News, July 2010

News from the Churches

Jimmy Carter opens new church building. Catalonia sets rules for new church buildings. Ferede's secretary general speaks on new Religious Freedom law. Services start at Madrid airport. September brings Madrid a European preachers' conference, while OM ship Logos Hope will visit the Canaries. New Bible now available. This and more... Read on! more >>

July 30th, recent news round-up

Holiday changeover - 5 million trips by road to be made this weekend; Unemployment (EPA) up 32,000 in Q2 - that was 4.6 million looking for work, 1.3 million homes with no wage earner - government delays end of €428 post-dole support by 6 months; UNESCO finally convinced that high speed rail tunnel under Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona is no threat; Placido Domingo gets 28 minute ovation, including bull-fighter passes, in Madrid's Teatro Real after Simon Boccanegra performance; Mallorca's Banca March, heir to fortunes of Europe's most successful ever smuggler (Joan March), tops Spanish stress test for strength - Guardian; Mallorca holiday girl dies after tragic balcony fall - Telegraph; 29th: Congreso debates firing rules; July inflation (AHCPI) 1.9% - most of the 2% VAT hike; half year results: Telefonica earns 10% more, Repsol up 39%, most banks heavily increase reserves; 25 provinces over 40ºC; police happy with 2009 success against organised crime - 561 groups stopped, with over half of almost 6000 arrested being foreigners; 28th: Catalonia bans Spain's 'National Fiesta', bull fighting from 2012- Guardian - an earlier ban would entail vast compensation for organisers, Canaries already banned fights; heat wave returns, with 20 provinces over 40ºC; national deficit falls 25% in first half, or below 3% of GNP; Telefónica returns to agreement to buy rest of Brazil's Vivo mobile operator; Catalonia also passes law on new territorial division, despite recent Constitutional prohibition - of 7 new 'Vegueries' 4 can be implemented after the next elections, while 3 depend on national agreement on new provincial limits; 27th: World's first face transplantee gives press conference in Barcelona - Guardian; Treasury sells a full quota of bonds at lower rate; 6 members of trafficking mafia held for death of 10 migrants in patera last year; 26th: 2 Spaniards dead, 4 injured in Duisburg 'Love Parade' disaster - Telegraph; Spain celebrated St. James, national saint's day - The Guardian - the king begged the saint to help Spain come out of the crisis; Obama family expected to spend holidays in Marbella and Mallorca - Telegraph; protestant journalist Cesar Vidal recovers personal memoirs of 2nd Republic's president Alcalá-Zamora. more >>

Sport headlines

Most amazing month ever for Spanish sport. Spain win 1st World Cup. Nadal wins 2nd Wimbledon. Contador wins 3rd Tour. Barcelona 2010 celebrates first 'white' winner of European 100m since 1982, Spain has 3 medals before last day. Lorenzo consolidates MotoGP championship lead at Laguna Seca. Alonso wins at Hockenheim. Raúl follows Guti leaving Madrid. Davis Cup - Spain lose against France. Gasol's Lakers win NBA. 1/3 of riders in 3 MotoGP categories are Spaniards, Lorenzo leads MotoGP. more >>

New abortion law goes into practice

On July 5th the new abortion law began its life. What was until now a crime, is now 'a right' in the first 14 weeks. Girls over 16 will get abortions without parental permission free on the Social Security, even though many abortions will still be undertaken in private clinics on the government's behalf. This is due to the fact that many Social Security gynaecologists are 'conscientious objectors'. However, the Constitutional Court has taken their complaints into consideration and accepted the request of the opposition Partido Popular to consider the legitimacy of the law. This has not held up its introduction. more >>

Spain celebrates 25 years' membership of the EU

12th June. Spain celebrates today 25 years since the signing of the treaty of Rome, on 12th June 1985. Felipe González, at that time president, has reminded us that joining the EU not only marked the end of the 'transition' from dictatorship to democracy, but was also the major step to reverse the isolationsim in which Spain had existed since Charles V split up his European empire in 1555. For evangelicals, the process of opening up Spain had begun earlier, but the will of Charles V effectively closed Spain to the pure gospel for 315 years. more >>

Government makes swathing cuts

8th June. The cabinet agreed on 20th May to a hefty U-turn in its strategy to deal with the recession. Under pressure of the markets and other EU governments to cut the immense 11% deficit, the cabinet took the unpleasant decision not only to slam the brakes on public works, but also to cut public employees' pay by an average of 5%. In answer, a 'general strike' of public employees took place on 8th June. more >>

News Theme, Summer in Spain and the Weather

Schools are out soon! Summer is on its way! On approximately 20th June each year, schools close for the summer. By that time it is too hot in most areas to hold classes without expensive air conditioning, so schools have traditionally closed for almost 3 months. Indeed, what remains of school in both June and September is mornings only - although nowadays more and more schools extending morning class year-round and the kids don't return after a late lunch. more >>

Summer is here, happy fiestas!

Fiesta time is round again. Through the spring, fiestas, or city/village celebration weeks, have already been a big part of life. After Easter, the cities of Andalusia begin a round of Ferias, starting with the greatest of them all in Seville. By June, most towns and villages want to join in, with festivities traditionally centred on a saint's or 'virgin's' day. 23rd April is St. George's day. At Pentecost, the village of Almonte, Huelva, draws thousands as it celebrates the Rocío Romería, a week of travelling to the sanctuary of 'the virgin' on horseback, in gypsy carts and in full Andalusian dress, all to celebrate their statue who at once represents the virgin and the Holy Spirit, also naming their virgin 'the white dove'. 24th June, for example, is St. John's night, big all over the place; 7th July San Fermin, patron saint of Pamplona and so it goes on. more >>

News Theme: The Economy

Unemployment in Spain (The Economist)

During the decade until 2007 Spain was seen as enjoying an economic miracle. Now Spain is among the worst hit nations in Europe, with economist all over the world, not least in Spain itself, hitting hard at the government for its policies. World economic woes are certainly affecting Spain, but it is suffering more due to local matters. Several billion Euros have now been thrown by the government at the problem, but unemployment reached over 4 million, or virtually 20% by the end of 2009. Experts believe the government is not adopting the best policies to get Spain back to work. We offer our view. more >>

News theme: Corruption

At PrayforSpain we do not regularly report on a topic which sadly generates Spanish newspaper headlines every day, that of corruption. During the construction boom of the past decade there appear to have been many occurrences of builders making friends with municipal and regional politicians and civil servants responsible for planning and finances. A multitude of cases have come to court, with new arrests or revelations seemingly almost daily. But the most extraordinary case appears to be that of the director of the Palau de la Música Catalana, a concert hall in Barcelona. He turned himself in for having embezzled millions of Euros unknown to anyone and apparently providing finance for a foundation close to a political party, as well as feathering his own nest. more >>