Inviting all for a talk on the Story of SPAIN & CATALUNYA NOWADAYS: INDEPENDENCE FOR THE SOCIAL CHANGE by Paloma Ventura, an activist in Barcelona Underground Cultures.

Catalonia is a state in current Spain with 16% population and land area appealing for independence from Spain. This stems from a wide range of issues — the most notable of which are Social, cultural and economic.

Originally an independent state in Europe, Catalan Barcelona was sieged in a battle of Spanish Succession in 1714.

Three centuries on, many in Catalonia — a prosperous region in the northeastern corner of the Iberian Peninsula — are seeking to reverse that defeat.

Catalans who support independence believe that the taxes residents pay to Spain’s central government are not commensurate with the benefits the region receives. That sentiment has been heightened by rising unemployment and debt resulting from the global financial crisis — especially as Madrid focuses on bolstering poorer regions of the country.

Identity politics also play a role in Catalonia’s push for independence. Residents speak Catalan, a language previously banned under the long dictatorial rule of Francisco Franco in the middle of the 20th century. They have invested great effort in protecting their language and culture, which have contributed to the creation of a strong national identity.

Paloma Ventura studied Sociology and Social Movements.

All are welcome.