The Declaration of Independence of Catalonia on 27 October 2017.

On 27 October 2017, after a decade of mass demonstrations, Catalonia organised a referendum on self-determination without the consent of the Spanish state. It did so in spite of everything because Spain refused to debate and wanted to impose its will. A total of 2.3 million people took part, with 90% in favour of independence. With the referendum, the Catalan government wanted to push Spain to negotiate, but the state continued to refuse dialogue, sent 10,000 police to repress the vote, and Europe did nothing to demand that the conflict be dealt with democratically.

People celebrating Catalonia day. Photo: Ivan Bernard McClellan

11 September is the "Diada de Catalunya" (Catalonia Day), the day that commemorates the end of the War of Succession, which took place in 1714. The fall of Barcelona came after a long year of siege. The city and the civilian population suffered the consequences of a fierce attack. Visiting the archaeological remains in the Ribera district, you can get a sense of what that loss and the subsequent repression suffered by the people of Barcelona must have meant.

The day was Saturday the 26th of February. The Russians had started invading Ukraine 2 days before, on the 24th. It felt like the world was turned upside down. It didn’t seem like this could be happening in 2022. It seemed so old fashion. Everyone was shocked and upset and posting about it on social media. I saw on Facebook an event called “Poliittiset nuorisojärjestöt: We Stand with Ukraine” that was going to protest in front of the Russian embassy.

Adiva Koenigsberg @adivakoenigsbrg for http://vilaweb.cat

The Spanish State boasts of being very strong, but it proves to be very insecure if it can only hold Catalonia by using violence.

The Spanish state shies away from talking about the right of self-determination with Catalonia because this makes it feel vulnerable, but dodging a conflict has never helped to resolve it.

The Assembly of Representatives constituted in northern Catalonia. Image source: Consell per la República

Elections for the Assembly of Representatives of the "Consell per la República" (Council for the Republic) were held from 29-31 October. The "Consell per la República" wants to be a government of Catalonia in exile, based in Waterloo (Belgium), to prepare the foundations of the future Catalan Republic by avoiding the fierce and antidemocratic Spanish repression.

Stranded people wait for the reopening of border crossing point in the Pakistan's border town of Chaman on July 16, 2021, following clashes between Afghan forces and Taliban fighters in Spin Boldak to retake the key border crossing with Pakistan. LEHTIKUVA / AFP

The Taliban claim to want peace and an inclusive, Islamic system of government, but have rejected every call for a nationwide ceasefire and continue on the warpath. Now, they want Afghanistan’s Ashraf Ghani out. His only crime, it would appear, is being not only an intelligent Pashtun, but a highly educated one. What’s next on the Pakistan military and ISI’s wishlist for Afghanistan?

Catalan regional president Pere Aragones (R) poses with Catalan separatists (fromL) Jordi Sanchez, Jordi Turull, Joaquim Forn Oriol Junqueras, Carme Forcadell, Raul Romeva, Jordi Cuixart, Dolors Bassa and Josep Rull in Barcelona on June 28, 2021. - Nine Catalan separatists who were serving long prison sentences for their role in a failed 2017 independence bid were released from jail on June 23, 2021, a day after being pardoned by Spain. LEHTIKUVA / AFP

The Solidarity Fund collects solidarity donations from thousands of anonymous people who support the victims of Spain's repression of the democratic and non-violent actions that characterise the Catalan independence movement. It was created by the civil organisations Assemblea Nacional Catalana and Òmnium Cultural when Spain imprisoned their presidents, Jordi Sánchez and Jordi Cuixart.

Catalan separatists Jordi Turull, Jordi Cuixar and Joaquim Forn leave Lledoners jail on June 23, 2021 in Sant Joan de Vilatorrada. - Spain pardoned the jailed Catalan separatists behind a failed 2017 independence bid in a bid to break the deadlock over the political crisis in this wealthy northeastern region. LEHTIKUVA / AFP

The Spanish government has granted a pardon to the 9 Catalan political prisoners and it pains me that internationally they attribute good intentions to this farce. The pardons have been given in a forced manner, because of the recent Council of Europe report, which equates Spain with Turkey, and because of the imminent, presumably condemnatory judgement of the EU Court of Human Rights. But these are Spanish-style pardons: "reversible pardons".

A protest for freedom of speech and a better future in Helsinki on the 15th of May 2021.

Freedom of speech is frequently under attack. Perhaps that’s to be expected in countries where dictators call the tune but the problems still exist in free societies in the definition of hate speech. One recent example is the accusations against Päivi Räsänen, a respected politician whose Christian views are well known. She faces prosecution by the Finnish General Prosecutor for expressing her religious beliefs. She didn’t express hate towards anyone.

Hard life for travelers. Restrictions, harassment, punishment, crazy spending. As if all of a sudden being a traveler has become a crime. Those who travel often know perfectly well which and how many restrictions they must face, the paradox therefore becomes that those who travel are the most controlled people, so the least dangerous, but despite those fact, for some unknown reasons a traveler must be punished.