Be a priest - why not?

This article from The Telegraph discusses a recent recruitment drive by the Catholic Church in Spain. Whereas unemployment is in the 20-percents and rising, and young Spaniards have a significantly even higher rate of unemployment, the Catholic Church is seizing on current economic hardships to recruit young Spaniards into the priesthood. The line "I do not promise you a great salary. I promise you a permanent job" is telling of many Spaniards' desperation. That Catholic priesthood, which requires devout faith, ability to advise followers through their most intense crises, and even celibacy, is being sold as a reliable settlement rather than willful commitment also underscores the Church's desperation in Spain.

Questions

What does the Church's recruitment campaign mean for the Church's future in Spain?

Since Spain was declared a secular state in 1975, mass attendance has declined. Is this a trend that will continue or change with increased economic hardship? Could recruiting a new, young generation of Spanish priests change Spain's religious culture?

The Bane of Spain: a Not-So Inane Brain Drain

This article in the LA Times discusses the increasing trend of Europeans from around the Eurozone moving to Germany to find work. Spain's current unemployment rate is its highest in recent history - and the highest in Europe. The article briefly profiles an aeronautical engineer, who had previously worked for the CDTI in Madrid (Spain's equivalent to NASA), but has recently been forced to relocate to Germany in order to get steady work. Many European nations have criticized Germany's unabashed recruitment of the most highly educated and capable members of it's Eurozone partners' workforces.

Some questions:

1) The article mentions a possibility for long-term benefits of this migration for Spain and other currently "draining" countries when citizens repatriate in the future and bring their new wealth with them. Is that enough to counteract the compounding detrimental effects a bain-drain has on Spain given its current economy?

2) Will Berlin's decision to actively recruit highly educated citizens of other EU nations cause problems in the reform of EU institutions/stabilizing the Euro's credibility?

3) The US has been doing this for years - why are European nations angered at Germany, but not the United States?

"Demonstrations sweep Spain to protest labour reforms"

Today in Spain, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators flooded the streets of various cities to protest work reforms introduced by the country's conservative government, such as reduced unemployment payments and a more flexible workforce. UGT and CCOO, two of Spain's largest unions, called for these rallies ahead of a planned general strike on March 29. According to these unions, these reforms will worsen the current economic situation in Spain because companies will find it easier to fire employees under the new economic legislations. One protestor was quoted saying "I came because I'm convinced neo-liberalism is driving us to disaster." While the government hopes their reforms will boost job creation while simultaneously reviving the economy, Spain's unemployment rate is the highest in the developed world at nearly 23%, with the rate at almost 49% for people under the age of 25. In addition to his labor reforms, the president of the Spanish government, Rajoy, has announced spending costs of 8.9 billion euros, which include a public sector wage freeze and tax increases on income, savings, and property.

Questions for Jaime: What combination of factors has lead to Spain's current economic dilemma? Are these issues due to the residual effects of Franco-ism and Spain being thrust into post-modernity Europe without having gone through an extensive period of modernity themselves?

Questions for Discussion: Do you believe this "trickle-down" economy/Reaganomics will stimulate Spain's economy? Why do you think such a capitalist economy works in the United States, but not in other countries? Is it due to the constant influx of immigrants with sufficient savings to start small businesses and whatnot that keep the economy dynamic? How exactly would such a rightist economy work in Spain, which possesses socialist principles in their taxation, health care, etc?

Additionally: How is it that a girl sitting to my left at the cyber cafe just got Rick Ross-ed? How did Rick Ross-ing spread to Spain?

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hkAmzU_ZVDyhw_q7bmkzeDY-Eo5Q?docId=CNG.084ad1a5035dbc689c847bd432bb002a.af1

"Insight - CIA Source on Iran"

Here is my WikiLeak article for Thursday, March 8th. This WikiLeak from the Global Intelligence Files is an email from a CIA source regarding whether he believes the USA or Israel would strike Iran in the near future. The CIA source goes on to talk about how Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, wouldn't attack Iran in the near future not because he doesn't want to, but because Obama wouldn't want him to. The CIA source talks of how Obama is very patient when it comes to international relations and only desires to take military action when his nation is directly threatened. Furthermore, the CIA source talks of how Netanyahu wouldn't want to challenge Obama, especially earlier on in their relationship. This specific leak was part of a package of leaks regarding the assasinations of an Iranian nuclear scientists. The information regarding these assassinations were very obscure though and difficult to follow.

Questions for discussion: What should be done about the current situation in the Middle East? Are the American lives being lost right now worth the protection of Israel? How did America's once amiable relationship with Iran sour?


http://wikileaks.org/gifiles/docs/5338303_fwd-insight-cia-source-on-iran-.html

This classified confidential cable was sent form the US consulate in Barcelona in early 2008, and discusses the Foreign Minister of Andorra's hesitation to recognize Kosovo as a sovereign state. Andorra is a tiny independent nation sandwiched between Spain and France. Andorra said that although it welcomed an independent Kosovo, it needed a greater consensus to exist in Europe before it could formally recognize the nation.

Some Questions:

Why wouldn't a tiny independent state like Andorra be eager to recognize Kosovo?

Is the fact that Madrid has not recognized Kosovo a reasonable justification? Can Andorra's officials really expect Spain to recognize Kosovo - given the implications such a decision would have on its own autonomous regions?

How might a Catalunian official view the subject?

US asks Spain to limit credit guarentees to Iran

This Wikileak is from McClatchy´s wikileaks database. It was dated from April 2008 and is a message from the US embassy in Madrid. The US ambassador pressed Spain´s head of the Export Credit Insurance Company (CESCE). Spanish officials said that they will continue to implement US policies on Iran and say they want to be in the "Main Current" of US sanction policies on Iran. However, Spain would also take into account its own economic and commercial interests in Iran, especially in oil and gas and would expect "equitable treatment" on its companies.

CESCE´s insurance policies on Iran exports is the world´s third export credit guarentees at the end of 2006. The US ambassador said that the exports to Iran should be carefully scrutinized and credit guarentees should be given to Iran sparingly.

Why do you believe that the US is "picking" on Spain and its excess credit guarentees to Iran? Do you think that the use of credit guarentees is Iran´s way of taking advantage of Spain´s want for oil as the seller? Why do you think the US got involved in the first place?

Wikileak

"Special Coverage: Occupy Wall Street"

For Wednesday, February 29th, I read a WikiLeak from the Global Intelligence Files regarding the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's response to the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movements. The OWS movement is a coalition of ongoing protests taking place in cities across the United States and the world. These public protests focus primarily on issues of economic justice, such as corruption in the financial system, the government's handling of the global economic crisis, wealth disparity, and the role of corporate money in the U.S. political system. The article goes on to describe the impact of these movements on the financial services, commercial facilities, transportation, and government facilities in various cities across the U.S. where these protests are occurring. Homeland Security's conclusions were that the continued expansion of the protests have placed a large burden on law enforcement as they attempt to maintain crowds in these public arenas. Furthermore, Homeland Security states that while the protests have been relatively peaceful thus far, the location of the protests in major metropolitan areas makes heightened and continuous situational awareness by security personnel of the utmost importance.

Questions to be discussed in class:
Are all the occupy movements justified? Should the "99%" be spending their time complaining or out looking for jobs? Do the occupy movements actually accomplish anything? Do the Occupy movements present a legitimate threat with regards to public safety?

http://wikileaks.org/gifiles/docs/1497330_-alpha-occupy-wall-street-dhs-analysis-.html

"A Roller Coaster Ride of an Empire"

For Monday, February 27th, I read an article discussing French plans to create a Napoleon based amusement park called Napoleonland (officially called Bivouac de Montereau) that will rival nearby EuroDisney. The plans for Napoleonland were announced earlier in February by Yves Jégo, the mayor of a small town southeast of Paris. The article discusses how in the face of a dispiriting presidential campaign, an anemic economy, a deepening social divide, and the 200th anniversary of Berezina (Napoleon's great loss in Russia that effectively ended his reign), it seemed like an odd time to announce plans for an amusement park such as Napoleonland; however, the French seem to be hoping that Napoleonland will spark the economy while simultaneously galvanizing a sense of national pride and purpose. The article additionally discusses Napoleonland's historical precedent, a theme park created at the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution, which did stimulate the economy to a certain extent, but did so at the cost of heated debate due to the polarizing nature of the revolution. 

Questions that were asked in class were:
Do you think the creation of such an amusement park is justified? Is it a good idea in your opinions? How do you think the French will choose to present Napoleon's history? Do you think the French will censor certain facts or manipulate anecdotes to paint Napoleon in a better light and promote a sense of nationalistic pride? 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/26/opinion/sunday/the-empire-returns-at-napoleonland.html

Guantanamo Detainees: Spanish Police Seek Access

For Wednesday, February 22nd, I read a WikiLeak regarding the Spanish National Police (SNP) requesting via the Embassy that the United States authorize Spanish police access to interview two Guantanamo detainees. The two detainees were Omar Amer Deghayes and Jamil Abdul Latif Elbanna, and the SNP seeked to develop information regarding the detainees' training, recruitment, and deployment into Afghanistan. SNP desired this information because they believed that the detainees possessed a connection to Eddin Barakat Yarkas (aka Abu Dahdah). Yarkas is a Syrian born Spaniard who was eventually sentenced to a 27 year prison term in Spain for his involvement in the 9/11 attacks and membership in Al-Qaeda; however, Yarkas's sentence was eventually reduced to 12 years because it was determined that his participation in the 9/11 conspiracies was unprovable.

Questions that I asked during class were:
What does this show about the solidarity in the fight against terrorism? What should have happened to Yarkas? Is this justice in action or corruption in the legal system? Why was Yarkas trailed and imprisoned in Spain as opposed to the United States? What determines where international criminals or terrorists get trailed?

http://wiki.vaggi.org/en/wikileaks/cablegate/2004/02/04madrid583_guantanamo_detainees_-_spanish_police_seek_access

"España, paraíso para abogados sin escrúpulos"

For Monday, February 20th, I read an interview from the Friday, February 17th, issue of 20 minutos - Alicante. The interviewee was actor Gabriel Macht, who plays Harvey Specter, a lawyer at the lawfirm Pearson & Hardman in the TV series "Suits." The interviewer asked Macht about corruption in the legal system, and Macht stated that "Es mentira que todos seamos iguales ante la ley" (It is a lie that everyone is equal in front of the law/that Lady Justice is blind). Another interesting quote from the interview was "Hay dos tipos de abogados; aquellos que conocen la ley y aquellos que conocen al juez" (There are two types of lawyers; those that know the law and those that know the judge). The interview went on to discuss corruption in today's Spanish legal system

Questions that I brought up during class were:
Is Lady Justice truly blind? What exactly is the legal system like in Spain (question for Jaime)? How does that compare to the judicial system in the United States? How does politics affect the judicial system in the United States? Are legal legislation often static because Supreme Court members possess life tenure once appointed?