dimecres, 17 d’agost del 2016

DESDE EL PARAÍSO HAWAIANO, LUCHANDO CONTRA EL IMPERIO ESTADOUNIDENSE

Sembla ser que a la gent del Col·lectiu Boltxe, d'Euskal Herria, els va interessar l'article que vaig publicar a la Directa sobre les lluites sobiranistes a Hawaii, i l'han traduït al castellà.

En aquest, feia una (molt breu) introducció a la història política de Hawaii i als moviments que lluiten per la sobirania de l'arxipèlag i, a continuació, introduïa dos dels líders d'aquests moviments a través de les entrevistes que els vaig fer.

Parlem amb Dennis "Bumpy" Kanahale, segurament el personatge més mediàtic, i Mililani Trask, una activista que porta, també dècades al peu del canó. Les seves vides són molt interessants, i han lluitat (i lluiten) seguint camins molt diferents.

A gaudir-lo!

https://www.boltxe.eus/desde-paraiso-hawaiano-luchando-imperio-estadounidense/

divendres, 29 de juliol del 2016

HAWAII, EL PARADÍS ENVERINAT

Aquí us passo el link a un nou article sobre Hawaii. Aquest ha estat publicat a la web HEMISFERIA.CAT, i parla de com les illes hawaianes s'han convertit en un paradís per a les grans multinacionals agroquímiques com Monsanto. Un paradís enverinat a marxes forçades pels experiments que es duen a terme, a l'aire lliure, a més d'un miler de camps; camps experimentals al costat de dipòsits d'aigua, escoles, veïnats.

Evidentment, també parlo de la lluita dels hawaians contra aquestes grans corporacions i els efectes nefastos que, aquestes activitats, en les illes.

Aquí podeu gaudir de l'article:

http://hemisferia.cat/les-llavors-de-la-discordia-hawaii-el-paradis-dels-experiments-transgenics/#.V5I4wsfPDF0.facebook






dimarts, 26 de juliol del 2016

DES DEL PARADÍS HAWAIÀ, LLUITANT CONTRA L'IMPERI ESTATUNIDENC





Us adjunto link a un article que vaig escriure sobre els moviments sobiranistes hawaians, publicat a la web de la Directa al mes de juny.

En aquest, faig una petita introducció a aquest moviments, i després contraposo, a partir de les entrevistes fetes, dos personatges que porten vàries dècades al peu del canó, lluitant pels drets dels Natius Hawaians, però que ho fan des de prespectives molt diferents:


https://directa.cat/des-del-paradis-hawaia-lluitant-contra-limperi-estatunidenc





dissabte, 11 de juny del 2016

EL MÓN DE PAPER



Ja fa un temps que va sortir, ho sé. I la resta de bloggers de viatges ja van fer els seus posts sobre el llibre en el seu moment. Vaig tard. Però a l'haver tornat fa poc de Tailàndia, on resideixo bona part de l'any, no ha estat fins ara que he tingut el llibre a les meves mans. I m'emociona, perquè tot i que ja siguem ben entrats a l'era digital, encara considero que un llibre ha de ser de paper, i per tant, veure els meus relats i les meves fotos en aquest volum, em fa molt content. Vella escola, si voleu; però encara, quan he de publicar algun article, intento de que sigui a la versió paper i no a la web, i això que sóc conscient que la versió web tindrà molt més públic. Però mira, encara allò del romanticisme pel paper, les tapes, l'olor...

I res, mentre disfruto de relats dels companys, recordant històries pròpies en aquelles contrades, o afegint indrets a la llista inacabable de llocs per visitar, vaig escribint i descobrint. Potser, últimament, no he estat massa constant en la redacció d'escrits per aquest bloc; donant, segurament, l'impressió de que "passo" d'escriure i dels viatges, però és al contrari, la dedicació a temps complert a l'escriptura és el que em manté allunyat del bloc. 

He trobat el tema pel qual vull lluitar per a mirar de tornar a tenir les meves històries en paper, amb tapes, amb aquella olor... Queda molta feina, moltes peces per a completar un gran puzzle no predeterminat, per a mirar de parlar d'història a través de mil històries, per a posar llum en foscors poc conegudes. 

Us mantindré informats.

dimarts, 5 d’abril del 2016

ARTICLE SOBRE L'ILLA REBEL DE MOLOKAI I LES SEVES LLUITES


Aquest article ha sigut publicat a l'últim número del Periódico Diagonal, i parla de l'illa de Molokai (Hawai'i), que tot i estar situada entre les dos, turístiques i desenvolupades, illes de Maui i Oahu, es conserva molt intacta, tranquila i hawaiana, gràcies a les mil lluites dels seus habitants. En l'article hi introdueixo fragments de les entrevistes que vaig fer a Walter Ritte, un dels activistes més històrics de Hawai'i i "líder" de les lluites a Molokai.

Si a algú li interessa llegir-lo, li puc passar en pdf.

dissabte, 2 d’abril del 2016

TEMPS DE CANVIS AL PARADÍS SEGRESTAT (article publicat a la Directa 403)



Val la pena comentar, al respecte d'aquest article, que hi ha alguns canvis que es van fer des de redacció, sense el meu consentiment, que són erronis. Els més importants són:

Quan es parla d' "el monarca" substituint l'original: "la monarquia". En el moment del derrocament, hi havia una reina, no un monarca. Era la Reina Liliu'okalani.

Quan es parla dels "pobles aborígens hawaians" o dels "pobles natius hawaians" substituint "els natius hawaians" és incorrecte. Des de el meu punt de vista, ja que tots els natius hawaians comparteixen la mateixa cultura, llengua,… No considero que hi hagi "pobles aborígens o indígenes o natius" en plural.

dissabte, 5 de març del 2016

EXPLORING THE OTHER SIDE OF PARADISE

Who the hell is Robin Masters?” was the only question about Hawai'i that me, and most of the people back home (Catalonia), used to ask. The moustached Magnum P.I. was our single reference on the Islands. Well, and an '80s Spanish pop song that goes: “Hawaii, Bombay, are two paradises”. First I went to Mumbai and although I loved the place, I wouldn't call it paradise. And, two years ago, I visited Hawai'i for the first time, and yep, paradise on Earth.

Now in my second visit to paradise, my journalistic side made me research about the history of the Islands and to have a glimpse at the actuality of the Hawaiians. Didn't care any more if Higgins is Robin Masters, I wanted to learn about the real people. I left the bubble and started the trip and the more I learned, I was realizing that I knew very little.

During that trip through the “dark side” of paradise I've talked with as many people as possible, surfed the net for hours, sent lots and lots of emails, watched videos and read books, and all of that has brought me to a few conclusions.

Hawaii was illegally occupied. The money and the military interests ruled, not caring about the indigenous and their own concerns and lives, bringing consequences to them that can't be denied. Numbers talk, and are easier to understand than lots of words. Ok, probably are less literary, but they do the job. There are some numbers that I find shocking (and annoying):

Like the 1% that I learnt of in Haunani-Kay Trask's book, the 1% being the growth of Hawai'i residents' average real income during the early '70s and '80s, when the tourism boomed in the islands and millions of dollars where made. Millions that, after checking these figures, is obvious that didn't go into the locals' pockets.

Or that more than 90% of the food has to be imported (although you, Hawaiians, have the best climate and the richest lands). That, together with some other (infamous) stuff like 1920's Jones Act, increases the prices and the cost of living drastically.

Or the 25% of Oahu's territory belonging to the Military, while so many have been for so long waiting for their Homelands.

Or that sadly only 0,2% of people in Hawai'i speak 'olelo hawai'i.1

And so on. Numbers and words. Injustices.

Another thing I've learned is that there are lots of people fighting to change that. With different points of view and following different paths, all of them are trying to achieve justice and freedom for the people in the Islands. Call them Nation of Hawaii, Lawful Hawaiian Government, Council of Regency, Ka Lahui Hawai'i or even Na'i Aupuni. All, or at least, most of them, are fighting a pono struggle.

And the aloha aina warriors in Mauna Kea or the families that saved Olowalu and are going to save Makena. And the ones teaching 'olelo hawaii. Fighting, and wining fights. Like in the '70s with Kaho'olawe and, tomorrow, for whatever is needed.

Third, Aloha exists. I have seen it and I have felt it. I'm not talking about ethereal stuff or floating energies, I'm not into all that. I'm talking about that photo where a cop was giving a honi to a protester, up at Mauna Kea, just before arresting him: respect and aloha. Or the friendly and polite relation between protesters and cops that I saw in Kailua, “we have to do our job” told me one of the huge cops “but we are also part of this community”. Fair enough, but wouldn't happen back home.

And in all the interviews, while they were explaining me the injustices that the kanaka maoli are suffering, none of them expressed any kind of violent feeling and intentions, or any hatred to other people. Peace. And aloha. Brandon, one of the people that has helped me more in my quest, told me was vital to be able to save the world, that the aloha was exported everywhere. I'm not sure if this would work; but it would be well worth a try.

My journalistic side doesn't only need to explore and learn, it also needs to explain the findings. The people need to know the whole picture, not just the palm tree in front of a red sunset. Obviously, I want them to know how beautiful everything is, how many honu and sharks we see underwater, how impressive are Molokai' sea cliffs, and the fun that we have body boarding in Ulua Beach or eating tako poke in some weekend farmer's market in Kauai; and explain them that, sitting in a house yard in Waimanalo Homestead, I had in front of me the most beautiful mountains I've ever seen.

But I would also like them to learn about the thousands of homeless wandering around, the Monsanto experiments, the nuclear weapons, the monk seals being driven towards extinction, the sacred burial grounds violated for the sake of building another luxurious hotel, and about Clinton apologizing in 1993 (and nothing happening).

I have to come back for more. To enjoy the amazing country that you have, but also to dig a little deeper. Looking forward to meet all the Hawaiian friends again, asking more questions and learning more about their lives and their deaths. To put some more light on that dark side. I've seen the cavern, but there is still the whole cave.

I can't finish this contribution without a huge mahalo for all the people that have talked with me, shared their manao and opened their houses. Having been patient with my endless emails and questions. Sorry for harassing all of you, but I needed to know. I still do.

1I hope this information is accurate enough, as have been really difficult for me to find an updated and trustful figure.