Can we trust Spanish press?

Spanish-thinking press

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Do You believe in Democracy?

Do You believe in Democracy?

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Catalan demonstration in Brussels

A demonstration is being prepared to take Catalans to Brussels for the right to decide. We want Europe to know that we want our own state, we want to be able to vote for this in a referendum. The concentration date is March the 7th . All details are available at http://www.deumil.cat

We need democracy.

Catalan Causes on Facebook 20 days after

Causes (top 100 only)

A. Arts and Culture

1. Facebook en català (goal achieved): 33.987 members (+4.405) ; position 13 (+1)
2. Castells, Patrimoni de la Humanitat (Catalan human towers): 5.516 members (+1.135); position 98 (-4)

B. Education

1. Salvem els pronoms febles (let's save our pronouns): 6.689 members (+1.216) ; position 56 (-7)

C. Political campaigns

1. Una nació, una selecció - National teams for Catalonia: 17.568 members (+4.468) ; position 38 (=)
2. Catalunya Network: 11.919 members (+3.213) ; position 50 (+3)
3. Convertim les places de toros en places de castellers! (Let's turn bull squares into Catalan human towers squares!): 7.962 members (NEW!); position 71

(Out of our ranking but next:) Vull el DNI català (I want my own Catalan Identity Card) : 3.702 members; position 136.

Catalan Facebook groups at 25 November

24 groups (2 new) have more than 1.000 members:

1. Vull poder dir que sóc de Catalunya i no d'Espanya al Facebook (I want to be able to choose Catalonia and not Spain as Facebook Network) : 17.396 members (+1.886)
2. How many Catalans are in Facebook? Let's find out!: 14.670 members (+1.397 )
3. I speak Catalan - Parlo català: 13.212 members (1.642)
4. Jo votaria SÍ a la independència de Catalunya (I would vote for an independent Catalonia): 9.020 members (+2.152)
5. Follem en català (Let's fuck in Catalan): 8.804 members (+1.170)
6. Salvem la Castanyada, diguem no a Halloween (Save Castanyada, say no to Halloween): 6.075 members (+183)
7. Catalunya: 4.058 members (+144)
8. Catalonia is not Spain: 3.221 members (+125)
9. Deu mil catalans a Brussel·les per reivindicar el dret d'autodeterminació (10.000 Catalans will go to Brussels for our self-determination right): 3.127 members (+325)
10. Tour 2009: inundem Girona i Barcelona de senyeres (let's all show our national flag): 2.898 members (+448)
11. Recuperem la castanyada, prou Halloween: 2.821 members (+64)
12. We want a Catalan Network: 2621 members (+1)
13. Seleccions Catalanes ja! (National Teams for Catalonia now!): 2.600 members (+210)
14. Faltes d'ortografia en català: ja n'hi ha prou!: 1.923 members (+371)
15. Manifest en defensa del català: 1.787 members (+26)
16. Vull la independència de Catalunya (I want an independent Catalonia): 1.778 members (+191)
17. Bevem vi i cava català (Let's drink catalan wines and cava): 1.599 members (+188)
18. Països Catalans (Catalan Countries): 1.543 members (+66)
19. Per la creació al Facebook d'una xarxa Catalunya: 1.459 members (+32)
20. We want Facebook in Catalan: 1.357 members (+6)
21. Referèndum virtual per la independència de Catalunya (Virtual referendum for Catalonia Independence): 1151 members! (NEW!)
22. Exigim l'accent a Magic Badalona: 1.112 members (+54)
23. Onze de setembre: la senyera al balcó: 1.098 members (+6)
24. Fins els collons de la Renfe (had enough with Renfe!): 1.087 members (+199)

And others are about to reach them:

25. I love Barcelona: 963 members (+13)
26. Grup de suport a Antoni Bassas: 935 members (+3)
27. La Marató de TV3 (Solidarity National TV show): 886 members (NEW!)
28. Made in Catalonia: 877 members (+145)
29. 11 de setembre: volem ajuntaments amb l'estelada: 860 members (+6)
30 La Troba Kung-Fu (music band): 860 members (NEW!)
31. Together for independence: 815 members (+21)
32. Anella (Business): 811 (NEW!)
33. Llibertat Franki de Terrassa: 762 members (+4)
34. Cultura popular i tradicional: 749 members (+119)
35. Català: fes-lo europeu!: 748 members (+27)

Catalonia: a chance for Obama

War in Iraq and the political attitude towards it seems to be approaching Obama to Zapatero. Journalist Jim Hoagland has written an article about both politicians on The Washington Post. It can be read as an attempt to start better relations than the ones hold by Bush. They have the right, but Obama should not forget about Catalonia in his talks with Zapatero.
Actually, the real chance for Obama might be Catalonia much more than Zapatero. There might indeed be some understanding, but Obama's discourse about democracy suits better for Catalonia than Zapatero. Spain is still today judging people for injury against the king. Spain is today allowing 12 people to decide what a referendum in Catalonia had already stablished. Zapatero lied to Catalonia when he promised to accept the Estatut accorded by Catalan Parliament, which he did not. He modified the text in favour of Spain and against Catalan interests. But after all the text was approved and a terminus date was stablished to sign the way Catalan Government should be funded. The date expired last 9th august. Three months more were accorded and again unaccomplished. Meanwhile, Catalan workers and enterprises are suffering the strategy of a centralist policy.

Obama and Zapatero are free to talk, that is clear. But Obama should consider the role of Catalonia and our right to decide if we want to be a new state in Europe. Please, Obama, have a look at Catalonia before you make a mistake. Do not trust Zapatero. Things are not as easy as they seem.

Facebook groups related to the Catalan Countries

22 groups have more than 1.000 members:

1. Vull poder dir que sóc de Catalunya i no d'Espanya al Facebook (I want to be able to choose Catalonia and not Spain as Facebook Network) : 15.510 members
2. How many Catalans are in Facebook? Let's find out!: 13.273 members
3. I speak Catalan - Parlo català: 11.570 members
4. Follem en català (Let's fuck in Catalan): 7.634 members
5. Jo votaria SÍ a la independència de Catalunya (I would vote for an independent Catalonia): 6.868 members
6. Salvem la Castanyada, diguem no a Halloween (Save Castanyada, say no to Halloween): 5.892 members
7. Catalunya: 3.914
8. Catalonia is not Spain: 3.096 members
9. Deu mil catalans a Brussel·les per reivindicar el dret d'autodeterminació (10.000 Catalans will go to Brussels for our self-determination right): 2.802 members
10. Recuperem la castanyada, prou Halloween: 2.757 members
11. We want a Catalan Network: 2.620 members
12. Tour 2009: inundem Girona i Barcelona de senyeres (let's all show our national flag): 2.450 members
13. Seleccions Catalanes ja! (National Teams for Catalonia now!): 2.390 members
14. Manifest en defensa del català: 1.761 members
15. Vull la independència de Catalunya (I want an independent Catalonia): 1.587 members
16. Faltes d'ortografia en català: ja n'hi ha prou!: 1.552 members
17. Països Catalans (Catalan Countries): 1.477 members
18. Per la creació al Facebook d'una xarxa Catalunya: 1.427 members
19. Bevem vi i cava català (Let's drink catalan wines and cava): 1.411 members
20. We want Facebook in Catalan: 1.351 members
21. Onze de setembre: la senyera al balcó: 1.092 members
22. Exigim l'accent a Magic Badalona: 1.058

And others are about to reach them:

23. I love Barcelona: 950 members
24. Grup de suport a Antoni Bassas: 932 members
25. Fins els collons de la Renfe (had enough with Renfe!): 888 members
26. 11 de setembre: volem ajuntaments amb l'estelada: 854 members
27. Together for independence: 794 members
28. Llibertat Franki de Terrassa: 758 members
29. Made in Catalonia: 732 members
30. Català: fes-lo europeu!: 721 members
31. Cultura popular i tradicional: 630 members
32. Cercle per al coneixement: 629 members