The (Spanish) Fake Empire

Tomorrow we will have a new King in Spain, but there's absolutely nothing to celebrate. What happens tomorrow is that we are going to be the spectators of a private party (and do not forget, we are also the ones paying it) where the ruling class of this country commemorates the maintenance of their corrupt & rotten system. The ones that lived so well under the dictatorship regime, under the monarchy and the so-called democratic system. In three words: the Spanish Fake Empire... Take a look at their faces...

The infography is taken from Cafè amb Llet, among the very few publications in this country still worried to tell the truth. I truly recommend you to check it out here.
Also, do not miss 'Orgullo y Satisfacción', a collection of satyric vignettes on the Spanish monarchy, and a brave & fun reaction to one of the most despicable recent examples of censorship seen in this shameful country...

Lies, corruption, shame= Spanish democracy

I could write thousands of pages, but I don't want to throw all my rage against the daily revelations on Spanish corruption on the blog. It will be too depressing to read. That has to be enough.... As simple as that: corruption has destroyed democracy in Spain. It's our duty, citizens, to restore it. We are the only ones capable of doing it. Let's not waste too much time talking about our usual liars, our vile, shameless politicians (let's hope justice will do it for us).

When the judge opened the record of corruption, the stench became unbearable

Bastards Out of the Spanish Congress Now!

Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, THIS (please watch the video below) happens

El PSOE pide la dimisión de la diputada del PP Andrea Fabra

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As you can see on the video, Andrea Fabra, deputy at the Congress for PP, yells "Fuck them all"  while Mariano Rajoy was announcing cuts in unemployment benefits (5 milion citizens are unemployed in Spain). A political representative insulting the citizens. This is the lowest moment I ever seen in Spanish politics (democratic times). 

It shouldn't be that surprising, in all honesty, as she's the daugther of Carlos Fabra, former president of the Province of Castellón, president of PP there for 22 years, and one of the most corrupted politicians of this country ever. After all, this is a country where a bunch of powerful families have always had the control of the territory, in particular during very dark times (not that long ago) where they were fascists chieftains. The manners may have changed, but sometimes, like Andrea's yelling, the inner truth explodes. Of course, her excuses (she says she reacted against the PSOE congressmen) is ridiculous. Makes absolutely no sense. But what can you expect of a majority of the Congress that applauded, vividly, the most drastic cutbacks of Spanish democratic history.

If we want to restore our democracy, people like Andrea Fabra must disappear from politics. You can help signing the petition for her resignation here at change.org We need to clean out the bastards from the Congress!

Spain: betraying citizens, betraying democracy

"The time to rise has been engaged/ You're better best to arrange"

R.E.M.   "Finest Worksong"

Enough HAS to be enough.

Methods to get out from the crisis:
I. Becoming rich
II. Becoming even richer
III. Run away
Vignette by El Roto

Yesterday, our Spanish government certified another brutal series of measures, the biggest ones we haver ever suffered during democracy, against us, the citizens. Our president, Mariano Rajoy, also proved that Spain is no longer a sovereign country, but a piece of land ruled by the European Union. Did we vote for that last year? Did anyone who vote in that election, no matter which option you voted, or even if you voted blank or null, knew our president was going to be in the hands of someone else (that we didn't choose)? I don't remember it. Which is weird because I do remember casting my ballot then (as I have always done since I'm legally allowed to). 

Rajoy justified the measures explaining us, citizens, that we have to make another effort, and pay more while we earn less, because is the only solution. Which is a FLAGRANT, unacceptable, outrageous LIE. Because:

We, citizens, ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE for the BANK abuses. We don't have to pay for their rescue.  

We, citizens, ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE for the vile and corrupted behaviour of our political leaders
We, citizens, ARE BEING IGNORED by the ones that are supposed to represent us. We should never forget that they are representing us, they serve us, not the contrary. If they are not capable of solving the situation without harming us, they should resign. IMMEDIATELY.

The sort of cuts the conservative government are imposing are not the only way out. It is only a political decision that responds to a very contested way of understanding economics. Many voices, in a very open way, around Europe and the rest of the world is asking for another kind of economic policies. Take the announcement of increasing VAT to 21%, for example. It's a measure that will ballast consumption, therefore aggravating the crisis. Misery is just around the corner with that sort of policies. It simply doesn't make sense. The argument argued by our politicians, saying that we had a very low VAT before is a complete, perverse MANIPULATION. Look at this numbers:

Germany VAT: 19% Minimum Wage: 1.993€
United Kingdom VAT: 20% Minimum Wage: 1.201€
France VAT: 19,6% Minimum Wage: 1428€
Netherlands VAT: 19% Minimum Wage: 1446€
Spain: 21% Minimum Wage: 641€

Besides, and never forget, that among the political decisions taken in this terrible 6 months there has been one that is particularly revealing: the "TAX AMNESTY". Until November 30 2012, individual and corporate taxpayers (the millionaires of this country that are evading their capital in fiscal paradises) will be permitted to voluntarily disclose unreported income or assets by paying a special 10% levy on the amount or acquisition value, with no criminal or administrative penalties, surcharges or interest. They are demanding drastic efforts to the vast majority of the population while they are alleviating the much needed pressure to the biggest fortunes, who by the way, are committing an obvious economic fraud. That is an ABERRATION, that invalidates any of their political justifications when announcing an unpopular measure. There are several alternatives instead, but it is clear who they are trying to protect... even at the cost of ending with our welfare state.

I could keep on and on (justice, education, health, freedom of expression, repression, don't even let me enter into football) but its all pretty obvious. Our political leaders are either puppets in the hands of biggest powers, or rats trying to take benefit of their position while they are in charge. THEY DON'T REPRESENT US. Our government is against us, the citizens. And by doing so they have sentenced the concept of democracy to death. They are destroying our rights. That is unacceptable. 

Then, it's time for us, citizens, to restore it. We are the only ones that can revert the situation. It's our duty as citizens. We have to kick them out of the power. Today, more than ever, we need a Real Democracy Now!

This is Spain, where I live

Sometimes, it is not necessary to say much to capture and express what matters. Forges and Quino, two of the few artists in this country that have that precious ability. Two vignettes that very much define the situation in Spain, the shameful country where I live. Not very different from many others, I'm afraid.   

How come you are not paddling more!!!???... 
I'm so surprised, Fernández!
Aren't we all on the same boat?

I'm free... 
I can choose the bank that squeezes me; 
the tv channel that vilifies me; 
the oil company that brutalizes me; 
the food that poisons me; 
the telephone network that cheats me;
 the informer that misinforms me 
and the political option that disappoints me. 
I insist: I'm free

And now Bankia... #Rescateciudadano now!

Enough should be enough. Until when our Spanish government is going to keep the financial spoliation? While our ruling conservative party keeps the drastic cuts on health services and education they prepare an estimate 7-10 billions state bail-out of the disastrous corporation Bankia. The rescue of the trouble lender is another reversal of policy, as the government previously announced there were no intentions of additional rescues to clean the country's banking sector, and the best practical example we, Spanish citizens, are being used, exploited to save their political friends, unsurprisingly, the big fortunes of this corrupt and miserable country.

By the way, if you didn't know, Rodrigo Rato, the executive chairman of Bankia has just resigned from the bank (with a compensation of 1,2 million euros, not band for being such a robber). You'll probably know him, he was the "very intelligent, economic expert" that leaded the International Monetary Fund just before the financial crisis started. Did you know what he do then? Resign, of course, he ran before the ship sunk. Oh, and just a "minor" date for your records: the government has already spent €18bn cleaning up the country's financial sector.

First the drastic measures destroying our welfare state, then the first injection of money for the banks, later the "amnesty" for the fraudsters fortunes evading taxes. Police violence on the streets, even against kids demanding better conditions at their schools. Spreading corruption everywhere. And now this....Our government doesn't represent us, citizens. They are just the puppets of the market. That's enough. We need a citizen rescue from the villains that have kidnapped our democracy. See you this weekend in the streets!

Under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison.… where the State places those who are not with her, but against her,– the only house in a slave State in which a free man can abide with honor.… Cast your whole vote, not a strip of paper merely, but your whole influence. A minority is powerless while it conforms to the majority; it is not even a minority then; but it is irresistible when it clogs by its whole weight [...] If a thousand men were not to pay their tax bills this year, that would not be a violent and bloody measure, as it would be to pay them, and enable the State to commit violence and shed innocent blood. This is, in fact, the definition of a peaceable revolution, if any such is possible. 

Thoreau, Civil Disobedience (Resistance to Civil Government)

#12M15M
#Rescateciudadano

Day 3 at Primavera Sound: "Common People" in brief!

Yesterday it was a day of contrasts at Primavera Sound Festival.

The Good
The National: As expected, their gig was impressive. Probably Matt took to much wine, but that gave the concert a more physical side, even aggressive approach at some songs. Despite not really audible, seeing Sujfan Stevens performing with them was great. Stunning performances of "England" and "Squalor Victoria".
Confirmations: Like Cults on Thursday, Tennis were great yesterday afternoon. Lovely and joyful music, stunningly performed, and with real, unforced charm.
"Feeling the music": Wether it is the simple and pure joy of playing, like Aias, or the capacity of getting lost in the music, like Avigdor Zahner-Isenberg, leader of Avi Buffalo, that sort of attitude can really make the difference.


The Bad
Massification: It was clear from the start Friday was the "big day". At 17:00 pm the place was already pretty full, and by the time Avi Buffalo took the stage, one could easily guess one of the words of the night was going to be massification. I insist, the organizers of PS should take that issue into consideration, the Festival was really uncomfortable yesterday, at times uncomfortable to the extreme. And considering the spirit of PS its a contradiction.
More contradictions: to point out before moving into the music: why I was allowed to access the Festival with a bottle of water on Thursday, but forbidden yesterday? And why a bottle of water is dangerous, but a ball or a skateboard is not? Oh! one last thing, AGAIN: you need a lot of time to move from Llevant stage to San Miguel stage, so you'll probably will miss some shows. I ask the organizers to have in mind that.
Drunk people is not cool: Linked to the issue of massification, a gigantic drunk mass willing to move to the front of a concert can almost ruin it. Some additions: rubbish (why people cannot be more considered with the rest?) and drunk people makes a pretty disgusting combination. And people on drugs asking if you are interested in buying some cocaine is not cool either.

The Queen
P-U-L-P: After surviving the "angry mobs" and get, by chance, a fairly good place to see the concert, all I can say is that it was a phenomenal one! Jarvis Cocker was outstanding, the sound was great and the opportunity of enjoying, finally, "Disco 2000", "Do You Remember the First Time?", "Something Changed" and "Sorted For E's & Wizz". I missed some more "This Is Hardcore", but when Jarvis, an extraordinary frontman and entertainer, dedicated "Common People" to the ones who faced the unjustified repression at the Plaça Catalunya camp, saluting the "indignados", he made the impossible. He transformed the quintessential party song, the one that everyone was expecting to shout, jump and dance all over, into a protest song, a danceable hymn for the ones that are defending their rights.

Quick note from the Primavera Sound Festival

Hi there! Just a quick post briefing on how the Festival is going after its first two days

The Good
Diversity: many bands to see and options among to choose.
Discovering new bands: so far The Fresh and Onlys and Of Montreal are among my list of positive surprises.
Confirmations: Cults will be huge. And they deserve it. Their music is highly addictive.
And seeing Jarvis Cocker next to you watching Of Montreal!

The Bad
Distances: I understand that with so many options, you need more stages, but honestly, Llevant stage is too far from the rest, so arrive there/move from there when a "big name" is going to play with so many people is a bit chaotic.
Massification: Linked with that, I guess the Festival has become a bit too huge, and is starting to be a bit uncomfortable.
Discovering new bands: unfortunately, some new bands you discover on a festival you won't like at all. In my personal case, that is Islet.
Sound quality: The Festival has to improve. Nissennemondai, Las Robertas, Comet Gain on Wednesday, Cults, The Fresh and Onlys and Interpol yesterday. From slightly to overtly too noisier, in some cases almost burying the voices...
Going home: It is really that impossible for Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona to open all night for just two nights? Why when Barça has a late night game they usually do then?***
The "Portal" thing: I won't say anything about that, because honestly, my least interest on a Festival is beer.

The Queen
So far, the best gigs for me have been...

Comet Gain: they had some sound issues, and Dave Feick's voice wasn't at his best, but their enthusiasm and wonderful tunes were refreshing.
The Walkmen: Best so far from PS. Excellent music leaded by a thunderous frontman. I was a bit frustrated when I saw them on November at BeCool, because the noise killed half of their gig, but yesterday they were superb.

And today The National, Belle and Sebastian and Pulp, so excited!

*** Totally unrelated note, but I had to say it: this morning eviction of the camp in Plaça Catalunya is pathetic. It shows that our government and city responsibles care about football (because tomorrow's match is the real reason of the forced eviction) instead of democracy and the rights of the people to protest. Shame on them. Real Democracy Now!!

From #spanishrevolution to #worldrevolution

The saying goes: "a picture is worth a thousand words". How true. Just take a look to this very special map. Wishing the first big change in Spain comes with this Sunday's elections (end bipartidism, stop corruption), and then... a real and meaningful change in the whole world. Really proud and excited of what's happening.

Place take your time to watch (and hear)

Spain, in the name of corruption... (don't vote them!)

Many more are misssing, and the list doesn't included the politicians that have been excluded from their parties lists for this Sunday elections. But here's a noteworthy relation of politicians charged with corruption that are running for the weekend elections. That's a "taste" of how democratic is Spain.... How can you vote them?

1- Francisco Camps (PP), Valencia, IMPUTADO Caso Gürtel
2- Ricardo Costa (PP), Valencia, IMPUTADO Caso Gürtel.
3- Xicu Tarres (PSOE), Baleares IMPUTADO Caso Eivissa.
4- Francisco Cuenca (PSOE), Granada, IMPUTADO Caso Morelábor5- Carlos Penit (IU), Pinto - Madrid IMPUTADO Cohecho.
6- Ferrán Falcó (CIU), Barcelona, IMPUTADO caso Adigsa.
7- Jesús Machín (C. Canaria), Canarias, IMPUTADO Operación “Unión”.
8- Marc Moreno (ERC), Vilaller - Lleida, IMPUTADO corrupción urbanística.
9- Antonio Rodrigo Torrijos (IU), IMPUTADO Caso Mercasevilla.
10- Raimundo González (BNG), Pontevedra, IMPUTADO caso Naturgalia
11- Jose Manuel Traba (PP), Fisterra Galicia, IMPUTADO Operacion Orquesta
12- Jose Manuel Santos (PP) Mazaricos Galicia,IMPUTADO Operacion Orquesta
13- Jose Antonio Cacabelos (PSOE), O Grove - Galicia, IMPUTADO diversos delitos
14- Juan Jose Diaz Valiño (PSOE) -IMPUTADO caso Castro de Rei
15- Rafael Gómez (Unión Cordobesa), Córdoba, IMPUTADO caso Malaya
16- Esteve Ferrán (UTpS), Salou Tarragona, IMPUTADO delitos varios
17- Antoni Banyeres (NSP), Salou Tarragona IMPUTADO delitos varios
18- Ignacio García de Vinuesa (PP) (Alcobendas)
19- Jose Ignacio Fernández Rubio (PP) (Las Rozas)
20- Miguel Rodríguez Bonilla (PP), Guadarrama Madrid, IMPUTADO delitos varios
21- Miriam Rabaneda (PP) Pinto Madrid, IMPUTADO delitos varios
22- Luis Partida (PP) Villanueva de la Cañada Madrid, IMPUTADO delitos varios
23- Clara Torres (PP) Torres de la Alameda Madrid, IMPUTADO delitos varios
24- Raúl López (PP) Coslada Madrid, IMPUTADO delitos varios
25- Íñigo Henríquez de Luna (PP) Madrid
26- Trinidad Rollán (PSOE), Madrid, IMPUTADO delitos varios
27- Carmen Toledano (PSOE), Madrid, IMPUTADO delitos varios
28- Cristina González (PSOE), Madrid, IMPUTADO delitos varios
29- Jose Joaquin Ripoll (PP), Alicante Valencia, IMPUTADO caso Brugal.
30- Carlos Fabra (PP), Castellón Valencia, IMPUTADO caso Fabra31- Mariano Arévalo (PSOE) Carabaña Madrid, IMPUTADO delitos varios
32- José Miguel Govantes (PSOE) Pinto Madrid, IMPUTADO delitos varios
33- Carmen Toledano (PSOE) Galapagar Madrid, IMPUTADO delitos varios
34- María Isabel Peces-Barba (PSOE) Colmenarejo Madrid, IMPUTADO delitos varios
35- José I Fernández (PP), Las Rozas Madrid, IMPUTADO delito contra la ordenación del territorio
36- Miguel Rodríguez (PP), Guadarrama Madrid, IMPTADO prevaricación
37- Ignacio García de Vinuesa (PP) , Alcobendas Madrid, IMPUTADO malversación, prevaricación y negociaciones prohibidas
38- Clara Torre (PP), Torres de la Alameda Madrid, IMPUTADA malversación
39- Miriam Rabaneda (PP,) Pinto Madrid, IMPUTADA prevaricación
40- Raúl López Coslada (PP), Madrid, IMPUTADO prevaricación
41- Luis Partidad (PP), Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid, IMPUTADO tráfico de influencias
42- Ana María Pinos Belmonte de Tajo (PP) IMPUTADO delito contra la ordenación del territorio
43- Ángel García Guadalix de la Sierra Madrid (PP), IMPUTADO negociaciones prohibidas
44- Íñigo Henríquez de Luna (PP), Madrid, IMPUTADO tráfico de influencias
46- Mariano Arévalo González Carabaña Madrid PSOE condenado por no presentar las cuentas municipales en los ultimos 10 años, etc.
47- José Miguel Govantes (PSOE)Alcorcón Madrid, IMPUTADO condenado por acoso laboral
48- Natalia de Andrés (PSOE) Alcorcón Madrid, IMPUTADA y condenada por un delito de injurias contra el portavoz popular
49- Isabel Peces-Barba (PSOE) Martínez Madrid, IMPUTADO prevaricación
50- María del Carmen Toledano Rico (PSOE) Madrid, IMPUTADO prevaricación
51- Cristina González (PSOE) Getafe Madrid, IMPUTADO prevaricación
52- José María Fraile Parla (PSOE) Madrid PSOE prevaricación
53- Manuel González Rojo (PSOE) San Fernando de Henares Madrid , IMPUTADO prevaricación
54- Hans Antón Bock Galapagar (PSOE) Madrid IMPUTADO prevaricación
55- Jesús Dionisio (PP) Madrid, IMPUTADO prevaricación y tráfico de influencias

Glossary of terms (Spanish-English)

Imputado: charged, accused

Caso: case

Diversos delitos: miscellaneous offences

Prevaricación: prevarication

Cohecho: bribery

Tráfico de influencias: influence peddling

Acoso laboral: workplace harassment

Delito contra la ordenación del territorio: crime against national planning

No presentar las cuentas municipales: failure to submit the municipal accounts

Delito de injurias: defamation

Negociaciones prohibidas: prohibited negotiations

Corrupción urbanística: urbanistic corruption

Real Democracy Now! (hoping for the revolution)

I'm so happy Spain is finally getting indignant, and that we are reacting, reclaiming our rights. Maybe the time to revolt has arrived. As I already said in the blog (although I tried to keep the political posts to the minimum), i firmly believe (well I think its obvious) big, deep changes are needed. I thought society was disappointingly inactive, but happyly, I was wrong. Even at my job we have expressed openly and publicly our thoughts and supports today, something that makes me very proud:


The United Nations Association in Spain wants to express its support for all the people who are peacefully expressing their deep dissatisfaction with the current economic and social situation. We understand that the present course of events in our country, as in the rest of the world, reflects unambiguously the injustice of a system against which we cannot we be indifferent. The values and principles of the United Nations, the respect for human rights and human dignity, social justice and solidarity among peoples, are seriously challenged, confronted with the reigning corruption, hypocrisy and the market as the only value. So that’s why we join the protests.

Real Democracy Now!!



We are young despite the years we are concern
We are hope despite the times
All of the sudden, these days
Happy throngs, take this joy wherever, wherever you go