The news appeared earlier this year in the media that the Social Security asked several older Spanish writers to return their pension, as they continued to collect some money from the sale of books, so they were not entitled to retirement. They started to ask, and they all agreed that that was crazy, because retirement money is just paying for what's quoted all their working lives, and because creativity, an activity that benefits society as a whole, needs another treatment. The news seemed curious, as if it were a remote ridicule of thoughtless Spaniards. But in Hego Euskal Herria pensions are the responsibility of Spain (which they do not want to transfer under any circumstances) and therefore we are at their mercy, all the workers of Hegoalde. Also, those of us who work in different types of creativity.
We do not yet know what the matter is going to end. But those who are researched and harmed are not just writers. Recently I met a bertsolari, he told me that the Social Security is vigilant, if they appeared in the squares, it ran the risk of taking their pension off.
At the same time it happened (although it did not spread in the media), several Basque writers received letters, sent by an inspector of the Social Security of Pamplona, asking for all kinds of papers: all invoices of the last five years, income declarations, contributions from the self-employed, VAT declarations and others. He took all these papers and asked them to appear in his office in Pamplona at that time, under the threat of I do not know what sanctions.
Those writers shake and they don't understand anything. What happens? Why do you ask me? They later learned that they were reviewing all the funds of the Official School of Languages of Pamplona, and as they had spoken at a conference, the inspector asked them that, although almost all of them were paid workers, in addition to the quote at their workplace, they had to leave and pay in their self-employed workers, as they had a desk income. He didn't care if these incomes were lower than the self-employed, because that wasn't his problem.
We do not yet know what the matter is going to end. But those who are researched and harmed are not just writers. I recently met a bertsolari. A few years yes, but it is still in shape and clear. He told me that he had not seen him chanting long ago and that the Social Security had guarded him, if he appeared in the squares, with the risk of taking his pension.
All Bertsolaris over the age of one are forced to silence; writers cannot make speeches, for fear of great fines; in other sectors we do not know what… Here is the contribution of the Spanish Social Security to the Basque culture, which is on the verge of bankruptcy.
The column starts with a discussion that seems absurd to the naked eye: 2024 if it was one of our literary numbers, how would you call it?
If you don't find answers, spend half an hour on this year's experiences; first access Instagram files and go to Twitter when they are... [+]
I don't want people who don't know how to share the umbrella. I don't love the people who walk too fast when it's not me, nor the ones who walk too slowly (well, that's a little, but only a little). I don't like people sitting in the hallway seat on the bus. I don't like reckless... [+]
PLEIBAK
Miren Amuriza Plaza
Susa, 2024
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Susa has published Miren Amuriza's second novel in the atrium of the Durango Fair: Plead. It's plebiscites because you're singing about an earlier recording. Berria includes the... [+]
Book Non sense
Edward Lear
Translation: Juan Kruz Igerabide
Denonartean, 2024
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The writer and illustrator Edward Lear published this work in 1846. As Igerabide says in the prologue of the book, “nonsense humor, absurd... [+]
Entrepreneurship is fashionable. The concept has gained strength and has spread far beyond economic vocabulary. Just do it: do it no more. But let us not forget: the slogan comes from the propaganda world. Is the disguise of the word being active buyers? Today's entrepreneurs are... [+]
Hetero
Uxue Alberdi
Susa, 2024
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In the era of negationism, the manosphere and trolls, the contribution of literature is essential, because it is an exceptional instrument to look at the folds of reality: the situations... [+]
Guardasola wants rain
Patxi Zubizarreta
Illustrations: Irrimarra
Ibaizabal, 2024
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30 years ago Patxi Zubizarreta published the book Marigoringoak hegan; J. M. Illustrated by Lavarello and by the hand of the Catalan publisher... [+]
Eyes on the horizon
Writer: Illustrator Miren Agur
Meabe: Ane Pikaza
Elkar, 2020
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Miren Agur Meabe has published several texts and books. He's worked with all the literary genres: children's and youth literature,... [+]
They're one of the most beautiful memories I have in my heart. At the time I was doing Basque Philology and we went to a society in Arbizu to a concert by Ruper Ordorika. There were Rikardo Arrangi Diaz of Heredia and Juanjo Olasgrip. I didn't dare to tell Arrangi that I had in my... [+]