There is a recent article in the WSJ talking about the possible breakup of Spain. I am surprised by how much information about what is going on here can be read in the international media. I have read the article and it summarises what happens here more or less quite well:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443675404578060503427163808.html
This hurricane Sandy reaching New York has brought me back my fascination for this city. And if you add to that the attraction of a hurricane I have all i need to write this.
Here I just will put some links to pages I visit as I try to gather information. This post is mainly for my personal use but anyone can read it too.
Here is a link to a map where you can see evacuation zones:
http://project.wnyc.org/news-maps/hurricane-zones/hurricane-zones.html
I am also reading of course so obvious sites as http://www.nyt.com
Some of the Zemanta related links can be also interesting.
I also have found a link to Hurricane SANDY Public Advisory:
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT3+shtml/281457.shtml
About the transport and alerts I have found this link of MTA:
http://alert.mta.info/ I read that closing start on Sunday 7 pm. The underground will be closed, no buses and so on. This seems so exceptional.
At http://www.earthcam.com/usa/newyork/timessquare/ one can see Times Square live from a webcam.
M’he assabentat fa poc que el PP s’apropiat del COBI i li ha posat un vestit del PP i una bandera espnayola i catalana. També veig que per promocionar l’espanyolitat de catalunya fa servir que a Catalunya hi ha molts GARCÍA y JOSÉ.
És possible que al PP siguin tan ignorants que no sàpiguen que a la majoria de països que es van alliberar de la possessiva Espanya i que ara són independents també hi ha molts JOSÉ i GARCÍA. No serà pas que el PP encara no ha acceptat que hi hagi països on es parli castellà i hagi cognoms i noms castellans i no estiguin sota el control de Madrid?
Encara que tothom a Catalunya ens diguessim JOSÉ i GARCÍA i fins i tot encara que fins i tot ningú parlés en català sinó que tothom parlés castellà també tenim raons per no voler dependre de Madrid! També els austríacs i els alemanys deuen compartir molts noms i cognoms i no per això Austria i Alemanya han de ser un mateix estat. El que ens uneixin coses a la gent de Catalunya amb gent d’Espanya no vol dir que hàgim de dependre de Madrid!
A veure si se n’adonen a Madrid i al PP que el problema que hi ha és que a Catalunya estem farts de ser maltractats des de Madrid! Què estem farts de que ens insultin dient que ens deixen diners quan nosaltres ens hem quedat sense res entre altres coses per ser tan solidaris durant dècades! ¡VIVA LA LIBERTAD! ¡VIVA LA INGLATERRA QUE RESPETA A SUS VECINOS DEL NORTE! !VIVAN TODOS LOS PAISES DE SUDAMÉRICA Y CENTROAMÉRICA CON LOS QUE COMPARTO LENGUA Y EL DESEO DE UN DÍA DE TAMPOCO DEPENDER DE MADRID. POR MUCHO QUE ME GUSTA ESTA CIUDAD. COMO ME GUSTA LONDRES.
Imagine that THE.CAT declares itself a new state. I know this sounds crazy but imagine I do. What could happen next?
Well, I imagine that nobody would care so although THE.CAT would want to declare itself independent that would not change anything.
So my conclusion is that for THE.CAT to succeed declaring itself as a new state I would need others to recognise me.
Imagine that my current state does not recognise me. It tells me that I belong to it for eternity and that I cannot decide for myself.
Imagine, however, that the rest of states recognise me. If that happened then it is obvious that the problem would be not mine but that of the state that would remain alone not recognising my independence.
Needless to say that THE.CAT does not want to declare itself an independent state. I would have not enough money to open any embassy and it would be too much for THE.CAT to be the president of the new state, the lawyer of the new state, the voter of the new state, the demonstrator of the new state, the beggar of the new state. The policeman of the new state. The soldier of the new state. The singer of the new state. I would be too much busy. Maybe that is one of the reasons why few people declare themselves its own state. Too much trouble.
Imagine now that THE.CAT has heard some people they want to create their new state. As I see that myself it is going to be impossible to create my own state I could join them. Things look simple this way but it happens that while you try to build this new state people from the current state try to stop you by all means. Should I surrender then and do nothing and let win the ones who do not respect the creation of my own castle and want me to play in their own castle.
Should I surrender to Spain or should I help Catalonia to create a new state? Who should I listen to? Those that want me to remain with them threatening me or to join those who now finally imagine a state where finally the languages are seing as something positive?
Should I remain with the ones who want to force me to be part of them or should I join those who want people to be free to decide their future? Should I be true to the ones who live in my town, my county or even in my beautiful Barcelona or should I be with those who live quite far from me? Should I accept to be a slave of people in Madrid?
I like to visit Madrid. I love Madrid. As I love Paris or London. But as I do not want to be ruled from Buenos Aires neither do I wan to be ruled from Madrid. One thing is to share a language and another is to accept a forced marriage.
I hope one day Madrid thinks why so many parts of the once Spanish empire have at some point wanted independence. If Spain gives its back to an independent Catalonia we have people from Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Colombia, Venezuela, Panamá, Costa Rica, Cuba, etc to talk to. We do not need Spain to speak Castilian! At least not this Spain!
The famous marathon of New York takes place this time the first days of November. I have read that in the city where now Josep Guardiola is living they intend that the independence flag of Catalonia is seen everywhere.
Some days ago I remember one American saying that the Catalan people, if they want to get support for their new state, they should not worry so much why do they want independence and they should ask themselves why should the rest of the world want Catalonia independence?
As Barcelona is quite known in New York and Woody Allen even brought here Scarlett Johansson for a film with Penélope and Bardem I wonder why should New Yorkers would want Catalonia to be independent.
One of the few reasons I could imagine would be if the new state had English as another official language but unfortunately most of my countrymen are not so fond of learning English as I do.
Who knows, maybe is the international community that could suggest that of the English language. I think it would be perfect. Barcelona is quite a nice city and if English was also its official language it would mean that a lot of people from around the world could come to live in Barcelona.
In any case, I just would be happy if New Yorkers just supported us to decide our future. One day the Americans had to fight against the British to get its independence. Now the UK even let’s the Scots to decide its own future. Something like that I want for Barcelona and Catalonia.
The other day an American professor or soemthing was asked how coud Catalonia get independnece? He said that one of the ways to have an independent Catalonia is that the world wants it! Until now it seems that only people in Catalonia want that and not everybody.
So I have thought what could give an independent Catalonia to the world that could make an independent Catalonia to be very welcomed by the planet?
And this is my proposal. Catalonia, if it gets independent it will be a fruit of the European Union. Without the existence of the European Union it is difficult that we would be talking about an independent Catalonia.
So if a possible independent Catalonia is a fruit of the European Union then an independent catalonia must wear a European Union stamps that shines around the planet. And what has being making the European Union all this years: TO BRING STEP BY STEP, LITTLE BY LITTLE, THE FRONTIERS DOWN!
SO AN INDEPENDENT CATALONIA SHOULD BE THE FIRST STATE OF THE WORLD WITHOUT HAVING BORDERS!
Some centuries ago, cities used to have walls around them. Now they do not have them!
So now it is the same! CATALONIA SHOULD NOT HAVE BORDERS!
For Catalonia it should not be difficult to do so! All around it the same language is even spoken!
It may seem crazy not to put borders but are there borders between towns? Well, there are of course, but we do not seen them. The same could happen in a new Catalonia.
No borders with our neighbours! If a future Spain and France would want to put borders it would be their problem.
So,if we do not put borders, what are we doing with the new state. Well, we just collect taxes in Barcelona and we send our part to Brussels. Without having to send money to Madrid (at least directly!)
Yesterday I was promenading through a passeig (a street where you walk in the middle and you have two rows of trees) here in Catalonia when I realise that whatever my feelings about the independence or not of Catalonia I was LIVING IN CATALONIA.
I realized that whatever I was a big enthusiast of a Catalan independence or I was s strong suppporter of Catalonia remaining in Spain or even if I did not care much the status of Catalonia, well, I realized that in whatever circumstance I was living in a very special moment of history for both Catalonia and Spain.
If Catalonia was going to be independent that would mean I was born with Spanish nationality and I was going to change to another nationality. Quite a change that does not happen to everybody! A lot of people live all their live with the same nationality.
So, as I was promenading through the streets here in Catalonia I realized that even if I did not care about what was going on or I cared much something serious was going around.
And I can assure that this brought me a lot of energy because whatever it happened at the end it was obvious that there was going to be a change. In some way I saw all this as Catalonia being born again or as its last defeat. I saw that Catalonia was going to fly so high that it could end quite far awy or it could fall down too. And the fall could be quite hard.
Then as I was walking through the streets here in Catalonia I felt quite proud to be just at this moment in Catalonia. Because it was one of the few times I felt part of history (it happened to me the same the first time I got euros from the ATM) I look around and saw other people and then I realized that a lot of eyes were going to watch us! Spain may be putting us in a bad situation but it was sure that on November 25th a lot of people in Spain will be watching the Catalan results to see how much more independene vote had even increased since September 11th.
But I am not talking just about people in Catalonia dreaming about an independent state. I am talking about other people too. I am thinking about the people in Catalonia that want to remain in Spain. For them I imagine that this moment it must be very important. I am sure they have been thinking the best way according to them to stay in Spain.
So, it is not so much about feeling part of the ones who want indepence or not. It is the sense that we are in a historical moment. Now in Catalonia, I doubt there not a lot of people that are proud to contribute to a new state … or to remain inside Spain.
Let me take, for example, Alicia She is the one behind the Catalan PP. She is the one wanting Catalonia to remain in Spain in any case. For this woman now it must be a very important time for her. Not a boring time! In Catalonia I imagine a lot of people see in her in her Spanish side. But I imagine that outside Catalonia, people from her party, see in her her Catalan side. When Aznar wants a recentralization of Spain and she says publicly that she does not want to I feel that at last we all Catalan are united by defending whatever we can according to our ideas.
Some years ago I remember to have been outside Catalonia with a friend from Catalonia. When we are in Catalonia I seem to be the more Catalan nationalistic and he seems to be quite happy with Spain. Well, when we are in Catalonia we speak Castilian between us. Well, when we were outside Catalonia he asked me that we both spoke Catalan! That made me think that maybe he and I were in fact saying something and feeling otherwise. It never occurred to me to speak Catalan outisde Catalonia with him. But he wanted to show to the people outside Catalonia we were from Catalonia. I did not feel that need. So, who was more nationalistic him or me?
Another thing that I realized it is that this situation in Catalonia coul dunite people because whatever we thought it was obvious that our future was at stake.
We all know from history books what has happened in Catalonia in the last century. We know that Catalonia has alsways wanted more and more power. Anyone living in Catalonia knows that. So now, whatever one wants to remain in Spain or not, we all knew were in a part of Spain that is known all around Spain because some people here want to become independent. What has changed now is that this part now has found a voice in a main party.
Maybe I am not the great supporter of independence other are and in fact I do not know what I would vote in a referendum or consultation but I, as most people in Catalonia, want Catalonia to have its say. And in this sense I feel very proud of people around me! There is not sacred reason whatsoever, I repeat whatsoever, why we should be ruled from the city of Real Madrid and not from the city of FC Barcelona. Is it written on the stars the Barcelona and its surroundings should be ruled for eternity from a city, that even not existed, some centuries ago? The old Imperial Tarraco, the old Barcino should be ruled from a city that was just created some centuries ago? If other people around the peninsula think they should be ruled from a place called Madrid is their problem. I just want to be ruled from Barcelona. And not because I do not feel Spanish or whatever or because I just feel Catalan or whatever. It has nothing to do with that. It is simply because there is something much more important to me that anything: FREEDOM. Let Spain give me the choice to be FREE and vote about me wanting to depend from Barcelona or Madrid and I may have a doubt. But not letting me even express myself it is obvious I would prefer before to depend from Barcelona. Not because I do not like Madrid but because as Brussels will become each day more important I find upsetting to depend from so many places. Madrid, Barcelona, Brussels and Berlin is too much. With Brussels and Barcelona I think it would be much better.
There is currently 
an exhibition in Barcelona Museu Picasso where you can see, for example, this beautiful fish:
As I have said in other posts the current conflict between Spain and Catalonia is not just an internal problem south of the Pyrenees. It is a European problem and those who do not realise that will pity that in the years to come.
This morning I have realized that the conflict between Catalonia and Spain could not only bring Catalonia and Spain to a terrible scenario but that in fact Catalonia and Spain could even destroy the European Union. I know it sounds crazy but let me tell you my worries. I hope I am totally wrong.
First of all let me tell you what is going on. In some weeks we have an election in Catalonia. If the parties that want Catalonia to decide its own future win they will ask fro a referendum or a consultation. Madrid refuses that. So we will have a big conflict that could last for some months or years.
In any case (and in contrast with Scotland good terms found between Salmond and Cameron) well in Spain and in Catalonia we will reach a point that it is going to be very very dramatic!: In some way we the Catalan we will vote and say what we want.
If this votes says we want to be a new state inside the European Union this is a big problem not just for Spain (Spain does not want a referendum, consultation or nothing) It is a problem for Europe.
If we Catalan people say we want to to be a new state in Europe and Spain refuses to listen to us what will the rest of European partners do???
One possibility is to say this is an internal Spanish affair. Well, this can be an answer for some weeks or months but at some point some country, or some part of another country will be in the same situation that Catalonia. The Republic of Venice will want to be a reality too maybe!
So what I mean is that the conflict between Catalonia and Spain is not just an internal affair because it is a conflict about how we see democracy!!! It is a democratic problem!
So, if Europe now just says it is an internal problem then in the future we will have chaos.
I am totally certain that if the majority of Catalonia says yes to a new state it is impossible to think that a whole continent remains silent! Will the UK or Scotland do not say a word about that?
So at some point some will support the fact that something must be done. Somebody will realise in Europe that it is not possible that a little part of Europe where most people may not want to belong to Spain are obliged to that. If other countries do not listen to what has happened in Catalonia they may even end having the same secession affair inside their states! The people of Bayern, the people of Venice, etc at some point will say something.
Or maybe countries from outside Europe say something.
So imagine that at some point a country of some weight says something. What happens then? Imagine Germany telling Madrid something.
I do not know but I think that at some point what is happening in Catalonia in the next months is going to divide the European Union! And this can be terrible! If people in Spain have the feeling that Catalonia is becoming independent because Berlin or London support the result of a consultation or a referendeum this would bring a problem to the unity of Europe. Maybe Spain would then want to leave the European Union. it would be quite hard for some people in Spain to think that the price they have to pay inside the European Union is that Berlin or Brussels dictate which are the borders in Europe!
So the best would be now to find a common solution between all memebers in Europe! It must be a solution that brings stability! If we had had already MEHR EUROPA in Spain and Catalonia maybe I would not be writing this! If Europe had put a limit in the solidarity of Catalonia to the rest of Spain maybe people in Catalonia would not be so angry with Madrid.
I am in favour of Catalonia having the last say about its future but I am also worried that at the end it may seem as if it was Berlin the one who decides which borders we have in Europe!!!!!! If Europe does not help Catalonia and Spain to find some kind of agreement between them then there will be a point when Europe will have a hot potato in their hands! Does anyone want to reach the point where it will seem as if Spain breaks in parts just because Germany accepts that? Or Italy loses Venice because Germany accepts that?
That we in Catalonia are ruled from Barcelona instead of Madrid seems to me wonderful but I am afraid that we end by just having an “independent” Spain and “independent” Catalonia just ruled from Berlin. From Brussels I would not mind.
Until now the enemy of Catalonia seems to be the government of Spain. So I wonder what would happen in an independent Catalonia! Who would be the enemy?
Well, I imagine that first the enemy to blame would be for some time Spain still. Some politicians would blame the bad situation of anything in having been part of Spain for so long.
But when Catalonia has been independent for some years who would be the enemy of Catalonia?
If things go according to what it uses to happen in a lot of countries nowadays I imagine the enemy would come from outside as always …
So, who would be the enemy. The Spaniards who would come to work to Catalonia as Spain is poorer without Catalonia. The Muslim community that will be the third largest in Western Europe after France and Belgium?
Will there be parties who would ask for a vote to go back to Spain?
Will the language be a weapon for the political parties? I can imagine perfectly some parties saying that the new independent state is not what they wanted and that they just want a Catalonia with just one language. If this happens then we won’t quarrel with Madrid but between ourselves.
I imagine that I am wrong but I have the feeling as if an independent Catalonia would not be enough to bring calm to this part of Europe.
In any case the current situation now inside this Spain is so empty of nay hope that I imagine one cannot be worried to much about an independent Catalonia and its futures enemies when we are living in the current situation. Maybe independence make us dream a bit in this difficult times.
TREN HOTEL EUROPA 