Tag: Spain

R&D from Prepd: Catalan Independence

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On October 1, 2015

In R&D

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l_2Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd, the only software built specifically for extemp. Prepd makes it easy to research, practice, and compete!  Visit www.prepd.in to learn more. Like Prepd on Facebook for special info and contests.

This R&D provides resources on Spain’s Catalan independence movement.  The region, which enjoys some political and cultural autonomy, has created some headaches for Spanish authorities in recent years.  Last year, Artur Mas, who heads the Catalan regional government, called a referendum on Catalan independence, a referendum that Spanish authorities refused to recognize.  After Mas promised that independence would come if pro-independence parties won a majority in regional elections, Spain moved to indict him for abuse of power.  The Catalan independence movement is one of many independence movements forming in Europe, with the other notable one being Scotland’s drive for independence from Great Britain.

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The Case for Catalan Independence

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On September 23, 2014

In International Extemp, Topic Brief

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Although the Scottish independence referendum failed last week, the cloud of secession still looms over Europe.  Catalonia, a region located in Northeastern Spain, is pushing for an independence referendum.  Catalans view their culture as separate from that of the larger Spanish state and the country’s economic problems have led growing numbers of Catalans to conclude that they would be better off if they went their own way.  A day after the Scottish independence referendum failed, Catalonia’s regional parliament authorized Catalan President Artur Mas to call a “consultation” (a fancy name for a referendum) on independence.  The Spanish government, headed by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, says that a Catalan independence vote would violate the Spanish Constitution and they have vowed a legal challenge to the measure.  Since the Catalan secession issue might drag out for the remainder of the year, extempers should be prepared to talk about the subject at tournaments.

This topic brief will provide some background on the Catalan independence movement, cover recent events driving the push for a referendum, and discuss some scenarios for where the Catalan independence movement might go in the aftermath of the Scottish failure to secure independence.

Readers are also encouraged to use the links below and in the related R&D to bolster their files about this topic.

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R&D: The Case for Catalan Independence

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On September 23, 2014

In R&D

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Here is today’s premium R&D to accompany today’s premium topic brief on the case for Catalan independence.

 

 

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R&D from Prepd: Spain & The ETA

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On March 7, 2014

In R&D

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l_2Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd, the only software built specifically for extemp. Prepd makes it easy to research, practice, and compete!  Visit www.prepd.in to learn more. Like Prepd on Facebook for special info and contests.

This R&D provides resources on Spain and the ETA, a Basque nationalist and separatist group that has been deemed responsible for the deaths of more than 800 people since 1959.  The United States and major European countries consider the ETA a terrorist group.  The organization has an ongoing ceasefire that dates back to September 2010 and recently signaled that it was willing to begin disarming.

 

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