MODERN SLAVERY.

She approached me with shaky steps. She was holding the tray as if her life depended on it. She struggled to move with the orange juice without tripping. Head down, aware of the inquisitive eyes of her boss and frightened by the number of guests occupying the terrace stumbled a few feet in front of me. Fortunately, the bright orange liquid did not reach me but left a small puddle on the tile floor.

SAUDI ARABIA: DRIVING IS AN OVARIES MATTER.

Driving harms the pelvis and ovaries. 

Of all the sexist comments against women's ability to drive a motor vehicle, this is perhaps the most peregrine and absurd. It should be enough to say that while there are numerous scientific studies that support the link between prostate cancer and staying long hours sitting in certain professions, such as drivers, there are none in the case of women. Imams have outdone themselves with this shameful explanation which focus, once again, on the "crux" of the matter: only women wombs matter and therefore should not move at will outside the control of male relatives, lest they discover that the world is outside the four walls of their prisons, excuse me, homes.

BASHAR AL ASAD’S NOBEL PEACE PRIZE.

 Many were critical with the Norwegian Academy decision to award the Nobel Peace Prize to Barak Obama in October 2009. For them, the brand new President of the United States did not deserve it. The academy justified this award stating that: “Obama has as President created a new climate in international politics. Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play. Dialogue and negotiations are preferred as instruments for resolving even the most difficult international conflicts. The vision of a world free from nuclear arms has powerfully stimulated disarmament and arms control negotiations. Thanks to Obama’s initiative, the USA is now playing a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting. Democracy and human rights are to be strengthened.”[1]

Egyptian troops crossing the Suez Canal,
October 7, 1973

YOM KIPPUR, FORTY YEARS LATER.

Forty years have passed since the Yom Kippur War when in an unexpected move, Egypt and Syria, decided to attack Israel in one of its holiest days. It was the fourth major confrontation between Arabs and Jews since Israel’s declaration of independence in 1948. The overwhelming Israeli victory of 1967 and its overestimation of border security allowed this country to relax while its enemies’ desire for revenge was mounting. This surprise attack highlighted the vulnerability of Israel to the alliance of two of its strongest enemies. A vulnerability that was surmounted  - despite the initial strategic advantage of Egypt and Syria - due to poor communications between both that allowed Israel to recover and regain territory.

TURKEY OUTRAGED AGAINST ERDOGAN.

I have been asked repeatedly if the camping in Istanbul’s Taksim square and the subsequent demonstrations in other cities of Turkey, are the result of the influence of the Arab awakening or an imitation of the 15 - M movement. Doubts arise from the dual identity that the Republic of Turkey has been playing with since its formation in 1923: a democracy defined as "European" in an oriental surroundings. However, this country has a defined personality that can not be identified with either of these two social movements. The current situation in the Anatolian Peninsula and its adjacent piece of land across the Bosphorus can not be compared with the demonstrations in the Arab countries aimed to get a real democratization of their countries, or the movement of indignation that called for more participation in the governement and less measures imposed by large corporations while denouncing the corrupt behavior of many leaders, businessmen and bankers.

THE SYRIAN ADRIFT WITHOUT ACNUR

It was one of those stories told with a quiet and restrained gesture. The shivering little three year old walked aimlessly in the dark cold night. He was alone, helpless. His sight was heartbreaking. It was not possible not to pick him up and comfort him. He had lost his family in the midst of hundreds of thousands of people walking through the snowy mountains in their quest for a save refuge across the border. Terrified and in shock he could not even remember his name. He was lucky. A young man picked him up and nursed him until he found his family months later. But tens of thousands of children, elderly and sick were left behind, homeless at night with no blankets and no food.

Fortunately, some NGOs, including UNHCR, managed to reach and assist them. They were my, but also your, ultimately, our kind: Iraqi Kurds, Afghans, Bosnians, Guatemalans, Saharans, Sudanese, etc ... people like us who due to natural disasters, armed conflicts or political repression were forced to leave their homes to save their lives.

POLITICS AND THE ABSURD THEATRE

It is inevitable to refer to what happened this week although the events are disheartening and boredom imposes some reluctance to the conversation. So, when my friend said that it was just another theatre’s act, it took me a few seconds to react because my imagination flew over two thousand years ago, at a time when the Athenians (male, free and over 20 years, of course) expressed their opinion in an open forum with the utmost eloquence and, I suppose, with great gestures to convince his listeners. I flew to the republican Rome, where I could see myself sitting on one cold Carrara marble bench listening attentively to the speech of a Senator, one of the representatives of the civilization and culture of his time. I would watch perhaps with skepticism, perhaps with fascination, the expression on his face, the movement of his hands, his walk while he attempted to convince his listeners. My mind flew over the dark times of the Middle Ages to a seat in the mid-nineteenth century British Parliament where I would attend, most likely with tedium, the speech of a "lord" trying to gain support for a government post.

THE NATIONAL FRAUD (I).

Having worked for a decade under the direction of an economist I was finally convinced that to perform a job you just need to have a great imagination. Watching him build up a budget was like witnessing the translation, in a modern excel sheet, of the traditional “milkmaid and pail” tale, the one that warned about the high expectations on dreams still unrealised. You just needed to increase the price of the raw materials purchased to the primary producer with the cost of transportation, labour, bank interest for deferred payment (a death trap for companies sponsored by state law) and, of course , the profit margin, all pending on the potential customer approval.

Viewed on paper, those budgets were really encouraging, however, once confronted with the reality and their uncertainties, such as a reduction of the budget imposed by the buyer, always ended shattered as the pitcher of milk and consequently, the profit margin always is extracted from the weakest flank: wages. Since intermediation is a form of enrichment based on the correct performance of all the links in the production any setback such as weather, accidents, strikes, holidays or the interruption in the provision of supplies knocks the business down as a house of cards.

WHAT IS THE USE OF THE ARAB LEAGUE IN THE SYRIAN CIVIL WAR?

One consequence of the end of World War II was the proliferation of international organizations, a phenomenon that also affected the Middle East. So, on March 22, 1945, when the war had not finished yet, Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan (later Jordan), Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Syria, decided to create the Arab League. A foundation three months prior to the approval of the United Nations Charter in San Francisco. Since then, this "exclusive" club has been joined by 16 other countries.

According to the second article of the Covenant of the League of Arab States, "The purpose of the League is to establish closer relations between member states and coordinate their political activities in order to conduct a closer collaboration between them, to safeguard their independence and sovereignty, and to consider, in a general way the affairs and interests of the Arab countries".

What Have I Done to Deserve This?

She walks with her tattered books and recycled notebooks tight against her chest. She advances hastily through the narrow and muddy streets without looking up from the ground. She does not want to stain her socks because there is no water or soap to wash clothes more than once a week. While she covers her usual route, she hears the nasty comments of some guys who have no other fun than harassing girls who dare to leave the precarious shelter of their family’s tent. She hits a rock and is about to fall but regains balance and keeps walking even though she has hurt her foot. She knows she has torn one sock but holds back the tears. Nothing will stop her. Finally, she reaches the tent- school and breathes deeply. She moves the dirty cloth that works as a threshold and sits on the old carpet. She's safe.

Surrounded by children of different ages, she focuses on what the teacher says and writes in the blackboard that covers the narrow side of the tent. A luxury achieved with great effort. Some restless boys nudges but she does not pay attention to them. She has her Bacaloriat exams in a couple of months and can not waste time with useless distractions. She must make the most of what will give her access to the institute of the nearest city. This will involve an hour trip to go and another to return in an old bus. She will have to go with her shabby clothes and no takeaways. But, for her is a great opportunity to get out from the hole she is stuck in. The University despite being miles and years away, seems a more reachable dream now.

Suddenly, a roar shakes the ground beneath their feet. The tent collapses on them. Luckily is only fabric. The children scream scared but they stay hidden under the folds of the tent. They have nowhere to go: they are Iraqis in a Syrian camp. While bombs are falling all around, Dina prays not to loose anymore members of her family. She does not remember because she was just three years old when her parents fled Iraq with her two brothers, but knows that neither her uncles nor her cousins ​​were so lucky. Ten years in a camp, hoping for a miracle to happen and now they are stuck with the civil war in Syria. And Dina keeps asking herself, what have I done to deserve this?

THE BEGINNING.      

I start this adventure through the unknown but also fascinating digital routes with the hope of a new beginning and the anxiety of the current economic and political situation in which we find ourselves. Everyday news submerge us in another chapter of this spiral of defeatism and despair. Obviously, they are not the ideal setting for any release. But as the economy, and everything that revolves around it, has taken over our daily lives, it is impossible to escape its evil influence.

Uncertainty aggravates our perception of the difficulties we face in the immediate future and reinforces our concern about our medium-term target, just when we thought the crisis slope would decrease. But we can not forget that it is in times of crisis and difficulty when man and woman are able to bring out the best that is within them. There is life beyond the crisis. Perhaps with fewer economic resources but certainly with more inventiveness and creativity. It is with this belief, with which I embark myself on this journey.

I would rather fill the first page of this blog with kinder thoughts, but as said these are not good times but, on the contrary, times to denounce and struggle, to criticise and reproach, to reflect and take on responsabilities, not only for and from politicians and other powers, but by every one of us. In short, a fascinating time in history. These lines and those that will follow, will be the vehicle I will use to unleash those issues that disturb me, those issues that friends, acquaintances and strangers asked me to talk about, those injustices I see every day and, of course, those literary snippets that emerge in the most unexpected recesses of my imagination.

To each and everyone who have been curious to read this short introduction, thanks for taking the time to do it and those that are committed to follow, thanks for sharing your time, I hope I will not to disappoint you.