Culture on sales?

Yesterday Barcelona Forum Universal de las Culturas has been inaugurated.

The king and the city major, in their speeches, called citizens of all countries to join the Forum, which aim to dialogue and gathering among people of different religion, ideas, principles.

The role of the town of Barcelona has also been emphasized.

Nevertheless, access to the Forum is not open. Everyone has to pay 21 euro just to enter the arena, adding more to take part in a debate (to dialogue with Jorge Valdano, 72 euro and (¡sich!) 60 for Josè Saramago).

Moreover, once entered, you can’t go out and come back afterwards. And it is forbidden to bring food or drinks; you have to buy the multicultural meals sold by the organization, with the consultancy of Ferran Adrià.

Below, the comment by today edition of El Pais.

That’s why in America….

Now it is clear (if it wasn’t already) why the United States could not sign the agreement establishing the International Criminal Court.
The reason is that the ordinary way of working of militaries (of course, not only Americans) engaged in war is often criminal.
And as they expected to engage in several wars, they could not go against themselves.
It is true that the ICC system establishes that the International Court only intervene if the national judicial authority does not. But we have not heard about sentences against the illegal situation of Guantanamo yet; let’s hope we will soon.

Freedom versus equality

The other day, a politician (probably Piquè) was interviewed on TV about the difference between left and right. He answered that right-wing people like better freedom, while leftists prefer equality.
The answer is not wrong. But it is not exhaustive.
Left-wing people may prefer equality, but generally want also freedom (at least, I hope so), whilst rightist ones do not mind about inequality, considering it as normal.

Annunziata down

Lucia Annunziata announced today her resignation from RAI Presidency.

With an easy joke, (perhaps not obvious in English) one can say it was an azione annunziata (announced action).

Mrs. Annunziata took office in the worst possible way; deciding in few minutes to replace the previous candidate, which was supported by many, with the exception of Mr. Berlusconi.

Many people predicted then a brief and unpleasant career, and so it was.
Why she decided to face such a foreseeable fate is not clear. Probably, she had strong pressure and assurances. Most likely, there was the lure for power, status and money.

Unfortunately, she damaged not only herself but the slight remains of democracy in Italy.

Corrections

A language exercise without correction is useful, but conveys an impression of incompleteness.
This phrase is the right example, as I am quite sure it is not clear, but I am not able to find a better construction (and the same happen with this phrase too).
From now on, there will be corrections and the final version of each note will be posted as a comment.
In this sort of work in progress, remarks and suggestions will always be welcomed.
Quoting the poet, let me say: Harsh is the path to knowledge.

1989

As I am applying to almost one post per day, I have to rationalise all the documentation related to my jobs, studies, language learning etc.
I have scanned all these documents and, to have them in order, I gave to each one a name starting with the date.

In that way, I realized how crucial the 1989 was, also for me.

For that year I have gathered:
a degree certificate (Law, thesis in International Law);
a diploma as lawyer expert in computers;
a certificate of attendance to a French language course for youth organizers in Strasbourg;
the certificate for a 20 months time collaboration with the Centre for International Juridical Co-operation; and
the discharge from the Army (actually, from the civilian service)

(this note could appropriately appear on the Il Male’s column “Who cares?”)

IKEA


Today we went to IKEA; it is not the first time. I stayed at the restaurant, eating Swedish meatballs, with boiled potatoes, the strange brownish soup and marmalade.
Usually, I am not fond of sweet-and-sour food, but after a short stay in Uppsala I came to like that taste, or may be that mood.
Everything works well in IKEA shops, they offer you pencils and paper rules, the food is not expensive, coffee is complimentary.
It is part of globalisation, but it is easy. May be that’s the real force of everyday globalisation.

Home exchange

Our apartment in Barcelona is not very large and not very central. But there are two bedrooms and a living room and the metro station is only 300 meters away. The Ramblas, Port Olimpic and the Barrio Gotico are only 10-15 minutes away. There is a sea view from one of the windows and we have an old bicycle you can use to get around.

From May to September our neighbourhood will be the very centre of the town, as we are just 500 meters from the Forum 2004 (Forum Universal de las Culturas) where are scheduled concerts (Sting, BB King,Cheb Kaled, Bob Dylan, Cesaria Evora) Expositions (the Chinese Xi’an warriors, “world voices”), debates (on peace, development, globalization, cultural diversity) and all sorts of activities.
For the programme go to http://www.barcelona2004.org.

We would like to do a house exchange for 1 to 3 weeks, anywhere in Europe, during the summer season.

Riferimenti: Home exchange

Books and roses for San Jordi

Today is San Jordi and Barcelona is full of books and roses. On every corner and along each rambla, improvised sellers offer you books, that women should give to men receiving roses in return. Roses come often assorted with ears of wheat (I don’t know if that is to do with ‘bread and roses’).
It’s a celebration, a carnival and there was sun and happiness.
We took advantage to free two books, lets wait for some news.

Book crossing

Today I have registered my first book; I will free it tomorrow, somewhere in the centre of Barcelona.

Book crossing is an initiative worth joining; its aim is to convert the world into a big library.

If everybody would free their books after reading them, everybody will gain, the book buyer in space and self consideration, the new reader in saving money and getting comments together with the book, and even sales will not go down.

bookcrossing

Regarding the obsession of keeping books close by, I think it is an unhealthy one. May be it’s ok for one or two special books, but creating a dust-collecting mountain is meaningless.

Then go out and free your books, and you will get a lot in exchange.

Riferimenti: Bookcrossing.com