The Catalan Way (Via Catalana) is the way of tens of millions of Europeans

Otto Ozols | 2013. gada 23. oktobris
 
On Sept. 11, hundreds of thousands of Catalonians joined hands to form a 400 kilometer long living chain. Their purpose and their desire was profoundly understood by tens of millions of Europeans.
Their own independent state – a dream for centuries for the Irish, the Poles, Finns, Norwegians, Estonians, Latvians, Lithuanians and many other Europeans. They have all had to take the long and difficult Way to fulfill the dream of an independent state. The memory of their struggles for independence is sacred to these people – their fathers, grandfathers have dreamed and aspired, quite often sacrificing what is most precious – their lives.
So, deep in their hearts, millions of Europeans understand and support the Catalan aspiration for their own independent state. To them, Catalonians are not some sort of separatists. They are heroic people ceaselessly striving to fulfil their fathers’ and grandfathers’ dream – an independent state.
When Pope John Paul II returned to Poland in 1979, he was surely advocating freedom for his native homeland. For centuries countless emperors and dictators had tried to destroy and divide Poland. But the Polish people stubbornly and faithfully followed their dream of an independent state.
Finland, for centuries saddled by various empires, achieved independence in 1917, as did a year later also the three Baltic states – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Later the Baltic states remained true to their dream in spite of long years of occupation, repression and mass deportation to Siberia.
The closest parallels to the situation between Catalonia and Spain might be the Nordic states – Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Sweden and Finland. This was not always so. Only comparatively recently – early in the 20th century – they were relatively impoverished nations. For several centuries Denmark and Sweden ruled over the peoples of Iceland and Norway. From time to time the Danes and Swedes would wrangle over Norway, trading and redividing it, until, in 1814, the Norwegians declared independence. Naturally their Swedish masters found this unacceptable at first, and dispatched an army to reestablish “order”. Fortunately, common sense prevailed and a truce was declared, in which Norway entered into a union with Sweden, while retaining its previously adopted constitution. This union held until 1905, when Norway became a fully independent state. Another northern European state, Iceland, small but proud, declared its independence in 1944.
The example of the Nordic states shows us that even in the recent past, powerful European kingdoms were able to recognize the independence of subject neighboring peoples, enabling them to become pround and wealthy states today. They are all now universally respected in international society. One of the reasons for their success is that their relations are no longer dominated by resentment, but rather by cooperation and friendly competition. They all learn and compete among themselves for better ideas, for better solutions to their problems. In difficult, trying times, they unite in mutual cooperation and assistence. Their example could be a wonderful road map for the future of Catalonia and Spain, profoundly understood not just by northern Europeans, but by all European nations and states. That is why the peoples of the Baltic states sympathetically support Catalonia’s dream of independence.
Some time ago, one of Europe’s most brilliant thinkers and most outstanding diplomats, Estonia’s president Lennart Meri wrote: “The diversity of Europe’s large and small cultures is the key to understanding Europe’s creativity. Europe’s mineral wealth is relatively insignificant, Europe has never been a garden in paradise. Europe is the creation of its people, and, one could add poetically, that Europe in gratitude has created the European people. The idea of Liberty, Fraternity and Equality could have been born in many places, but it could only have taken root first here, in Europe.”
Lennart Meri is no longer living, but his deeply held conviction stays true, that the freedom of nations, including the freedom of self-determination is at the foundation of the European ideal. Bureaucracy, laws complicated by design, fear of change must not be allowed to deny any nation its right to determine its own future. Catalonia must be allowed to decide its own future. Those nations of Europe that have achieved their dream of independence must not betray the ideals of their fathers and grandfathers today, when their brother Europeans – the Catalonians – are striving to realize the same ideals.
Therefore, as a Latvian I say that I will be a Catalonian until Catalonia is free and independent. I believe and I hope that millions of Irish, Poles, Finns, Lithuanians, Estonians and many others will be Catalonians likewise.

desconexio del P. Valencià d'Espanya

Avui neix al País Valencià un banc públic al servei d’empreses i famílies, que és fruit de la reconversió de l’Institut Valencià de Finances (IVF). Aquesta mesura, que era un dels compromisos de l’acord del Botànic, fou aprovada en un decret llei pel ple de les Corts Valencianes el mes de setembre, amb els vots del PSPV, Compromís i Podem. Hi votaren en contra Ciutadans i PP.

El director general de l’IVF, Manuel Illueca, aprovarà avui l’estructura del banc, al qual s’afegirà el personal de l’Institut Valencià de Competitivitat Empresarial (IVACE). L’aprovació d’aquesta estructura assenyalarà el naixement oficial del banc.

Tal com va dir el conseller d’Hisenda i Model Econòmic, Vicent Soler, el decret llei aprovat per les corts atorga a totes dues institucions les competències per a donar crèdits. La idea és acomplir un doble objectiu: contribuir a evitar l’exclusió financera derivada de la desaparició de les caixes d’estalvis i que l’IVF pugui exercir plenament el paper d’instrument de crèdit del govern valencià.

Segons que informa Valencia Plaza, en una primera fase el banc públic tindrà un enfocament essencialment intern. Serà una eina transversal al servei de les conselleries per a finançar projectes de política industrial o turística. Més endavant, finançarà el sector privat, a fi de potenciar l’acció comercial. Serà llavors que internet tindrà un paper bàsic com a porta d’entrada d’empreses i famílies al banc públic.

Aquesta setmana el director general de l’IVF va anunciar que ja havia sol·licitat d’incorporar-se a l’Associació Europea de Banca Pública (EAPB). Segons ell, això servirà per a millorar l’eficiència i els serveis que ofereixi als ciutadans. L’EAPB és integrada per més de noranta institucions financeres de diversos països europeus, amb una quota del mercat europeu de crèdit de gairebé un 15%.

Revenge served cold

SIS has killed 2 people, one Norwegian, one of Chinese nationality.

Both countries have announced that they will be well and reprisals.

Does this mean that the two countries go to war against the Islamic state?

we are on the eve of a new armed conflict worldwide?

la venganza se sirve fría

 ISIS HA MATADO a 2 personas, una de noruega, otra de nacionalidad china.

Ambos paises han anunciado que no quedará así y habrá represalias.

Quiere decir esto que ambos paises entrarán en guerra contra el estado islamico?

estamos a las visperas de un nuevo conflicto armado a nivel mundial?

so is the PP in Spain

Gaspar Zarrías, accused by the Andalusian ERE, opens in Madrid when even consulting Congress charges
SOURCE: VOX POPULI
Anyone wishing to undertake some kind of business in Andalusia or unlock a complicated situation a few weeks ago has a privileged door to call in Madrid. Zano specifically Consultant Company, the firm recently opened porGaspar Zarrías, historical number two of the Andalusian and perfect knowledge of patronage networks in this region. Zarrías was not made known since the early days of July, when he resigned as deputy national PSOE due to its complaint in the case of fraudulent ERE in Andalusia.
Despite having left the House, Zarrías today continues to claim his salary as deputy over 2,800 euros, and will continue until the end of this legislature to have qualified for the parliamentary layoffs, which entitles you to perceive seven installments as compensation for what he charged until next February.
They say that if any aspect of politics in Andalusia Gaspar Zarrías simply do not know because it does not exist. Not surprisingly, he remained 27 years as a member of the regional parliament and of these, 16 forming the government. In a first stage, between 1988 and 1990, he was Minister of the Presidency of the Executive headed by José Rodríguez de la Borbolla. Later he held this position since President Manuel Chaves, for thirteen consecutive years, between 1996 and 2009.
In these last two years, he combined this position with that of Vice President of the Junta de Andalucia, which even led to exercise the presidency in office for three weeks, since the resignation of Chaves until the appointment of Jose Antonio Griñán. Both Grin and Chaves are also accused of the case of the ERE.
A more influential politician
Such history does Zarrías a privileged expert in everything that has to do with politics in Andalusia, mostly as number two Chaves. Parliamentary sources say their connection with the current president of the Junta de Andalucía, Susana Diaz, is also very smooth.
However, the political experience of Zarrías not only limited to the regional level. In April 2009, he followed the path of Chaves: amboscambiaron the Andalusian by the central government. While the everlasting Andalusian assumed the third vice president of the government of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Zarrías comosecretario of State for Regional Cooperation joined until the end of the legislature.
Later, he was elected national deputy for Jaen seat he has held until July gave his act when the Supreme Court upheld his complaint in the case of the ERE.
With this more attractive and suggestive poster, Zarrías law graduate and lawyer, the company recorded a few weeks ago Zano Consultant Company, with a registered capital of 3,000 euros, the minimum required for a limited company. According to the Madrid Mercantile delRegistro point, the company's corporate purpose "other activities management consultancy".
After opening a parenthesis in his political career, Zarrías will laposibilidad to monetize his influence in the Andalusian public life. Paradoxically, his declaration of assets not listed on the website of the Congress of Deputies whenever the Zarrías himself admitted that an error had reflected a strong increase in the amount invested in mutual funds (126,000 at the beginning of the legislature to more than 269,000) that did not correspond with reality. The statement also included real estate assets such as a house, four floors and a farm. To date, it has not published a new document.
The precedent of Elena Salgado
The movement resembles Zarrías starring former Economy Minister Elena Salgado in early 2012, when he created a strategic advisory firm shortly after leaving the Executive after the defeat of the PSOE in the general elections of November 2011. Just A few weeks after the creation of this company, named Elsa and Partners, Salgado joined the Endesa electricity as outside director of its Chilean subsidiary.
It remains to be seen if Zarrías follows the path of a number of influential politicians and ends up landing in the private sector, for which the consultant could be a good springboard. Surely, offers you will not miss.