senyera” is the emblem of Catalonia and Provence. If we add the idea of that the 4 paly represent the name of God to the theories about the origins of the lineage of Wilfred the Hairy, the genealogical tree of whom would take us to the same Jesus Christ and the Exilarchs of Babylon and the Kings of Judah, we would have the dynasty of the House of Barcelona with Catalan Counts and Kings as heirs from the royal blood of Jesus Christ, and carriers of the name of the Lord in their royal sign. A very big provocation and a threat to the Roman Catholic Church and their version of the Son of God’s life as per their official Gospels (by the way, four) and that would explain the support of the French King given by Rome in his invasion of Occitania and the integration of the Castilian dynasty of the Trastamara to the Catalan Crown at the Caspe Compromise of 1412. Naturally, this hypothesis about the royal blood of Jesus Christ so popular nowadays in books and cinemas are always presented under the French point of view, hiding the Catalano-Provençal context of this story.

But let’s continue with the symbolism of the four paly. Jordi Salat presents the meaning of the four columns. Salat says that these four columns measured “two meters diameter and twenty meters high crowned by a ionic capital, erected in 1919 at the Mountain of Montjuic by the architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch (1867-1956) and were demolished in 1928 by General Miguel Primo de Rivera because they were a Catalan national and cultural symbol related to the Hellenic culture, comparing, in a certain way, the Mountain of Montjuic of Barcelona with the Mount Olympus in Athens”. To Jordi Salat, these columns, that must be restored, represent a distorted, forbidden and hidden History that is founded in the vernacularism that joins the universality that we must rediscover, and relates these four columns with the Tetragramma and the four elements.

Perspective of the four columns in front of the Palau Nacional (National Palace), initially called El Palau de l’Antic Saber (the Palace of the Ancient Knowledge) with the four red and five yellow rays.

Different perspectives of the Four Columns of Puig i Cadafalch at Montjuic, with a virtual reconstruction behind the actual fountain. Bottom right, demolishing of the Columns during the Primo de Rivera’s dictatorship.

Naturally, the strength of all this universal symbolism does not please a lot of people who, after more than 30 years of democracy still hinder the restitution of these columns and more of all Hellenic architectonic group that Puig i Cadafalch had in mind.

Besides its symbolism, the four paly might have acquired a practical functionality, becoming the standard of the Catalan Counts and Kings. The diversity in the number of paly found, following the History of the flag of the Catalan Countries, and collected in the article Royal ensign (Wikipaedia), would not be arbitrary, but they might have had the function of indicating the number of States that were under the sovereignty of the House of Barcelona.

What is most surprising is that this possibility is possible if we interpret the ensign exactly inversely as we do it normally; it would not be the red paly over golden background but the golden paly over red background.

Three golden paly: Barcelona-Besalu-Provence, and later, Barcelona-Counties-Aragon and Barcelona-Aragon-Montpelier.

The three bars (golden) started their popularity and diffusion when Ramon Berenguer III the Great married Douce of Provence in 1112, and acquired all an extensive inheritance in Occitania. They attributed then the three golden bars to Barcelona, Besalu –that had been joined to the Crown the year before, 1111- and Provence. The existence of the three bars is testified by the stamps of Ramon Berenguer III.

Four golden bars: Barcelona-Aragon-Montpelier-Majorca

The conquest of Majorca began in 1228 and altered the three paly because, from a study in the stamps, it seems to be deduced that there were four bars since that time. However, we enter a period of confusion regarding the number of bars or paly because portolans, paints and other documents do not coincide, and flags with three bars appear with frequency, as well as five, seven and eight. In the paintings in the Palau d’Aguilar in Barcelona, dated at the end of the 13th Century, where the conquest of Majorca is represented, the flag appears with two, four, six and seven red bars and three, five, seven and eight yellow.

Five golden bars: Barcelona-Aragon-Montpelier-Majorca-Valencia.

With the conquest of the Kingdom of Valencia by James I, a new golden bar would have been added to the royal stamp. This ensign of five golden bars is the one that implies the presence of four red bars.

Return to the three golden bars: Barcelona-Aragon-Valencia to Peter II and Majorca-Roussillon-Montpelier to James II, due to the partition of the territories between the two sons of James I the Conqueror.

At James I’s death, the Kingdoms were divided between his two sons: the eldest, Peter II the Great received the central core, with the dynastical capital of Barcelona and the adjacent Kingdoms of Aragon and Valencia. The second son, James II, received the Kingdom of Majorca, the Counties of Cerdanya and Roussillon and the Lordship of Montpelier. As James II possessed the feudal Kingdom of Peter II, the flag used by both was the same. The return to the two bars would explain the reappearance of documents of this type with date posterior to 1241, as James I adopted the five bars.

Four golden bars: Barcelona-Aragon-Valencia-Sicily

Peter the Great had conquered Sicily in 1282 and it would suppose to add, again, a forth golden bar. Peter died in 1285, succeeded by his son Alfonso. The Kingdom of Sicily passed to another son called James. Possibly, the number of bars remained as that because King Alfonso died in 1291. His brother James of Sicily was proclaimed King in his place in 1295, who renounced to Sicily, receiving Corsica and Sardinia instead. The conquest of Sardinia to the Genovese was lengthy, completed in 1325, not long before his death in 1327. He was succeeded by his son Alfonso and this by his son Peter, 1335, who acquired Majorca in 1342, and the Roussillon and Cerdanya in 1344 (Montpelier was sold by James III to the King of France in 1349). In the royal stamps, there are always four golden and three red bars.

Five golden bars: Reincorporation of Majorca and their possessions?

The rejoining of Sicily had place in 1377. With this, Peter dominated the Principality, five Kingdoms (Aragon, Majorca, Valencia, Sardinia and Sicily) and other territories (Counties, Duchies, Viscounties and Lordships) that equalled at least to a Kingdom, therefore, the golden bars had to be at least seven but, effectively, only one was added, totalling six. The sixth bar disappeared after 1392, when Peter’s son and successor John gave the Kingdom of Sicily to his son Martin. At the reign of John II (1458-79), it appears again the sixth golden bar stamp, possibly referred to Barcelona, Navarra, Aragon, Sicily, Valencia and Majorca.

Six golden bars: Barcelona-Aragon-Valencia-Sardinia-Sicily?

With no doubt, the number of bars and its relation to the States of the Catalan Crown must be fully investigated. The confusion that has appeared in some moments might indicate that there was no unique criterion, but in view of the destruction of our History, it could be a symptom of manipulation. In front of the official fixation of the four red bars (or five golden?) as a ensign independently of the number of States, we might ask ourselves if at any moment we must count the number of golden as well as the red bars with the increase of the number of possessions that the Catalan Crown experimented in the Iberian peninsula, in the Mediterranean and America.

Ensigns with eight golden and seven red bars.

We must not forget how many golden bars has the actual flag of the iconographycally Catalan style Spain. Only daughter from Castile. Casual?

To finish, is obliged the visit to the information about the symbols of the Balearic Islands by Gabriel Bibiloni, amongst them, it is included a document about the actual official flag of Minorca. And do not miss the photo collection of shields with the paly, some of them taken from historical buildings of Ciutadella.

Official flag of Minorca.

And finally, we celebrate the Centenary of the Estelada, wishing that it becomes a Historical flag of a time in which our Nation had to recover the lost freedom.

“Estelada” at Es Vergers, in the outskirts of Mahon.

From "Es Poblat d'en Talaiotic"

One day, a Catalan must break Spanish legality!

2009-09-16T14:16:00.000+02:00

The main crime of the Spanish and French colonizer against Catalan Nation is not the systematic looting we are subject to, nor the neglect on the infrastructures that hinders our economy, nor, even, the physical genocide that Catalans historically had to suffer, to be more specific in the thousands and thousands of Catalans dead or forcibly exiled because they had defended their homeland. Being as terrible as they are, these are only collateral to the fundamental one that the colonizers have condemned Catalan Nation to, negating Catalans their own way of life.

For more than three centuries of forced submission and more than forty of formal democracy, but oppression and psychological manipulation, it has been made impossible to Catalans to show our self-consciousness as a country.

To let the own consciousness as a Nation disappear is the most alienating thing that exists. A lot more alienating than physical destruction.

Because the misery of the soul is sadder than material poverty, as it was well reminded by our beloved President Macià!!

What is the value of progress, money, wellbeing when the country is losing itself?

The biggest poverty, the most profound psychological misery flow from this loss of collective soul.

Because the most fundamental ontological need of any country is to be who is within that territory. And only with a full expression of this collective soul lies authentic freedom. And this authentic freedom is what is negated both by the colonizers and the regionalist politicians that have agreed to marginalize and make unnecessary this Catalan way of life within our own Nation, thus condemning us to a more than sure folklorization and disappearance.

In the freedom process that our Nation has begun, is necessary to acknowledge what the most resist to accept, which is that a nation that is not the owner of its own homeland and its not allowed to express in plenitude their way of life is a slaved nation.

It is this what they understood with perfect lucidity the patriots who we homage here and now. Patriots who assumed that if they were negated the right of living as free men, expressing fully their collective soul, would die as free men.

This is the spirit of the men who fought with the price of their blood to prevent the subduing yoke to negate them what today is reviving throughout our nation, against the Catalan political class and making evident their regionalism and in what measure they have abandoned their principles. Against who allows the slow blurring of our identity, our character and our language.

It is in this spirit that these proud men and women who the nation’s heart beat within. Where the presence of the authentic Catalonia is shown, this Catalonia that strives to demonstrate shattering the corset in which is trapped.

This presence, our genuine and deep way of life, the heart of our nation, beyond false identifications that so many centuries of submission have weaved, it is the objective and the ultimate reason for our freedom. It is the ransom that will return the joy of being Catalans, the creative spark and the material abundance.

Maria Torrents

Councillor Catalunya Acció

Speech made at the Fossar de les Moreres, Barcelona on September 11th 2009

The heroes of Arenys de Munt

2009-09-15T20:03:00.000+02:00

In the picture, Santiago Espot, in a conference in Vic (Catalonia).

“These Catalans demonstrate that have political sense and have hit the target. Their gesture is of a great Historical transcendence because disarms the Spanish State and puts the Catalan political class in a very uncomfortable position, not knowing how to react”.

“The Poll and everything surrounding it makes a lot of people pulling their hairs out. The Spaniards because they know this is the beginning of a process that may show unstoppable, and our leadership because puts in the spotlight their politics of chicken flight”.

Let’s be sincere. Generally, is not usual, among current Catalans, to see such a courageous attitude when the matter is to defend the Motherland. We only know too well that the whispering tone and the not bothering anybody approach are some of the usual characters of our political framework which, the more official it rises, the more increments these defects.

These are the consequences of being a slaved Nation, to which they have tried to fiercely carnage to make it disappear.

Disgracefully, we still have a lot of the nervous ticks of the beaten. Because of this, when somebody sees the patriotism of some Catalans emerging over the unassertiveness that invades the politics of our country, hope returns to us and their example becomes our guide. And this is it, what the courageous patriots of Arenys de Munt have done, convoking to poll their neighbours to decide whether they want an Independent Catalonia.

It must be said that they are not anonymous characters. They have name and surname, and is only fair to signal out the likes of Manel Ximenis, Agustí Barrera, Andreu Majó, Jordi Bilbeny or their mayor Carles Móra amongst others.

They have made possible what it will be, without any doubt, a prelude for the independence of Catalonia on the next September 13th. The whole country will have to be grateful and acknowledge that their gesture has helped to believe, even more, that our collective freedom is possible in any case we are prepared to challenge the enemy. They are today Catalonia’s pride.

Naturally, against this provocation, some red and yellow barks have been heard in Spain. From all sorts of origins: from the Lawyer for the State, PP, Spanish socialists –also from Catalonia, but these will try not to bark so loud, those Ciudadanos that were very quiet lately and even those who we believed were extinguished; Falange Espanola. The last ones are the oddest of the species. They hide behind a boor and primitive threat, as they showed in the last few days when they elaborated a video with the aim to intimidate the mayor Carles Móra, using a language that in other European country would send them directly to jail. Curiously, none of them has had the courage to show their faces. Will it be a ghost then, this resuscitated Falange Espanola?

The latest news are that the Spanish government wants to prevent the vote because it breaches some articles of the Spanish Constitution. Of course, every process of independence has to infringe some laws of the occupant, otherwise, the actual borders would be like in the Charlemagne era.

Nonetheless, the promoters of this plebiscite in Arenys are clear that they will proceed, regardless. They understand that they must defy the actual power of the State and are ready for anything, they know what is in play. Theirs are mature politics that show the ridiculous infantilism of CiU or ERC when talking about the rights of Catalonia.

These Catalans from Arenys de Munt demonstrate to have real political sense and have hit the bullseye.

Their gesture is of a great historical transcendence because disarms the Spanish State and puts the Catalan political class in a very uncomfortable position, not knowing how to react.

It discloses the schizophrenic politics of characters like Artur Mas, who has said that he would vote “yes” at individual level but he represents a party that do not want to take part in referendums for independence. Others, like the Catalan altar boys of PSOE, put the law in front of freedom, which is the similar to justify Francoism. Was it not legal at its time? Why did they fight it then?

Now, this oil spot of democracy and independence threats to spread to other Catalan towns and cities, in a process that makes a lot of people pulling their hairs out. The Spaniards because they know this is the beginning of a process that may show unstoppable, and our leadership because puts in the spotlight their politics of chicken flight.

This initiative in Arenys de Munt disarms Spain, unveils the home grown collaborationists and strengthens Catalan’s morale. This can only be qualified with a word: Victory!

Santiago Espot, CEO Catalunya Acció

Building victory II

2009-09-15T13:45:00.000+02:00

Spain and France: geography of hate

From all passions and human emotions, hate is one of the most wretched. Through hate, the individual impoverishes his human potential and he becomes a machine devouring his own species. And hate, they say, generates hate. Of course, if everybody applied the “eye for eye”, the World would become blind very quickly. Because of that, to fight hate, we must identify it first, to face it with the most implacable weapon: bluntness.

Because hate is, above everything else, an illness. But, can it be cured? Of course it is.

Catalonia is found literally under siege by two countries that are the life reincarnation of hate. From one side, the West, there is the project “Spain”, an artificial country built –and still is- on a fundamental pillar: hate to difference. There is no surprise, then, that Spaniards have always called Catalans as “the Jews of the peninsula”. Among us, what kind of ethical and democratic guarantee can bring a country that considers being Jewish as an insult? Now, it results that who dress themselves as democrats were pioneers in Nazism a lot earlier than Hitler himself started his exterminatory foulness across Europe!

May be because of that, Spaniards exterminated 100 million Amerindians and rested so chuffed. It is no casual, then, that the dictator Franco had plans for deportation of all Catalans, like the Jews in the Middle Ages, to African territories, to exile us from our natural land.

Today, it is cause of embarrassment to observe like certain class of political leaders continue to negotiate and pact with this Spanish political project, which has never officially apologised to Catalans and has never repaired the historical hatred which has subjected us, including current times. Or, did anybody believed that the soap opera of the budget that we are suffering is an innocent political game, normal in the 21st Century? Hatred, when it is a matter of pouring it over Catalonia is nothing but innocent.

On the other hand, in the North, there is France, a State which, with the fallacy of erect themselves as the country of the “Man’s Rights”, has found a perfect excuse to canalize their hate to difference throughout all known hostilities. Since the edict by Louis XIV, valid from 1700, where he proclaimed “the usage of Catalan disgusts” and the last declarations by Georges Frêche, where literally, he said, “Catalans make me defecate”, can somebody believe that there are 350 years between both statements?

Nevertheless, Catalans had to stand by the ignominious performance by UNESCO, where the petition made by France to recognise marshal Vauban’s military fortresses as World Heritage succeeded, by the way, with the complicity of UNESCO-Cat. It was the first time that UNESCO, by petition of the Country of the “Man’s Rights”, considers as World Heritage a genocide. Do we have to remind them that Vauban, under royal orders, set fire to the original Catalan villages, humiliated Catalans by making them build those fortresses with their own hands, with the stones of their own houses, to then, imprison them if they have not executed them first? Who, with sound mind, would consider World Heritage “el Valle de los Caidos” or the nazi extermination camps?

How to face hate?

Hate, as I have said earlier, is an illness. And yes, this illness has a cure. Not so much by whom has it inside but by whom suffers its consequences. Hate does not need to generate hate. Everything is more simple than that. Hate is fought, simply, with bluntness. With bluntness and without contemplations. In this case, with Catalan bluntness.

Neither France nor Spain, we see it enough, have never asked for apologies for the historical hate spread against Catalonia. They will not ask for them, either, for the hate that they show, even today, for the difference that we, the Catalans, represent. This stubborn and obstinate difference to not let them assimilate us and that define those Nations that they know how to win the destiny that History claims for them.

Because this is Catalonia. The country that has lost wars, yes, but has never lost a battle. Do you understand now why I say that Catalans are a winner Nation? Otherwise, we could not say that we, still, are Catalans. If hate is always looking for the way to minimize the other by ridiculzation, humiliation and insult, when it finds a proud Catalonia, shooting bluntness throughout, hate disarms and becomes a common tamed little sheep.

But nobody think that to fight hate, political attitudes of housemaid, quite usual among the Catalan politicians over the last decades will be enough. No. Facing hate reclaims political leaders ready to act bluntly, with a bluntness only used by whom has not complex of slave in front of who wants to minimize them. Leaders who think, speak and act with State vision –Catalan State-, in the country or overseas. Leaders expressly to fight the fierce dialectical battle that the secessionist way will claim victory from.

Did you like to see an example? Do not miss the periodical interventions of Santiago Espot in the TV program “Catalunya Opina” on Canal Catala. You will see there how to face anti-Catalan racism is not only a game and which is the way, in fact the only way, to make all those who dare to attack Catalonia walk back to their trenches converted in common tamed little sheep from a farmyard.

Albert Ubach
Member of Catalunya Acció

Spain forbids the exercise of democracy by the Catalans and allows the renaissance of fascist violent groups

2009-09-14T11:40:00.000+02:00

CATALONIA THE NEXT STATE IN EUROPE

Initially, the Local Council of Arenys de Munt (Catalonia) had decided to celebrate the first plebiscite for the Independence of Catalonia on September 13th. In that session, the political representatives of this city, democratically elected by its citizens, considered that it was an elementary exercise of democracy. This initiative has begun to spread and, at this moment, more than 50 other Local Authorities in Catalonia are interested in celebrating similar plebiscites.

Once the call for this plebiscite was published, all Spanish alarms sprung out and important politicians -from PSOE and PP, including Spanish vice-president, Mrs Maria Fernandez de la Vega, argued that this plebiscite was not to be celebrated because Spanish law does not allow to do so.

At the same time, Falange Espanola, violent group supporting Fascism that, must be remembered, was the only political party allowed during the Francoist dictatorship (1939-75), pretended to demonstrate on the very same September 13th in Arenys de Munt, coinciding with the plebiscite. At first, the Catalan Home Council rejected the application but Falange Espanola appealed to the Spanish justice.

Equally, the Spanish government, by hand of the State Lawyer, started legal proceedings against the call for this plebiscite. Not long after, it was known that the lawyer for the State, Mr Jorge Buxade Villalba, had been candidate for Falange Espanola in the period 1995-96.

These two proceedings had resulted in the cancellation of the agreement by the Council of Arenys de Munt by the Judge Emilia Gimenez Yuste, thus impeding the consult. On the same September 9th, Judge Pilar Rovira del Canto authorized the protest by Falange Espanola, revoking the decision by the Home Councillor of Catalonia.

"Spanish democracy", on one hand, forbids the democratic right of plebiscites and on the other authorizes the demonstration of fascist and violent groups that bear sad memories for the Catalans. Catalans only know too well what dictatorship and fascism mean. The World judged Nazi Germany's crimes. Germany has asked for forgiveness a thousand times, Germans feel ashamed of this stage of their History and Nazi groups are illegal. But the World has not judged Francoist regime, nor has any Spanish government ever apologised. Spain is full of politicians and public officers that belonged to that regime and do not feel guilt from having belonged to it. Furthermore, political parties like Falange are legal in Spain.

For these reasons, we call all Western institutional and non-government institutions, dedicated to analyze the quality of democracy worldwide, to have acknowledged the democratic involution that is happening in Spain and the consequences at European and International level that from it will derivate.

Catalans are a profoundly democratic people, as our own History reflects continuously and we consider that no Spanish law may be above democracy, people expressing their will by voting in peace. Catalans want independence and work with our utmost determination to recover it, always by democratic ways. And nobody will ever stop us from being the next State in Europe.

But despite all Spanish prohibitions and threats detailed above, the citizens from Arenys de Munt were able to vote on September 13th, being the turnout superior to previous "official" elections -European Constitution referendum and European elections, with 41% of inhabitants of Arenys de Munt older than 16 inscribed in the Town Council, participating in this election. The percentage of favourable votes for Independence was 96% (2569 votes against 102). The number of favourable votes for Independence in this town is superior to the number of votes in favour of the increase of the autonomy in the elections celebrated in 2006 (2424 votes in that occasion).

Catalunya Acció

Building victory I

2009-08-13T00:35:00.000+02:00

Foundations for political regeneration

From the west

From the west comes the scythe
that pretends the broom’s soul
but from the ashes is reborn
the bird that announces the last combat.

Albert Ubach

“Catalans wish for national Independence enough, but do not see the way to achieve it”. Carles Muñoz Espinalt.
Dear Sir/Madam,

I would like you to, just beginning to read this article, stop an instant and read again the sentence by prof. Espinalt which I decided to head this article with. Because, re-reading it, you will understand to the point that never has been said so much in so little: “Catalans wish for national Independence enough, but do not see the way to reach it”.

Here it is. In a sentence, the more precise portrait of a desire, of a wish to be, to remain, to develop; and yet, also, the confirmation of a statement of impossibility, or more clearly, impotence. Professor Muñoz Espinalt, as studious and knowledgeable of Catalan character, expressed loudly a reality that today, many years after his death, is still valid: the tough reality of a defenceless people in front of the aimless wandering of their leadership.

And it is exactly on the second part of the sentence where Espinalt gives us clues for Catalans to find the solution. After describing the main wish for Catalans –wish that is growing even more-, points that, even indirectly, which is the way to be followed to stop being subdued to the wandering caprices of the leaders that do not represent us any longer. Rightly, when he said but they do not see the way to achieve it, orientate us and even encourage us to ask ourselves why Catalans do not know how to achieve it. From here, believe me, the horizon of reflections that opens before us is thrilling.

How victory is achieved?

So, how do you reach victory? How do you achieve victory? What must be done to obtain it? Firstly, we must recognise that victories, as everything we do in life, are the result of combining aptitudes and attitudes. Concepts like work, efficacy, results, etc would not take the same meaning without adding self-esteem and effort to excellence as a creation mark of own value. Aptitude, but especially attitude, especially the latter, are two engines that work alongside each other to obtain the only goal: victory.

We see then, that to achieve victory, the first we must do is to interiorize a basic concept: to act always with morale of victory and winning mentality. Once again, aptitude and attitude are shown like undividable values to face challenges. Because, frankly, what country would trust, eternally, politicians who have never been convinced or decided to achieve victory?

The necessity of political regeneration answers to the need of substitution of the political attitudes of a leadership that has been not representing the Catalan people for years. The necessary substitution of these people, obsolete and fearful of constant flirting with Spain political attitudes, while Catalonia is bleeding everywhere. The necessary substitution of these humiliating political attitudes, only typical from a slave that constantly asks for the master’s permission, and to change them for attitudes of firmness, winning mentality, pride of the country and for the conviction that the right of Independence is a non-negotiable objective and that third parties do not have to decide for us.

Parliament must return to the country

When Catalunya Acció started to introduce the concept of political regeneration, it was made perfectly knowing that political regeneration means new faces that be willing to make new fire, with conviction to start a lighthouse that illuminated the way to victory, not only as a wish but as a duty, persistent and endless. Aptitude, yes, but especially attitude, to face the destiny that History claims to be sought after.

Mathematics say that two parallel lines always join in the infinite. We do not call to Maths, but to common sense, when we say that, certainly, there are two parallel lines that must reconcile: popular and parliamentary. The social fracture that represents the actual situation of political discredit has left Catalans orphans of will, as was already mentioned by Espinalt. Otherwise, how can a country reach victory when does not feel represented by their Parliament? And, how can ensure a honest administration of their wills without putting leaders in front of the country decided to act with strong hand when is necessary? Yes, it is necessary to bet on vibrant politics, able to be touching and speakers for the common wishes. Catalonia must be able to look at their leaders in the eye and to show with pride the aptitude and attitude that must convert her in a new State in Europe. We must return the Parliament to the Country.

The World reclaims a gesture from Catalonia

Catalonia, lighthouse of the western Mediterranean, cradle of the old Europe, economical incombustible force once free from alien rule. Who is to yield the constant flirting that countries like the United States of America have made and make in front of this key piece that is Catalonia in the international concert? Pujol’s governments and the first and second tripartit have preferred to ignore the occasions that extended hands from around the world have come around them. With no doubt, it is necessary that we return the Parliament to the country to correspond, equally, this international flirting that is inviting us to write world History in Catalan, too.

Catalans wish for Independence enough. And yes, there are chances. There is one way of reaching it. There is a way. The how, where and when. Here and now. There is the aptitude and the attitude. There is firmness and morale of victory. There is the sense of political ethics as an unbreakable duty from historical duty. There is the train of Força Catalunya that has started its way and where every new wagon to join will be first class. And there is, especially, the renovation of the political way in internal key and the political way in international key, because these two parallel ways advance, unstoppable and invincible, to the station that must not be the termination end, but the start of a new Catalonia placed firmly within her world: the independence.

Albert Ubach
Member of Catalunya Acció

Carles Muñoz Espinalt talking about Josep Maria Batista i Roca

2009-08-10T22:20:00.000+02:00

Prelude of the Independence. Carles Muñoz Espinalt, 1992

5th Chapter

THE CYNICAL DELETION OF INDEPENDENTISTS FROM HISTORY

When a country suffers from a crisis of patriotism, civic spirit from their best countrymen is silenced, not appreciated and is normally in the way of all those who do not bear that others have exemplary behaviour, and make fun of them saying that is ingenuity. They would like that political mastery equalled backstage plotting, and leadership was synonym of entangling situations. They would like to think everything was a trick.

Do not fool ourselves, people like these cannot have a good opinion of patriots like Josep Maria Batista i Roca –and again I will use an exemplary figure-, not better than Josep Pla’s opinion, when he wrote, on a certain place in his “Complete Works”: “Prof Batista i Roca, who was, as separatist and catalanist, as militarist. Rich family –cod fishing business-. Cambridge University –England-. I do not believe that he ever had a follower. Inevitable decadence of his surname”.

Fortunately, Josep Maria Batista i Roca never worried about other people’s judgments towards his person. All his suffering was the situation of our country. All his life was a prelude of the Independence of Catalonia. 1 He knew it was possible when there was no longer a majority of Catalans that walk on the street with fright on their sight. Batista i Roca knew the Catalans too well. Precisely, he was the first to make an exact diagnostic of the peculiarities of our enslaved character. We will not discuss whether he got the remedy right, but he did not miss an inch on telling us what was the ailment we suffered from. In 1928, wrote “A glance to the actual character of our people do not inspire reasons for optimism”. He saw us sporting very profound inhibitions and lack of audacity that create in our soul a situation that Batista i Roca defined as follows: “We take, unreflectively, defeat for granted even before we try to attack”. However, we infuriate when we are told so, but this attitude must be confronted if we want to strengthen our damaged and frightful character. “In front of a difficulty –Batista i Roca continues-, we have thousands of ways of going around it, shutting our eyes, thinking of overcoming it, although the obstacle remains intact”.

During the last years of his life, Batista i Roca remembered his diagnostic –formulated nearly fifty years before-, with nostalgia and regretfulness for not being able to do everything he wanted to help us rebuilding our character. I asserted that, to me, it had been a shame not to have known his diagnostic, when I, in 1955, participated in a controversial debate with Vicens i Vives, and vehemently, I did not stop telling him that it would be a very costly mistake, in the future, to affirm that Catalans go from wisdom to rage. Catalans go from wisdom to merriment, thinking that they might defeat their fears with laughter. Or are we not proud of being people that laugh at the dead and who stays at the funeral wake?

Confessions like these, motivated that Batista i Roca put a thoughtful face, where man could see how he had suffered during the exile, not being able to stay near those who he would have exercised some mentorship. To me, it represented an incalculable wealth of knowledge, to have had the privilege of maintaining around thirty long talks with Batista i Roca, the majority of them at my house. The rest, with me going at his place, being Batista i Roca seriously ill. We talked and we talked again about the situation of Catalonia, he never tired.

At moments, he seemed to get angry, when I referred that, in Catalonia, the problem is the strong unconsciousness of their leaders more than the preparation of the people. “Look how short-sighted and careless they are –I remember telling him-, that they have neither understood the peculiarities of Spanish Fascism nor they know their chimeras of the main admirers and theorists”.

Like pausing, I looked for papers from my archive and with major emphasis, I added: “Who has worried about what Ledesma Ramos said in 1931? He exclaimed angrily ‘No matter how many ideas a man can have about the regional characteristics of the country, it appears, in sheer manner, that the unity of Spain is only in danger in Catalonia, where the autonomic opinion is only a hidden separatism that cowardly waits for its time’”.

I wanted to point at Batista i Roca that the actual Catalan politicians, do not smell –even right at their noses-, the obsessions, prejudices and deliriums that are the essence of Spain, whatever their ideology. I cited again Ledesma Ramos, with the aim of seeing what consideration he would extract. The sentence was controversial too: “Basque people are noble and their loyalty is so notorious that they convert their regional dispute in an inoffensive and ingenuous claim”.

Heard this, Batista i Roca remained thoughtful, an instant, to comment, bluntly: “And, this conception remains the same, despite the same Catalan politicians do not want that to be said. With hindsight, the likes of Adolfo Suarez and Felipe Gonzalez were more or less important officers of Fascist organizations. Could be possible that they denied their old masters? In this way, Basques will be nobles, inoffensive and ingenuous, regardless of how many Civil Guards are killed and we will be hidden separatists that cowardly wait for their time, regardless of what smiley face we put at them when they scrape-clean our pockets.

I answered that,” in Catalonia, we can only overcome this by training leaders with temper, asking ourselves everything from scratch and looking at everything from another angle, being able to cheer the quiet and to return hope the disappointed”.

A few weeks after this conversation –I am talking about 1977-, Batista i Roca published on the Catalan newspaper Avui, a sort of compendium of his thought in the last years of his life. The title cannot be more meaningful: “Begin again”. The article commences with a sentence in the most typical style of Batista i Roca, because his most original thoughts carried a comment that was highlighted by tone of voice. He also used dashes when he wrote. That sentence was “They robbed us our wallet. Now they say that they wanted to return us it –but empty”. Please note that, after it, he put that dash, means that allowed him, even when he talked, to increase his sarcastic tone. Then, like a pounding sledge hammer, used to follow expressions like “-but empty”.

I think that Batista i Roca is one of our more eminent characters that has ever produced Catalonia and its best teacher of civics as I remembered in my speech at his funeral in Barcelona. I still confess you that I miss him. His only presence would have accelerated the prelude of Independence of Catalonia. Do not go further, when the young troops of my followers go around towns and cities to spread the question “Will 1992 be the year of the Independence for Catalonia?”, not for the people to answer with a confident yes or a fearful no, but to create a new motivational image to renew the reasons of our rights with a psychological strength that was able to melt the hurdles. Or is it not true that faith is able to move mountains? Therefore, when my disciples come back to Barcelona and tell me their argues, often, what I do is asking myself What Batista i Roca would have said about that?

Some might think that, if so operative were the ways of doing and of looking at ourselves, when Batista i Roca returned from exile, why did he not found more warmth and welcome in the Catalonia of the last Borbonic restoration? On one side he was already eighty years-old, on the other, he lived in moments of considerable political confusion. I remember that, in 1976 I recommended a lot of young men with political worry that they must support Batista i Roca to formulate the prelude of Independence of Catalonia, but the proposal did not set. Some of them said that we was too far right, thing that, later, has not made them frown their eyebrows and they have featured in the most nationalist conservative candidatures. Some others, that people would suspect that shaved every morning singing “The International”, pointed that Batista i Roca was an exalted extremist and that Lenin had already sentenced that leftism was the early age illness of communism. And so on.

All this, would return us to talk again about all those who deliberately confuse political capacity with messing about with politics. However, in the foundation of all this, we find a worse ailment. Let’s talk about it: Even if it only was to wash our faces with a dirty flannel –with the previous approval from the Spanish empire-, in the last decades it was imposed a false version about the Catalan ways of life, that quiet the culpability complex of a lot of conservatives and, at the same time, seduced the leftists because they thought they could advance from romanticism. From this convenient version, with the objective of praising it, Raimon Gali gave a clarifying synthesis: “One of the qualities of Vicens i Vives and his school was that he used adequately all that the Marxist school has of usable. One of the other qualities, his vision of our bi-polarization between the wisdom and the rage, it appears to me that is the only coherent psychological explanation about our personality. All others are pure pamphlets”. Therefore, we just knew what to expect. The interpretations of other Catalans, like Batista i Roca, that had nothing to do with this non-sense of wisdom-rage, were “pamphlets”. And pamphlets have no consistency. In summary, without the half a dozen of friends that have strived to keep the figure alive, people will end up questioning the existence of Batista i Roca or if he had been a 17th Century outlaw, or if we had invented him now, like when somebody creates a fictional character for a novel. And, then, another interpretation for the prelude of Independence of Catalonia that had been made disappear.

Carles Muñoz Espinalt, 1992

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Josep Maria Batista i Roca (Barcelona, 1895-1978)

Had an intense activity in the field of anthropological research and folklore, but as an excursionist, his most important contribution was the creation of the “Minyons de Muntanya” –Catalan Boy Scouts- and his constant preoccupation for the increase of wellbeing for the young Catalans.

At political level, Batista i Roca defended, until the last minute, the right of auto determination for our people. Consequently, because of his political ideas, exiled after the War in Spain (1936-39).

We must remember that he was the main promoter of the newspaper “Excursionisme” and the patriotic movement Palestra.

"The State language immersion in Catalan makes our children vulnerable to drugs"

2009-08-09T22:28:00.000+02:00

According to José William Vega, chairman of Asocolombia, “with the last government, integration of immigrants was easier”.

Exposure of young migrants to drugs is the main consequence of schooling in Catalan language, said José William Vega García, spokesman of Asocolombia, one of the two associations of Colombian immigrants resident in the Balearic islands. This association began the campaign “No compres si no entiendes”, “Do not buy if you do not understand”, to boycott products labeled in Catalan.
Vega concludes this based on “the linguistic politics applied by the Balearic institutions make that the young Colombian newcomers unable to integrate. Because they do not integrate, failure rates at school shoot up, and, youngsters do not enjoy going to school. This fact increases absenteeism. And if young people remain all day in the street, they finally manage drugs”.
Finally, Vega concludes that “many families, in front of the danger of drugs, opt to send their children back to Colombia, so they can attend school without fearing of problems that drag the educative system in the Balearic Islands”.
The chairman of Asocolombia thinks that “during the last government, the way that language immersion in Catalan was conducted, was more effective because the number of hours taught in Catalan was progressively increased”. According to Vega, “since Unió Mallorquina is in power –qualified as radical xenophobic nationalists by the association-, children have to learn quickly another language and it is not possible”.
Classroom hosts
Asked about what would be ideal, as has happened in Catalonia, temporary “classroom hosts” for immigrants were created, Vega answered “those are totally xenophobic classrooms, that do absolutely no good to immigrants and hinder their integration”. Nevertheless, the spokesman of Asacolombia sustain that “is not contrary to the process of linguistic normalization, and for venture, could win many Colombians to the cause”.
The campaign of boycott against products that are labeled in Catalan is, according to Vega, “for safety reasons”. “How do they pretend that people buy goods that they do not know what contain?”, wanders the chairman of Asacolombia.

Vega, a character linked to the last government

José WilliamVega García. This is the full name of the person that promotes the campaign “Do not buy if you do not understand” in the name of the association Asacolombia and it has for object to boycott products labeled in Catalan. Despite Vega’s widespread effect thanks to this campaign, he is not a new character but somebody who has tried to make himself known in the country politics for years.

In fact, this citizen, with Colombian origins that practices Medicine, was a member of the Popular Party in Calvià , from 2001 until April, 27th 2007, not long before the election campaign started. On May 26th, day of reflexion, it was discovered that he had sent, from his cell phone, messages asking for votes to his party.

After abandoning it, Vega made public a letter that said “The cessation is due to personal reasons. It was rewarding to share with the Party, in Calvià, a lot of activities and I learnt that is a party that carries out their promises. In the Balearic Islands, is the party that has made the biggest effort with the immigrants and I feel very pleased by that. This step is necessary to keep the neutrality of the association I am chairman of. And because the time has arrived for the immigrants to have their own voice heard, independent from actual political parties. We have enough capacity to name our own speakers at all levels in the political and social life in the Balearic Islands”.

Furthermore, this spokesperson of a part of the immigrant population of Colombian origins, has taken part in campaigns of big repercussion, promoted by the Spanish right wing. He participated in the infamous demonstration in 2006 at the la Marjal beach, where the platform “Son Servera basta ya” made a homage to the editor PJ Ramirez, manager of a private use swimming pool sited within public use land and sea.

During 2006, Asocolombia, was granted €7000 from the government in concept of projects and expenses, reported by sources from the Conselleria d’Afers Socials, Promoció i Immigració, the Social Affairs, Promotion and Immigration Department of the Autonomous Government of the Balearic Islands. However, is not an “scandalous” sum, as reported by Norbey Andrade, chairman of Asacol (the biggest association of Colombians of the two); they received similar quantities each year in concept of punctual aid.

Translated from OCB, Obra Cultural Balear Artà.