Brett Hetherington's Blog: "First thought:" My Substack page, page 55

Australian review of "Outlaws" by Cercas

In the Australian (mainstream) media this month was this review of Javier Cercas’ latest novel, Outlaws.



Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/javier-cercas-outlaws-captures-spain-in-transition-20140806-zv3qr.html#ixzz3Av3enI9U

"Abandoned in austerity Spain: no job, no benefits"

"Read the news and it’s all upbeat about Spain.


And Spain’s unemployment rate has fallen to a two-year low – of 24.5% in the second quarter.

Of course at a quarter of the working population, unemployment remains very high, second highest in Europe in fact. And more than half of all young people (15-24 year olds) have no employment.

But the trend is positive, the Popular Party government of Mariano Rajoy argues: austerity is working.

But other, recently issued figures show a different picture..."



Read more from source here.

The Catalans in Queensland

A detailed, fascinating look at the their 20th century history in the north-eastern state of Australia, via Cristina Poyatos Matas.
(Link also here.)

Video: "Gaudí, Barcleona's phantom metro station"

[videos.lavanguardia.com] This week the Metro of Barcelona celebrated it's 90th anniversary by allowing filming in one of the most unique stations - one that has never had a train stop in it.
Video here.

Intransit

InTransit is a site that has English translations of opinion pieces that have appeared in the Catalan-speaking press or Spanish press.
It's worth reading or even subscribing to their e-newsletter.

Video: "A Miniature Look at the Catalan Province of Girona"

From the excellent Homage to BCN a great 3 minute visual treat by freelance filmaker Pau García Laita focusing on different locationsaround the area of Girona - sometimes unjustly neglected by tourists who only spend time in the capital.

"I don't think,...therefore I am" - My latest article for Catalonia Today magazine

"Jews are responsible for most of the world’s wars."
This is "probably a true statement" according to one in four people across the entire planet, a recent global survey has found.
It would be easy to dismiss these kinds of stereotyped opinions as the ill-informed ignorance of a small minority, except that nearby events of the last few months show that discrimination and prejudice of many kinds are seemingly much deeper and more widespread than we might like to think.
In fact, following from another public slaying of three Jewish children and a Rabbi in Paris in 2012, more than 1,400 Jews left France to live in Israel in the first three months of this year, now making it probable that 2014 will see the biggest exodus of French Jews to Israel since that country was established in 1948.
The results from France's municipal elections in May seem to prove that getting out of the "land of liberty, fraternity and equality" is a prudent decision for those minorities without that promised equality.
The far right National Front party there has just received it's best ever voter support in municipal elections and actually won the European Parliament elections with 25% of the vote.Further East the situation is also disturbing.
In the Ukrainian city of Donetsk, Jews leaving their local synagogue were handed leaflets from the new pro-Russian military that ordered them to pay a fee and register their property. They were threatened that failure to comply would lead to their assets being confiscated or even deportation.
One resident of the city said that she had never experienced anti-Semitism until she saw the leaflet but it reminded her of when the Nazis occupied the area in 1941. In that part of the world and across wider Europe we know that there has been a long and terrible history of violent "pogroms" against Jewish people.
But it is not just religious bigotry that is increasingly finding it's way into the light.
If you have a dislike of homosexuality then you can be comforted by having entire national governments that share your intolerance. Apart from Russia's new anti-gay "propaganda" laws, in the continent south from here homosexuality has become a criminal offence in Burundi, South Sudan, Uganda and Nigeria.
Even Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott has come up with more than 200 million dollars in new funds in a bid to push his anti-gay attitudes into schools through so-called "emotional and spiritual support" chaplains.
Meanwhile, another survey has discovered that a staggering 43% of Americans would not vote for any presidential candidate who declared them self to be an atheist.
Just as surprising was that 40% would also not cast their vote in favour of a president of who happened to be a Muslim.
Equally, the possibility of a lesbian or gay president of the "free world" would almost certainly be blocked by the 30% of Americans who openly admitted that they would not support their commander in chief being of that sexual orientation.
But where do these attitudes come from?
I think that purely and simply they can be a result of collectively identifying ourselves as different from others. If we are X and they are Y, then oh, that is a relief because now I know who I am.
As George Orwell wrote, this is "the habit of assuming that human beings can be classified like insects," and something that I believe is done instinctively by extremists and others who don't have what is needed to create their own beliefs.
At it's core, this mindset of segregation and separation tips 17th century philosopher René Descartes celebrated phrase "I think, therefore I am" on it's head.

Video: The 500 year-old voice

 

When French songwriter/musician Luc Arbogast sings it is as if you are listening to a voice from Europe's Middle Ages.
This video is of "Sefardic Song."

 

Interview on ExpatsBlog.com

   (This interview was first published at ExpatBlogs.com on 19/06/14.)


Where are you originally from?
Australia.

In which country and city are you living now?
Spain.

How long have you lived in Spain and how long are you planning to stay?
8 years and planning to stay another 5 years at least [but probably longer.]

Why did you move to Spain and what do you do?
Many reasons, but largely because Europe (especially Spain) has the kind of history, culture and lifestyle that is one of the best in the world. I taught English and History at two international schools here part-time for a few years and also finished my first book, The Remade Parent. Now I'm working on a travel book about Spain while being a columnist and reviewer for Catalonia Today magazine...on top of teaching local adults English in company mainly.

Did you bring family with you?
Yes, my wife and son have always lived with me. I couldn't have it any other way.

How did you find the transition to living in a foreign country?
Difficult at times. Sometimes it feels like (even after 8 years here) that the transition is still continuing but I'd lived in Japan for 3 years (and England for 2 years) before coming to Spain so it was not so hard.

Was it easy making friends and meeting people; do you mainly socialise with other expats?
No, it wasn't easy and still isn't. I don't socialise much with expats either though.

What are the best things to do in the area; anything to recommend to future expats?
The food and wine is exceptional and the weather is good for most of the year so it is great for outdoor types. Apart from Barcelona, the regions are wonderful if you have the time to visit them. I think Toledo is incredible, as is Granada too, but there are real gems like Asturias or Galicia which are often neglected by visitors.

What do you enjoy most about living in Spain?
The sun, the seafood, the people I work with (usually!) and the family-friendly nature of public life. I love the tranquility of the little town we live in but Barcelona never fails to stimulate the senses and feed my curiosity.

How does the cost of living in Spain compare to home?
Home is here in Spain but compared to Australia food and drink is much cheaper though other costs are often higher.

Unless you have independent wealth or are very lucky (or well-conected) you'll need some savings to live on at times.

What negatives, if any, are there to living in Spain?
Of course there are negatives such as cultural clashes and some people prejudging you but the positives (still) outweigh the negatives for me.

If you could pick one piece of advice to anyone moving to Spain, what would it be?
Experience as much of the local culture as you can...as long as it interests you.

What has been the hardest aspect to your expat experience so far?
Finances and dealing with the many layers of bureaucracy when you want to do even quite basic things related to housing, business or employment.

When you finally return home, how do you think you'll cope with repatriation?
As I say, home is here, but I'm sure that there would be plenty of reverse culture shock in going back to Australia one day, even just visting there for short periods I've noticed that.

What are your top 5 expat tips for anyone following in your footsteps? Travel widely and see more than just the little area you live in. Learn to be functional in a relevant local language. Be prepared to earn less than you probably do already. Make sure that if you have kids that they have regular social and/or educational opportunities with local children (not just with other expats.) Try to not rely only on expats for your social life.


Tell us a bit about your own expat blog.
It's a blog on social/public issues and cultural life in Catalonia, Spain and wider Europe.

I started it in 2009 and it now brings visitors from all around the world, which is great.

- See more at: http://www.expatsblog.com/articles/1797/australian-expat-living-in-spain-expat-interview-with-brett#sthash.43EHX2eu.dpuf

"Gay cure" author's books for sale in Spain

"Some of the largest booksellers in Spain – Amazon, El Corte Inglés and La Casa del Libro – have started selling a dangerous book that teaches parents to "fix" their gay kids. 



 The author – an American doctor famous for promoting "gay cure" therapies globally – is in Spain for the launch right now.

He's spreading dangerous "treatments" that could push so many LGBT young people to self-destructive behaviour and even suicide.

Both national stores have policies that prohibit products promoting discrimination. Sign [this petition] now to ask Amazon, El Corte Inglés and La Casa del Libro to take off their shelves any harmful books that try to "cure" people of being gay. 

Together we can save thousands of lives and send a strong message to anti-gay groups who are trying to impose "gay cures" in Spain.

(Campaign held in partnership with Spanish organization COLEGAS.")