Thousand five hundred people in a concert for independence

The concert was played last Saturday in Mataró. It brought together more than 1,500 people and it was part of a campaign by CUP (Candidatura d’Unitat Popular). The campaign is called ‘Sí’ (‘Yes' in Catalan) to ask Mataró’s people to vote yes for independence in the referendum. Mataró decides, the association wich is behind the referendum has said that it has collected over 8,000 votes in advance. It represents 8% of the standard query that drives the platform decides Mataró when there is still almost a month to the vote day.

The query about the independence is to be held in the capital of the Maresme region on June 20th. The concert served to introduce La Gossa Sorda songs from its new album ‘L’últim heretge’( 'The Last Heretic'), another band, Brams, announced the recording of a new album and their effective return to the stage.

Catalan Wikipedia amounts to the 14th place worldwide

The Catalan language wikipedia advances the version in Finnish language and amounts the 14th place worldwide with over 235,000 items. The Catalan one is the first non-state language in the Wikipedias classification.

The Catalan edition of Wikipedia has surpassed the number of articles in Finnish edition, which has allowed to position itself in the 14th position in world ranking for this category. The growth continues with the Catalan Wikipedia firm, since September 2009 exceeded the 200,000 articles, and in January of this year reached the top position in global quality. This sort of ranking for more than 270 edits, as its extension and the achievement of 1000 items considered most important by users of an encyclopedia. You can view the full details of the Catalan version of Wikipedia in the statistics section.

A crowd claimed for independence at the UN headquarters in Geneva

Hundreds of people (4.000 was the figure given by the organization) gathered on May 8th in Geneva (Switzerland) at the United Nations headquarters to claim an independent Catalan state. Promoters of the demonstration consider the "peaceful conflict" in Catalonia and Spain is aware that Spain, in his opinion, violates and endorses the international commitments that recognize the right of peoples to self-determination in denying this right in Catalonia.

The demonstrators, convoked by Deumil.cat wanted to represent hundreds of thousands of pro-Catalan independence from Spain in consultations which have been held in recent months. In a political act and it lasted almost three entertaining hours, they concentrated in the Swiss city and marched among for independence. Concentration also was attended by delegations from Venetian, Basque, Occitan, Lombard and Scottish separatists. Here you can see a photo gallery and the letter given to the UN (it’s in French language).

Sixty Catalan personalities require a single candidacy towards independence

A manifesto will be presented on Monday May, 17th calling for the independence drive to “work together (...) with the aim to establish a Catalan state”. It is signed by several gold medals from the government, like doctor Moisès Broggi, actress Montserrat Carulla, Cross of St. George as Heribert Barrera (former Parliament president) or former FC Barcelona president Agustí Montal, musician Antoni Ros Marbà, the awards of Honour of Catalan Letters Joan Sola and Antoni Badia Margarit, Raimon Panikkar or the philosopher and ex-PSOE member Xavier Rubert de Ventós.



The text is absolutely clear: 'independence is the only solution that can definitively solve the historical problem between Catalonia and Spain.” It is called “Manifesto for a national conference of sovereignty”. The idea is so simple: to unite everybody under the banner of independence. An important thing is that anyone of the promotors have no relation with politics and refuse to use any type of political office. They only want to appeal to all groups to search an agreement to submit a nomination crossing several ideologies. It could motivate abstentionists and shoul be capable of carrying a group of MPs in Parliament. All of these without renouncing their personal ideologies.


This a new step towards the exciting next elections. Several voices demand an united separatist list. Last two Catalan elections there were elected 23 and 21 MPs under the ERC’s banner but they were used for the party to support the unionist PSOE party. It provoked a big disappointment between the independentist voters so the ERC’s result is expected to be so bad.

Meeting of Majorca’s Schools in Catalan language

On Monday, May 3rd, its was presented at a press conference the agenda of the XXVI Meeting of Majorca’s Schools in Catalan language. It was celebrated in Petra on Saturday, May 8th, coinciding with the end of Correllengua. It is organized by the youth association Joves de Mallorca per la Llengua as well as the Obra Cultural Balear (OCB). The conference was attended by Rosa Barceló, Director of Language Policy of the island’s government.

The first ever trobada (meaning meeting in Catalan language) was organized in 1984. It brings together all schools that are teaching in Catalan and rooted in the reality of the country. The organizers have stressed that the meeting is for the entire school community, not just children, and that novelty this year is the arrival Correllengua (running for the language). For the occasion of Majorca 7,000 school classrooms have been doing community work that is subject to sustainable mobility, and a drawing that consisted of a sustainable means of transport done by each child. It is expected that all drawings be done with a giant mural.

At night there was a toast and a popular rock concert performed by the Majorcan Volvox, the Valencian Aspencat, Brams (popular band which resumes in Majorca after their performances years of silence) and Lax'n'Busto, leading the Catalan rock band. Thousands of people attended the event.

Barcelona is the new Europe's basketball champion

Regal FC Barcelona is the 2010 Euroleague champion. 
The Catalan team downed Olympiakos 86-68 in the final at the Paris-Bercy. This is the second Euroleague crown, being the first one the 2003 edition which was played in Barcelona. Juan Carlos Navarro, the only remaining player from Barcelona’s 2003 winning squad, was named Final Four Most Value Player. Joan Carles Navarro got with 21 points. Navarro was in the 2003 final too. In fact he is the only one to be in the team yet.
A Catalan, Xavi Pascual is the coach of the team following the politics of Laporta's president who prefers to choose people from home and not paying a lot of money for abroad people.

4th North-Catalan week for the language

From 1 to May 8 it is developed the fourth week for the Catalan language in the North. The event is organizad by the Angelets de la Terra (Little angels of the earth). It is named by a Catalan guerrilla of the seventh century which resisted French occupation. Events Hill take place in four villages of Roussillon: Elna, Perpinyà, Rivesaltes and Salses. These acts expose the creation Catalan music, theater, poetry and film. Jordi Ramon Faura i Labat, president of the association, says this week is the best example of the vitality and diversity of Catalan creation. Catalanity is popular and without complex it attracts young people. "

May 1st. Elna. Act on 'Six hours of song' who were in the seventies in the Roussillon and it will screen the film 'The Colonel Macià”.
May 4th. Perpinyà. Debate on the economy in Northern Catalonia "From the Catalan folklore to the Catalan vector of economic growth”.
May 5th. Perpinyà. Cinema in Catalan language as well as concert in English language.
May 6th. Perpinyà. Debate on the Catalan theatrical creation and it will be presented the work done jointly by two Catalan companies. There will be representation of a work in Catalan.
May 7th. Rivesaltes. 'Poetry Night' and concert.
May 8th. Salses. Concert.
Altogether a fantastic initiative of the Angelets de la Terra as well as collaborators such as delegation of North Catalan Generalitat de Catalunya, Elna’s and Perpinyà’s towns, among others.

València’s demonstration "the most crowded in recent years”: PP responds with an attack on TV3

In a statement, the Acció Cultural del País Valencià said: "The demonstration on April 24 that toured the streets of Valencia was the most massive mobilization of last year in Valencia. 50,000 people lined the streets in a festive and fun event involving all trade unions, progressive parties and the main cultural and social associations and organizations. The success of the event confirms the correctness of the strategy working unit driven by the convening organizations for the purpose of joining efforts to achieve social majorities them to do any changes specific to the plight suffered by València. Now the regional government has the opportunity to hear the cry of an important sector of the Valencian society, open to dialogue and listen to what we say to the various organizations representing the various areas that now have filled the streets of València . But if the government remains committed to Valencia refuse dialogue, the unitarian work (which on April 24, Valencia saw a tangible result in success on the street) will win new challenges (how to stop the destruction and make Cabanyal possible thanks to half a million signatures, the process of the bill that will allow the legalization of emissions TV3 Valencia). And not only that, but will see an increasing social mobilization during the next year.”

Photos that ACPV have circulated ACPV demonstrate the large number of people who demonstrated. According to the socialist newspaper "El Pais" that there were about 20,000 people and while the local police in 2300. Just see the pictures to see the hoax police controlled by the PP. ACPV also offered links to the media picked up.

The Spanish nationalist PP party response was immediate and has prevented the broadcast of the match Vila-real / Barça by threatening a requirement that Channel 9 has submitted to ACPV. ACPV has issued a note which explains that Channel 9 has the certainty that if they can pick, València viewers choose TV3. Faced with this new attack it must be remembered that the popular initiative “Television without Frontiers" lacksyet 50,000 signatures necessary to reach 500,000.

All radio and TV of the Catalan area now unfied in one

In Països Catalans.tv you can see and hear 20 television channels and in països-catalans.fm you can hear 52 radio stations across the Catalan nation. What the policy has divided the network will join it again. With this motivation were born both webs, encompassing all television and radio stations that broadcast in Catalonia. For instance, you might hear from a single web programming Arrels Ràdio, in northern Catalonia, with a single click and go to listen Alcúdia Radio, broadcasting from the Mallorca island. Both portals are the work of Miquel Marzabal, who explained to directe who wants to put at the disposal of internet media all the Catalan countries, but 'without the constraints imposed on us by government-controlled and censored as of DTT. Portals Païsoscatalans.tv Marzabal inspired and created by Païsoscatalans.fm nederland.fm with, but go far beyond the Netherlands portal to 'transcend all borders and limitations imposed authorities. 'It seems incredible that in 2010 we still be talking this way, but it is', says the author of the portals.
Spain and France with the Catalans have tried more or less as they do with the Tibetans in China or Turkey with the Kurds, "says Marzabal who says' do not even have a violent oppression, oppression we suffer a lot more subtle but without pause.

More than 500.000 people for independence is not a joke

More than half a million Catalans have already voted in any of the fourth waves of questions about the independence of Catalonia that were held in 13.09.2009 (only Arenys de Munt included), 13.12.2009, 28.02.2010 or the last one on 25.04.2010.
Over 90% has voted for the "Yes" to independence. This represents approximately 22% of citizens who were entitled to vote, about 2.3 million, which are all registered to one of the 461 municipalities that have made the query over 16 years and including people from outside Spain. Both cannot vote in the Spanish “official” elections. If we compare the last elections, it is noteworthy that the query without having all the municipalities in the Principality (missing more than half of the census), consultation longer than 4 of the 6-independence political parties are represented in the chamber Catalan, a figure only exceeded CiU and PSOE Queries have mobilized close to 30,000 volunteers who have worked without any monetary remuneration.

The fourth wave of consultation on the independence of Catalonia has managed to mobilize almost 20% of the electorate over 16 years (23% on the official census). In this 25-April 1.327.575 were called to the polls and approximately 250,000 have exercised their right to vote, has become a 92.64% in favor of independence from Spain, only 4 , 84% had not opted for the 2.22% of the votes were white and 0.3%, null.

April 25th, independence’s referendums fourth round

The fourth wave of referendums on independence in catalonia will take place on the 25th April 2010. More than 200 towns are currently organizing their referendum, and 1.5 million of citizens will be eligible voters. Large cities such as Girona, Lleida, Reus and Manresa are included. The capital of the country, Barcelona, has just created its local committee to organize the referendum, which will be held on the 10th April 2011. These referendums are considered the first step towards a large-scale referendum backed by the Catalan Parliament. You can follow the referendums in: http://referendumindependencia.cat/
By other way, as we said yesterday, the València's demonstration took place in the river Turia's city. About 20.000 people followed the march in a big demonstration full of Catalan flags.

Enough is enough in València: We’re Catalan Countries

A civic demonstration will take place in València city on April 24th under the slogan “Enough is enough”. This date remembers the defeat on 1707 which supposed the end of the local freedoms (own language, own laws…). A civic movement formed by cultural and social organizations is under the demonstration. It is formed, for instance, by Acció Cultural del País Valencià (Valencian Country Cultural Action), trade unions or ecologist groups. The defense of Catalan culture is one of the vindication terms but not the one. The defense of El Cabanyal, a Valencian city neighborhood or the stopping of speculation are some of the terms. Spanish nationalist party, PP, tries for many years to destroy El Cabanyal which is a traditional Valencian zone and to build an absolutely new area without any popular soul. The same party has forbidden the Catalan TV (TV3) in Valencian autonomous community or the Republican hymn in a meeting remembering the people killed by the Franco’s regime.
Other activities under the same vindications are to be organized in Dénia, Cullera, Massalavés- l'Alcúdia and the València’s university. By other way, the day before the demonstration an independentist meeting will take place in the Valencian university under the slogan “Som Països Catalans” (We’re Catalan Countries) organized by the Student Union of the Catalan Countries (Sindicat d’Estudiants dels Països Catalans). An independentist block, under the same slogan will march too on Saturday formed by Endavant, Maulets, CAJEI, the trade union COS, SEPC and Alerta Solidària.

St George's day in Catalonia: books, roses and language

Catalan national movement faces a weekend of fierce resistance and mobilizations in front of the forced Spanishisation. The first date is April 23, St. George or Sant Jordi. This festivity is held in Catalonia, both under the Spanish government as to who is in France as a holiday special. St. George is the patron shared between England and Catalonia. The two nations that allied faced, France and Spain in the early eighteenth century. By that war, thanks to the British withdrawal, it was the occupation of Catalonia.

The same day is the lovers's Day in Catalonia (instead of Valentine's Day). To celebrate it the guys give roses to girls and these give books to their partners. The issue of books is important because it is also a day dedicated to promoting great literature books. It is sold almost as many in this day than throughout the year!. The third thing celebrated is the day in defense of the Catalan language. Traditionally this day has served to vindicate the rights of this language harassed by the Spanish and French. On this occasion, for instance it has provided a demonstration in Barcelona called by various separatist movements gathered in the Independence of Barcelonès Left (Esquerra Independentista del Barcelonès) or different events at universities in defense of the language called the Student Union of the Catalan Countries (Sindicat d’Estudiants dels Països Catalans).

The testimony in defense of the Catalan nation happen the next day in Valencia and Vila-real.

Race for the language in the Mallorca's island

On April 17th, the sanctuary of Lluc (Mallorca) hosted the launch of Correllengua 2010. It will travel for three weeks around the streets of the island. Obra Cultural Balear (OCB) and Joves de Mallorca per la Llengua are at the forefront of this running march for the Catalan language. The flame of the language came back to be present on the island after three years of absence and accompanied by a large number of followers. It will travel to different towns in Mallorca on behalf of the defense and promotion of the language. Then a human chain passed from hand to hand the flame, a small sample of the race non-competitive relay in favor of the language, until next May 8 will be experienced in the main streets of the Island. This is the sixth edition of this race.

The ceremony included the reading of a manifesto by the secretary of father prior who emphasized "the importance that the institutions assume leadership of the normalization so that they meet once (…) citizens must commit and grow the Catalan language, living for more than eight centuries."

The chairman of the Obra Cultural Balear, Mateu Joan, stated that "20 days Correllengua be very intense, as presently live in a very delicate moment in the emergence of clear signs of linguistic apartheid." OCB, which has 3,000 members and 28 branches, expanded recently with the campaign of Coffee’s Language. It "has been very successful, because they got spread around 15,000 cups and OCB estimated to have reached 20,000 people”.

"The Guardian" and the most poweful separatist politician

Once again the prestigious British newspaper "The Guardian" looks to Catalan independentism. This time the paper analizes the position of well-known Barça's president, Joan Laporta as well as Reagrupament Independentista. The later is a new association founded with the aim to promote an alliance of separatist people to obtain a Catalan state. Reagrupament has not ideological walls inside, it means that any Catalan independentist is welcomed as well as alliances with other movement. It is not a party in  inself but an idea: the unity of Catalan independentism.  About Laporta the paper says he's: "the most powerful separatist politician".