Dublin riots

What I saw yesterday in Dublin was absolutely amazing. I knew that something could happen, but I never imagined that might be something so strong.
Violence; attacking with fire-works, rocks, metal barricades, and bottles; 14 gardai and civilians injured; milions of euro in damages: that's just a small part of what happened yesterday in Dublin.

In my opinion, the main fault is for the Irish Government to allow this kind of provocation. How can they allow a march in the main street of Dublin knowing what's going on each year in Ulster? How can they allow this provocations? Didn't they know what could happen? Absolutely they did!! I don't want to be bad but I would even think that the Irish government allowed the unionist march to win the sooner elections. They knew that Sinn Fein was winning more and more simpathy among the Irish people. Today, in all the newspapers, we could see that the medias were saying that Sinn Fein was responsible for what happened, as some of the people who were in the riods supported that political group.

Of course I hate violence and I am absolutely against all what happened yesterday, but what's also true is that people can't be with their arms crossed seeing how the enemy is laughing just in front of them.

Winter games and Barça vs Chelsea.

For the first time in my life these days I am watching the Olimpic Winter Games. It's my first time not because I am so young that I still haven't had the chance to do it, mainly it is because I am from a country where there are no many suporters of the winter games. The weather conditions are warmer than in lots of other countries, those that are actually winning the medals. Actually I am watching it because I am living with a Canadian guy and he wants to follow all the sports, so I haven't got another option.

I have to say that I am really surprised. How can be an sport pushing an stone and sweeping the floor? (Curling) .And even worst, how can it be an Olimpic sport? When I saw that, I was absolutely surprised, unbelievable. Just imagine doing the same but without ice. What I really liked was bobsleigh racing, however after watching few races I thought it was too boring, as everytime it's the same.
As today it's my first post talking about sports, I want to talk about the team I really suport: F.C.Barcelona. I am a big fan and membership as well, and yesterday I enjoyed myself so much watching how we beat the bloody Chelsea. If you want to hate football, just watch a Chelsea match, it is even worst than the Italian football.

Just to finish, a message to Mourinho: There is no excuse, yesterday, as the last season, there was just one team playing football, obviously it wasn't Chelsea.

Demonstration.

Today is one of those days I would like to be at home, to my country, to the small country I said just few days ago: Catalonia.
Today there is a demonstration through our streets, a demonstration to show that we, the Catalans, are still alive and we still have dignity. I think it's better if you just read the text from www.tenimeldretdedecidir.org I enlclose after these words:


WE ARE A NATION AND WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO DECIDE!

We, the undersigned organisations and social movements -drawing on a broad plurality of Catalan political and socials sectors- wish to be heard in the debate that has been opened over the reform of the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia and to express our concern over the climate of hostility being generated from anti-democratic circles intended to undermine our country's legitimate political and democratic aspirations. Evoking the struggle of the Assembly of Catalonia for the reestablishment of the Statue of Autonomy as a means of exercising the right to self-determination, and evoking as well the memories of twenty-five years past when the Catalan nation marched in resistance to the offensive against expressions of its identity, we find it necessary to take to the streets once again under the banner "We are a nation and we have the right to decide!"
It is the conviction of the organisers that we must exercise our right to protest if we are to ensure that our laws are consistent with the needs and wishes of the Catalan people, and as such that they contribute to social progress, citizens' and immigrants' rights, social and labour rights, language and culture, the environment, gender equality, housing, communication technologies, education, healthcare and social security, among other issues. In this way we reaffirm that there can be no true self-government without fiscal sovereignty, without investment in infrastructure and without international relations and cooperation.
Because we are a country that wishes to defend its identity, it is our right--as it is of other nations--to freely decide for ourselves the kind of future we want. What we decide for ourselves should not be meddled with by others.
As a matter of liberty and of democracy, we will march on February 18 to demonstrate that "We are a nation and we have the right to decide!"
Platform "Pel dret de decidir" (For the right to decide)

To smoke or not to smoke?

In my opinion Ireland is one of the best countries to quite smoking. Why? There are many reasons. For instance, the price of each box of cigarretes. Overhere it's so expensive that before lighting a cigarrete I would be thinking how much money I could save if I didn't smoke.
On the other hand there is the banning. Everywhere is banned smoking, as in the UK are actually calling for a total smoking ban in all enclosed public places and workplaces.
Here you can't smoke anywhere. And I have to say that it is something I really like. If you want to smoke do it in your home or outside in the streets. When I was the last Christmas at home in my country, I remember being in a disco dancing and crying. Crying because of the smoke. Of course you can imagine for me was like the fishes in the image, trying to breathe opening my mouth.

From a small country.

As you probably have realised, my mother tongue is not the English language. I am from a small country, a country that is so small, tiny, that we are not even an State. We still belong to another one, We still "fight" (always democratelly) for freedom.

One of my favourite things to do is travelling, I love so. I'm always saying the same, if I was rich I would be travelling around all my whole life. By the moment I just have been to almost all of the European countries, although I still have to go to some others in EU, and to Turkey -let's say half Europe and half not.

The fact of travelling and being from a nation that is not yet an official State is something that makes you realise the difference between yourself and the other States. Sincerely I envy the others in that point. Trust me, it's not easy belonging to a country that if it was for them, you and your people wouldn't exist since a long long time.

Looking for a job.

After getting the accomodation actually I am looking for a job here in Dublin. That's a thing that it's not so easy as it seems. Mainly I usually do it by some of the websites such as: www.irishjobs.ie www.jobs.ie ,... and giving the CV's door to door as well.

I am writting this email to show you one of the Additional information forms I had to answer (see it below the dots line). Just some questions about it:

- What happened if I was a white hispanic and my father had lived all his life in Japan and had got married with an american indian?
-What does mean when in terms of sex says is not applicable? What about the people who are half and half?
-What is a major life activity? Perhaps for me reading is a major life activity and if I don't have a book....
I found absolutely amazing the question about veterans. Give peace a chance please. Well I have to say that there was also the option "Not a veteran".

As I did with the accomodation, if someone knows a job for me in Dublin, just send me an email, please do not hesitate:

joseparnau@gmail.com

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Please answer a few additional questions.

RACE

American Indian or Alaskan Native:A person with origins in any of the original peoples of North America who maintains cultural identification through tribal affiliation or has community recognition as an American Indian or Alaskan Native.

Asian or Pacific Islander:A person with origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands. This area includes, for example, China, Japan, Korea, the Philippine Republic and Samoa; and, on the Indian Subcontinent, includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan.

Black:An individual, not of Hispanic origin, with origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa.

Hispanic:A person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race. This does not include persons of Portuguese descent or persons from Central or South America who are not of Spanish origin or culture.

White:An individual, not of Hispanic origin, with origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, North Africa, or the Middle East.


SEX: (Refers to whether a person is physiologically male or female)
Male
Female
Not Applicable (???)


DISABILITY (A physical or mental condition that impairs or substantially limits one or more major life activities)
Disability
Yes
No
Decline to self-identify (???)

VETERAN

Special Disabled Veteran: (A) A veteran who is entitled to compensation (or who but for receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs for a disability (a) rated at 30 percent or more or (b) rated at 10 or 20 percent in the case of a veteran who has been determined under Section 1506 to Title 38, U.S.C. to have a serious employment disability; or (B) a veteran who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

Veteran of the Vietnam Era: (A) A veteran who served on active duty for a period of more than 180 days, and was discharged or released therefrom with other than a dishonorable discharge, if any part of such active duty occurred: (i) in the Republic of Vietnam between February 8, 1961 and May 7, 1975; or (ii) between August 5, 1964 and May 7, 1975 in all other cases; or (B) A veteran who was discharged or released from active duty for a service-connected disability if any part of such active duty was performed: (i) in the Republic of Vietnam between February 8, 1961 and May 7, 1975; or (ii) between August 5, 1964 and May 7, 1975 in all other cases.
Other Veteran:(A) A veteran with active duty service at any point between December 7, 1941 and April 28, 1952; or (B) A veteran who served on active duty in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized. A veteran qualifies under this criterion ONLY based upon military service IN the identified campaign or expedition and NOT simply based upon any military service during the time of the campaign or expedition. The campaign badges, service medals, and expeditionary medals that qualify under this criterion will be listed on the veteran’s “Armed Forces of the U.S. Report of Transfers or Discharge,” commonly known as the “DD-214 Form” if the veteran meets this criterion. It ncludes Bosnia, 10/25/95 to 6/21/98; Korea, 10/1/66 to 6/30/74; Panama 12/20/89 to 1/31/90; Persian Gulf Operation (various) ; Thailand, 5/16/62 to 8/10/62; Vietnam Evacuation, 4/29/75 to 4/30/75

Where a hell are We going?

Yesterday in London:






















Where a hell are We going? Should We tolerate this behavior?

Prophet Mohammed, the Danish cartoons.

I still don't understand what's happening. Why such a simple thing might finish -in fact, is going on- so bad. I'm talking about the so famous Prophet Mohammed Danish cartoons.

I have seen that in some of the West countries, the free speech in the medias is disapearing more and more. Why it's nearly impossible getting the cartoons on the net? Why the other world newspapers didn't publish the cartoons in solidarity with the Danish newspaper? Why such a simple thing is bringing so many problems?

Why do the Muslims act with such a bad behaviors ? Every day I see the religions more as a problem than as an authentic solution. Of course I think could be an offence some of the drawings but I also think, always in life, the best we can do is laugh. If someone make a cartoon about my, even if I don't like I have to accept it, do not starting burning embassies acting for instance as a dumb. I don't belive in any religion, but I know what's a cartoon, it's a thing that some people still think it's the real life.

I hope the freedom of expression will continue, or even improve after this incident. Let's live in peace and harmony (I think that is what the religions should state and want), and let's get over all the differences we have.