12-09-11 Dispatch de Bacelona: Catalonian National Day – the mood is festive and independence inevitable

The right to secede is essential for peace and for containing the current financial crisis/financial fraud epidemic.  In the United States, secession is casus belli since the Civil War, in Canada, the European Union, and the UK, it is a guaranteed right.  Catalonians appear festive and confident about their impending independence. The right to secede is essential for peace and for containing the current financial crisis/financial fraud epidemic.  In the United States, secession is casus belli since the Civil War, in Canada, the European Union, and the UK, it is a guaranteed right.  Catalonians appear festive and confident about their impending independence, “Proclamen la Independencia Ara!”

View as PDF with numerous pics: http://www.scribd.com/doc/105630724/

 

 

 

 

 

Barcelona, September 11 - The crowds in Catalunya Square, Passeio de Gracia, and surrounding blocks were estimated  in previous at 0.5-1.0 million. According to participants, this year the crowd is the largest.
Central buildings are decorated on a grand scale.  Near the intersection of Grad Via and Passeio de Gracia, the crowd is so thick that it became impossible to move. It  ranges from tots, to teenagers,  young parents, sweaty mid-aged matrons, gepettos, anarchists, Indignados, (Occupiers), left wingers, right wingers, unaffiliated, EU supporters, Basque and Berber independence supporters, and St. George fans. Central buildings are decorated on a grand scale.
Police is nowhere around on the central street, only some Guardia Urbana a block or two away, helping lost teenagers find their way around. Whenever a police helicopter appears in the sky, the demonstrators switches to unison chanting of national slogans and waving of national flags.  There is no evidence of undercover police - it would be useless anyway – the crowd is unified in a peaceful carnival atmosphere, and it would be impossible to provoke anybody. Alos, the basic elements of undercover and affiliates are missing – men who photograph others, but refuse to be photographed. No evidence of violence of any kind was observed.
Many ethnic musical groups are sprinkled in the crowd (hello Jerusalem – time to bring back the accordion to the social protests), but samba is the dominant sound – the big Samba drums can be heard blocks away.
It remains to be seen how the demonstration will evolve after dark, when the heat subsides.