Making Europe a better place

"National problems, European solutions: Is the EU grass still greener?". This was the title of the European Youth Media Days, 2013 organized in Brussels by the Euroepan Parliament last October.

120 journalist from all Europe gathered together to work on this topic in different teams. The result of the workshop is here. Also, Rebecca Bengtsson, main coordinator of the program describes the importance of these activities:

There are also many other Euroepan initiatives that promotes the unity among its member states and that helps to create a better Union. Antonis Christakis, Vice President of Youthnet in Greece explains what the European Citizens´ Initiative means to him:

Finally, Ioannis Darmis, Head of the Media Services and Monitoring Unit, EP gives an overview about the role of the journalists to create a Union of people in Europe:

Now, it is the moment of thinking ahead. Next step, the European Elections 2014: "Act, React, Impact".

A join project to promote an European Society

The European Youth Media Days (EYMD) 2013 started today in Brussels with the support of the European Parliament (EP) . These three workshop´s days gather 120 professional and student journalists from all Europe with the purpose of "reflecting questions that something we [EP] forget", said Ioannis Darmis, Head of media services and monitoring unit of the EP.

The first day impressions, as they explained in the introduction speech, are that there are not national problems that countries can solve on their own. Europe needs to work at a higher level of integration. Othamar Karas, Vice President of the European Parliament in charge of communication expressed this way, "We need to act together" and in this democratic process journalists are needed to influence the decisions to be taken.

The most important thing is to create a fair, independent and responsible media where journalists should represent a true reality because Europe is not only black and white, but very diverse. As Karas highligtthed, "We are all Europe" and it is all at the interest of the community.

The problem of coverage
Breaking stereotyes -The role of media in promoting an inclusive European society- was the title of the last panel discussion of the day. Here, the crucial point is to know when coverage goes right and when goes wrong. What is the main responsibility? has it anything to be with ethics? influencing society? to what extend do we have resposibility as a journalists?

Journalists should not talk only about one side of the discussion, they need to have the complete picture of the situation, show the diversity and create a honest relation with readers. Tell the story as it is and do not reinforce steroetypes.

Journalists are the only ones who can research for the truth, show it their audience and create a more integrated Europe.

"National Problems: European Solutions?

Next 15th to 17th of October, the European Youth Media along with the European Parliament host the European Youth Media Days 2013 (EYMD) under the title; "National Problems, European solutions? Is the EU´s grass still greener?"

My workshop there is called "#EU- European policies online, is the EU keeping up eith the present times?" We need to know and analyze how the EP is communicating, what´s the strategy behind and what are they doing to improve the conncetion with people.

I believe this topic has a lot in common with the globalization movemetn. The social media has given us the opportunity to share and being in touch with everybody in the globe without barriers and this is a positive thing. However, it is necessary to regulate the web somehow and its contents, giving people alternatives, in the way everybody will be prepresented. Pluralism on the social media is important. Also, reaching people through Internet.

I would like to mention here the anti-globalization movements that took place in Seattle in 1999. This movement grew in importance thanks to the social media.

Nowadays, along with the economic crisis, the uncertainty about if the EU is going forward towards a more political intregation, or backwards towards a more national independence (instead of interdependence) is an important questions itself. I believe in the European Union, but it is visible that its primiry ideas has been distorted. We cannot fail again as it happened in the Copenhagen Summit in 2009. We need to work together to get out of this situation, to fight back stronger than ever and this initiatives (as well as the European Initiative for Media Pluralism) help to reach an agreement. The EU needs to provide alternatives to youth Europeans to gather together and maybe to make real the idea of the United States of Europe.

Searching for innovative solutions at the 10th EMN annual conference

On June 25-26, 2013 the 10th European Microfinance Network (EMN) annual conference was held at the Clarion hotel in Stockholm, Sweden. More than 200 attendees gathered with the common purpose of finding new strategies and innovative ideas to improve microfinance in Europe.

The theme of this year's conference was 'Innovative Pathways for European Microfinance'. Fasiel Rahman, EMN president, described the conference as “interactive" with "more people integrated in the discussion.” Key stake holders were represented at the conference, including practitioners, professionals, academics, politicians, and bankers.

The two-day conference included simultaneous workshops on the different facets of improving microfinance in Europe. Several attendees commented on the success of the JASMINE Initiative (Joint Action to Support Microfinance Institutions) workshops.

EMN was  chosen to implement a new project within JASMINE called ‘Microfinance Development Services'. The workshop was open to all - individuals, micro entrepreneurs, micro enterprises and other people and organizations interested in microfinance in Europe.

Another  standout workshop at this year's conference was the 48 hour Innovation Race. This continuous discussion platform was based on the work of Kaj Mickos, Professor Emeritus in Innovation Techniques at the The Innovation Plant.

“We started producing innovations in a limited time,” Mickos said. Mickos described the race as a “highly organized process where we follow a route map that does not start with good ideas, it starts finding interesting problems.”

The groups began with Problem Mapping, which led to Problem Verification to test if there was a real problem. Ola Syse, designer at the Innovation Plant, said “it was interesting to map out where the problems in Europe are.”

He explained that a major objective of the Innovation Race was to reinvent services that were not working in some countries by using preexisting models to create new models that would work in a broader market.

Syse was in charge of the "youth" group in the race. One solution this group developed was called 'I wish.' Syse explained, “'I wish is a sort of geographical mapping of the market where we ask people living in the cities want they miss or what they want to have in their neighborhood.” Individuals who want, for example, to have a bakery in their neighborhood go into the service and post the demand. Then, visitors to the forum vote and and entrepreneurs can see where the demand for business is.

Workshops gave attendees the platforms necessary to discuss new strategies for microfiance, but this conference also created important networking opportunities for organizations. The City of Stockholm invited all attendants to a reception in the City Hall, the same location of the Nobel Prize dinner. NEEM (Network for Entrepreneurs from Ethnic Minorities), a partner organization of the conference, invited everyone to a dance at the hotel following the closing remarks.

Neoklis Stamkos, entrepreneur from KEPA, a private company with headquarters in Thessaloniki, Greece, explained that he fulfilled his objectives during the two-day conference because “we met the people that we wanted to meet.” Stamkos added that KEPA is building their organization and this conference enabled them to find the appropriate people to provide advice and connections.

Meagan Andrews, research assistant from ICF GHK, explained that “I thought [the conference] provided a lot of different perspectives on ways to overcome the unique challenges for the microfinancing industry in Europe.”

One comment that perhaps summarized the achievements of the 10th annual conference was from Joseph Toindepi from the Faculty of Education, Health and Science University of Derby. “The conference was very productive because it focused on the important and relevant issues of entrepreneurship and innovation which are key to the future development of microfinance in EU,” Derby said.

Next year, on the 19th of June, Lisbon will host the 11th EMN annual conference under the slogan “Employment - Challenges and Opportunities of Microfinance.”

What did people take from the 10th EMN Conference?

The two days at the 10^th EMN Conference in Stockholm were very intense and productive. However, since there were many simultaneous debates, attendants could not assist to all of them. Therefore, several opinions are given to show a summary to the whole conference, as well as to know which sessions were more interesting for the assistants and what they take from each of them.

First of all, it will be necessary to highlight the success of the two Jasmine workshops. The first session (25^th of June) under the title “Innovative Technology services provision” was about the European Code of Good Conduct for Microcredit Provision (CGC). This Code is “a pilot project developed in the aftermath of a Communication on microcredit adopted by the Commission in November 2007 and also feeds on work carried out previously on the regulation of microcredit in Europe,” as they described during the session.

“The adoption of the principles of the CGC will be very important in order to access the different European programs during the next 2014-2020 period,” described Karl Dayson, from the University of Salford and member of the Jasmine workshop in the debate, in the per-information details.

Neoklis Stamkos, entrepreneur from KEPA, a Business & Cultural Development Centre (a private company with headquarters in Thessaloniki, Greece), explained that he fulfill his objective during this session because “we met people that we wanted to meet.” They are trying to create an organization and they need help with the paperwork and advice and there was the place where they could find people who help them.

The second session (26^th of June) had as a theme “The European Progress Microfinance Facility Reloaded: How can it work for you?”. Progress Microfinance was an interactive session, involving representatives from the Commission and Evers&Jung and past- and future- beneficiaries of the European Progress Microfinance Facility (EPMF). Positive and negative feedback on the facility were discussed as well as ideas and collaboration between partners.

Here, Meagan Andrews, research assistant from ICF GHK international company, explained that “I thought it provided a lot of different perspectives on ways to overcome the unique challenges for the Microfinancing industry in Europe.” Also, other participant summarized the two workshops as “clear, understandable, excellent introduction and very good materials and panelist.”

In relation to other sessions, Emmanuel Moyart, programme coordinator of Microfinance ACP/EU, gives some feedback for the “Back to the future...the European microfinance in 2033?” session. He explained that “the question looked interesting but later was more entertainment than something useful.”

HOGUERAS in Alicante II

18th at 00.00 in the Luceros´s square you can see the last of the fireworks/firecrakers at midnight. It means that the day after, 19th of June, Hogueras starts with the plantà or building of the monuments (the hogueras).

During the 19th to the 24th there are a serie of activities you need to keep in mind as the firecrakers at 14.00 everyday in the Luceros´s square:

Eating in the racós are the best part of it:

And of course everything goes along with music and dancing: 

And the climax of the hogueras, to burn the monuments in flames: 

Hoguera Hernán Cortés 2013 and their representatives: Belleza and Damas. Traditional dress of Alicantina.

Cremà

HOGUERAS in Alicante

HOGUERAS is much more that you can imagine. It is about music, fireworks, firecrakers, light, color, dancing, people everty time in the street, good atmosphere and, of course, our monuments or statues.

The HOGUERAS period starts from the 20th to the 24th of June, every year in the Southeast city of Spain, Alicante. Alicante is a very turistic city, with a great new airport connected to many countries in the world. Beautiful beaches, good weather, great food, and above all, our local festivities; the Hogueras of Saint John.

From the 15th to the 19th: Pre-Hogueras period

The 15th of June is the day when the girl representing Alicante during that year, the Bellea del foc d´Alacant, officially starts the Hogueras with her speech. This always happens the previous friday of the 20th of June. The weekend after that speech, called "el pregón", there are a serie of parades. On saturday every Hoguera in Alicante (there are 90!) dressed up with the traditional dress of the city, the Alicantina or Zaragüel dresses (showed in the picture).

 Also, the day after that, on Sunday, every hoguera (which represents every neighbour in the city) dressed with costumes that will mean something from thier own monument and they do the parede around Alicante (show one costume in the picture below from the Hoguera Hernán Cortés, during this 2013).

After that non-stop weekend comes what we call "la plantà" that menas the building of the monuments (one for the adults and one for the children of each hoguera) during the next couple of days:

This is the beginning of a complete full of fun week (at least) :)  This has just began! Next post will show the HOGUERAS period understood from the 20th to the 24th of June that includes firecrakers (or Mascletà), more parades (or desfiles), the finished monuments (or Hogueras), music, food, the cliff-hanger when the monuments are in flames (what it is called "the cremà), and much much more fun!

Why the UK’s title as the financial centre of the world is under threat from EU legislation?

London is one of the main financial centres in the world for foreign exchange trading where the Euro bonus are widely used for this purpose.

The current agreements between the UK and the EU related to trade, commerce, competitiveness, banking supervision or tax regulations may require a revision to solve some loopholes between these partners. Since the in-out referendum proposal to leave the EU before 2017 is being debated, some problems between the UK and the EU have been revealed.

New regulations from the EU could affect the financial system established in the UK, but how? Opinions are divided between the Euro skeptics and the pro-European about the consequences of the UK versus EU relationship would have after the negotiation agreements.

Banking union

The financial and economic crisis has unveiled the Euro weaknesses as a single currency. Therefore, the Eurozone Central Bank set a common banking supervisor to monitor the major banks in the threshold of the single currency.

In contrast, the European Banking Authority which regulates also UK banks could marginalized the UK “by setting liquidity and capital requirements for the biggest banks in the Euro area, will favour those institutions at the cost of the UK’s,” according to a Quartz analysis made by Lily Kuo (17 May, 2013). It is also added that a negotiation that took place last year included a clause about the no-marginalization of any EU country under this union. Moreover, a voting system will be introduced for all EU members about the banking union system.

Tax regulation

The Financial Transaction Tax (FTT), the so-called Tobin Tax, has been imposed to 11 Eurozone countries to pursue a levy on financial transactions. The UK abstained in vote although they are also tackling issues of tax avoidance among some companies established in this country.

This tax could end up adding a small change in the trade between the UK and the Eurozone countries, although it could also attract some more businesses to the UK. The future of this strategy cannot be foreseen yet.

UK vs EU relationship

It is not clear whether the exit of the UK from the EU would bring a better situation, but the uncertainty could have negative consequences for the British market. Also, the Scottish referendum in 2014 would have as a main point the EU situation. If they want to belong to the EU they could have a better chance leaving the UK and apply later to become an European membership, rather than staying in the UK and later being dragged out of the EU. This is also an important aspect to consider here.

Perhaps the dilemma is not regarding the new regulation of the EU, but the deteriorating relationship between the UK and the EU. Things can improve, however extreme positions might damage both financial markets rather than gaining any benefits, and amid the economic situation, the consequences must be well analysed before talking any misstep. 

Uncertain Future of Capitalism

It is worthy to take a look at this video with Mr. Kay and Mrs. Mazzucato about Capitalism; or better say, market economies and innovation projects.

According to Mr. Kay modern business and the world of capitalism is misleading and they do not have the same meaning as they did in the Industrial Revolution. The term “ownership”, for example is not meaningful anymore for the world of capitalism, as well as the economics do not arrive anymore from the owner of capital. “Who owns the means of production does not matter”, says Mr. Kay. The point of view here is that there is a link between economics and political influence. Who are the owners of the shares of a company? That´s an important question that implies many answers within it: who decides the laws of the shares, who decides who votes, or the interest for that shares... Modern business is less about capital markets than it used to be.

Three characteristics of the market economy
      - Management of operations and the problem of coordination.
      - Experimental discoveries. Uncertainty means the impossibility of the unpredictability and the incapability to know the range of alternatives. Innovation rarely succeed?
   -Decentralization. “rent-seeking” activities. Breaking down concentrations. Looking for discipline, economic and political pluralism. 

On the other side, Mrs. Mazzucato talks about markets as the outcomes explaining that the value is the most important thing. Where does value come from an organization? Organizations interact collectively (collective process). And the state intervenes in thee process through funding resources; “everything that makes a company looks smart and not stupid was funding by the state.” 

Important points: 
      Public private partners = market unequal partners. 
      Nationalization is not innovative.
     The major challenge is to try to achieve a successful political mechanisms to improve market economies.                       
     Role of the state needs to be more pragmatic. 
     Regulations that understand all the process of the financial industry. Policy comes from theory. 


John Kay is a visiting Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He contributes with a weekly column to the Financial Times. Also, he is author of many books, as "the Truth about Markets" (2003). 


Mariana Mazzucato, an economist, holds the RM Phillips Chair in Science and Technology Policy at the University of Sussex (SPRU). Her work focuses on the relationship between financial markets, innovation and economic growth.

http://www2.lse.ac.uk/newsAndMedia/videoAndAudio/channels/publicLecturesAndEvents/player.aspx?id=1921

All for the people, but without the people

Many people is concious about the damage on the earth because the human effect. Everything is crap, and nobody is doing anything to change it.

Environmental damage, animal harm, extintion of species, pollution lead also to a social damage. Chemical products, medicins, food, water affect people´s daily life provoking cancer, malformations, deaaths and so on. However, these are "poor" people who do not have the power to change anything. Big corporations have it, but they create the law according to their vested interests to do legal activities without any public concern. Human rights are violated everyday, laws are transgressed and justice does not solve it,

Capitalism, consumism and lust for power have developed themselves in the deepest economic crisis in years. But it is not only an economic crisis, it is also political, social, and above all, it is a moral worldwide crisis. Who is going to change this, the ones who created it, the ones who gained benefits from it, the millions of unemployers or exploted people...?

The corporation, some of the truths of the world you live in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rue2-g5F82U

All the living beings are being destroyed but the ones who could change it are the ones with power, and honestly I do not think the are willing to do it, people need to take a role in this situation because without us, they are nothing, but if we led them to continue what they are doing, the consequences will be unforeseened for the society.

In- Out referéndums

Nowadays, there is a question about if belong to a Union or not, if belonging to a country or getting independence. Why is it all about? and Why now? 

In the UK the EU referéndum can be a double edge sword. Scotland wants to stay in the EU, so they may get a better change if the leave the UK and then apply to the EU membership. However, if they vote in 2014 to remain as apart of the UK, they may vote therefore to stay in the EU in 2017. David Cameron, Primer Minister of the UK, on the side of the Conservatives is playing with fire. 

But the same situation can be applied to Mr. Mas, President of the Generalitat of Catalonia, Spain. They would like to get autonomy because they think they would be better as an independent state. Perhapps, but have they measure the consequences? Debt, EU membership, Spain vs Catalonia relationship, and so on. It is not an easy decision that can be taken fast, but quite the opposite it is necessary clear information of the situation, the difficulty to foreseen the unknown, and of course consensus and negotiations with the Central Government. 

The economic crisis is putting everything upside down. The EU today doesn not look as successfull as it did five years ago. Some territories want to have a referendum to leave it, and others to be a new state of it. What is it that? This "cherry-picking" is not viable today, and every member, country or territory must be solidary and work together to rearrange what one day it looked as a good idea. It is also necessary to protect national identities, what I think it is all about at the end. 

The "post-sovereign" world: The half-truths and the (crisis of the) Nation-States

II Part- Dissertation

Nationalism inside an existing country usually has two sides to the same story. This topic has several and contradictory interpretation of facts. This dissertation will analyse four aspects of the Spanish reality to make a clearer and more complete picture of the independence of Catalonia.

This sentiment has its foundation in a specific vision of Spanish history. Also, the divergence on the economic issue depends on how they look in the glass. The project will also address the problematic of the sociological aspects will be also explained. And especially, it will assess the importance of the role of the politicians and the interpretations of the events according to their vested interests.

Moreover, this dissertation will evaluate the role of the Nation-States in Europe in connection with independence movements. A wider perspective will be included with the examples of Scotland and Quebec. 

The Battle for Independence: A Catalan or a Spanish problem?

I Part- The Project

The Catalan independence movement has growth exponentially recently. The reasons are several and debatable, but there are clear circumstances that have helped its development. The judgement of the Constitutional Court in 2010, limiting the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 2006, had an important social impact. The lack of response from the government also fuelled the unrest. Since then, demonstrations have led towards the demand for independence for Catalonia.

The political, sociocultural and economic conflict is now in a turning point where polarization is extreme. For some, (unilateral) independence seems the only way to go. For others, there are a few other alternatives. Anyway, negotiation is a prerequisite to achieve the best and the less painful solution for all. This project is intended for anyone who wants to have a better understanding of this situation and thinks that extreme positions are not the only solution.

 

El primer día de debate de CELAC acaba sin acuerdos

Cinco minutos de oración marcan el comienzo del primer debate de la Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños (CELAC) del viernes 16 de Febrero de 2012, a pesar de la oposición de algunos estados miembros. Sí, rezando. Por qué? O mejor dicho, por quién?. La razón primaria se encuentra en el carácter católico de la organización. Sin embargo, el representante de la República Dominicana, Radoslalo Zelewski, justificó este acto en agradecimiento de su comandante, como así llaman a Hugo Chavez, fundador de esta organización regional de países latino americanos y caribeños hace ya tres años.

La batalla contra las drogas
El propósito del comité Latinoamericano de estos días en las conferencias de LIMUN 2013, que tienen lugar en la City de Londres, es encontrar una solución a dos problemas que están complicando la vida de los latinoamericanos y su imagen en el exterior: el mundo de las drogas y la influencia militar del exterior en el continente.

Parece que el tema está preparado para su discusión, pero primero los representantes de los estados miembros de CELAC deberían ponerse de acuerdo en cuánto tiempo tiene cada orador para hablar. Después de los 15 minutos discutiendo el “cuánto”, se proponen las mociones: las causas del fracaso de la prohibición de las drogas y, seguidamente, la discusión de las posibles soluciones al narcotráfico.

Culpables y víctimas
Lentamente, los representantes de CELAC dan su opinión sobre cuáles son las causas del problema y cuáles sus posibles soluciones, aunque de poco sirve si no llegan a un acuerdo. Empiezan las discrepancias sobre quién consume, quién produce, quiénes son los responsables, y sobre todo, empiezan las contradicciones y acusaciones.

Brasil, Barbados, República Dominicana, México, Bolivia y Venezuela protagonizan los argumentos más contradictorios, pero a la vez más clarificadores. Al cabo de más de una hora de negociaciones, algunas de las causas del problema están claras: corrupción, demanda exterior, y problemas de política interior como la falta de recursos económicos, la erradicación de la pobreza y la escasa educación de los jóvenes. La República Dominicana, por ejemplo, pone de manifiesto la debilidad del régimen democrático y del poder jurídico en el continente latino. Por otra parte, Venezuela se siente desvinculado de dicho problema, puesto que es el continente con tradición democrática más larga de toda Latino América.




Representante de Bolivia. G. Llopart

La llamada a la unidad por parte de algunos representantes no surte efecto, y los reproches y recriminaciones entre los miembros se hacen cada vez más evidentes. La representante Boliviana, Gloria Llopart Barrera, acusa firmemente a México de régimen corrupto, proponiendo como solución un consejo de los estados latinos y caribeños, “para acabar con la corrupción política de México -por ejemplo- y todos sus problemas de carteles que hay en este país”. Johannes Federkevl, representante de México, declara en su defensa la dificultad de tratar el problema, y alega que se deje de hablar de corrupción tan airosamente puesto que “no somos corruptos”.




Representante de México. J.Federkevl

Cuando el ambiente se relaja, los miembros de CELAC proponen medidas para solucionar y aliviar estos problemas, pero el tiempo se agota. Legalización vs ilegalización, corrupción interior vs demanda exterior. Los problemas están sobre las mesa, también las posibles soluciones; pero no alcanzan un acuerdo común. En lugar de ello, continúan tirando piedras al país vecino. “El problema de las drogas no va a desaparecer tan fácilmente”, afirma la República Dominicana.




representante de Rep. Dominicana. Radoslalo Zelewski

El eterno debate
La falta de organización deja entrever que el debate de las drogas en Latino América tiene aún mucho camino por recorrer, y que esta “matanza sin sentido”, como el presidente de CELAC, Felipe Cuello define el problema, es más grave de acordar que la propia extinción del mismo.

Austerity Measures Are Not the Solution to the EU Debt Crisis

The Economic and Financial Affairs Council at LIMUN 2013 agreed that the Eurozone crisis needs global solutions. Its consequences spread beyond the borders of the EU and affect an interconnected worldwide market. The most likely solution to solve this problem is by global cooperation and trade. Additionally, there is a need for urgent implementation of the fiscal union.

The EU debt crisis is an international concern. As the delegate for China Mattias Verbergt pointed out “it is about all nations fighting against time” to solve a problem that affects everyone. The current financial market is so integrated that all nations feel the economic and financial consequences of the Eurozone. For example, India is a major trading partner of the EU and has been directly affected by the Eurozone crisis.

There are other alternatives

Greece is one of the countries most strongly affected by the crisis. The solution depends on what changes are made to the financial system. The delegate of Greece pointed out that “Alternative solutions have to be explored. Austerity measures will only cause more social unrest”.

Delegate of China

Delegate of China

The delegates from Saudi Arabia and China expressed their concerns on the situation saying that “austerity simply does not work for the EU” and that “these measures are not the only way”. Stimulating measures are necessary to revive the Euro currency.

The United Nations must come up with specific solutions that will not include the disintegration of the single currency. The delegate for Greece explained clearly that the 170% GDP in the country must be addressed, and if not, “Greece will be more like to leave the Eurozone”. Austerity measures have been implemented in Greece without any positive results. However the delegate for Greece acknowledged that “the EU has supported Greece with financial assistance of €34.4bn in the second bailout, and this shows the commitment of the EU for Greece to remain part of the Union”.

More financial investment and integration

The Eurozone is facing a double-dip  recession, where the Southern European countries of Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain are the worst affected. However, there are some positive examples too. The delegate for Italy said that the country won't ask for a bailout from the European Stability Mechanism (ESM). The delegate of Germany also stated: “Germany does not believe in the EU failing. We do not support austerity measures only, but we need control and supervision of member countries in order to see growth”.

Delegate of Germany

Delegate of Germany

All countries agreed that international cooperation is needed to face the debt default of the EU, and that protectionism and austerity are not the only solutions. What is needed is more economic and financial integration within the EU and international trading and investments with overseas countries.

Spain will give you reasons for coming back

“If you had to be reborn anywhere in the world as a person with artistic talent and creativity, 

you would want to be Don Quixote”

“In a village of La Mancha, the name of which I have no desire to call to mind...” was the place where  the famous writer Miguel de Cervantes, the creator of “Don Quixote”, was born. In this Southern country, where the sun shines 13 months a year, is where the film director Pedro Almodóvar became recognized to capture Spanish cinema in a so peculiar way.

There was also another story, as beautiful as these ones, about an American guy and a Spanish girl who met one by chance in the North of Spain, specifically in Santander. She was from Alicante and went there for an English course. He was the English professor and would live there for a while. Something special happened that day in the North of Spain, but it was too difficult to bet for it. There were many obstacles between them, however, they both fall in love and they decide to be two weeks together travelling around the country that made them fall in love.

Santander 

Santander

 They both had only a week together, what they spent it enjoying the beauty of Santander, its green cliffs next to the Bay of Biscay and the Royal Palace of La Magdalena, once the residence of Alfonso XIII, King of Spain from 1886 until 1941. After it, She had to go back to her city, in the south east of Spain, and they might not see each other again. However, the week after that, it was the 20th of June when the main festivity in Alicante begins, the hogueras. He had never heard about a tradition where people build a monument and during four days there are fireworks and firecrackers in the street, along with music and parades, so he had an excuse to go there and visit her. They stayed together until the 24th of June, when the monument is set on fire on the night of San Juan.

Nevertheless, he had to move to work in Cuenca, in Castile-La Mancha, closer to Alicante. Cuenca, a city on the inner plateau of Spain where the hanging houses are, the only remaining samples of this type of building. He promised her that if she went to Cuenca to visit him, he would show her on of the oldest and the most beautiful villages in Spain, Albarracín, in the province of Teruel, part of the autonomous community of Aragon. He took her hiking and climbing on the mountains until the birth of the Tagus River in the Sierra de Albarracin.


Something else was born there, on the banks of the river Tagus, but they only had two weeks left before he went back to the States. So, why not steal the time and create a secret between she, he and Spain. The next day, they were driving aimlessly, only with a map of Spain and some recommendations of places to visit.

San Sebastián

Zaragoza

Spain, a country to discover together

After a couple of hours driving, they stopped in Zaragoza, the capital of Aragon. They had something to eat in the Pillar square, admiring the Pillar´s church on the banks of the river Ebro. Then, they continued their trip to Pamplona, capital city of Navarre, where at that time of the year were the San Fermines or bull running festivity of the city. The day after, they start driving to the Basque country, specifically to San Sebastian, city that will be the European Capital of Culture in 2016 (along with Wrocław in Poland).

For the next destination, they wanted to explore the interior of Castile- Leon, its meadows, its castles and, of course, Burgos and Salamanca´s cathedrals. After this walk through history, there was one more stop before the end of the trip; Segovia. There, they got into the history of the Catholic kings of Spain with the famous Alcázar, they ate its main dish of pork, cheese and cured sausages and enjoyed its wine, before arriving to the airport, at the capital of the country, that would keep them apart.

Segovia

Salamanca

After this short ten days, they arrived to Madrid where their destinies would be separated. But, there were still some hours left, so they decided to go to the centre of the city and walk on the Retiro park and perhaps see the Prado museum. But then, it was time for him to leave. To leave the country he loves, and the woman with whom he shared and discovered it. She left him in the airport and started driving back to Alicante and her Mediterranean sea, always remanding those cities, those secret places on Spain that brought them together the love.

They know there are many beautiful places in Spain, but they were more than that, they were special cities to them, because now those places were theirs. This romance between three is still as alive as the first day, and every now and then he went back to Spain, to explore with her these exclusive and beautiful places of the warm southern European country. And every time, in a new city around Spain, he fell in love again to this country, and its woman.

Alicante

Alicante provincia

Opportunities behind adversities
This was a true story that at the beginning no one invested a penny on it. Nobody thought it was worthy, “to complicate it”, they said, “to many problems”, or “to weak to resist the circumstances”... That was what people were saying when they said they wanted to be together. What would happen with the distance, and the age difference? But the couple did not care, because they knew that they wanted to be together and they believe Spain will bring them what they needed. Maybe, they will need some time to be together but, as they always say, if there is a will, there is a way.

Maybe this can also be applied to other areas, as the finances. Give it some time, believe on it, and Spain will recover. Perhaps, it also needs somebody else who loves it too, and build a new momentum with it...

Can the 2013 achieve the economic targets?

After more than four years fighting against the economic recession, it seems that 2013 can be the turning point for some countries. United Kingdom is expected to get out of the recession this new year, as forecast announces an economic growth of 1.2% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, the hit European countries, in which Spain is part of, will continue into stagnation. Spanish prevision of growth in the next year is still downturn, with a minus 1.2% decrease of the GDP in 2013.

UK´s economic strategy “is focussed on reducing the deficit, restoring stability, rebalancing the economy and equipping the UK to compete in the global race”, as the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, explained in the Autumn Statement to Parliament on 5 December 2012. On the other side, Spanish austerity measures have only contributed to increase unemployment (up to 25%) and to provoke more social unrest.

However, it it necessary to remark that neither UK nor Spain are likely to kept their forecasts of deficit reduction in the year that has just entered. The objective of Spanish deficit was 6.3% of GDP at the end of 2012, “but it could be (above that),” as the Bank of Spain governor, Luis Maria Linde, said last December 2012; although estimations yet predict Spanish deficit to drop to a 4.7% of GDP in 2013. On the other side, UK will also miss its deficit target from the 2013-2014 financial year, as the Autumn statement announced an escalation to 5.9pc of GDP, or £98bn, as Mr. Osborne indicated (hm treasury, Dec 5th, 2012). This data would indicate that the UK deficit next year could be higher than the Spanish's.

Therefore, new cutting measures will be necessary to reduce deficit and the extensive public debt. UK budget cuts are not significant, only 1.5% real cuts during 2012, if compared with Spanish ones where the most striking difference is that Spain does not include any measure to support growth as UK has setting up. For example, UK new policy includes increasing funding for UK Trade and Investments or helping smaller and medium-sized businesses access finance and support “from £25,000 to £250,000 for two years” as Mr. Osborne set out in the Annual Autumn Statement. This strategy can probably be the best solution to alleviate the financial situation; something that the European Union also instituted in its programme 2007-2013 “new funds, better rules”.

Lewisham hospital in the spotlight

The South-East London hospitals are running through a process of transformation to improve the South London Healthcare Trust system because of the financial problems they are suffering. The government-appointed administrator, Matthew Kershaw, from the Trust Special Administrator (TSA) has sent some recommendations to the Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt, to alleviate these problems.

Although this area includes six London NHS Trusts and five major hospitals, the public discussion has been about the Lewisham hospital and the closure of  several key departments. Lewisham south-east London hospital is threatened for the selling of a sixty percent of its buildings due to a closure of  the Accident and Emergency (A&E) and maternity units, paediatric services, the ICU and all acute admission if these recommendations are approved next 1st of February.

This closures will cost large sums of money to the National Health Service over many years; more than a hundred and ninety million pounds.  SaveLewishamhospital.com campaign will organize a demostration next 26th of January to stop the recommendations.


Interview:

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The recommendations report from the Trust Special Administrator is about how to improve the efficiency South London Healthcare NHS (National Health Service) Trust or colloquially SLHT. Three hospitals are part of this single government entity: the Queen’s Elizabeth  hospital at Greenich, the Queen Mary hospital in Sycup in Bexly and the Princess Royal hospital in Bromly.

Most of the recommendations of the TSA report look at the long term solutions to the financial problems of that Trust, since it is losing a million pounds a week. However, the controversy has focused on another South-East hospital Lewisham.

Mark Palin, communication’s consultant for the Office of the Trust Special Administrator (OTSA) explains why it is necessary to look beyond that Trust and to look at the wider health economy of South-East London, which includes Lewisham.

The Health economy of South-East London is twenty percent of London and it serves a population of nearly two million people. The recommendations address the problems of the Private Finance Initiatives (PFI) within South-East London Healthcare.

On the other side of the story, Jos Bell, a spokeswoman for the Save Lewisham hospital campaign, says that this issue is beyond politics but for the people of Lewisham. She says that dismantling Lewisham hospital will cost one hundred and ninety million pounds and it will mean more losses than gains.

People al Lewisham have now signed a petition against the proposal to close A&E and maternity units,  paediatric services, the ICU and all acute admission, and they are organizing demonstrations, as the one on the twenty six of January, to keep Lewisham hospital untouched.

The final report is now on the Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt, who is expecting to make his decision about these recommendations on the first of February, in terms of solving the issues to the Health economy of South-East London.



Sources:
Jos Bell, spokeswoman for the Save Lewisham hospital campaign
Mark Palin, communication’s consultant for the Office of the Trust Special Administrator

Buenos Aires steak house - A different business story

“The financial crisis has helped us to grow”, said the Chief Executive of Buenos Aires, an Argentine steakhouse restaurant, the second group enterprise steakhouse in London

The ultimate Argentine experience is the motto of Buenos Aires steakhouse restaurant. With six restaurants around and in London, this company has learned how to expand itself amid the global financial situation.

Cristian Barrionuevo, chief executive of Buenos Aires says that in 2011 sales fell 10%, however this did not stop him from opening one restaurant per year. 2012 was the big bet. Buenos Aires opened last summer its sixth restaurant in The City. To rent a building in this area costs around £400,000 per year, however, Mr. Barrionuevo explains this has been possible because when many pubs are closing the situation changes and “now landlords give you more opportunities to let the premises”. For example,  Mr. Barrionuevo obtained 18 months for free in the rent of the last building, what it means a total saving of £300,000. In this sense, “the financial crisis has helped us to grow”, continues Mr. Barrionuevo.

The greatest challenge for Mr. Barrionuevo was that he did not have initial capital to invest in his new business. With the revenue of one restaurant, he invests in the next one. “This way of acting always makes you feel in tension, you have to work harder to success since you have invested everything you have”, describes Mr. Barrionuevo.

Since in 2007, when Buenos Aires steakhouse restaurant opened its first restaurant in London, many things have changed. Now, banks give Mr. Barrionuevo loans because they see a continuity in his businesses. In the first restaurant there was more drawbacks to borrow money or to negotiate the contract clauses with the landlord. Once your business has developed a brand, name and logo, “you are the one to impose the conditions”, Mr. Barrionuevo explains. Nowadays, Buenos Aires is a Group Company with a turnover of more than £4m. Here, it is easier for them to expand their business.

Nevertheless, it has not been always that easy. Mr. Barrionuevo, Argentine by birth, had to move to Spain because his son had a skin disease and he needed the Spanish climate. There, in Valencia, he decided to open his first of all restaurants in 2006. His experience was definitely different if he compares Spanish and English (UK) businesses. As Mr. Barrionuevo specifies, “the expenses are higher and the benefits are lower in Spain because you pay the same amount to the suppliers as you would do in UK, but you earn less benefits” because the price costumers pay in Spain is lower. In other words, in Spain there is more work to do, and less benefits to earn. In these circumstances, Mr. Barrionuevo had to close his business in Spain one year later.


Businesses in UK
Mr. Barrionuevo opened his first restaurant in London in the area of Purley in 2007, what eventually becoming the “Steak Palace” of the area. A year later, the second restaurant was opened in Maidstone, which was the only Argentine steakhouse in Kent. In 2009 was the time of the Argentine steakhouse restaurant in Croydon. This time, a market study was already necessary to know the area and the public with the purpose to define his product and to build a particular style of restaurants. Next year, another restaurant was opened in Fulham, the first London based venue. In 2011, Mr. Barrionuevo decided to expand his business in the area of Wimbledon. In the new one (2012), Mr. Barrionuevo bet for the City, where he needed different strategy; or as he explains, “each area needs different inversion, because it has different clientele, and the one in the City has more bookings” since it is the biggest one among the sixth of them.


Know-how
Cristian Barrionuevo has worked in gastronomy since he was 15 and his experience, first as a employee and later as an employer, has made him to value his own business. As he relates, “the skill for success is to concentrate in the details”. 80% of his staff are Spanish-speakers with knowledge of Argentina’s traditions. The atmosphere, the quality of the food and human contact are essential attributes in Buenos Aires steakhouse restaurant. Mr. Barrionuevo points out that the most important thing is a good management of the product, “knowing every time what it is happening in your business”.

“Steakhouse business is on fashion and the Argentine steak is different”, explains Mr. Barrionuevo. All the products in Buenos Aires restaurant are Argentinian; from the wine, to the meat until the cook. “Everything can work if you know how to organize your business”, says Mr. Barrionuevo. Some products need more management than others and to know what everything costs and how much earnings it produces it is fundamental to maintain the business line. “We have to work harder to maintain what we have”, Mr. Barrionuevo says. He works from Monday to Monday and the secret is to be always available, definitely to be present.

This kind of restaurants has a specific target and the competence is still low because there is not one Argentinian restaurant next to another. Buenos Aires steakhouse restaurant has a strategy of innovation in menus, specialty dishes, or tango night!. Besides, Mr. Barrionuevo is thinking to introduce again some tapas menu in his next restaurant in 2013 as he did in his restaurant in Spain.

Nowadays, Mr. Barrionuevo has developed a sense of business, and he does not open a restaurant everywhere. Mr. Barrionuevo´s purpose is to continue growing but maintaining the same style, developing a brand identification and recognition of all his businesses.

A familiar chain
Buenos Aires steakhouse restaurant has grown, but it has not lost its identity. Mr. Barrionuevo identifies his company as a “family business”. Mr. Barrionuevo appreciates his employees as his friends. Some of them has stayed with him since he opened his first restaurant six years ago. In 2007,  he needed some support for the initial capital to open his first restaurant in Purley, what it received from his friend and wine supplier. “He helped with in the worst moments and he is still working with me”, Mr. Barrionuevo mentions this behavior as a principle to maintain a business and to build strong relationships with the staff.

When you come in to Buenos Aires Argentine steakhouse restaurant, the local´s elegance grabs you. The informal style regarding quality/price, the Spanish language and music along with the quite atmosphere make you feel in another place out of the hustle of the city of London. Their objective is “to establish a place out of the business routine, where costumers can come here and relax”, specifies Mr. Barrionuevo. The image of the restaurant seems expensive, but as Mr. Barrionuevo says “we are one of the less expensive, specially among the City”.

Regarding to the finances, Mr. Barrionuevo explains that everything is well distributed according to the expenses. He needs a balance between the cost of food and staff, the bills and the rent of the premises. “If we have a net benefits of 15% in the Buenos Aires restaurant at the City for example, means a good equivalence, since we have to pay £75,000 of renting per quarter of three of our buildings”, specifies Mr. Barrionuevo.

The “forgotten army”
There is no crisis if there is money. Something as clear as that is what make businesses stay afloat nowadays. UK policy about lending money to start-ups is riskier than to lend it to a business already consolidated. However, Small and Medium-sized (SME) companies accounted for “99.9 per cent of all private sector businesses in the UK”, according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). They are the ones that can make the economy grow, and therefore, they need backup from the government. As the UK's premier business lobbying organisation (CBI) proclaims “the British government should provide stronger support for medium-sized firms”.