Issue 6 by El Independiente

ALWAYS FREE

ISSUE NO.6

EL INDEPENDIENTE IEU STUDENT NEWSPAPER / MARCH 2014

WHAT HAPPENED WHILST YOU WERE PROCRASTINATING

BANKSY AND IDRIS ELBA JOIN FORCES 140,000 people have been already killed and 9.3 million are displaced. Banksy has reworked one of his most famous pieces, The Balloon Girl, and intends to project it onto various international landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower, on March 13th. GQ cover man Idris Elba produced a video pleading leaders for the end of bloodshed and suffering. with-syria.org.

TOP RUSSIAN CEOS COULD BE HIT BY SANCTIONS "The CEOs of Russia's two largest firms are on a list of those who may be hit next week with European and U.S. sanctions over the Crimea crisis, a German newspaper said. (REUTERS)

VENEZUELA, THE UPRISING NO ONE IS NOTICING Whilst the western media is tuned in on the crisis in Ukraine, Venezuela finds itself in a violent political and economical crisis with clashes between students and police. Hundreds are injured and more than 20 are confirmed killed.

STUDENTS RAISE CONTROVERSY ABOUT UNIVERSITY ATTENDANCE POLICY •••

Candela Llopis SEGOVIA, Spain – Some students at IE University have an ongoing complaint about the attendance policy. The mandatory 70% class attendance is controversial for some students as they find the policy is pulling down their grades. This is a topic that sparks much debate amongst students, teachers and certainly, parents. The policy allows students to miss up to 30% of the classes, not more, and imposes failure of the course if violated.

“It is a tool that we

Most of the absences covered by the allowance are unjustified absences, which disappoints teachers. Parents generally do see the logic of the policy, and are concerned when their adolescents are not performing to up to their potential—in short, failing for not going to class. This issue also concerns parents insofar as the cost incurred to retake a class is significant. Over 50 students, find themselves in this situation, according to the university’s academic records. The issue arises when the students receive their grades; many learn that their academic evaluation is well below what they expected to receive. It is rumoured that several students will launch a campaign to try to convince IE’s committee to alter the attendance policy. Yet those who are not happy with the policy are less than 60% as discovered in a recent survey.

see every day as counterproductive”

Notwithstanding, members of the university have given their opinion on the issue. “It is a tool that we see every day as counterproductive, as it adds much pressure to students.” says Maria José Ferrari, former teacher and Communication Bachelor coordinator at IE. Every teacher and every student is made aware from the beginning of each semester that every student MUST attend the mandatory minimum 70%. However, it seems to the university that students fail to understand that at IE participation is extremely important to assure that students perform at their best. First year student, Cayetana Llopis, says: “It is not because of the grades I failed, it is because of a tardy over the limit I had.” This is the case with a number of students, who consider it is unfair to fail for this reason, as one is able to show potential outside class hours, through written assignments, for example. On the other hand, there are supporters of the policy. First year dual degree student, Nicolás de Montanzón, states: “It is a more efficient and effective learning system which encourages the student to work almost at full potential as work is evaluated on a continual basis.” After ruling out ideas on how the policy could be altered to benefit all parties, the dean and IE committee have decided the policy implementation is reasonable and effective. In other words, there are no plans to change it. Over 18% of students think that the policy should be changed, as students associate the university with freedom and the attendance policy limits part of the freedom. Thus over 70% are pleased with the policy and detect critical improvements in their performance and learning outcome as a result of having to attend most of the classes. Will the bothered students continue to file complaints on the issue, or will students accept the norm and comply with it? Now find us online! Search ‘El Independiente’ at issuu.com

TIRED OF TORTILLA

DOLLARS NEEDED IN EMERGING ECONOMIES “LUMPY, unpredictable, potentially large”: that was how Tim Geithner, then head of the New York Federal Reserve, described the need for dollars in emerging economies in the dark days of October 2008, according to transcripts of a Fed meeting released last month. To help smooth out those lumps, the Fed offered to “swap” currencies with four favoured central banks, as far off as South Korea and Singapore. (ECONOMIST)

MISSING MALAYSIAN PLACE: COULD IT HAVE LANDED? The search for Malaysia Airline’s flight MH370 has expanded to the Indian Ocean. There are many theories regarding this unexpected event, from pilot suicide, hijacking or an explosion, but none are confirmed. Now another theory suggests that the plane could have landed over the Andaman Islands. Even though this could be good news, there is still doubt, since according to the editor of the Andaman Chronicle, “there’s just nowhere to land such a big plane in this archipelago without attracting notice”. (CNN)

ONGOING ATTACKS IN NIGERIA At least 100 villagers have been killed in Nigeria's central Kaduna state in attacks linked to disputes between ethnic groups.It is not clear who was behind the attacks, but residents blame members of the mainly Muslim Fulani tribe. Thousands of people have been killed in recent years in violence attacking Christian farmers.

•••

Victoria Fontana When we are just visiting Madrid it can be quite difficult to know where to go if you want to avoid tourist traps and have a truly authentic experience. Many of my students have asked me for some ideas as to where to eat in Madrid. When it comes to eating out in the city, the choices are endless. It would be impossible to cover every amazing place in one article, so here are just a few personal recommendations to get you started. ¡Buen Provecho! 1. La Buga del Lobo This is a very unique restaurant on the Calle Argumosa in Lavapiés. Now that the weather is nice you can try to get a table on their terrace right on Argumosa, or you can venture inside and enjoy the wild, colourful decor. The food is very well prepared, and a bit higher caliber/quality than what is typically found in the area, however the ambiance is in tune with the Lavapiés scene, which is one of the most authentic in Madrid. Try the "Ensalada 'La Buga'" or the "Patatas Mestizas". Price range is 20-30€ per person for dinner; 11-12€ for their lunch menu. Calle Argumosa, 11 (Lavapiés) 2. Mercado de San Antón If you are still in Chueca, hop on over to the Mercado de San Antón. On the bottom floor there are all sorts of stands with gourmet foods you can take home with you, including some excellent hamburgers. On the top floor you will find yourself surrounded by people and restaurants, each one serving up their own specialty. There is also a rooftop bar with a patio. This market is very trendy and can be pricey. Calle Augusto Figueroa, 24 (Chueca) 3. Arabia One more of my favorites in Chueca is Arabia. As you walk through the heavy curtains to enter you feel the Moroccan vibe. You can enjoy the full experience by sitting on some cushions at one of the low tables. Enjoy a delicious dish of couscous and a typical Moroccan tea with spearmint to finish. Very nice ambiance! Price range 15-30€ per person. Calle del Piamonte, 12 (Chueca - Alonso Martinez) 4. Meson Persa Mr. Kabab Yes, the name sounds horrid. It sounds like a place you would go at 3am after a night out on the town. But just as you cannot judge a book by its cover, you cannot judge this restaurant by its name. This is a Persian restaurant in Cuatro Caminos. If you are looking for some different flavours, this is a nice spot. Try any of the entrees or the "kababs", which are not to be confused with "Doner Kebabs" - and don't forget to ask for sumac to sprinkle on your meat and rice! This restaurant is a bit off the beaten path, but well worth the visit! Price range for dinner is 20-30€ per person. Calle de los Artistas, 31 (Cuatro Caminos) 5. Zhou Yulong Also known as "El restaurante chino debajo de la Plaza de España". In fact, I did not know the real name of this place until now. Almost everyone in Madrid knows this Chinese restaurant, or knows of it. In order to get here, you have to enter in the parking lot below Plaza de España. You enter right on the corner of the plaza where Calle Princesa starts and Gran Via ends. If you want to eat lunch or dinner, go early, as there is usually a very long line. When you walk in, you will see what could be officially classified as a DIVE. This is not a place for "pijos" but you will eat one of the best homemade noodle soups you have ever had. The dumplings are very nice too. One of those must-do experiences in Madrid! Price range- 5-10€ per person or less, if you just get one dish. Bajos del aparcamento Plaza de España 2

HOW DO DIFFERENT CITIES MAKE US FEEL? •••

Oyku Turuncu I guess all of us have been involved at least once in a conversation about whether it would be better to live in Madrid or whether it is nicer to live in this peaceful, ancient Segovia. I agree that there are different aspects of beauty in both places. And which one you prefer depends on your emotional state more than you might think. Maybe it is a result of having lived all my life in chaotic Istanbul, but I believe that it is in our nature to look for turmoil and anonymity. There are moments when you feel like a small city is too much to handle. Wherever you go, you encounter yourself. You encounter your over-thinking. You encounter the feeling of starting and coming back to the same point. You wake up one Sunday morning wanting to have a different breakfast with somebody different. But your options are limited. Big cities allow you to change, to try new things and to observe. You observe people who dress differently, you observe different cars. Cities teach you about different kinds of food and show you different art exhibitions. Maybe they allow you to accept difference more easily. You see that there are all kinds of lives out there. There is poverty, there is bisexuality, there is traffic. Cities also let you be whoever you want for the day. You go out, even by yourself, but you still have company. Being in the metro, for example. I never felt as happy in a metro station as I did in a Madrid metro station after having spent so much time in Segovia. You get to see that there are different human beings than the ones you are used to seeing, and it is somehow comforting to be surrounded by others. But then, here in Segocity, sometimes when you just have a sunny day, an afternoon with beer and tapas in Plaza Mayor or a barbecue night, you feel that you have such good friends, maybe a good love life if you are lucky, and no other place could allow you to live better than you do here. Segovia is such a small, sacred town, which most people usually come to only to visit. I think they hardly see themselves living in this place. But we do. And we enjoy it. For that reason, Segovia has a great bonding effect. It is a mysterious city, and it is more special to share that city with somebody else than to share a big city like Madrid. So when it feels like too much to live in this place, trusting the warm weather that has made us all so happy these last two days, I would suggest that you go for a run at night, at eight or so. Yes, it is dark but you can still see what is in front of you. You can see the stars. While listening to your running playlist, you can see the illuminated Alcazar. Segovia is one of those places that is more beautiful at night; its nights make you appreciate this place, which few people really know, but in which you are spending some of your most valuable years.

IEU Humanities Discussion Walk-a-Thon

Series

Saturday April 5, Uni Segovia Campus. Organised by the International

American Foreign Policy in the Global Age Tuesday, March 25th Room 142 at 19:00 Free Food and Drinks

Relations Club for the Syrian

refugees.

Check out the new radio show hosted by Philippe Hurel and Oyku Turuncu https:// soundcloud.com/ highwayradio/ IEU Segovia Football Team https:// www.facebook.com/ IEUFootballTeam Zumba by IEU Dance Club Thursdays, Room 144, 19:30, €3 per week (that is, for 2 sessions), (extra session is now offered on Saturday from 11:00 to 12:30) Yoga Every Wednesday, 19:15 Student Hub Pilates Every Tuesday 19:30 Room 114

IEU Music Cub ConcertApril 3rd at 20:00 €2

Charity Football Event (Students v Professors) "Los Escobares" in the neighbouring town of La Lastrilla March 19th 16:00 the boys 17:00 the girls €5

fundraiser of the IEU psychology club for their upcoming psychology conference on April 3&4, check this for more details: http:// ieustudentlife.blogs.ie.edu/2014/02/25/ first-psychology-conference-organizedby-the-ieu-psychology-club/ 3

MY INTERNSHIP IS BIGGER THAN YOURS. •••

Tudor Etchells Internships aim to be inspiring experiences, whether they be an engaging opportunity to develop professional skills in one’s chosen field or an excuse for utterly boring, teatray shuffling cheap labour We have, as as aspiring young professionals, come to treasure these little insights into working life; we’ve discovered nuanced aspects of professional culture, and we have learnt how to make ourselves stand out in a sea of suits. But it’s this effort to get ourselves noticed that I find, at best, intimidating. When we casually chatter about our internships amongst ourselves, we tend not to discuss what made the corporation we worked for intriguing, or what made it a little curious. It’s the name, the location, the beaches. Don’t get me wrong—everyone enjoys having the above, but I don’t believe that’s all internships are good for. So let me ask: why do we take internships if we don’t attempt to learn from them? Is it so that we can include “famous companies” on our CV? Or is it so that photos of us dressed in suits garner more likes “It’s the name, on Facebook? Or it is because we are naïve to the world of the location, work and need to understand that it will not always be a the beaches.” glorious high rise office building with charming, sophisticated employees, but uncomfortable chairs, unfriendly co-workers, and tasks so mundane and drawn out that we’d rather be in a three hour Friday morning lecture. Economically, it may make sense for us to acquire a paid job throughout the summer, saving up for when our parents aren’t there to hold our hands. Thus, we should see it as a privilege to have an internship. Let’s admit that they are not free rides. Some require us to earn our stipends whilst we are there, whilst other corporations cannot cover such high rental fees. Even the task of juggling costs allows us to learn how to manage our money when we enter the work force. All of us heading toward the internship time of the year (architecture students already have) may consider a number of things when we sit down and trawl the websites, application and contacts in search of a summer position. Investigate whether we shall really have the opportunity to develop ourselves, either in skills or in attitude, by reading the posting closely. Consider whether it will lead you to a niche of the corporation or to a sector you have yet to explore. But don’t turn down any opportunities because they are not perfect. A great thing about internships is that if you don’t enjoy the sector, you cross that off the ‘What I want to do with my life’ list. Maybe that is the most rewarding feature: discovering the job you’ll enjoy getting out of bed each and every morning to do.

DRIBBLE •••

Linda Caracol Sol Bald, skin and bones. A corpse gasping and heaving. her mind – dribble. Although we convinced ourselves she was there. Then she lay – still, cold, heavy. Solid and white. But in dreams she’s yellow, a rotting body clings… Like I did, to her leg, when she’d leave me. What to cling to now? A child no longer. And when we mourned her, I laughed. Shock, survival – or maybe I didn’t know a hawk from a handsaw, no matter what way the wind blew. But I don’t laugh now, now there’s only agony, Raging as dogs do, when their masters’ soul leaves its flesh. What paradoxical pain: Losing the one you need to help you cope with losing them. Her chest ached, and now mine caves under the strain. And does two months of caring and attending atone for years of detriment and disregard? You. Do not let a mist of blissful ignorance cloud your vision from the certainty of this searing pain. The solidness permeates and we all suffer this dribble.

RUSSIA UKRAINE INTERVENTION: WHAT OUR STUDENT’S SAY Luka Djordjevic As the whole western world is blaming Russia and comparing Putin to Hitler for everything happening in Ukraine, I thought it was my turn to respond to some of these claims. I do not have a personal stake in defending Russia, but I think it is worthwhile to interrogate some of the claims being made against Russia To explain the Ukraine crisis I believe we need to revisit the Sochi Olympics. After spending over $50 billion, Putin managed to pull off one of the best Olympic Games in history, with spectacular visual effects and facilities, but as we all know this was a massive torn in side of the US, the most ‘democratic’ state in the world. Wherever you turned you saw pictures of Cossacks beating Pussy Riot members, twin toilets and stray dogs in hotel rooms. A news channel especially dedicated to this was of course CNN, the same channel that reported the advancement of US democracy in the Iraq war.

“the crisis is a perfect mix an already-established US/NATO formula that is the downside of the current capitalist system we live in.” OK, the US didn't like the Sochi Olympics too much, but what does this have to do with the Ukrainian crisis? Well this is just the start: those who think that the Ukrainian crisis is something new are gravely mistaken, for the crisis is a perfect mix an already-established US/NATO formula that is the downside of the current capitalist system we live in. Similar scenarios were seen during the 2000 Bulldozer revolution in former Yugoslavia and in the recent Libyan conflict. In Libya, groups of people rebelled against the government due to declining living conditions, which led to violence, a couple of deaths, and then to the ‘overthrow’ of the leader. But wait a second!? How did these people mobilise? Where did they get weapons from? Who financed them!? By seeing American Senator McCain and John Kerry in Maidan square I think all questions are answered. Now we find ourselves with the Crimean crisis, and once again the US and Europe have taken a stand against their Russian friends, the people that sacrificed most in the battle against Fascism. How can Europe support the stance of the US in the Crimea crisis when the US broke all international laws known to man in the invasion of Iraq and forced EU states to go fight in the middle east for absolutely no reason? I simply don’t see the logic here. We need to understand that by sending extra troops to Crimea, Putin is disregarding international law, but what strong state cares about international law anyways? Ukraine is no Iraq, the Ukrainians and Russians share a similar history and culture. They both speak the same language, Russian. Yes it’s true that Ukrainian is also spoken, but there are many Russians and pro- Russian citizens in Ukraine—citizens who have not seen the CNN camera during the crisis. Putin is protecting the interests of Russia while protecting Russian citizens in Ukraine from the Ukrainian right wingers who have dominated the Ukrainian government thanks to western help. Does Russia have missiles in Canada and Mexico? No. Does the US have missiles in Poland and other Eastern European countries bordering Russia? Yes. Why else did the EU and NATO accept Bulgaria and Romania? Russia is a bear who’s been poked with a stick way too many times, and this time, the bear is mad.

Anthony Benavides In light of recent events, it may well seem we have stumbled back into the cold war era—1962 in particular, when tensions were particularly high. Events in Ukraine have escalated drastically: what began as a protest led to a revolt by the people of Ukraine, which led to an invasion by the Russian army. But what can we really say bearing in mind the development of recent events? From an international, legal perspective, we are more inclined to sympathise with Ukraine and condemn Vladimir Putin’s incursion into Ukraine. As for the reaction of the US, many are inclined to point a finger at US hypocrisy with regard to its disapproval of Russia’s intervention. continued on page 5.

THE ART OF KNOWLEDGE •••

Jaspe

Azabe Habarurema

The latest event in IE Humanities Discussion Series was a talk by Rolf S t r o m O l s e n , director of the Humanities Program. Strom Olsen is also a professor at IE who is respected by many, loved by some, and owner of an incredible wit. His eloquence and intelligence often leads his students to surprising conclusions, as was the case with this talk. You can ask any student in our beloved hallways about Entrepreneurship and a wide array of praise and adoration will sound. No one will doubt the supreme value of what is after all one of IE’s main pillars. But when you ask them why, you will get a surprisingly similar answer from all of them: things they claim they know. Rolf guided us through what entrepreneurship truly is. It is not the Bill Gates or Steve Jobs figures of this world that represent entrepreneurship. Rather, it is the small shop owners that exemplify what true entrepreneurship entails. While the room went quiet after this realisation, another bomb was dropped: It is the big bad corporations that are the building blocks of society. We are immersed in a society that sees education as merely functionalist—designed to give you a piece of paper that says you can now officially make money and be happy. Professor David Mosfegh made the key comment that education did not per se have to be utilitarian. It is a myth that personal interests and passions have to occur outside of the classroom, even though our generation’s

employment panic is peaking. Instead of wondering what piece of paper will stress you out the least at the end of your educational years, he suggested we ask ourselves this question: What do I want to know? Many talents get lost since personal growth is seen as a luxury that even the privileged can rarely afford, while a well-rounded education could possibly be the greatest investment one could venture in. An education that allows you to do what you love while still diminishing e m p l o y m e n t a n x i e t y, w h o wouldn’t love that? What if you could pick and choose classes from International Relations, Law and Communication to create your perfect, customised course?

“You can ask any student in our beloved hallways about Entrepreneurship and a wide array of praise and adoration will sound.” Humanities could be described as an education in thinking, and I doubt anyone would dismiss the importance of that. However, it is a reality that humanities are slowly disappearing from educational systems. Courses in history and philosophy have to make way for analysis and economically inspired classes. Even though these types of classes seem too ephemeral to make an economic gain, “humanities invite us to think analytically about society, and each argument is informed by analytical research.” StromOlsen argues. According to him, it makes no sense to differentiate scientific values and humanistic approaches, since they work in symbiosis.

Continued from page 5.. The treaty of 1994 (now coined “the forgotten treaty”), drafted by the UK, US and Russia, was signed by all three powers. The conditions were the nuclear disarmament of Ukraine, in return for the promise by the three countries to protect its sovereignty; terms by which Putin is not abiding in the slightest. The matter has escalated into legal misconceptions and twisted interpretations. What Putin uses to justify his illicit actions is the treaty of 1997 which permits Russia to have 25,000 troops on the ground in Ukraine (they now have 31,000, though they claim the initial 6,000 are not Russian). The initial intent of this 1997 treaty was to protect Ukrainian sovereignty, making it so that the Ukrainian government could request military assistance. Now this is where the legal controversies occur and loopholes reveal themselves: Putin still claims Yanukovych as the rightful president, and Yanukovych did request military assistance while taking asylum in Moscow. Most countries no longer regard Yanukovych as legitimate, though Putin’s legal analysts try to make a strong case for his continued status as president. But dropping all of this legal mumbo-jumbo, Russia’s disregard for global treaties in its foreign policy decisions seems to be a reoccurring instance. Former president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, went so far as to compare Putin to Hitler. This is far-fetched in my opinion, but other leaders of Western states have similarly negative views of Putin’s deceptive actions, which have brought upon him a bad reputation worldwide, not without reason. Putin, it seems, is continuously distraught over the fact that the USSR’s former republics want nothing to do with Russia. As he said: “The fall of the USSR was the biggest geopolitical mistake in history”… Bearing in mind the expansionist mindset of his predecessors in office, we can see the recent developments (as well as the invasion of Georgia) as expressions of a desire to act upon his statement.

Humanities truly is the art of knowledge, and knowing how to use your mind will be the greatest asset you will ever have. 6

“SHEPARD” CHAPTER 1

STUDENT GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT

•••

Victor Beckers, Kira Euling, Tudor Etchells, Elena Uribe and Vegard Haveland have, as a team, taken the initiative to create an official student government and to facilitate university-wide elections for the upcoming semester. We are now recognised by delegates and the direction of the university as the official transitional student government board of the university.

Carmo Braga De Costa

Mrs. Harrison’s death was an unusual death. Her husband walked into the kitchen that afternoon to find her perfectly still, head resting against the window as it did so often when she was alive. The smoke from her cigarette still flickered when he called her name for the third time, but as that thin, invisible line danced towards the roof, Mrs. Harrison remained still. Mr. Harrison was in such a shock when he found his wife dead, that he didn’t notice when his elbow nudged the silver ashtray where the lit cigarette lay. As he held his wife’s hands in desperation, he didn’t see that small bud, quietly crawling over to the tip of the kitchen table, where a pile of red and gold Christmas napkins had been left. He was so desperately, so painfully searching for his wife’s pulse, he didn’t notice she had left the bottle of gin open, right next to the napkins. Mr. Harrison shook his wife so vigorously, that the sound of that bottle tipping over was as imperceptible as that thin line of smoke that killed them both. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison’s deaths were very peculiar. You probably wouldn’t call it unusual. After all, Mrs. Harrison had diabetes and Mr. Harrison was too old to react to the fire that slowly and then so very quickly took over his kitchen. They were old, they were retired, and they were going to die soon anyways. But you see, the Harrisons weren’t a retired couple. She was 26 and he was 30. She was a pilates instructor, and he owned the chain of gyms that had brought them together. The Harrisons were a perfectly healthy, capable couple, as I would find out that January morning.

•••

For a young and evolving university, an official and well-structured Student Government is particularly important. This is an aim that has been pursued by a number of students since the founding of the university. For any such government to work effectively, a framework needs to be established to ensure that duties and responsibilities are distributed and carried out. Steps taken and the future aims of the transitional board:

•

• •

Bylaws that ensure transparency have been altered and approved by the university direction. These bylaws are: o A 14 day amendment period from 19th March to 2nd April. o The bylaws are open to amendments which can be sent to board members. o Further amendments to bylaws to be approved o Can be found here at http:// ieustudentlife.blogs.ie.edu/student-government Negotiations with the university regarding student government finances and a recognition scheme for members of the student government are on-going. Efforts are being made to organise democratic student government elections for October 2014.

I.E. University’s recognition of a student government marks an important development in student affairs, which promises to increase student presence and influence on university decisions. Victor; vbeckers.bba2012@student.ie.edu, Vegard; vhaveland.bba2012@student.ie.edu Kira; keuling.bba2011@student.ie.edu Elena; elena.urma@gmail.com Tudor; tetchells.llb2012@student.ie.edu

After all, a false death report leads to a murder investigation. And I was the detective on the case. - “Shepard” is an on-going story that follows the murder investigations of Detective Monica Shepard. A new chapter, which will be a continuation of the story, will be published with each issue of El Indepediente.

THE LAW ON PROSTITUTES •••

Vicktoria Milleflori Madrid Government wants prostitutes off the streets: The NGO Hetaira supports these women’s efforts to fight for their rights Most Segovians support the efforts of the NGO, Hetaira, to demonstrate against the government’s proposed “Ley Orgánica de Proteccion de la Seguridad Ciudana.” The law would fine customers of the women, if they are caught to approach prostitutes on the streets. Hence this law intends to keep the prostitutes of the streets in Madrid, by establishing fines in the amount of 750€, when a person is caught soliciting sex in public (and up to 3.000€ if caught close to schools, shopping centres or other children’s areas. Hetaira, which is a non-governmental organization set up to defend the rights of Madrid’s prostitutes opposes this, because it will only make the work of the women even more dangerous and facilitate the Mafia to have their hands in this issue, due to the incapability of the police to overlook the work of prostitutes on the streets. There is consensus among Segovians that the implementation of the law would put prostitutes at risk. “The women should by all means demonstrate for their rights, as it is not them being in charge, but men. Why should they suffer even more for doing their job?” states young woman Julia Vazquez, who lives and works in Segovia. Her opinion is that of the Spanish NGO Hetaira, which focuses on the protection of the rights of prostitutes in Madrid. On Saturday the 15th of February 2014, they called for a demonstration that would defend the rights of prostitutes and protest the proposition of the law by the local governments. According to Hetaira, around 200 participants took part in the demonstration, voicing their opposition to the proposed law. The demonstration took place at the foot of Calle Montera, a street next to Madrid’s Puerta del Sol. Hetaira was satisfied with the number of demonstrators at Puerta del Sol, which is an area in Madrid well-known as the meeting point for prostitutes and their clients. The demonstration impressed journalists and led to significant media coverage.

Photo of the Week

However, not all Segovians support the counter movement to the Madrid government’s intentions. Some voiced concerns about the bad influence the public presence of prostitutes has on children and other citizens. “I think it is better for children and elderly people, if they do not have to come into contact with them,” 28 year old primary school teacher Estefania Gomez-Huerga mentioned. “The state already put cameras in the area around Calle Montera to protect ordinary citizens, as prostitution is often connected to corruption and theft,” Gomez-Huerga elaborated on her point of view. The idea of prostitutes working in especially dedicated houses was prevalent among the population, whether or not the law was welcomed. “I am against this law. Prostitution should be legalised like it was in Holland. There the government takes care of the prostitutes and provides them with a place to work, in which sanitation and security are guaranteed. We need fair and clear regulation like in any other business,” said Esther from Segovia.

‘Game of Light’ Alessandro Fabbrini

An ongoing discussion on this topic will be needed to create an acceptable result for all parties. The NGO Hetaira will certainly not change its mind and will continue to communicate the prostitutes’ situation publicly. They will continue to advocate for the rights of women working in this profession. With the words “We don’t know when exactly the government will start fining prostitutes and their customers, but they are strong women, who are ready to fight,” Hetaira signalled that they would not step back and accept the law.

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