A3 ENG V2016.Indd 1 V2016.Indd A3 ENG 16/08/16 21:19 16/08/16

A3_ENG v2016.indd 1 v2016.indd A3_ENG 16/08/16 21:19 16/08/16

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legitimate than the ballot box? box? ballot the than legitimate Collective enthusiasm enthusiasm Collective Can there be anything more more anything be there Can Thanks to almost 2 million votes (48%), the two pro- BARÇA, DID independence candidacies won 72 out of 135 seats in AN YOU the Catalan Parliament (compared with 39% for AGEOLD MORE unionists and 11% for non-aligned parties) in Football Barcelona Club is the epitome of sport in Catalonia and one of its KNOW Catalonia lost its sove- THAN A these historic elections with a record turn- HISTORY chief ambassadors across the world. Its Catalanicity and its commitment THAT...? reignty following defeat 27 out of 77%. Two days after the elections, CLUB and to are central features of the club. Defending its in the War of the Spa- to society democracy the president and two ministers were roots, but also welcoming: According to the lyrics in its offi cial anthem, it is a nish Succession in 1714. This SEPTEMBER called before the Superior Court to answer ‘fl ag that unites’ its members and supporters on all fi ve continents. is why, at matches played at the 2015: Catalonia has a history going back over a thousand criminal charges complaining about their Throughout its more than 100 years’ history, it has Camp Nou stadium, at minute 17:14 years. It was one of the great Mediterranean powers always defended the Catalan lan- THE YES WON involvement with the ‘participatory process’ the enthusiastic home crowd com- in medieval times, and has preserved its language and guage, culture, and democracy when these have been persecuted by Spanish dictator- back on November 9th. But the Parliament of ships, and has suff ered reprisals by the totalitarian authorities as a result. This fi rm atti- memorates the date after 300 years institutions for centuries. It enjoyed full sovereignty Catalonia already has a democratic mandate to tude is an inherent link with the country that has made it “more than a club” in the eyes with a collective chant: “IN-INDE- for 700 years, in the framework of a confederation move forward on the roadmap towards indepen- of the public. INDEPENDÈNCIA!”. between Aragon and Catalonia. But in 1714, the defeat dence over the next 18 months. in the War of Succession led to the loss of all autonomy, the banning of its language and institutions, and the imposition of the laws of Castile. In each of the brief periods of some level of democratic normality in DID Spain, Catalonia has always claimed its right to exist as YOU a national minority. Following the annulment of key aspects of the 2006 Catalonia Statute of Autonomy, KNOW The French philosopher the Catalan people have mobilized again to exercise THAT...? Voltaire referred to the their right to self-determination and to peacefully struggle waged by the Cata- and freely decide their political future. lans to defend their freedom: “Catalonia can do without the The clamour of the people has been particularly visi- entire universe, but its neighbors cannot ble on occasions such as the massive demonstrations do without it”. held in recent years on September 11, Catalonia’s National Day. WHY SHOULD CATALONIA BE A NEW STATE? 2012: Catalonia Next 2013: Catalan Way State in Europe The Catalans do not want to put up borders. We sim- ply want to have the right to decide our future, our self-government, our social and cultural priorities and how we use our resources. We want a country where things can really be decided by voting. A competitive country where eff ort and hard work are valued, com- 2014: V for Vote 2015: Gateway to the munications networks are improved, and taxes are Catalan Republic invested with clear criteria.

On November 9., 2014, over 2·3 million Catalans took part in a poll on the independence of Catalonia, which THE had been blocked by the Spanish government. Over 80% voted in favor. Two examples of integration and the inclu- CATALAN The TV3 Telethon (the “Marató” begun in 1992), raises some DID sive nature of this land: 70% of Catalans NATIONAL 12 million euros a year from thousands of citizens who join YOU (or their parents) were born outside of ASSEMBLY together to support health sciences research over the KNOW Cata lonia and over a third of the indepen- ANC course of a single 24 hour event every December. THAT...? dence supporters are native speakers of This is a perfect example of Catalonia’s civic spirit Civil society is the social force that drives Spanish or a foreign language. DID and active volunteer community. and legitimizes the independence pro- The ANC is a non-partisan, grassroots organization working for the YOU THE cess. Entrepreneurial spirit and dia- emancipation of the Catalan people. It has more than 500 regional KNOW World renowned architect Antoni Gaudí was logue, the private sector, associations Catalonia is one of the four motors of and/or professional assemblies and nearly 40 assemblies abroad, THAT...? 72 when he was arrested, beaten, and jailed REVOLUTION and solidarity—all features which Europe together with Baden-Württem- DID through which tens of thousands of people currently work self- for speaking in Catalan to a Spanish policeman. OF SMILES characterize the Catalan people—are berg (Germany), Lombardy (Italy) and YOU lessly for collective freedom. With more than 80,000 members the core around which a solid broad- the Rhône-Alpes (France) because of their KNOW and contributors, it is ﬁ nanced solely through contributions In 1971, the United Nations awarded its Peace Medal to based civil movement for independence entrepreneurial, competitive and export- THAT...? from private citizens, allowing it to remain independent of politi- Pau Casals who defended the Catalan nation before the UN has been built over the years. oriented cultures. cal or economic interests. assembly.

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