The latest CEO (Opinion Studies Center) poll shows a sharp increase in votes for the independence option. On June 2011 60.33% of votes would have been yes while now this percentage has increased to 64.76%. You can download the full report in pdf format (in Catalan) from here. The results about the question on independence are on page 35.

The CEO is a public institution depending from the Generalitat de Catalunya and its polls are generally regarded as very accurate and not politically influenced. The poll was made using a sample of 2500 people and follows the trend of a sustained support for the independence of Catalonia. This is only the second time that the CEO includes a direct question about the independence but in the last couple of years there have been other polls made by universities and newspapers which showed similar results.

Below, the results from June’s CEO poll:

Last Thursday saw the first conference on self-determination in Catalonia, organized by Sobirania i Justícia, and held at Palau Robert in central Barcelona. All sessions took place in English, and were given by an international assortment of academics and experts, whose field of knowledge stretched far beyond Catalonia.

The conference was not concerned with reasons and motivations for Catalans to seek independence, but instead focused on the practicalities of achieving it in a context altered almost beyond recognition in recent decades by globalization and the European Union. In his opening remarks at the afternoon session, Quim Torra, president of Sobirania i Justícia, addressed the commonly-stated belief that independence holds no place in the modern world by reminding attendees that “in the last one hundred years, twenty-nine new states have been created in Europe alone.”

Indeed, first speaker Dr. Charles E. Ehrlich, used Kosovo, the most famous state to gain independence in recent years, to raise many issues surrounding the process of independence. While acknowledging that the political situation in Kosovo was unique in many ways, he argued that there were nonetheless many lessons to be learned from the way in which the people of Kosovo sought to build a state both under the supervision of and independently from the United Nations, and a state moreover that would accommodate not only the Albanian majority, but the minority Serbian population of 5%. Drawing comparisons between Catalonia and Kosovo, Ehrlich suggested that Spain in the aftermath of Franco’s death occupied a roughly equivalent position to the UN in the Kosovo situation… that of heavy-handed regulation of the development of the democratic institutions.

Patrick Dumberry, professor of law at the University of Ottawa, focused more specifically on the Catalan situation in his address on the legal aspects of separation from Spain. He emphasized the necessity of a great deal of work on the part of the Catalans to ensure that other states, particularly European states and other world powers, will recognize Catalonia in the event of its succession. He addressed such open questions as those of territory, whether Catalonia would receive automatic membership in the EU or would have to reapply, and such issues as a possible
Catalan army, citizenship (and whether Spain would recognize dual citizenship), and potential trade barriers in the short term with Europe.

Describing himself as the “pessimist” of the conference, Dumberry nonetheless concluded that while many aspects of Catalan secession were illegal in Spanish and international law as it currently stood, this was not necessarily a problem provided that Catalonia were recognized by the international community, which he didn’t consider to be likely to cause many problems. The ascension of newly separated states into the existing European framework is untested waters in many particulars, Dumberry pointed out, but “either you or Scotland will be the first. I hope it’s you.”

Conclusions from the conference ran along the lines that preparation is key, and that the sooner Catalans begin preparing in earnest for the myriad of issues they will need to face in the event of secession from Spain, the easier that secession is likely to be.

Article and picture by Emily McBride. Emily is a Canadian who now calls Barcelona home. She holds an MSc in Urban Studies, writes freelance about tourism and style and is currently finishing her first children’s novel. Thanks Emily!

Gregorio Peces Barba is one of the fathers of the Spanish Constitution and on October 27th he made some remarks about the relationship between Spain and Catalonia talking about the possible independence of Catalonia and how he believes this time it won’t be necessary to bomb Barcelona to stop it.

Col·lectiu Emma already wrote a post about this issue that summarizes the situation very well. So I just put the bits together (from here and here) (only the audio part is available for the bits on bombing Barcelona) and made the subtitles.

However, a few points on what Peces Barba said are inaccurate:

• Peces Barba must have skipped a chapter on his history book since Spain didn’t make the decision to let Portugal go. The Spanish lost the battles of lvas, Ameixal, Villa Viçosa i Castel Rodrigo against the Portuguese.
• Maybe Spain would have been better with Portugal but there’s no arguing that Catalonia would have done much better alone
• Catalans do not celebrate a defeat on September the 11th, it is a reminder that we lost our state in 1714 and have to keep working to get it back

Even though it is of very poor taste (and possible criminal responsibility) to joke about the bombings of Barcelona and killings of civilians over the centuries (the last ones took place from 1936 until 1939, in which 2700 people were killed and 7000 were injured (link in Catalan)) we should thank Peces Barba that a father of the Spanish Constitution has clarified for the public opinion the true nature of the relationship between Catalonia and Spain.

Peces Barba started this topic with regards to the results of latest poll by the Catalan Centre Estudis d’Opinió (link in Catalan), the Catalan public polls institute, which in its latest issue in October showed an increase in the support to Catalonia’s independence since June. 45.4% of Catalans would vote for independence with only 24.7% would vote no and 23.8% would abstain. This would mean 64.7% of the votes for independence with a turnout of 70%.

Yesterday the 1st conference on Catalonia’s self determination took place and it was a success. Organised by Sobirania i Justícia, the same people behind the excellent documentary “Spain’s secret conflict”.

The conference took place throughout the day in Palau Robert in Passeig de Gràcia, Barcelona and included speeches by international experts Charles E. Ehrlich, responsible for the constitutional comission of the U.N. in Kosovo; Ana Stanic, who negotiated Slovenia’s secession with the serbians; Patrick Dunberry, Canadian expert and Carles Boix, from Princeton University who specifically analysed the Catalan case.

In my opinion, this is one of the best initiatives I have seen recently to help people visualize how to create the independent Catalonia and this is the type we need to let people realise that not only it is not so difficult but that most of the conditions for independence already exist.

The easy bits are that Catalonia would be perfectly financially viable as an independent state. That it already is part of the European Union and has a democratically elected government which represents its people. The harder part will be the international negotiations to recognise the new state and also splitting the assets and the passive with Spain, which will not collaborate. But these parts will be easier with the legitimacy of a referendum with a clear majority of pro independence votes.

Unfortunately I couldn’t be there but a collaborator was able to attend so we’ll soon publish a post about it here. I personally would have loved to see a live broadcast or youtube channel with the videos of the speeches. Those would have been extremely powerful tools to spread the message. However, Vilaweb has posted an excellent video with interviews to the experts, it’s trilingual in Catalan, English and French with Catalan subtitles. In case anyone is interested.

Picture by Sobirania i Justícia.

On October 24th, 1971 Pau Casals, one of the greatest cellists of all time, made a historical speech at the United Nations in New York as he was awarded the U.N. Peace Medal. Casals also composed the United Nations anthem.

Here‘s a transcription:

But let me say one thing. I am a Catalan. Today a province of Spain. But what has been Catalonia? Catalonia has been the greatest nation in the world. I will tell you why. Catalonia has had the first parliament, much before England. Catalonia had the beginning of the United Nations. All the authorities of Catalonia in the 11th century met in a city of France, at that time Catalonia, to speak about peace. At the 11th century! Peace in the world and against, against, against war, the inhumanity of war. This was Catalonia. I am so so happy, so moved to be here, with you.

And the video of the speech:

“What Catalans Want” is a book of interviews, made by Catalan MP and writer Toni Strubell, to relevant people from all aspects of Catalan society. From former President Jordi Pujol to economists such as Xavier Sala-i-Martin or Germà Bel. University professors like Salvador Cardús, former FC Barcelona President turned into politician Joan Laporta or former Barça player Oleguer Presas. Also people in the media business like Vicent Partal or Vicent Sanchís and others who, thanks to having taken active part in recent history, have a clear view of the best direction to take, like 102 years old Doctor Moisés Broggi.

The people interviewed in this book have played, are playing or will play an important role for Catalonia and their views reflect the direction where Catalan society is heading to and from their privileged position are able to lead it.

The book arrives one year after the turning point that meant the demonstration of July the 10th 2010, and a few months after having finished the popular referendums last April the 10th. At a time when the crisis, both economical and political is tightening the relationship between Catalonia and Spain and polls reflect a majority of Catalans in favor of independence.

The next chapter will be defined by CiU’s last attempt to counter the great independentist wave that is sweeping the country. Will they be able to claim a new fiscal deal next year and make Catalonia manage all of its taxes as they promised? Or will they lead the independentist movement once the new fiscal deal fails?

The book captures the full range of opinions that will help understand the direction the country is taking even and I recommend it since, not only it is a pleasant read and the interviews are excellent but it is also one of the few resources about Catalonia that are available in english. My only criticism is that I would have liked to see a few more people, like Miquel Calçada or Oriol Junqueras, for instance.

I hope the publishers have a Catalan version in mind, since it would be great to make this available to a broader audience within the Catalan speaking community.

The book has a website and the book’s electronic versions can be purchased directly from the publishers in electronic format and if you prefer it in dead tree format you can purchase it from the Amazon US and UK websites.

There’s even have a free sample available to download here.

Related to this I also recommend, also from CataloniaPress, the book by Matthew Tree, “Barcelona, Catalonia” which was also reviewed here a few months ago.

The CEO, the department for opinion studies of the Catalan Government, has just published the results of the latest poll. It asks for the first time about what would voters do in a referendum of independence.

The results confirm what similar polls (like here) made in the last two years said, a clear win for Catalonia’s independence. 42.9% votes to yes, 28.2% no, 23.3% abstention and 4.4% doesn’t know. Meaning the yes would have a 60% support against a 40% for the no.

The link to the full report can be found here and the relevant information is on page 28 question P39.

This is the best video I’ve seen so far on the conflict between Catalonia and Spain, and it’s in english! Perfectly summarized.

SPAIN’S SECRET CONFLICT from Jordi SF on Vimeo.

Matthew Tree’s articles have helped more than I’ll ever be able to thank him to find ways of explaining Catalonia to people from other countries. Being English born and, as he describes himself in the book, an adopted Catalan (I’d say he’s just as Catalan as you can be) has given him a unique point of view, which combined with curiosity to learn about the country where he lives and a strong sense of justice have produced this book as a result.

Matthew has lived in Catalonia for 24 years and is a writer in both Catalan and English languages. He loves Catalonia and probably this book could be titled “Homage to Catalonia”, if it wasn’t that that title has already been used by another English writer. However, I agree to his criticism. Quoting from one of the articles in the book: (referring to Catalonia) “Personally, if I find myself in a room full of people who I know don’t like me, I walk out. The Catalans, for reasons that I am unable to fathom, are dithering by the door, wondering what they can still do to get in everyone’s good graces. Pathetic, or what?”.

Matthew honestly believes that Catalonia will become a State in Europe within this decade. I personally hope his prediction materialises, if only for the reason that I have other hobbies that would love some extra dedication from me. If a few more Catalans had as much sense of dignity as he does, no doubt we would already be.

The book is a collection of articles written in the last few years. Matthew just doesn’t talk about Catalonia, he talks about life, culture, traveling, injustice and publishing, to name a few. And he doesn’t take himself very seriously. Everything is said with an clear style and an intelligent sense of humour.

I recommend this book if you live or are planning to come to Catalonia for a while or as a tourist, if you want to understand this little corner of the earth a little better or, more generally, if you just want a good read. I am a very impatient reader, if I don’t like a book very much I’ll just leave it and I read this one in 3 days. Oh, and the electronic epub version of the book comes with cool videos.

If you want a sample of Matthew’s work I recommend you read “Life on The Receiving End” and watch this video where he explains Catalonia to a group of exchange students.

You can get the book here kindle version. Here and here in ePub version with video and without video (here and here). The book is also available in Catalan.

The presentation of the book takes place this evening in Barcelona, here’s a link to the event.

I found this through NacioDigital (Link in Catalan). At the Spanish Parliament this afternoon Ricardo Tarno, an irated member of Spanish party PP walked up to José Bono, the president of the Spanish Parliament, shouting that was “intolerable” to speak Catalan there and urging Bono to stop Catalan deputy Joan Tardà as he tried to speak in Catalan part of his speech when discussing a law proposal to allow languages other than Castillian (Spanish) in the Spanish Parliament. José Bono afterwards reminded Joan Tardà cynically that “if you want Catalan to be allowed the law needs to be changed” knowing well that without PP and PSOE (the main Spanish parties), which voted against, that will never happen.