Catalan youths, who have grown up during a time of surging support for independence, turned out in droves for a huge rally on Monday to demand their region break away from Spain.
Anna Comellas, 20, drapped herself in a red and yellow Catalan independence flag at the event in Barcelona, which comes ahead of an Oct. 1 independence referendum called by Catalonia’s pro-separatist government which Madrid deems illegal.
It is the fifth consecutive year she has taken part in celebrations for Catalonia’s national day, or Diada, which has in recent years been used as a show of force by the pro-separatist camp in the wealthy northeastern region.
Photo: Reuters
Comellas, a brown-haired student who wants to be a teacher, is the granddaughter of a supporter of General Francisco Franco’s 1939 to 1975 dictatorship, which repressed the use of the Catalan language.
Her parents are not separatists, but she said she became a supporter of the cause through her interaction with her classmates at school, where all subjects “except foreign languages” were taught in Catalan.
“Time passes and people become more and more aware that remaining in Spain harms us,” she said at the rally.
Comellas said she learned at school that Catalonia contributed more in taxes to Spain’s central state than it received back in investments and services, a key argument of the pro-separatist parties which have controlled the Catalan regional parliament since 2015.
Her father teases her for being a “red” because she votes for the far-left separatist party CUP.
“Our parents’ lives are settled, they don’t need change, but we know what we can expect,” she said in a reference to the effects of Spain’s economic woes which have dampened young people’s aspirations.
RESPECT
Cristian Par, a 21-year-old from Barcelona, attended the march in a souvenir T-shirt from the 2013 Diada, which saw pro-separatist Catalans form a 400km human chain across Catalonia.
“I love seeing the unity, the respect we have for one another. It is the only thing we want, that we be respected,” he said.
He said his mother learned to speak Catalan after she moved to the region from Argentina and became a supporter of independence.
“When I was 15, 16 I read the news and I realised that it would be best to be able to build our own state, to have resources and be respected as a culture,” said Par, before adding that he did not feel “connected to Spanish culture.”
Laura Alberch, a 25-year-old journalist who came to the march from Vic, a separatist stronghold about 75km north of Barcelona, said she had made up her mind in reaction “to how Madrid treats us.”
She said some of her ancestors were killed during Spain’s 1936-39 Civil War by Franco’s forces and her parents were Catalan nationalists.
“We are in the 21st century and this constitution which says that the referendum is illegal is from 40 years ago: times change,” Alberch said, referring to Madrid’s argument that Spain’s 1978 constitution does not allow regions to call a referendum.
Young Catalans are also more politically active thanks to social networks, she added.
COMING OF AGE
The latest survey by the Catalan Centre of Opinion Studies released in July showed that support among 18 to 34-year-old Catalans for the “Yes” side in the referendum was slightly higher than for the “No” camp.
“Young people are a bit more pro-independence [than their elders],” said Pablo Simon, a professor of politics at Carlos III University in Madrid.
Many Catalan youths have come of age since the surge in support for separatism in Catalonia began in 2010, he said.
Those under the age of 35 “are going to have a propensity to be more separatist, or at least be more polarised,” Simon said.
But not all young people back independence, even if they are in favour of holding a referendum, as is an overwhelming majority of Catalans.
“I don’t like patriotisms, from one side or the other,” said Cristina Sanchez, 21, at a meeting near Barcelona of the far-left party Podemos.
Sanchez, whose parents moved to Catalonia from the western region of Extremadura, said she would vote “No” in the referendum if it takes place.
“I feel Catalan...and Spanish,” she said.
That US assistance was a model for Taiwan’s spectacular development success was early recognized by policymakers and analysts. In a report to the US Congress for the fiscal year 1962, former President John F. Kennedy noted Taiwan’s “rapid economic growth,” was “producing a substantial net gain in living.” Kennedy had a stake in Taiwan’s achievements and the US’ official development assistance (ODA) in general: In September 1961, his entreaty to make the 1960s a “decade of development,” and an accompanying proposal for dedicated legislation to this end, had been formalized by congressional passage of the Foreign Assistance Act. Two
Despite the intense sunshine, we were hardly breaking a sweat as we cruised along the flat, dedicated bike lane, well protected from the heat by a canopy of trees. The electric assist on the bikes likely made a difference, too. Far removed from the bustle and noise of the Taichung traffic, we admired the serene rural scenery, making our way over rivers, alongside rice paddies and through pear orchards. Our route for the day covered two bike paths that connect in Fengyuan District (豐原) and are best done together. The Hou-Feng Bike Path (后豐鐵馬道) runs southward from Houli District (后里) while the
March 31 to April 6 On May 13, 1950, National Taiwan University Hospital otolaryngologist Su You-peng (蘇友鵬) was summoned to the director’s office. He thought someone had complained about him practicing the violin at night, but when he entered the room, he knew something was terribly wrong. He saw several burly men who appeared to be government secret agents, and three other resident doctors: internist Hsu Chiang (許強), dermatologist Hu Pao-chen (胡寶珍) and ophthalmologist Hu Hsin-lin (胡鑫麟). They were handcuffed, herded onto two jeeps and taken to the Secrecy Bureau (保密局) for questioning. Su was still in his doctor’s robes at
Mirror mirror on the wall, what’s the fairest Disney live-action remake of them all? Wait, mirror. Hold on a second. Maybe choosing from the likes of Alice in Wonderland (2010), Mulan (2020) and The Lion King (2019) isn’t such a good idea. Mirror, on second thought, what’s on Netflix? Even the most devoted fans would have to acknowledge that these have not been the most illustrious illustrations of Disney magic. At their best (Pete’s Dragon? Cinderella?) they breathe life into old classics that could use a little updating. At their worst, well, blue Will Smith. Given the rapacious rate of remakes in modern
RSS