(en) France, Organisation Communiste Libertarie (OCL) - Basque Country: SAINT SEBASTIEN European Capital of Culture in 2016 critical analysis and use of social protest (fr, pt)

Contents: ---- 1 - Introduction ---- 2 - History of San Sebastian European Capital of 
Culture 2016 (= DSS 2016EU): Social responses early adulterated current institutional 
climate consensus ---- 3 - What are the European Capitals of Culture? The commodification 
of culture ---- Live in the tourist bombing ---- Other important issues ---- 4 - The 
program and budget DSS2016EU ---- 5 Conclusion and readings ---- 1) PRESENTATION ---- This 
document has been prepared by the Group of Donostia (San Sebastian) against the HST in May 
2014. He tries to make a critical analysis of the true nature of the election of Donostia 
in 2011 under Capital of Culture 2016 (DSS2016EU). It is a contribution to the discussion 
to help reach a consistent position, which will act accordingly, action that will 
inevitably and dissenting against the current, since this event is fully involved in 
capitalist culture.

In this sense an open meeting was held on June 5, to continue the debate and actions 
already undertaken and to stimulate social protest against Donostia Capital 2016. This 
document is therefore in the logical continuation of a share of industrial action carried 
out in January, when the great DSS2016EU logo on the slopes of the hill Igeldo, Donostia, 
was replaced by the slogan "AHT EZ TAV" (No TGV), second table round held in February on 
"Infrastructure, TGV and Cultural Capital 2016: Cultural Transformation or commodification 
of the city?", bringing together dozens of people who wished to follow up the initiative.

2) HISTORY

Social riostes early climate adulterated current institutional consensus

The idea to nominate Donostia to the election of "European Capital of Culture 2016 in 
Spain" was launched in 2009 by the then mayor, Odon Elorza (PS0E, Socialist Party) The 
gestation of the project was the result of a compromise between the mayor and a team of 
cultural agents, headed by Santi Eraso (Cultural Director of the application for capital 
Donostia, current advisor to the Office 2016), which brought the "ideas" that lacked 
municipal aspirations. However, the PSOE lost in favor of Bildu (sovereignist coalition 
led by the left abertzale municipal elections, a month before the European jury proclaimed 
in Madrid in June 2011, the victory of Saint Sebastian at the title of European Capital of 
Culture (DSS2016EU) against other candidates such as Cordoba or Pamplona. cities Thus, the 
atmosphere became heavy, fueled by the ambition of the previous mayor for the guardianship 
of which was his "darling" and attacks launched by the Spanish right, which obviously saw 
no more favorably than the sovereignist coalition manages the project. Originally, under 
the PSOE mayor, there were social reactions of protest against the draft Donostia Capital 
raised by the hypocrisy of the municipality who boasted of "active citizenship", 
coexistence, peace and the promotion of Basque culture. Ente other posters denounced 
"Donostia capital of torture" and other "cultural capital = Capital of Culture", drawing 
logo Donostia 2016 transforming sculpture Txilida "the comb of the winds" in the euro 
symbol. The beginning of the protest movement reached its peak in April 2010, when several 
committees parties, neighborhood associations and groups of Euskara (Basque) convened a 
demonstration denouncing the lies (around peace, harmonious coexistence Basque and 
Castilian ...), shameless propaganda and marketing campaign orchestrated by the mayor of 
Donostia candidacy for the title of European Capital of Culture. The call for protests 
ended with these questions: "What is the purpose of this costly campaign Sponsor a cheeky 
brainwashing using popular and progressive messsages Get an impressive increase in tourism 
justify the construction of qualified infrastructure?? "strategic"? "

With the arrival of elected Bildu at City Hall, where they govern in a minority (8 of 19), 
the conflict is diluted, partly because obtaining the title of Capital was followed by a 
period of silence of the municipality and internal work of the organizing Office 2016. 
From the outside, one might wonder if things would be considered otherwise, and give the 
label Donostia 2016 a new meaning. This is what seemed to indicate the appointment of new 
cultural advisors Bureau - composed of thirty professionals and consultants - who enjoyed 
greater recognition in the middle of the popular Basque culture. In this ambiguous context 
where many people had no desire to get involved in the dispute to an event where they 
counted many relationships critical to constrained lives and faded.

From there, the problems do not come from a social challenge Donostia 2016 virtually 
nonexistent during this period of governance of the city Bildu, but attacks by the group 
Vocento first newspaper publisher in Spain, and especially by the PSOE, with Odon Elorza 
his head. Gradually, indeed, disputes between parties - with their consequences: 
challenges of the new positions of directors and advisors, misappropriation of documents 
and accusations of "bigotry" of "opacity" and "lack of leadership" - went into increasing 
until the Donostia Capital Management leads to a major crisis. It finally erupted last 
April, when the Director General, Office 2016, accusing the institutions and "political 
battle between parties" to "block" the project, resigned, followed by the departure of 
Director of Communications and removal of cultural director, which left all the stuff 
without any direction.

Today, the answer to the crisis is to close ranks institutionally around the project and 
it does not seem that the problem has actually resided in substantive differences. Indeed, 
both the mayor that the Office 2016 and Santi Eraso (the "ideologue" and coordinator of 
the project DSS2016EU) categorically deny having opposite different models, ensure that 
they retain all "total fidelity" to the project and program original, "they do not alter 
the values and objectives" that "Bildu did not change a single comma Project" ... at the 
same time as they assault demonstration unit. Policies of the municipality engaged in an 
intense presence in the media; during a press conference, counsel for all parties asked, 
smiling and wearing shirts of advertising "2016 Capital", and made a solemn declaration to 
"repeat the unanimous commitment of all political groups to advance the project Donostia 
Capital and overcome the problems that impede their progress ", as guarantors also" 
respect the spirit and the letter "project.

During this series of events, Bildu bowed and showed an increasing total subordination. 
This was evident at the beginning of the year, because of the tension that followed for 
several weeks the protest anti-TGV conducted in January action when the huge logo 
"DSS2016EU" promoting cultural capital, was replaced by the slogan AHT EZ TAV (No TGV) and 
that it remained visible for 10 days from the Bay of La Concha. Indeed, while the then 
Director of the Capital said it saw no serious incident, she tried to separate Donostia 
2016 TGV and defended the right of citizens to express themselves, however Bildu ended 
yielded incomprehensibly pressures initiated by politicians and the media who can not 
speak with your mouth full of concrete; so that mid-February all political parties of the 
Town Hall (Bildu, PSE, PNV and PP) gave their unanimous approval to the proposal of the 
PSOE to "communicate the deep malaise of the Town" and "blame Director 2016 his attitude 
"for not ordered to immediately withdraw the anti-TGV slogan, and for daring" to question 
the link in the Capital with the TGV. " We can consider this as the first municipal 
agreement unanimous decision Donostia 2016 and a symptom of any drift that followed.

Since Bildu appears unable to sing any discordant note in this rotten climate of 
institutional consensus; it is the same mayor Juan Karlos Izaguirre (elected Bildu), 
unable since the beginning of the crisis to say anything other than "We will continue to 
move forward, of course," and began to repeat calls mundane to "support the project" to 
start "motivate and involve citizens" It is clear that institutions manage risk always 
leads to accept the contents of the system - in this case Donostia Capital 2016 Despite 
the. turn of events taken at the institutional level (Bildu arrival at the head of the 
City Council in 2011), critical voices continue to be heard within the population ("the 
model continues to be the same").

Meanwhile, the employees themselves of the technical team of the Office 2016 allowed 
institutions to save face by agreeing to form during the crisis a "transitional direction" 
until the Foundation appoints new CEO, a position that, according to Councillor Santi 
Eraso, should return to a "leader in relation to the more political and entrepreuneriales 
fringes of the project" to focus on finding private sponsorship. And in the back room, the 
power elite managers of the city has undoubtedly strengthened whenever the Municipal 
Government was willing to sell one of its representatives on the Foundation to introduce 
in its place the PSOE (the only currently left without representation in this body) to 
"stabilize" Donostia 2016. Moreover, the City itself has created a commission of 
"coordination" formed of various "heavyweights" of the municipal administration related to 
the management of the original project, such as the Director of Strategic (which was the 
origin of the application) and Directors of Tourism Development of Culture, with the 
former Chief of Staff of the City of Odon elorza.

Faced with all this, it seems obvious that if we do not act, the necessary social critique 
in Donostia Capital may end up buried under a wave of disputes between parties and 
questionable institutional arrangements.

3) WHAT ARE THE EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE

The cities become European Capitals of Culture part of the capitalist culture in the 
deepest sense. These "cultural capitals" is an exhibition of pure power, bombastic, 
rhetorical, empty. In addition to being a source of symbolic legitimacy to the government, 
"cultural" elements are a mere commodity. Trademarks are a commercial phenomenon and 
communication of the new capitalism, warns Unai Fernandez Betono, Doctor of architecture: 
"With the title of Cultural Capital Donostia in 2016, and with the brand Vitoria Green 
Capital (Green Capital), which essentially what is sought is to attract money, tourists, 
investors. cities have turned into key elements to develop the economy, and as a result, 
the city itself becomes a commodity " . Indeed, culture is, in this sense, a commercial 
image exploited by the elite managers who run cities. So that the European Capital 2016 is 
undoubtedly in the first place, a marketing tool for the city, since it provides the 
"brand" to sell Donostia sought through a marketing operation where the emphasis is placed 
on the perspective of tourism promotion.

But be Capital is not only a tool for tourism marketing; strategy is finer and 
sophisticated: beneath the rhetoric of cultural, it is a capture device that seeks "to 
mobilize the emotions" and integrate citizen dynamics, in order to obtain a total 
mobilization of the city channeled to a single project in which everyone has come to be 
part of "Donostia in 2016."

This explains the dual role that the brand plays Donostia in 2016: it is a major operation 
of tourism marketing that caters to the outside, but at the same time inside with the 
constant exhortation to "citizen participation "and the call to" mobilize hope and 
emotional link citizen born with the project, "the goal being that the local people" make 
his mind of the capital, as it applies to his everyday life and it creates its own 
proposals. " That is why, in the programming of Donostia in 2016, in addition to "big 
events" designed by pure exhibitionism to seek "a significant international impact, so 
these are the activities that can best mobilize citizens and attract tourists "are also 
implemented a range of heterogeneous activities, designed to integrate all possible 
expressions and dynamic citizens, including those who are on the margins of the official 
culture. Basically, what characterizes this kind of event is the European Commission 
itself that defines us (she who is the promoter of Capital): "Festivals and the European 
Culture Capital in particular produce of significant economic and use as laboratories for 
the development of citizen participation in the creative process benefits. " Thus, it is 
necessary to mobilize the creative potential of diffuse urban populations, understood as a 
new asset to operate and profitable in economic terms. This then, paradoxically, known 
local artists say that "many professionals feel the culture capital as something foreign 
and opaque thing" because "at no point in the process, they were not consulted or invited 
to speak. "

Finally, we note that the constant call to "mobilize emotions" involves the inhibition of 
thought and compulsory participation in an essentially misleading event. With the use of 
the specious argument of "opportunity." But opportunity for what?

The commodification of culture

"Creativity continues to be a resource to be exploited," says a statement from the United 
Nations (2004). It is impossible to address criticism of the Cultural Capital without 
referring to the process of commodification of culture developed globally. Specifically, 
the project of the European Capital of Culture was launched in 1985 by the Ministers of 
Culture of the European Union in perfect agreement with the perspective of the European 
Commission to increase investments in culture and creativity as economic engines. From 
this conception of "culture" understood as active and exploit strategic factor for 
economic growth, the challenge for policy driven by europ?ennees bodies is to promote the 
areas of culture and creativity as key elements for economic growth in the EU and to forge 
an attractive and dynamic image of the "Creative Economy" European, capable of asserting 
its competitiveness and global presence. Just take a look at some documents - Creative 
Europe program, project CATALYSIS, Europe 2020 Strategy, the Forum d'Avignon, Information 
on Creative Economy Conference of the United Nations Programme of UNESCO Creative Cities, 
Forum of Cities and Territories Creatives of Spain, etc.) - to realize the ideology behind 
these proposals. disguised under the appearance of rewarding cultural creation, all 
orientations are consistent with the commodification of culture and orient themselves 
intensively to the "liberalization" when they proclaim that the economic forces of 
business will take a leading role in the cultural sector for profitable exploitation of 
the "value of ideas and their ability to generate profits "in entrepreneurial terms.

The draft Donostia 2016 Cultural Capital together in the "Final Document" DSS2016EU is as 
such perfectly clear about its intentions: it aims to promote the creation of an 
Entrepreneurial Foundation for Culture and Creativity, specifying more than that is taking 
place "without giving up our goals, values and creative proposals, among other things 
because it is this creativity, and because it is that it is these values that are highly 
attractive to businesses." Thus the document calls for the creation of a private 
foundation "who intended to be permanent, which brings together a large number of small 
businesses and some large businesses who wish, which often already have their own policies 
Social Responsibility corporate already defined. " Indeed, we read also "paradigms 
antagonisms no longer work. Increasingly, convergence and cohabitation play a fundamental 
role. Many of them occur when the private sector perceives that culture n ' is not a cost 
but an investment "... so that" DSS2016EU is a decisive challenge for the creative economy 
"and even has the steering group in 2016 (formed by the Mayor, the Council (diputacion 
Foral), the Government Basque and the Minister of Culture) "not only as an organization 
but as co-financer engine a more open relationship between culture, social needs and 
management philosophy"; offering an "open design of the crop business relationship" with a 
view to "the creation of structures and permanent channels of reconciliation between the 
corporate world and culture." Moreover, according DSS2016EU "social factory operates 24 
broadcast on 24. So, what is the domain of work, dream, rest (real, imaginary, symbolic), 
everything will be productive, in a process of change leading to a paradigm dominated by 
the "immaterial labor" society. ways of thinking and doing art occupy a place privi?gi? 
instrumental in this model of the knowledge society. "

We must keep clearly in mind that the European capitals (Donostia 2016 will be the capital 
53 or 54, with the Polish city of Wroclaw) are within the commodification of culture and 
serve to legitimize restructuring deep capitalist society. After the decline of economies 
and industrial cities are highlighted projects "Creative Cities" in which "creativity is 
inexhaustible oil their economies" in the new "Era of Knowledge", linked to the ideology 
of economic growth without limits demanded by capitalism. Somehow, we are entering a new 
phase of development in which the capital goes where the richness and diversity of the 
cultural fabric and training promote production of "creative ideas." The celebration of 
major events as are the European Capitals of Culture are a catalyst for the candidate 
cities accelerate a profound transformation generating new spaces for "Cultural and 
Creative Industries" (these include the audiovisual sector, the entertainment and 
multimedia, music, entertainment, design and fashion, architecture, cultural tourism, 
luxury, etc..) located within the most dynamic emerging economic and commercial sectors. 
"There's a lot of money in the world and it lacks projects for capture," says Alfonso 
Vegara (President of the "Fundacion Metropoli-proyecto cities" and editor of Territorial 
Organization Guidelines "Euskal Hiria NET" (Basque Capital NET) of the Basque Government); 
the new socio-territorial model "Basque Capital" has been realized in the construction of 
major infrastructure and the development of "Axes processing and Creativity": "Axes 
Transformation is an opportunity to drive innovation and creativity which are the basis 
for life and the twenty-first century economy, and they have the quality to boost the 
attraction of the "creative class" of our society. "

In this context, as in Marina Garc?s said "Open the possible" culture has become the main 
instrument of advanced capitalism, which transforms it into mechanism and hobby system is 
both colorful and brutal where everything can be consumed and integrated. For this, in the 
current phase of capitalism, culture also assumes the function to neutralize and 
depoliticize social relations, without any emancipatory potential or any power 
transformation or dispute. And this neutralization, as the warning text "Barcelona 2014: 
the postmodern fascism" (published by Espai en Blanc about the "Forum of Cultures" 
celebrated in Barcelona in 2014) takes place through total mobilization socio-cultural 
diversity and its simultaneous subordination to capitalist economic universe. In this way, 
"each option, duly organized and neutralized mobilized and put to work" for the whole 
machine works. Thus, through the total mobilization that we also convene Donostia Capital 
2016 offers a depoliticized culture experience of freedom and participation.

Live in the tourist bombing

Another aspect to note is the sharp increase in tourism that the city will suffer in the 
coming years. Today, all the towns and cities are moving towards tourism, because far from 
being a common phenomenon, it is converted to one of their bigger shops, a factor 
"internationalization" of the first order and an indicator of the transformation of the 
territory and towns in companies that offer as such on the market. Also the title of 
capital europ?ennede culture Donostia 2016 he one of the axes of the tourism project to 
boost the tourism market of the city abroad. In fact, DSS2016EU claims pose a milestone in 
the growth of tourism linked to international middle class rich if, in 2013, Donostia 
recorded about half a million visitors, which means a record, in 2016 tourism should 
reach, according to forecasts, 1,400,000 hotel nights in the city and, at the same time, 
2.5 million in its immediate environment. Councillor for Tourism, Joshua Ruiz, says that 
"Donostia is a destination that is trendy" and plans to develop an "online" campaign with 
the goal of creating a "brand image of the city" to the market worldwide as a destination 
of "quality, excellence and exclusivity for a type of tourist with a good economic, 
cultural tastes and interests."

The Director of Tourism, Manu Narvaez added that in the coming years, in addition to 
promote the conquest of "emerging markets" that represent Japanese and Russian visitors, 
the capital of Guipuzcoa preferably target the North American market, which is "closely 
linked to the concept of exclusivity" and "love discovering new areas with very similar 
values of excellence." This is consistent with the objectives of the Basque Government, 
which is also strongly bet the "Cultural Tourism", an expression which is a euphemism, 
tourism is massive and predatory in nature: for example, he says that if in 2011 Euskadi 
(autonomous community with 3 Basque provinces: Guipuzcoa, Biscay, Alava) reached a record 
2.7 million tourists visited in the coming years the aim is to grow even more in the 
international market until reach 4 million tourists in 2020, strengthening the "Basque 
Country brand" that sells Euskadi as "a unique destination with an offer that feeds a 
lifestyle, style, places and frames unique life to the world. "

The project will target tourists conventions, business, weekends, and most importantly, 
culturophages tourists. For them, the project loses DSS2016EU modesty and "focus on 
maintaining their own identity as unique and special tourist resource, both for cultural 
and social reasons for its differential value and source of competitive advantage ". To do 
this, he says, "Specifically, we seek to attract the attention of those people who usually 
travel for reasons halfway between work and free time, attracted by large cultural events 
or specific activities and specific. A very common profile among workers of culture and 
the emerging creative class. " And finally, as if all that was not enough, comes the 
European Committee for Monitoring and Control of Capital to urge that the program 
"actually guarantees the European dimension" of the project and avoids "any kind of 
tropism leading to organizing a celebration of Basque cuture directed exclusively to the 
local public "; for it must offer real "pre-developed attractive to the Spanish and 
European tourism packages".

Of course, we do not speak of the social consequences of this wave of touristification. On 
this ground, the right of the people remains dominated by the law of tourists and we are 
witnessing the mass and total commodification of urban space, turning the streets every 
day in a large tourist area, leisure and retail simultaneously disappears that remained in 
the city remains the working culture and remnants of the independence of quarters: "A 
Donostia they destroyed all that was in contact with the working world (...) Tourism is 
invasive and brings bondage, "says the writer Koldo Izagirre.

A good example of this, as we have in the new "bylaw terraces" that denounces the 
Association of the inhabitants of the Old Quarter (Neighborhood Association bustling Old 
Quarter), because "it yields to the leisure industry and Tourism, the hospitality sector 
in the head, occupation and privatization of much of the public space of the city and the 
Old Quarter ", while the" supposed economic benefits that hotel generates for the city, 
which actually goes into the pockets of the hotel, include only taxes collected, 
precarious employment and inflated economic data provided by the sources. " In turn, the 
immobilil?re and commercial speculation destroyed heritage with operations such as the 
planned demolition of the old building of the "Fine Arts" to a hotel; it is also about the 
great "cultural infrastructure" Donostia 2016 currently under construction "Tabakalera" 
("farmer Tobacco Company"): in fact, as they do not know how profitable the enormous 
dimensions of the building of the old factory designed to hold an "International Centre of 
Contemporary Art", this building will house a classy and expensive restaurant with one of 
the most "spectacular" city of the rooftop floor views at the same time, according to some 
comments the enclosure may be counted in more area for FNAC, a Corte Ingles, or Inditex 
first space dedicated to culture. Finally, the expulsion hidden populations without 
resources in a city with high prices and where young people do not find housing, police 
control and limitation of widespread protest mechanisms do the rest.

Other important issues

In connection with the commodification of culure and promoting a commodified image of the 
city to tourism exist aures aspects should be emphasized:

Finance a costly financing of the total budget of EUR 89 million originally planned for 
Donostia 2016 (soon reduced to 62 million) project falls mainly on the Town Hall, the 
Diputacion (Council of Guipuzcoa)) and the Basque Government, which provide about 18 
million each to cover more than 60% of the programmed costs around this event to the year 
2020 (eg, the budget for this annn?e 2014 is approaching 8 million); while the Ministry of 
Culture bring 11 million and the rest would be achieved through the sponsorship of private 
companies (20%) among which are several building contractors (Amenabar, FCC ...) and shops 
(5%)

The enormous weight of the marketing

It should be emphasized the enormous burden of expenditure on marketing and advertising of 
the event, which alone comprise part of EUR 18 million. Moreover, in its communication 
plan and marketing strategy, the Office 2016 emphasizes the design "a whole digital 
strategy" that will "strong emphasis on social networks and new relational spaces 
generated by the last communication technologies ", where the DSS2016EU project proposes 
to make" digital campaigns and actions in which prevail transgressive, emotional and 
attractive style that should be any action that claims to be contagious "; and as, 
moreover, he said that "we will work to promote agreements with businesses in the Basque 
areas, but also with the most international Spanish entrreprises and are present 
throughout the world, such as Inditex, Movitor, Repsol, Spanair or Santander Bank "so that 
they broadcast the DSS201EU project" to project ourselves in Europe and internationally 
and reach a much larger "mobilizing effect.

The apology TGV and major infrastructure DSS2016EU The project is not at all short in his 
apology development when he said that, "coinciding with the period of preparation and 
development DSS2016EU are provided superior investment 5,000 million euros, which 
culminate investment in major infrastructure of transportation and communication as the 
TGV or the subway, so that in 2016 the city will be in the best conditions to accommodate 
the title of European Capital of Culture ". (...) The flagship projects will be the TGV 
and Metro (...) In 2016, the TGV link Donostia to Bilbao, Vitoria and Pamplona in half an 
hour and Madrid in just over 2 hours; it will increase the flow of visitors to the city 
and facilitate the visit by Europeans (...) The participation of the city in the European 
TGV network - which will connect to the main Spanish and European tourism markets - the 
network of international airports in the territory, and internal connectivity Basque Y 
(railways high speed Y-shaped) and the Metro metropolitan area provide, generate a key 
transit area for tourism bet Submission. "Etc, etc..

It is not for nothing that was planned to conclude the construction of the TGV in 2016, 
which coincides with Donostia European Capital of Culture, although completion is 
currently delayed due without credible despite the enormous expenses that have made the 
rulers. In addition, DSS2016EU also sells as the city "exceptional items" "dense network 
of motorways and 2x2 Guipuzcoa and all of Euskadi", without forgetting that "beyond the 
airport San Sebastian, in a radius of 100 km, are the airports of Bilbao, Vitoria, 
Pamplona and Biarritz "," the new underground intermodal station will be built in 
connection with the TGV train station "to Atotxa and that" the port will transferred 
outside "in Passages. Thus, the fact that a "creative city" can not stand as "attractive" 
as through major cultural events and the consolidation of a broad-based infrastructure is 
fully supported here. Even more clearly in an article in which he had to propose the 
creation of an "Association of Friends of the Basque Y" Jon Azua (former Vice President of 
the Basque Government and President Enovatinglab, SL Platform generating innovative ideas 
for the implementation of competitive strategies in Bilbao.) also wrote that the TGV 
"creates a new space for the creative economy to which we aspire (...) The creative 
territories with a clear international fame have to offer the best entrepreneurial and 
innovative climate, well-being and excellence connected with the world from megastructures 
transport "(" Basque Y: Well beyond infrastructure ", published in" Hermes "of the Sabino 
Arana Foundation in October 2007)

Praise made Eurocity Closely related to the foregoing, DSS2016EU looks like a capital 
"Atlantic and cross the middle of the large Eurocity Bayonne-Bilbao" (sic) and the paper 
concludes his little geography lesson by explaining that the "conurbation of San 
Sebastian, in a broad sense, is the core of a project that encompasses the entire 
Euroregion going from Bordeaux to Bilbao" ... So it gives a guarantee of natural thing to 
a territorial model and m?tropolis? predator territory.

Membership in an arrogant pro-European mentality order to seduce the European Commission, 
DSS2016EU dare to lecture saying that "if Europe wants to continue to play an important 
role in this globalized world, it must raise the banner culture and democracy, as the home 
of humanity. " It also includes in its program of activities designed to promote literally 
"hope in the future of the European Union." She added that Donostia is "a city proud of 
its liberal-progressive tradition" and "as his identity euskaldun (Basque) which is able 
to adapt to new times and reconcile its plural cultural identity with modernity, 
globalization" .. . With these banalities, it legitimizes any model widely questioned and 
challenged.

Unilateral reading of the issue of violence and use an ambiguous slogan as "The Culture of 
Coexistence" DSS2016EU assumes possession of the absolute truth: when the document speaks 
of dealing with violence, he not only refers the Basque question, but "also the various 
social conflicts that extend far and wide throughout Europe (...) We want Donostia-San 
Sebastian be converted into international standard for the culture of peace and education 
values, among them the ethical superiority of nonviolence conceived as rejection of war 
and terrorism, as well as any other form of violence. " Many questionable assumptions also 
generally self-serving.

Creative economy?

It is also important to avoid a possible misunderstanding when they speak to us of 
"creatve economy" and "invest in creativity." Indeed, the concept of "creativity" seems to 
be the idea that joker is used to make up the new stage promised economic growth; but we 
know that the whole system is characterized much more by what it destroys as it creates, 
to the extent that it can not continue to grow further as from the continuing expansion of 
its physical bases (extraction of raw materials, energy, infrastructure, production, 
transport ...). What happens now is that the exploitation and transformation will, in 
addition, "largely by the constant updating of the human capital of the metropolis, 
forcing focus on people and their values as a strategic key to the development "of the 
economy, according to what has been announced the association" Bilbao Metropolis-30. " 
"The creative abilities" - also said the European Commission-"must be acquired at an early 
age," among others "in order to stimulate consumer demand access to a wide variety of 
content and more products and diversif?s More sophisticated ". There is also a new 
division is emerging in society, as the protagonists of this story are the "creative 
class": they are the owners of a rich social capital "networks", ie who the ability to 
participate in the design and management of projects, which accumull? experiences, 
contacts and diverse references. The sum of these skills and their willingness to produce 
"ideas" that enterprises use to define their options promotion.

4) THE PROGRAM AND COST DSS2016EU

In terms of programming year Donostia Capital, "we believe that there is an unlimited 
potential to generate strong explosion of programs and activities," the document says 
DSS2016EU. Here are some samples of the 62 activities, throughout the year 2016 "flood the 
territory" and have already been programmed, mostly in the "final document" European 
winner of the 2011 competition:

Major events: - For the inaugural act called "Drums of Peace" (1.8 million euros), it was 
announced that "more than 9,000 children from all over Europe will signal the opening of 
the European Capital of Culture "participating in the" tamborrada "(concert drums) of the 
feast of the city.

Simultaneously be achieved "Bombing of poems for cohabitation" "A plane carrying messages 
of coexistence, peace, harmony, love, hope, forgiveness, announce this to the entire 
European continent launching the program is launched DSS2016EU" (250,000 euros). "The aim 
is to spray Poland - where the city of Wroclaw share the title of Capital of Culture 2016 
with Donostia - to spread the message of peace and massive invasive way (...) Our fleet to 
bombard peace During the year 2016 throughout Europe with poems of peace, in collaboration 
with networks of "Intercultural Cities" and "Educating", Paris, London, Madrid, Berlin, 
Belfast, Lisbon, Warsaw ". And the program adds: "Everything was destroyed Guernica More 
than half a century after totalitarianism sowed destruction with unprecedented violence 
against the civilian population, we Europeans are limpliqu?s in an integration process 
based on. values such as human rights, respect for diversity and coexistence between 
peoples and nations. "
Other examples of this vast marketing operation for the city are a train, a boat, a circus 
and a mobile agency that will serve as "mobile platforms" of DSS2016EU, putting to the 
fore the construction of the nave San Juan undertake several trips along the European 
coasts, as "the flagship of the European Capital of Culture 2016" at the same time serve 
(2,640,000 euros) "attraction to San Sebastian Pole." It is hoped that during one of the 
trips back whaler San Juan - this is a replica of a boat of the fifteenth century who 
participated in the route to India for transporting gold and hunting whales in 
Newfoundland - "thousands of boats and barges, yachts and boats from all over Europe will 
accompany us to celebrate this fun way back to the port." Ultimately, the nave of San Juan 
- for the construction of which we never say that were slaughtered in the Etxarri-Aranatz 
200 oaks, many of whom were old forest - "put Euskadi (the Basque Country) on World map of 
maritime heritage. It will get visibility in Europe, "said an adviser to the 2016 Donostia 
team.
Are also planned a thousand concerts for three days will bring together over 10,000 young 
European musicians in different Basque localities (including macro-festival in the Anoeta 
stadium where they hope to gather 23,000 people)
The production of 15 short films whose central motif is "Donostia as thread" (240,000 euros)
An "International Festival of Kites for Unity and European Diversity" which promises to be 
"a popular air show of solidarity and hope in the future of the European Union (200,000 euros)
The use of a "Citizen Mobilization Event International" organization in which Donostia 
become "European Capital of Ocean Initiatives", which begins with the arrival of whales 
floating-drawn traineras and continue with 48 hours of concerts on floating stages and the 
beach; also participate associations, universities, companies and institutions engaged in 
"protecting our coasts" (550.000 euros)
Other spectacular actions as the "installation of a lighting system never realized until 
now," and "significantly modifies the urban landscape in a part of the center and the 
seafront of the city," with which claims invite people "to reflect on the winter solstice" 
and to "adopt more responsible drinking habits" (85.000 euros)
Peace activities in the field of activities for "peace" and "cohabitation", will be made 
of "shows on the Peace Agreement", "a series of forums brotherhood and reconciliation 
involving people willing to build a scenario of sustainable cohabitation ", an" 
International Meeting of Commissions for Truth, Justice and Reconciliation "(800,000 
euros), and a human chain accompanied by festive activities that will connect in the 
localities and Aduna Tolosa (Guipuzcoa), places where died the first civilian guard killed 
by ETA and the first ETA militant killed by the Guardia Civil (150,000 euros)

Activities to integrate social dynamics of any type: In the context of "good child" who 
seeks to integrate heterogeneous expressions and elements located on the fringes of the 
official culture, it must include:

The organization of a "Congress of popular self-organization initiatives" (180,000 euros)
An "International Meeting just saving, alternative currency and micro-financing" which 
presents itself as an experience offering citizen-ing to try new alternative forms of 
financing (time banks, microcredit, community currencies), there including the creation 
"as a pilot experimental mode" of "alternative currency DSS2016EU which, along with the 
usual money will flow in 2016 and allow the people of Guipuzcoa and people visiting to 
participate in an economic system we separate ". In addition, an international conference 
will be organized "Can we live without money?" On possible less monetarist economic models 
that exceed the money system (750,000 euros) ...
The realization of an International Congress of Food, Nutrition and food sovereignty "and 
other activities festivo-participatory nature as an event entitled" Mother Earth "to 
celebrate the" International Day of Slow Food "(650,000 euros)
A "European Campus for the meeting of NGOs and other organizations of international 
cooperation" will host a sort of "G20 solidarity" (500,000 euros)
A "Women's Time" with activities of all types that will culminate with "Futurm?res", an 
international meeting of "mothers and fathers of the future, with an aging Europe, offer 
the adventure of rejuvenating motherhood, moving, amusing educator and happy "(200,000 euros)
Programming "Hundred sessions based on the school of Theatre of the Oppressed" (150. 000)
One that tries to highlight the act of creation and invention of new symbolic worlds from 
internees "art done by persons confined in prisons, psychiatric units or centers for 
minors exhibition" ", including the exposure of more than sixty works that make up" the 
written records, inscriptions and art "angry" "cooperative" Sensitive to the madness 
"(950.000 euros)
- Not to mention a "Cooperarock" - a neologism formed "cooperative" and "rock opera" - 
promoted with the collaboration of a group of which the embryo is born in 1998 in a squat 
in a musical association that has obtained the support factories Creation of the Basque 
Government (350,000 euros)

Activities related to the issue of linguistic diversity and standardization of minority 
languages in Europe. Finally, one of the most eye-catching aspects of the program refers 
to the issue of linguistic diversity and standardization of minority languages in Europe. 
This fact deserves special attention for the effect of symbolic recognition that it seems 
to assume Euskara (Basque) and minority languages. "The cultural program should be invited 
to create an awareness in Europe of the richness and diversity of minority cultures and 
languages that exist in European countries," said the European Committee for Monitoring 
and Control of Cultural Capital in its recommendations.

However, besides this theoretical compliance miniritaires languages, we can not forget 
that the European institutions do not recognize nationalities and linguistiques situation 
in Europe, in addition to established the dominance of a hegemonic language (the English), 
is a serious inequality and hierarchy made between different national cultures and 
communities; so, many of them tend to weaken and igh are clearly becoming assimilated as a 
consequence of the action of states seeking to reduce and eliminate national identities 
deemed subordinate.

Approximately 50 different languages are spoken in the European Union, 24 of them are 
official languages, while states recognize the existence of about 20 other languages they 
call "regional" (eg Breton and Basque) and 31 other "minority" languages spoken by 
significant minorities located in different regions and countries (the case of the 
Balkans, Romania, Poland ...) where complex linguistic situations exist (eg the Hungarian 
spoken by the Hungarian minority in Croatia). In this context, the Spanish state of 
autonomies would have converted during the last thirty years, an "example" or "true 
experimental laboratory Language Policy", insofar as the "European Charter even regional 
or minority languages "considers in any case that" the protection and promotion of 
regional or minority languages should not be to the detriment of the official languages 
"or" national sovereignty and territorial integrity "of states. In addition, there are 
many who believe that any form of globalization carries impulses to uniformity, together, 
beyond the linguistic differences that minority languages eventually convey is not the 
patrimony of each people but membership in a system that claims make a profound unity 
around the dominant culture with its values and goals, reproducing a single model that has 
an increasingly strong cultural domination in the world.

Therefore, it is necessary to highlight the contradictions posed by the project itself 
DSS2016EU when he tackles the subject. Indeed, a side he celebrates "the growing 
multilingualism opens new horizons of hope for the integration of minority languages, 
ensuring simultaneous communication, naturally, in two or more languages," and also argues 
that, "contrary to appearances, globalization and technology does not necessarily bring 
dispose of minority languages, but instead suggest significant opportunities for 
revitalization."

But on the other hand, and in a contradictory way, he warned: "But despite efforts and 
significant progress, various indicators have a pessimistic general overview for minority 
languages in Europe and the world, in fact, all the languages that do not fit into the 
hegemonic linguistic map of international relations power. " In addition, the meaning of 
his proposal is open to different interpretations when he announces, for example, the 
organization of a "meeting of writers from different countries usually use these minority 
languages in their works, for they work narrative experiences together on the theme "take 
the loss as the possibility of reincarnation," to create a new language that resurface all 
these as if it were a new species, a new mythological animal "...

That said, the language issue will be the subject of various activities, including the 
announcement of the organization of a "Summit on linguistic diversity" which will bring 
together experts and intellectuals and which will be presented a protocol for the 
protection and promotion of endangered languages (512,000 euros), at the same time that 
coincides with the "European Day of Languages", throughout the territory of the Capital 
"shall cover sheet which will be written basic phrases in various languages that overwhelm 
the shop windows, balconies of houses, fences yards, etc.. "; and the model of the Book 
Fair and Hard Durango (which is described as "largest commercial meeting" of Basque 
culture) will be held in Irun "professional language fair, which will cover all aspects of 
the market" (450,000 euros )

5) CONCLUSION Y Lecturas:

We have reviewed in this text information as to why, in our opinion, it is necessary to 
stimulate debate and social protest against the capital Donostia 2016. Aware scans that we 
are questionable and may also sometimes be mistaken, this work seeks anyway to invite all 
individuals and collectives to express their own opinions. We recommend reading the 
following text (which can be obtained easily by searching on the Internet):

"Barcelona 2004 el postmodern fascism" (Barcelona 2004: the postmodern fascism) (published 
by Espai en Blanc).
"Los Abrir possibles" ("Open the possibilities") Marina Garc?s.
Capitalidad Europea de la Cultura 2016 in Donostia "Documento Final". (European Capital of 
Culture in 2016: "Final Document" to know what it is DSS2016EU, throw at least a glance)