Catalonia Poll: Over 80% of Catalans Are in Favor of a Mutually Agreed Self-determination Referendum

Spain are part of the EU, who are renowned for their refusal to accept any results from voting that do not agree with own views.

Even if it was 100% in favour of Catalonia independence the result would not be honoured, not how democracy is supposed to work.

More like a dictatorship than democractic process..

Josep Goded

Last week, Spanish PM Sánchez affirmed that most Catalans don’t support the independence of Catalonia and urged the Catalan government to present him a proposal supported by at least 75% of Catalans. The last poll carried out by the Ara newspaper shows that 80% of Catalans are in favor of a mutually agreed self-determination referendum, a proposal that Sánchez should accept in order to keep his words and fulfill his often hollow promises. 

Ara Newspaper Poll

80.4% of Catalans are in favor of an agreed self-determination referendum according to a survey published by the Ara newspaper this Sunday. By parties, the trend is the same, 71% of those who voted the “Socialist” Party (PSC) on Dec. 21 agree with a mutually agreed referendum.  In fact, the only ones who are most opposed are the PP and C’s voters, although 24% of C’s voters also show their support for a referendum.

View original post 273 more words

Over a Million Protesters March in Barcelona to Call for the Release of Catalan Political Prisoners

Josep Goded

On Saturday, over a million Catalans marched in Barcelona to call for the release of the Catalan political prisoners recently imprisoned by Spain. The demonstration was given the name of “National Day for Liberty,” aiming for the same level of attendance and international impact as the yearly celebrations for Catalonia’s September 11th National Day. The demonstration filled more than three kilometers (almost 2 miles) of one of the Catalan capital’s main thoroughfares. Almost a thousand buses loaded with independentists from across the country headed to the protest in Barcelona.

At the front of the demonstration, a banner held by family members of the Catalan political prisoners and the organizers read, “Freedom for political prisoners, we are the Republic.” Attendance exceeded the expectations of the organizers, which delayed the beginning of the protest by an hour. The march lasted for 3 hours before arriving at the intersection with Avenida Icària, where…

View original post 411 more words

The Week that Spain Lost Catalonia

Has the Spanish Government scored an own goal, for no matter about the rights and wrongs, the legitimacy or not and the support for the Catalonia Independence referendum by the Spanish actions this could solidify support for the referendum which may or may not have been there originally.

To make matters even worse they instructed or the Spanish courts did to use excessive force to stop the referendum.

Courts do not usually create actions by themselves, but others have to make applications to them, was this the Spanish Government or one or more of their supporters. In bringing these many actions this may be increasing support for the Catalonian independence movement and be bringing it even closer to an affirmative conclusion.

Josep Goded

The detention of 15 high-ranking officials and the suspension of the Catalan government, last week by the Spanish government, in order to halt the referendum on independence set for tomorrow appears to have united separatists, federalists, and a significant number of unionists in defense of the vote.

“I have always been opposed to this referendum, because I am a federalist. However, the latest Spanish aggressions against Catalonia in order to humiliate our people is intolerable. That’s the main reason why I have decided to vote, and I will vote “YES” because I do not want to belong to a dictatorship like Turkey any longer. I think that the creation of a new state would give us the chance to build a more fair country and society” said David, a Barcelona citizen.

“My family and I have always voted for unionist parties. We like Spain and most of our…

View original post 321 more words

Trump’s Connections With Dictators

Trump’s support of Erdogan shows exactly what Trump is and how he would really wish to govern America.

Josep Goded

Trump’s connections with a large number of dictatorships has raised several questions about his morality and political convictions. Since he became president, numerous human rights organizations have protested against him for welcoming human rights violators onto US soil. However, Trump has always denied those accusations, claiming that classic tyrants such as Al-Sisi (Egypt) and Erdogan (Turkey) are US allies who lead free countries.

Despite Trump’s efforts to manipulate public opinion, the recent visit of the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan caused a political earthquake. During his visit to the Turkish embassy in Washington DC on Monday, Erdogan ordered his bodyguards to attack people who were peacefully protesting against him. As result, a number of protesters were injured and needed medical assistance. A few hours before that regrettable incident, Trump said:

“We have had a great relationship and we will make it even better.”

“Today, we face a…

View original post 1,697 more words

Conflict Between Turkey and The Netherlands: The Winners and Losers.

The Netherlands is consider to be run as a democracy, while Turkey was previously proceeding to bring in democratic ideals, but under the current leadership would now appear to be proceeding with dictatorship ideals. While it is for each country to decide themselves how they wish to govern, neither should endeavour to implant their own ideals on each other.

Within the powers of each county they can individually decide who should or should not be allowed enter their respective countries in accordance with their own rule of law.

So, as in this case, if the Netherlands decide that certain persons will not be allowed access then these persons and their country, Turkey, should respect this. Irrespective whether the decisions were right or wrong the course of action is not for persons from one country to deliberately ignore and thwart these decisions and if they so wished to counter these then there are diplomatic channels in which to do so.

As stated in the article each country have important elections coming forth and therefore it is essential that each countries rule of law should be respected.

The Netherlands decided that to allow politicians from Turkey could provide a situation from which the alteright party could use to enhance more support. However due to the actions of the Turkish Government representatives in not respecting the Netherlands right to ban their enter, this has escalated the situation, so that Turkish President Erdogan supporters have, initially formed a large gathering in Rotterdam and not only did they not disperse when requested to do so they went on to riot and cause damage in a country in which they are effectively guests. So what the Netherlands government did not want to occur did occur and Geert Wilders, the right-wing candidate as used this to support his cause. It will also not do any harm to President Erdogan in the Turkish election.

The moral being respect the rule of law and the political process of each and every county by other countries.

Josep Goded

On Saturday, just four days before the Dutch elections and one month before Turkey holds a crucial constitutional referendum (on expanding Turkish presidential powers), a new diplomatic dispute began between the Netherlands and Turkey.

Everything began when the Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced he would visit Rotterdam to call on Turkish expatriates to vote favorably on the referendum. Right after this announcement, the Dutch authorities notified Cavusoglu that he was banned from entering the country, alleging that there was a risk to public order and security.

Despite the ban, Cavusoglu decided to take a plane to the Netherlands. In response, the Dutch government withdrew landing permission for him and his aides, forcing him to land in Germany. Once in Germany, the minister Cavusoglu said:

“This decision is a scandal and unacceptable in every way. It does not abide by diplomatic principles.”

“Listen Netherlands, you’ll jump once, you’ll jump twice…

View original post 691 more words

Saudi Arabia’s Violations of Human Rights Supported by Trump’s Administration

Saudi Arabia some many human rights abuses and ruled by Saudi Royal family under extreme Sharia law and some terrorists have been from Saudi, but Saudi was not part of Donald Trump’s executive order. Does this mean President Donald Trump agrees with the rulings of law in Saudi , for such an outspoken person he appears to be quiet about this.

Or is he indicating it is Fake News or is it Alternative facts.

Josep Goded

For years, Saudi Arabia has had the honour to be one of the principal violators of human rights in the world. Regardless of its efforts to hide it from the international community, numerous local human rights organisations have regularly exposed the abuses perpetrated by the regime. In response, the Saudi government has banned all international human rights organisations from entering Saudi Arabia. As numerous organisations have suggested, the primary problem remains in the system and the interpretation of the Sharia (Islamic law).

Saudi Arabia uses Sharia (Islamic law) as its domestic legislation. There is no a formal penal code; the criminal justice court derives its interpretation from an extreme version of Sharia. In most of cases, detainees do not have a fair trial and are not allowed to meet with a lawyer during their interrogations. Further, the authorities do not usually inform them about their charges until…

View original post 1,000 more words

Trump: The U.S. Transition From Democracy to Authoritarianism

America voted Trump in now they are reaping what they sowed, but is it too late for action to suppress the slide into authoritarian order. We can only hope it is not.

Josep Goded

In Upper New York Bay stands the colossal statue of Liberty, a universal symbol of freedom. It is also the Mother of immigrants, embodying hope and opportunity for those seeking a better life in America. It stirs the desire for liberty in people all over the world. It represents the United States itself. However…Last week, the flame of the freedom from its torch has started to extinguish.In hardly two weeks, President Trump’s unlawful decisions and his unprecedented pressures on judges to fail in his favour have shaken the fundamentals of U.S. Democracy. For many, it indicates that Trump has various hidden plans to turn the U.S. system into an authoritarian to gain power. However, it won’t be possible without dominating the Supreme Court.The U.S. Supreme Court is the final court of appeal and final expositor of the Constitution of the United States. It marks the boundaries of authority…

View original post 553 more words

Netanyahu: “the Right of Protection”

Josep Goded

Days after the UN (United Nations) condemned the expansion of the Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, announced that Israel will not abide by the UN resolution because it is an attempt against Israeli’s security. Instead, Netanyahu announced mass punishments against the countries that voted for the resolution.

Netanyahu considers that the expansion of Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories serves to protect Israel from terrorism. Nevertheless, the international community reflects that the existing dispute between Israel and Palestine will increase.

Netanyahu is leading a radical coalition, considered to be the most right-wing in Israeli history.Avigdor Lieberman, who heads Yisrael Beiteinu – the other major party in the ruling coalition – opposes to recognise Palestine as a state. He has also proposed to transfer the Arabic community (including Israeli Citizens) from Israel to Cisjordania to evade a forthcoming Arabic majority in Israel.

Lieberman…

View original post 364 more words

With Trump As President and Bannon As Chief Strategist, the Freedom of the Press Is in Danger

Freedom of Press needs protecting at all costs, otherwise any administration is free to do as they please, in other words a dictatorship will occur. and your human rights will disappear.

Josep Goded

Donald Trump will be soon sworn in as president of the United States of America. Before that happens, Trump is occupied choosing the future members of his cabinet while the international community is fretting over this because, apparently, it will include racists, climate change deniers, and human rights violators.

There are fears that Trump’s cabinet will try to reform the system to re-centralize power and restrict the freedom of the press. In such a context, the U.S. media and freelance journalists are preparing themselves to work under restrictive conditions to circumvent the upcoming censorship.

During the last campaign, the tandem Bannon/Trump launched an unprecedented mass attack on the U.S. media to convince people that critical journalists were criminals. (Clinton did something similar by ordering some media to hide her misconduct during her term as Secretary of State).

As far as we know, during Trump’s…

View original post 330 more words