Unions Back Self Determination

Today at Berria.info

ELA and LAB Unions back agreement of those favouring self-determination

They say the steps proposed in the communiqué could further cooperation among those who support self-determination

Editorial Staff – DONOSTIA (San Sebastian)

The two Basque nationalist trade unions issued a joint statement yesterday to give their view on ETA’s latest communiqué. Among other things they issued a specific call for unity among the political forces in favour of self-determination.

The document recognises the differences that exist between ELA and LAB regarding the proposal made by the Basque nationalist left on December 16. Nevertheless, the two unions say they are prepared to cooperate on the points they agree on, in other words, on the ones that back self-determination. For this reason they say in the statement that “cooperation is needed among the sectors of the Basque Country that support self-determination.” And they say that priority must continue to be given to work in this direction that furthers cooperation. ELA and LAB are of the opinion that the channels that need to be pursued are the ones which seek agreements among as many powers as possible which support this right. With respect to the latest communiqué issued by ETA [the armed, pro-Basque independence organisation] they say, “if the steps suggested by ETA in that communiqué were adopted, this would facilitate the processes to achieve cooperation among the forces that back self-determination.”

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Support for Joint List

Berria has published this article regarding a communique by ETA in support of a joint electoral list:

ETA prepared to take "all the necessary steps for the initiative to be brought to a successful conclusion"

In a brief communiqué ETA says it supports the proposal for an electoral list backing the right to self-determination

Editorial Staff – DONOSTIA (San Sebastian)

ETA [the armed, pro-Basque independence organisation] not only approves of the initiative for a joint electoral list among all the forces favouring self-determination, but also says it is prepared to take "all the necessary steps" to bring the initiative to a
successful conclusion. The announcement was made last night in a brief communiqué sent to some of the media. The document is addressed to the Basque People and consists of no more than two points. One expresses "approval" of the proposal made in Bergara by the Basque nationalist left to draw up a joint electoral list. The other says that ETA is prepared to take measures and steps: "It [ETA] is fully prepared to adopt whatever measures might be needed and take all the necessary steps for this initiative to succeed."

In Bergara two weeks ago on December 16 significant members of the Basque nationalist left announced their proposal for a single electoral list. Arnaldo Otegi and Rafa Diez were the spokespeople in the press conference held at the Olaso palace. The actual proposal had three points. Firstly, that a "unified electoral list be drawn up from among all the forces in favour of self-determination" to stand in the Spanish general elections. Secondly, that the joint list of candidates that could be formed would be responsible for "representing the Basque Country" before Spain. Finally, the aim of the list would be, according to the proposal, to "secure the recognition of the Basque Country through a process of relations and negotiations with Spain." Before the press conference Arnaldo Otegi and Rafa Diez had held a number of meetings with political, trade union and social organisations to announce the proposal. After the official announcement the remaining Basque nationalist parties asked those backing the proposal to denounce ETA violence so that a deal could be struck.

Seems like a cease-fire is on the works, lets hope Spain will not resort to an escalation to their repressive campaign in Euskal Herria as a response, as they usually do.

Lets wait and see what the PNV has to say about this whole thing.

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Indian Ten Commandments

While roaming the world for the perfect Christmas Gift, I came across the Indian Ten Commandments, here they are:

~ Treat the Earth and all that dwell thereon with respect.

~ Remain close to the Great Spirit.

~ Show great respect for your fellow beings.

~ Work together for the benefit of all mankind.

~ Give assistance and kindness wherever needed.

~ Do what you know to be right.

~ Look after the well-being of mind and body.

~ Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater good.

~ Be truthful and honest at all times.

~ Take full responsibility for your actions.

They certainly make more sense than the ones the one buffoon over in Alabama wanted to shove down everyone's throats.

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Nafarroa: A Basque Voice

At Berria English:

Aralar, EA and EAJ join forces to give Basque Nationalists of Navarre “a voice”

The three parties say the coalition is open “to those who agree with the pact”

Irene Arrizurieta – IRUNEA (Pamplona)

In Irunea, yesterday, the Navarrese branches of the EAJ, EA and Aralar parties presented the joint list of candidates they will be fielding in the Spanish general elections scheduled for March next year. The coalition has adopted the name "Nafarroa Bai" (Yes to Navarre) and they stress that it has been created with the aim "of representing the thousands of Navarrese citizens who have not had a voice in the Spanish parliament for the last few years."

At the presentation were Patxi Zabaleta and Txentxo Jimenez of Aralar, Maiorga Ramirez and Fermin Ziaurriz of Eusko Alkartasuna (EA) and Joxe Antonio Urbiola, Jabier Leoz and Jose Angel Agirrebengoa of the EAJ. They pointed out that it was "a coalition to represent the thousands of Navarrese citizens who have neither voice" nor representation in the Spanish Congress and Senate (lower and upper chambers, respectively). They stressed that this was the way "they want to respond" from Navarre "to the new historic era" being ushered in.

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Olentzero

A Christmas story from the Basque Country.

Eguberri on!

Olentzero

Everything that has a name exists

Betidanako gure basoetan ...

In the forest, there are many different kinds of creatures that people can’t see.. They are all part of nature, and people have written many stories and fables about them.

When we go out in the mountains and the valleys, from a wonderful corner of the imagination they keep us company and take care of us.

Hona hemen horietako baten kondaira...

Here is the story of one of those beings, the story of Olentzero, a humble man who with his love comes into the heart of all creatures, real and imaginary.

Behin batean ...

Once upon a time, many many years ago, in the deep forests of the Basque Country, there lived a very beautiful fairy. Her hair was yellow like the sun and her eyes were very bright.

Lamia guztiek bezala, ...

Like all fairies, she looked after the people and she was always accompanied by some little and funny creatures, like goblins, called Prakagorri, or "red-pants," who helped her with her work.

Egun batez, ...

One day, when she was traveling through the mountains, she stopped to brush her hair next to a fountain. Suddenly, the Prakagorris noticed that something was moving among some ferns.

Lamia bere ile kizkurra ...

The fairy kept brushing and brushing her curly hair and didn’t notice anything until Prakagorris’ shouts caught her attention.

Gizakume bat da hori...

"It's a human baby," said the oldest of the goblins.

"Why did they leave it here?" said all the Prakagorris at once.

"I don’t know," said the fairy, "it is hard to understand how humans can be so heartless sometimes."

Gaurtik aurrera, ...

"From now on," said the fairy to the baby, "your name will be Olentzero, for it is wonderful thing to have found you. And I hereby give you the gifts of Strength, Courage and Love, for as long as you live."

Then the fairy picked up the baby and took him to an old house at the edge of the forest where there lived a man and a woman who had no children.

Horien bihotza ...

"They will be very, very happy to receive this child and they will take good care of it, I know" said the fairy, and she left the boy there in front of the door for them.

Very early in the morning, when the sun was just starting to come out, the man came out of the house to go milk the cows. He was very surprised to see the baby, and he called to his wife: "Love, come quickly! Come and see what I’ve found!"

Just as the fairy had predicted, the man and the woman were very, very happy to find this child. "How could we be so lucky!", said the woman. And immediately they covered the boy with a warm blanket and gave him some food, and they took him as their son.

Honela mendi zoragarri haietan ...

And that is how Olentzero came to grow up in those wonderful mountains, until he became a strong, healthy and lovable man. His parents were very happy and Olentzero was not at all worried about the strange way in which his parents had come to find him.

Goizetik arratseraino ...

Olentzero worked every day from morning till night, making coal and helping his aging father.

After many years the old couple who had been Olentzero’s loving parents finally died and Olentzero was left all alone in the house in the forest.

Urteak joan, urteak etorri ...

The years came and went and his face began to wrinkle and his hair began to turn white.

Bere bihotza goibeltzen ...

Living alone made him sad and he realized that what he needed to do was to help other people who needed his help.

He remembered that in the town there was a house where there lived some children who had no parents. They lived on whatever the people in the town gave them, and he realized that these children were very lonely, just like him, and that he could do things for them to make them happy.

Olentzero gizon argia zen ...

Olentzero was very clever and very good at making things with his hands, so he made some toys out of wood for those children: little toys and dolls, which he would take to the children when he went to town to sell his coal.

Panpina eta gizontxoak bukatu zituenean ...

When he finished the dolls and other toys, he put them in a big bag, put the bag on his donkey, and left for the town. He felt very happy inside that day, and his eyes were shining very brightly.

Goiz guztia eman zuen mendiz mendi ...

It took him a whole morning of walking through the mountains to get to the town, but he was very happy. He smiled as if in a dream, for he was going to give to the children the toys that he had made.

Herriko txikiek ...

The little children in the village were very happy when they got their presents, and Olentzero spent the whole afternoon playing with them and telling them stories that he had learned from his father when he was little. The boys and girls loved Olentzero very much and after that day they didn’t feel as lonely as before. Olentzero became very well known in that town. Whenever he approached, he would quickly be surrounded by children.

Urte asko, eder eta zoriontsu ...

This went on for many beautiful and happy years, but one day there was a terrible storm in the town and the mountains around it which destroyed many things. The cold, strong winds and the sound of thunder left the people very scared and upset, especially the children.

Egun batez, ...

One day, when Olentzero was coming to town, he saw some lightning hitting a house.

He quickly ran to the house and he saw some children at one of the windows, very scared, screaming and calling for help.

Without hesitating he went into the house, which was in flames, covered the children with a blanket to protect them from the fire, and carried them out of the house through a window in the first floor.

Beretzat irtenbide bat ...

But while he was trying to get out himself, a big old wooden beam from the ceiling fell on top of him. Olentzero fell down in great pain, and his strong and beautiful heart stopped.

The people in the town cried when they saw the house in flames, and what had happened, and realized that there was nothing they could do.

Une larri hartan ...

But right then they were all surprised by a bright light shining from inside the burning house. Nobody could see what was happening inside. But inside the house, the fairy who had found Olentzero in the mountains, when he was a baby so many years ago, appeared next to Olentzero and began calling his name in her sweet voice: "Olentzero! Olentzero!"

Gizon handia izan zara ...

She said: "Olentzero, you have been a good man, faithful and kind hearted. You have spent your life doing things for others, and you have even given your own life to save others. So I do not want you to die. I want you to live forever. From now on you will make toys and other presents for children who do not have parents in this town and everywhere in the Basque Country."

Guk lagundu egingo dizugu!

"And we will help you!" called out all the Prakagorri, flying around Olentzero.

Honela, ...

And that is how it came to pass that, that in the middle of every winter, at the end of every year, Olentzero goes to all the towns of Basque Country delivering toys and presents to children who don’t have parents and grandparents to give them presents. The children in all the towns celebrate the coming of the Olentzero by singing songs and spreading his message of love, strength and courage.

Some people don’t believe that Olentzero really exists. But in Basque there is an old saying: that everything that has a name exists, if we believe it does.

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Demand for Dialogue

What you won't find on the local news, you will find at Berria English:

Thousands demand dialogue

Representatives of all the political parties except the PP (Popular Party) took part in the mass demonstration in Bilbo organised by the Elkarri organisation to demand respect for human rights and for the people's will

Aitziber Laskibar – BILBO

Thousands of citizens took part in a demonstration organised in Bilbo yesterday by Elkarri (the social movement to further dialogue and agreement in the conflict of the Basque Country). The slogan was "Giza eskubideak eta herri borondatea errespetatu. Elkarrizketa eta akordioa proposamen guztien artean" (Respect for human rights and the people's will. Dialogue and consensus among all the proposals). But apart from ordinary citizens, representatives of the political spheres turned out in significant numbers and were the main protagonists. In fact, representatives of nearly all the parties in the Basque Country were there: the EAJ, EA, Batasuna, the EB-IU, the AuB, the PSE-EE, the AB, Aralar and the CDN. The Government of the BAC (Basque Autonomous Community of Araba, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa) represented by Idoia Zenarruzabeitia, the Deputy Lehendakari or President, also joined the protest.

As far as the parties were concerned, there were many members of the EAJ at the front of the demonstration like Joseba Egibar, the spokesman for the EBB (National Executive Committe), Josune Ariztondo, the EBB secretary, Iñaki Anasagasti, the EAJ spokesman in the lower house of the Spanish Parliament, Iñigo Urkullu, Chairman of the Bizkaia Executive Committee, and Iñaki Azkuna, the mayor of Bilbo. Representing Eusko Alkartasuna (EA) were the chairperson, Begoña Errazti, party organisation secretary, Rafa Larreina, general secretary Unai Ziarreta, the BAC Government Justice Minister Joseba Azkarraga, and the Environment Minister Sabin Intxaurraga along with Onintza Lasa, in charge of Communications.

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Holiday Humor

This is frigging funny, go check it out!

BKHoliday

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French Idiocy

This French dumbnuts just doesn't get it, read the note today at Berria English:

More French through Basque

The French Interior Minister favours the recognition of identities in order to "be more deeply established in the Republic"

Eneko Bidegain BAIONA

"Why have you come to the Basque Country?" asked a bilingual student of the High School of Donibane Lohizune (St. Jean de Luz). Grinning from ear to ear Nicolas Sarkozy, the French Interior Minister, had just got out of a grey Peugeot 605. That marked the start of his first visit to the Northern Basque Country at 15.30 hours. He had travelled from Pau by helicopter. The Minister replied, "To see if you have any problems." Loads of people were milling around him: town councillors, members of the French Parliament, regional councillors, police, bodyguards, reporters, etc.

After watching a Basque lesson for ten minutes he met with teachers and parents of a public bilingual classroom. Again and again he said that "adherence to a regional language and identity" was not at variance with "adherence to the French Republic." "Regional languages are not a problem for the State. They are an opportunity." Yet he did not provide any specific answers to the questions. He identified and likened the wish to maintain Euskara, the Basque language, with "the desire to use the language of one's grandparents." He declared, "by helping Basque to develop we shall be helping this region to become more deeply established in the Republic." He asked, "Why should we give those who do not accept France the opportunity to appear as the sole defender of cultural identity?"

When adopting measures in favour of Basque he added that it was necessary to separate "the demands in favour of the Basque language from politics, sectarianism and division." "If you take them away from politics and violence, you can find solutions." He views the development of the language as an "opening up" in "a peaceful atmosphere." "I would like you to tell me what your needs are," and invited the audience to speak.

The desire to use the laguage of one's grandparents? What about the desire to use your own language?

And the French considere themselves the land of the egalite, liberte et fraternite, whatever.

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Democracy and Freedom, Everyday

I believe that democracy and freedom are not goals to be achieved, but a right that needs to be exercised on a daily basis. I find it amusing when some people say stuff like "I never talk about politics or religion" because most of the time this people think that they are fooling me, they think that my first impression is "Wow! This person doesn't like to hurt other people feelings nor getting into fights", well, life taught me quite the opposite, people that state that say it because they have nothing to say, some out of pure ignorance, some out of fear, but most of them say it out of indifference.

I can agree with ignorance, not all of us have the chance to cultivate our minds, I can deal with fear, not all of us have full confidence on ourselves and what we stand for, but what really pisses me off is people that keep quiet out of indifference, because it is exactly that attitude what allows people like George W. Bush, Tony Blair, Jose Maria Aznar to do what they do.

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Defiant Ikurriña

The defiant Ikurriña, it stood up against fascism yesterday, it stands up against fascism today and it will stand up against fascism tomorrow.

Leitza, Nafarroa / December 2003.

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