Three Spanish National Articles

Argentinian Papers Declassified
During the Argentinian military dictatorship, which lasted from 1976 to 1983, at least 576 Spaniards are known to have died, and finally a Spanish judge, Pablo Ruz, has managed to get the government papers dealing with these ‘disappeared’ people made available.

Also to be declassified are the many formal complaints made by family members and descendents of the unfortunate murdered. The first request for these documents was made a year ago but it was refused with the comment that the material was ‘reserved.’ The judge will now be able to move forward in his investigation of acts of genocide, terrorism, torture; and crimes against humanity; the 576 Spanish victims form part of a total of 13 thousand people who perished under military rule.

A Glass of Treaty on the Rocks
In yet another scramble at preserving the monetary union, Euro leaders (ie., Merkel and Sarkosy) are once again proposing new amendments in the form of a Treaty which will act between countries as opposed to an umbrella treaty for the whole EU. IMF top-dog Christine Lagarde said it is “a really good step in the right direction.” Thanks Christine. With intellects like yours, I know we are in good hands.

Some Treaty details are as follows: a 0.5 per cent cap on structural deficits; new rules to be incorporated into countries’ constitutions; penalties for countries whose public deficits exceed 3 per cent of GDP (one country simply has to denounce another); Eurozone and other EU countries to provide up to 200 billion euros for floundering member economies. Fines for not reaching targets could be up to 0.2 per cent of GDP, which in Spain’s case would amount to 2 billion euros, ouch. On a side note, our British friends have decided not to participate in the new Treaty, but that, as they say, is a different kettle of fish.

Hot Hot Hot
2011 has been a notable year for a number of reasons, but one you might not have realized is that it was Spain’s hottest year since records began being kept in 1961.

The end of November revealed that temperatures had been 1.5 degrees higher than average. The median temperature for the year up till November 30 was 16.7 degrees, which is 0.3 degrees more than the previous record of 2006. Andalucia registered the hottest day on August 19th when temps soared to 42.5 degrees. Spain has also experienced less rainfall than expected, 7% less.

To put some balance into this, the coldest day of the year was experienced in Guadalajara, where temps plummeted to -13.6 degrees.

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