Hi everybody,

I got this question from Nick, which I'm really glad to answer because I'm
working for the Education Department, And I'm in charge of everything related
to school lunchroom or dining room(???). 
You ask me if catering schools teach in relation to kosher, halal, vegetarian,
vegan, and so on.
As far as I know, every time a parent asks for a special menu for their child,
the catering company carefully takes notes of it and prepares the food
according to the parent's requirements. Let's say any kind of intolerances
against eggs, lactose, shellfish, not to mention gluten. It goes without saying
that public schools, in general, and my department, specifically, take special
care of any kind of food requirements, so that, Muslims and Jewish people are
getting the menu according to their religion. 
To tell you the truth, we have never had requests from Jewish people, but
many of them for vegetarians and vegans. All of them get their special menus
every day.
It is also possible to ask for a special menu for a short period, namely, if a
child has gastroenteritis or another stomach problem and they need a soft diet.

I hope my answer can satisfy your thirst for knowledge

BR
Ana.
Hi everybody,
I got this question from Nick, which I'm really glad to answer because I'm
working for the Education Department, And I'm in charge of everything related
to school lunchroom or dining room(???). 
You ask me if catering schools teach in relation to kosher, halal, vegetarian,
vegan, and so on.
As far as I know, every time a parent asks for a special menu for their child,
the catering company carefully takes notes of it and prepares the food
according to the parent's requirements. Let's say any kind of intolerances
against eggs, lactose, shellfish, not to mention gluten. It goes without saying
that public schools, in general, and my department, specifically, take special
care of any kind of food requirements, so that, Muslims and Jewish people are
getting the menu according to their religion. 
To tell you the truth, we have never had requests from Jewish people, but
many of them for vegetarians and vegans. All of them get their special menus
every day.
It is also possible to ask for a special menu for a short period, namely, if a
child has gastroenteritis or another stomach problem and they need a soft diet.

I hope my answer can satisfy your thirst for knowledge

BR
Ana.
Hi everybody,
I got my report corrected and it came with some questions that I'm trying to answer.
How well trained are the waiting staff? Can they at least speak basic English?  I have never tried to talk
in English with any waiters in my city, maybe because I'm Spanish and there is no need. However, I
could pretend to be a foreign person and ask for my coffee in English, it's an idea that has never

crossed my mind  
I guess that the staff working in the old city where most of the tourists visit is prepared, at least, to
speak and understand the basic concepts to take their orders.
Do they understand the concepts of vegetarianism, veganism, gluten intolerant, halal and kosher?
(jamón is meat, tuna is not a salad vegetable)
I reckon that they should know the differences between vegetarianism and veganism. Correct me if I’m
wrong because though I think I understand the differences, maybe, you as a vegetarian could clear up
a bit more.
Let’s say that vegans avoid all kind of animal and animal-derived products ; it’s more a lifestyle strongly
anchored in animal rights, they follow this diet not only for health reasons but also for environmental
ones.  they take it to the extreme and avoid purchasing clothing items containing silk, wool, leather or
suede.
What's more, many vegans boycott companies that test on animals and only purchase cosmetics that
are free of animal by-products since they are against all forms of animal exploitation.
On the flip side, vegetarians are more flexible, even though they forgo eating animal products, they can
add to the diet eggs or dairy products (is it your case??). We could talk about lacto-
ovo vegetarians, ovo vegetarians, lacto vegetarians and also pescatarians (if they consume fish) or
flexitarians ( I guess they let themselves to eat meat or fish from time to time).
When it comes to gluten intolerance, I’m pretty sure almost everybody knows about it. Maybe shellfish
intolerance isn’t so well-known. The thing is that I don’t think restaurants or bars are well prepared to
offer gluten-free tapas or dishes, rather complex. Not to mention, shellfish-free food. What I mean is
that a bar that is cooking a large variety of tapas using the same oil, the same deep-fryer or pans, it’s
impossible to makespecial tapas to offer people with any kind of intolerance. It’s up to the person to
know if they can eat something or not.
I’m not going to talk about halal and kosher because I have never ever heard about them. I had myself
to look them up in the dictionary, and I think, apart from Kebbab bars, where I guess they follow halal,
nobody even Knows what that means.
Could traditional dishes and tapas be adapted to satisfy special diets? How could local restaurants and
bars be encouraged to do this?
Remember that every other group of four Anglos or Germans is likely to have at least one vegetarian or
vegan and cities like Madrid and Barcelona are now infested with bloody vegans (we vegetarians hate
vegans!) (YOU SHOULD EXPLAIN yourself WHERE THIS HATRED COMES FROM)
I’m not sure about vegetarian restaurants in León. I know there is one, maybe you can find more (I
hardly ever dine out, so my knowledge is nearly zero).
A free online guide (PDF) for tourists with special diets would be a cheap solution, so long as it was
kept up to date. Why don’t you organize it with your city council and translate it to English to help our
local economy?! GREAT IDEA!!!!. I’m going to write a proposal immediately (Should I write it in

English?? I don’t think so).

Have a great Easter holiday
Ana

Vegetarians don't really hate vegans - it's 99% a joke. However, I do get a
little offended when someone whose been a vegan for two months looks down
their nose at me for eating free-range egs and drinking milk when I've been a
vegetarian for 36 years. Moreover, my experience is that people tend to be
vegans for months or up to two years but then slip back into eating meat.
What's the point of that? It seems more reasonable to me to do somethign
sustainable than to go to the extreme and then give up after a relatively short
period of time.
The kosher/halal thing is important because you cook all sorts of surprising
things in lard. Of course, Muslims and orthodox Jews can eat anything
vegetarian. Seafood intolerance would seem to be an easy deal: don't go to
seafood restaurants (just like I don't go to steakhouses/Asadores).
I've really enjoyed correcting this topic. In part because it has got you talking
about all your different regions and traditons.
Nick
Now I see your point. Becoming vegetarian has nothing to do with fad diets.
It's a lifestyle you adopt for personal reasons (whatever they are). Anyway, I
have thought to become a vegetarian mainly because I really love veggies,
fruit and nuts, However, If I do, I'd be a flexitarian, some eggs, dairy products
and from time to time fish and undoubtedly, "jamón" and "cecina". Both
animal products are always at home, the temptation is so hard that I can't
resist myself. 
I completely agree with you that the best diet to can take up is the one you
can keep on doing all your life. Fad diets or crazy crash diets never work
because it's impossible to sustain over time.
Talking about intolerances, I'm afraid I disagree with you about shellfish
intolerance. A friend of mine suffers from this condition and she finds it really
hard to find dishes shellfish-free. I'm talking about a real and strong
intolerance not mild. She can't eat anything that has been made using shellfish
broth, anything that has these sea animals, even though they have been taken
out of her plate.
In an attempt to check the bars and restaurants in my city, I went for a drink
and some "tapas" last week and I had a thorough look at the menus and list of
tapas in same places. I was pleased to note that in nearly all of them there
was a sign for gluten intolerants to ask for gluten-free tapas and dishes.
However, it was impossible to find anything related to other intolerances.
Finally, I don't recommend a vegetarian or vegan to come to León for a potential of comes-free-with-a-
drink food because, in all likelihood, they will end up sick and tired of eating potatoes, It's true, you can
find them with a large variety of sauces. If anything, other than that, few options for veggie lovers.  Still,
I found some other options: Padron's peers, tempura vegetables, and of course, the handy and
omnipresent Spanish omelette. It's up to you to go on being vegetarian or quit and taste our delicious
cecina. If not, you will miss an important part of our Spanish cuisine. 
Have a great comeback
A
Dear all,
I hope you have had a wonderful holiday.
Nick, in the first place, after having read your corrections, I must reconfirm that octopus is undoubtedly a
100% “Ourensan’ tradition”:
https://elviajero.elpais.com/elviajero/2014/01/16/actualidad/1389903673_386598.html
https://www.farodevigo.es/portada-ourense/2012/03/12/oseira-marin-historia-comun/631648.html
Regarding special dietary requirements, I don’t think Ourense might be an absolute hell for vegetarians (just
a little hell for them and an absolute one for vegans), as we can find some other delicacies such as “del país”
cheese, https://www.laregion.es/articulo/la-revista/amalia-mosteiro-quesos-
ourense/20190405110103864204.html, or the scrumptious “tortilla de patata” that El Frade
cooks: https://www.traveler.es/gastronomia/articulos/mejores-tortillas-de-patata-de-galicia-restaurantes-
donde-comer/14894.
I must admit that there’re not many traditional dishes that don’t involve meat or fish… I guess that it’d be
easily possible to adapt “empanada” or “pote/caldo gallego”. And, recently, a group of women has created
pumpkin chorizo: https://ideavegana.com/calabizo-chorizo-vegano-calabaza-opinion/
Concerning basic food-related concepts such as gluten intolerant, I can report that for the last five years,
almost every bar and restaurant in Ourense understands what it means (one of my best friends who’s still
living there is gluten intolerant and she can eat everywhere). As far as vegetarian and vegan… I must admit
that only the more “modern” bars and restaurants might be acquainted with those concepts… And to what
kosher and halal concerns, if I’m as lost as Ana, I guess it’d be the same for them
I’d say that at many restaurants and bars in Madrid, especially the most modern ones, the list of options includes some
symbols meaning “gluten-free”, “egg-free”, “apt for vegetarians”, and so on. So people can choose without problem,
knowing what they’re going to eat.
At these type of places I think there’s no problem for vegetarians or vegans either.
But there are still many places, mainly the older ones, where I think it still doesn’t happen. Many people still consider
Spanish ham is no meat, or they offer you fish when you say you’re vegetarian (¿?)…
Maybe for some cheffs at modest bars it’s difficult to make a large variety of tapas, including some to offer to people with
any kind of intolerance. So, as Ana says, it’s up to the person to know if they can eat something or not.
I’d say I’m ‘pescatarian’, or even kind of  ‘flexitarian’ (didn’t know those words, so thanks, Ana!). I don’t usually eat meat,
but on Christmas or some occasions, at  my Mum’s. I respect and admire vegetarianism as a healthy option, and good
for the planet, too. But I have the impression that veganism is sort of “postureo” among many of them, and they look
down to those who eat eggs and dairys, not to say if they are omnivore! And they miss the delicious "tortilla de patatas",

like that suggested by Carlota at El Frade 

 I find the kosher /halal issue more complicated. Spanish people haven't known those concepts for centuries, and it's
difficult to consider them at bars or restaurants, having also a religious connotation...

About waiters understanding or speaking English… I think now there are many who have learnt English at shool, or have
been well trained at high schools for hostelry, so they can manage quite well. But those who are older, are not qualified,
or didn’t have the chance to learn… there are still many, too. Not to speak about some lists translated into English: some
are quite good, but I’ve seen some which have made me laugh, or feel quite embarrased, wandering what an English
native would think of it.
Anyway, it's worth visiting all Spanish regions and enjoy the large variety of delicious Spanish  food and
dishes, isisn't it? And even for vegetarians!

Wish you all great day!

Best regards

Nieves.

t's interesting to compare the two countries in that respect. Obviously, there is no comparison to the
English Civil War because there are no absolutist monarchists or Puritans left, so if people do take
a side, it tends to be rather abstract, not deeply personal. Moreover, in England it was really a series
of set piece battles not a war on the population (it was different in Ireland, I know). And then, of
course, there's the distance in time.
The equivalent British obsession is the Second World War (I lost an uncle in Italy, who was MUCH
older than my mother). However, the effect is completely different. "We" were (for once)
unambiguously the good guys. We won and there was no occupation, so Britihs people tend to get
dewy eyed about the "Dunkirk Spirit" and "Keep calm and carry on" (which irritates me no end!),
rather than getting angry. Its a unifying thing.
Chrchill was genocidal if you're a Kurd or an Indian but we was also the right person at exactly the
right moment in WWII for Brtiain
It is surprising as an outsider the passion about where Paquito is buried and where hundreds of
thousands of others aren't properly buried still generates. I, like the guy in the video, tend to avoid
the topic - along with hunting and bullfighting. They're things that you are never going to convince
anyone about, much less as a foreigner.
Nick
 
 
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  6: Re: Gearing up for the next writing assignment (respuesta a 1) 

I did a MOOC last year in "cultural intelligence". How much do you think
children at school should be taught about the difference between cultures and
be primed to accept cultural differences? Is it a question of tolerance or
should be actively embrace other ways of doing things and viewing the
world?
Does everyone have a responsibility to be culturally intelligent. For example,
in the tourism situation - is the onus on the tourist to respect local culture (as
Nicholas John a "visitor") or should the locals adapt to the tourist (as their customers)?
Franklin Think about that both as a tourist and as a host.
10 Abr 2019, - Should you make a special effort to speak less loudly abroad?
20:24 - Should you make a special effort to speak less loudly in front of foreign
 
Profesor/a tourists in Spain?
- Should restaurants in Spain offer paella with chorizo (and vegetarian paella)
to cater for foreign (British) tastes?
- If you see a tourist eating a slice of omelette with a knife and four, should
you
a. smile and think "bless!"
b. tell them as politely as possible that Spanish omelette should only be eaten
with a fork
c. try to ignore them.
- Who is to blame for Magaluf-type situations: the tourists or the local
businesses that cater for them?
Nick

'm of the opinion that if you really want to travel to a different country to meet
new people, know a different culture, taste the local cuisine, you shouldn't
expect them to adapt their customs to your likings. It's nonsense. However,
you would be free to eat what you want and visit what you please. As long as
you are respectful with the customs and culture, everything would be ok
On a different note, after watching some videos about what puzzles foreign
people when coming to Spain, I find them absolutely exhilarating. These
Spanish behaviours that catch the attention of visitors are so normal and daily
life routines, that we barely realize about them. However, I don¡'t agree with
the first advice of don't overuse "Thanks" and "please". Everyone loves to hear
these words, especially waiters. I usually go to a bar to have a coffee and
there is a sign which says: " A smile is free, you say please and thanks and I'll
be all smiles".
 
BR
Have a wonderful Easter
Hi !
Sorry to be so late here… Some family issues kept me busy preoccupied these past days...
Everything’s ok now.
About the video and what we do and don’t / shouldn’t do in Spain:
11) We don’t say please and thank you constantly. I know British people do that… and so do I ! Am
I a weird Spaniard? They’re right about intonation and diminutives, but even so I can’t help to say
please and thank you, and I think it should be more usual
10) We don’t put our bread on our plate. No, just with fried eggs. We keep our piece of bread at the
left side of our plate, and never, never, never pick another one’s bread!
9) Don’t eat with a hand under the table. Nor the elbows on it! I don’t know if British people keep
doing that (the hand under the table, not the elbows thing, of course!) but in Downton Abbey they
do 
8) Don’t offer a beer at 5 p.m. if some come to your house.  It’s coffee time! Though I agree with
what Fredi says: I spend my summer holidays in Galicia, and yes, maybe because their Atlantic,
celt, cold weather and traditions, you can drink a beer, wine or spirits at any time.
7) Don’t help with dishes after parties. Nor before! Just if you’re with very close relatives, and even
so…
5) Don’t misinterpret loud conversations. Well, yes, it annoys me, but  we Spanish people usually
speak very loud. 
6, 4, 3 and 2) are quite obvious to me
1) Don’t mention Spanish Civil War casually. Honestly, I didn’t expect this to be the top issue. Until
some years ago, I expected it to be taken as a very sad episode of our recent history, to look at it
with respect, but to consider it as a closed wound… How mistaken I was! I see what’s happening
now, and I can’t believe it. Fredi’s right on this point: Many actual rich families  are descendants of
the winners and prosperous ones during Franco’s dictatorship… They’ve been apparently quiet for
some time, till a match like VOX have “lighted the fire” again. And even among teenagers (my
sister is a teacher and tell me what their “opinions” are). It’s heartbreaking.
Well, Easter holidays are a good Spanish tradition, too. Hope you all enjoy some good days for
relaxing and having fun. And enjoy 'torrijas' as well 
Best wishes

Nieves.
P. S. Laura is absolutely right: paella con chorizo is not paella. Why do British people put chorizo in
every Spanish dish? 
Hi !
haha... yes , the presenter is quite irritating... to me, he speaks too fast!
But you're right, the information in both videos are very interesting.
I don't understand much about memory or psychology. I've searched for
the Atkinson-Shiffrin memory model: short-term store, long-term store, etc.
It's very interesting and has a point, but I've also read it's been very critized,
too: At the end, it's a 50-year-old theory, and I guess Psychology is a science
constantly changing and improving.
I like what the presenter says: "Memory is the link between our past and our
present". It's the stuff of our lives, I guess. On the other hand, I can't help but
think on those poor patients suffering Alzheimer... The loss of memory is
somehow the loss of ourselves. But then, they remain in the memory of others
(family, friends...), so what they were doesn't completely "disapear"... But this
is quite more 'metaphysics' than psychology.
When talking about Psychology, I always recall Oliver Sack's The Man Who
Mistook His Wife for a Hat. It's a very informative book about how mind
works... and stop to work sometimes. It's really fascinating.
My own experience about memory -apart from common remembrances of
chilhood, happy events, sad ones, etc.- is the complete lack of memory of the
episode of the car crash I had seven years ago. They tell me I was trapped in
the car for more than 2 hours, and the reports say I was conscious (but
repetitive!?), I was then taken to the hospital, etc... And I don't
remember anything! Just since the day after, awakening in the ICU, and even
so... How could I be conscious and don't recall a thing, even when being
'forced to' many months after that to remember it, whe a judge asked me
to,and showed me some photos taken by the police? (though it mede me
have shaking chills   )
A friend of mine who is doctor says that it was probably the quite massive loss
of blood, another friend told me, "and why would you want to remember such
painful moment?". Maybe both are right... Well, seven years after, I still don't
remember... maybe never will (hopefully).
Well, to be not so serious, I would like to share another way of trying to search
in your inner memory:
Mind Palace

Would you call it recall, recognition, relearning? The three of them ? None? 
And please, forgive this long "speech" about myself. Couldn't help
remembering the experience...

Hope you all have a very happy week ahead, with nice mementos 
Best wishes
Nieves.
Dear Nick,
I was wondering if you could help me to learn "very formal" letter endings. 
Recently, I had to write some formal letters (invitations, award nominations
and so on) and, as I work at a very traditional institution, our President loves
over-elaborate endings, and I've written something like this: 
With the greatest esteem and respect for the work of the Jury Members, I remain yours faithfully,

We would be really honored if you would accept this invitation. As soon as we would get
your acceptance, we would shortly provide further details.
I would like to recapitulate the purpose of this letter highlighting that it would be a great honor for this
Foundation if we could count on your participation, as a keynote speaker, giving a lecture on a topic of your
interest.
How do those endings sound? Is there a book on over-elaborate endings you
could suggest?
Thanking you in advance for your time and help.
Best,
Carlota
Dear Nick,
I was wondering if you could help me to learn "very formal" letter endings. 
Recently, I had to write some formal letters (invitations, award nominations
and so on) and, as I work at a very traditional institution, our President loves
over-elaborate endings, and I've written something like this: 
With the greatest esteem and respect for the work of the Jury Members, I remain yours faithfully,

We would be really honored if you would accept this invitation. As soon as we would get
your acceptance, we would shortly provide further details.
I would like to recapitulate the purpose of this letter highlighting that it would be a great honor for this
Foundation if we could count on your participation, as a keynote speaker, giving a lecture on a topic of your
interest.
How do those endings sound? Is there a book on over-elaborate endings you
could suggest?
Thanking you in advance for your time and help.
Best,
Carlota
Sorry Carlota,
I only just saw this. I didn't have U. 10 activated for automatic notifications.
The first one sounds fine.
 

We would be truly honored if you would accept this invitation. As soon as we

would receive your acceptance, we will shortly provide further details.
- you can't say "As soon as" (= immediately) and "shortly" (= in a while) in the same
sentence, they contradict each other.
And the last one's fine.
Most of the letter writing advice I know of is in the appendices of dictionaries. I'll have a look for you.
Nick
Hi,
As a parting shot for the utopia/future-gazing stuff this weekend I'd like to
offer you and interactive online "game" rather than a video (just for a change).
At https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/services/people-organisation/publications/workforce-of-the-
future/quiz.html
there is a quiz that determines what type of future labour market your skills
and attitude are atuned to. It all ends with a 40-page - heavily illustrated with
pictures, sidebars and infographics - PDF document on the labour market in
2030, which is quite interesting.
Sorry that the forum for U.10 (or U. 11!) haven't been opened yet. It's my bad
- I forgot to ask Ricky to do it for me (because I was so excited about your
utopias). We should have one or both open imminently.
Have a great weekend.
Nick
Hello everybody !
Very interesting quiz indeed !. 
Mine is Yellow (*), as Ana's... I guess the colour per se is not that important,
but the concept of the job and people you want to be  involved with.
(*) "You're looking for flexibility, fullfilment and meaning", the final
message says.
"The Yellow World -Humans come first: Social-first and community businesses
prosper. Crowdfunded capital flows towards ethical and blameless brands.
There is a search for meaning and relevance with a social heart. Artisans,
makers and ‘new Worker Guilds’ thrive. Humanness is highly valued", says the
PDF about Yellow World.
In the PDF document I see there are four colors (Yellow, Red, Green and Blue)
with their respective meanings. Yellow and Green seem the best to me, since
Yellow world gives importance to people, and Green World to environment, if
I've understood it correctly.
Anyway, it's been really fun doing this quiz, and the analysis this 'Workforce of
the Future' provides is very interesting.

Kind of new Utopias?? 

Thanks for sharing! 

Enjoy this Sunday evening (though this weekend has been 1 hour shorter 
)
Wish you all a very happy week ahead!
Best regards,
Nieves.
Hello everybody!
As Maria and Ana, my world has turned yellow too: “A world where humanness is highly valued”. However,
on the basis of having chosen those answers related to people and to a common good, I guess that had to
be the result.
I envisage that world where both workers and companies seek out greater meaning and relevance in what
they do. A world, as stated in the text, where collaboration will be key.
Let’s continue living in a utopian world!
It's probably more a question of what you are willing to sacrifice in order to
conserve it rather than who wants to destroy it. Even the trafficker in tiger
parts probably has nothign against tigers but it's just that he (almost certainly
"he") values his own comfort and that of his family more. We're all also
brilliant at rationalizing after a decision has been taken. So, it's sad that rhinos
are going extinct but if I don't kill the last one someone else will.
This evening I was watching a documentary film called Tigerland. There was
this Russian gentleman who works tirelessly to save the Siberian tigers. Then
one tigress mauls him, destroys his face and nearly kills him. A couple of
months later he was back doing his conservation work (despite his
permanently disfigured face. He definitely has a free place in our CUID
ecological community, right?
N
ell, it's important in as much as some verbs a. can take an object, b. some
verbs have to take an object and c. some verbs can't take an object
For example:
a. dress up: e.g. I dressed up as a fairy. I dressed my little sister up as a
princess.
b. give back is necessarily transitive: e.g. I gave the book back (to her).
c. set in is intransitive. e.g. Winter set in.
Nothing to lose sleep over.
N
Collocations:
•Razor sharp: I thought it means very cleaver. Is this metaphoric
meaning also acceptable?
•Dead tired: Some years ago I read the book “Dead famous”, which
means awfully famous. I suppose that the modifier “dead” can be used
with other adjectives too.
Absoluteness:
•I find the expression “a worst-case scenario” quite useful. For instance,
in our last creative writing we could have used the similar one “a best-
case scenario” to talk about the utopia.
•However, I don't know to what the expression “the finer things of life”
refers...
 
Hi Pilar
Yes, razor-sharp can be used metaphorically to mean ingenious (= very clever)
Yes, "dead" has a number of collocates
"The finer things in life" are things related with refined culture, such as opera,
smoked salmon, caviar, art, yachting, etc.
Nick
CORRECTION: "cleaver" is a type of axe used in the kitchen for chopping
(especially a meat cleaver).
Hi,
As Ricardo just announced, we are going to do something different this month
for the writing assignment to shake things up a bit! "We" (well Ricardo, I'm
technically inept!) still have to change the .docx with instructions in Entraga de
Trabajo but I attach the file here for anyone who wants to get thinking about
it. Notice that the weighting of the marks in the rubric has changed.
WARM-UP ACTIVITY
To get you thinking about the topic, here's a warm-up activity:
Think about the following questions and post a comment answering them in general:
 
a. Is your society fair[1]? Is there a reasonable level of equality of opportunity?
b. Is everyone equal under the law?
c. Should wealth be distributed more equally?
d. Do you complain about[2] how things work[3] in your country?
e. Do you think you know how to organize things better?
 
 
In Act II, Scene 1 of Shakespeare’s The Tempest (1611), a nobleman called Gonzalo imagines the
perfect society. This is what he says (in Modern English prose):
 
In my republic I’d do everything differently from the way it’s usually done. I wouldn’t allow[4] any
commerce. There’d be no officials or administrators. There’d be no schooling or literature. There’d
be no riches, no poverty, and no servants—none. No contracts or inheritance laws; no division of
the land into private farms, no metal-working, agriculture, or vineyards[5].
There’d be no work. Men would have nothing to do, and women also—but they’d be innocent and
pure. There’d be no kingship[6]...
Everything would be produced without labour, and would be shared by all[7]. There’d be
no treason[8], crimes, or weapons[9]. Nature would produce its harvests[10] in abundance, to feed
my innocent people.[11]
 
1. Try to find three changes that Gonzalo would make that you agree with. Explain why they are a
good idea.
2. Try to find three changes that Gonzalo would make that you disagree with. Why do you think
they are a bad idea?
3. What do you know about utopian literature?
4. Is a liberal capitalist democracy with the rule of law the best possible society we can reasonably
hope for?
 

[1] fair – (in this case) just

[2] to complain about – criticize
[3] to work – (in this case) function
[4] to allow – permit
[5] vineyard – field in which grapes are grown
[6] kingship – monarchy
[7] to be shared by all – be divided up equally
[8] treason – treason perfidy
[9] weapons – arms, implements of war
[10] harvests – agricultural production, produce
[11] translation from Early Modern English by No Fear Shakespeare (slightly
revised) https://www.sparknotes.com/nofear/shakespeare/tempest/page_74/
The Writing Assignment, the only thing that is marked and therefore has points
associated with it, is posted in "Entrga de trabajos" which should be in a box in
the top left-hand corner of your screen called "Mis herramientas". In any case
the submission dates for the writing assignment are 15th to 20th March, so
there is no rush.
This preparation work is just for your enjoyment and to get you thinking about
utopias before actually writing the essay. In any case I will make sure that you
do not lose any marks over this. What happened in the past? I don't remember
ever turning any essay of your down because it was too late or anything like
that.
I hope that helps. If you need any more clarification, please don't hesitate to
ask.
Nick
I believe that my society is not completely fair and the level of equality of opportunity is quite good but not
as equal as it should be. My society still draws from old times where a few families used to control (their
descendant still do) everything. So as to camouflage themselves, many of these descendants have changed
their political colour and regardless of their knowledge and expertise, they are holding positions
of responsibility.
As far as law concerns, we must admit that not everyone is equal under the law… We all have seen how
pickpockets usually have to face longest prison sentences than many politicians who have stolen billions… Is
that equal?
Wealth should definitely be distributed more equally. How? I don’t know what the recipe for that could be…
A generic universal minimum income? Would that work? On the one hand, sometimes it seems difficult to
value what hasn’t been difficult to achieve and, on the other hand, we have to bear in mind the so-called
“wiliness” that characterizes Spaniards: to work, or to get unemployment benefits? That is the question…
Regarding how things work in Spain, that’s another story… Spanish justice moves at snail's pace, doctors
must see one patient every 5 minutes, rich people continue paying fewer taxes than average people, we
haven’t learnt from the recent property bubble and we’re starting another…
I’d love to have a magic formula to organize things better… I’ll think of the spell and I’ll let you know.
Hi,
Here's my view on the questions post above. I believe the Spanish society
would rate average (if not poor) in terms of fairness when compared to other
developed world countries.There is a reasonable level of equality of
opportunity, but there are serious breaches (just to list some, think about the
right of housing, sex equality or the right to work guaranteed in the Spanish
Constitution and then look at youth unemployment levels, gender pay gap and
house prices).
It's not a question of not being equal under the law, which in theory we are.
It's more to do with the actual compliance with the laws and policies. Many of
our laws lack a budgetary support and are rendered useless since the moment
they are edicted. In turn, this is obviously caused by the budgetary
constrainsts imposed by our politicians.
Wealth distribution is the field of politics and they are in many instances failing
to meet the needs of our society. That said, I firmly believe Democracy has
paved the way of a fairer society, which has continued to improve in the
context of the policies of the European Union.
1. If I were quite honest I would be so rude, so I prefer to be polite and say
that our society is not fair due to the lack of opportunities for women, handicap
people and wide differences between very rich people and the mass to get a
good position in society.
2. It is evident we are not equal under the Spanish law. For example my sister
is a lawyer and I have some more relatives who work realted to the law. All of
them believe there is a law for very rich people, another one for rich or
important and famous people and a very rigorous law for the masses. There
are too many examples to say, but it was also said by the general prosecutor,
he explained that the Spanish law was made to put in prision the hens robbers
and not to catch the public money stealers.
3. Again, if we were smart enough, weren't we? we should not discuss about
such evidence. Why a person who works 8 hours a day get one thousand euros
a month, in Spain, and another going out "for business" can get this amount of
money in one second... 
4. In my country and the rest of European countries, and better not talk about
the poorest ones, the economic system is really very bad one. Because that is
all about: the money. Our King, our Lord. Who cares for people? who cares for
equality? The most important industries are the black market related to the
weaponry industry and the drug market, I think the world works too fine with
the system we have until one day it will collapse with a world war or a people
revolution, or just we exhaust our soil resources.

5. If I told you my method I could be considered as an allien   I do not think

there is a reasonable method. We would just need the justice really worked
and anyone could go to jail if they steal public money, for instance, but that's a
dream, isn't it?
P.D. Don't worry, I do not think this will happen very soon, so we will not see
anything of it, cross fingers!
Wow, this topic really gets people going! And I thought Spain was a happy
country!
Thanks for your contribution, Fredi
I never play the lottery - my inner Protestant forbids me! I think Spanish
people tend to share the lottery with their families much more than British
people do, but anyway.
In any case your premise is not logically coherent. People can sincerely want a
just society but, knowing that they live in an unjust society that they cannot
change, can accept whatever strokes of luck come their way. For instance, if I
win €10 million on the Father's Day lottery (unlikely as I don't play!), I could
give it all to Hacienda, I could share it out amongst my Madrid neighbours (€2
each!), I could share it with everyone in Spain in gratitude for accepting and
welcoming me here (€0.20 each), None of those things would redress the real
inequalities in the world.
Even Bill Gates, who could turn Mali into an earthly paradise by investing all
his wealth there, could not redress the inequalities of the world as a whole
(and he does his bit, bless 'im).
So, I don't think that imagining a just society "is not worth thinking about". We
might come up with some things that are achievable and, presumably, Juan
Manuel, despite your disdain for your compatriot lottery winners, even you will
admit that some societies are more just than others, no?
Thanks for your contribution - it should get your classmates energized to write!
Nick
Nick
 recycle furiously and if I won th lottery I have a number of causes beyond my
own comfort that would benefit handsomely. My point was that saying that
there's no point in thinking about a better society because some or most
people wouldn't give all their lottery winnings away is woolly thinking.
We have all "won the lottery" already in any case. We live in a Western
democracy with rule of law at the beginning of the 21st Century.. Change the
when and the where just a little bit and we'd certainly know the difference!
Nick
Yes, but my point is precisely that. How can he lecture me telling me that in
order to make the world a better place, I must start with myself when he was
repeatedly destroying children's lives for his own sexual gratification? If
someone is going to do that then they should at very least shut up (or sing
about zombies) but they have no right get all sanctimonious. It is true that
many artists have a "dark side" - Leonardo da Vinci's behaviour wasn't too
different from Michael Jackson's. But the difference is that Leonardo wasn't
sermoning his society on how to be better people and on how they should care
for children. The raising of funds for good causes is no doubt a good thing but
it is also part of marketing a specific public image that was necessary to
conceal a deeply flawed character and ongoing criminal behaviour. At the same
time as getting other people to give their money to charity, he spent an
enormous amount of money on his own capricious indulgences including
keeping African wild animals as pets, building a honey pot to trap children in
(Neverland) and transforming his face from that of an attractive young black
man into that of a middle-aged white woman with a werid nose.
As regards his "magnificence as an artist" we can agree to disagree. He made
catchy pop music and was a talented dancer - nothing more.
Nick
Hello, 

Some very honest answers to your questions! 

a. Is your society fair[1]? Is there a reasonable level of equality of opportunity?
If I think my society as the city/country/continent I live in I think it is fair. However, if I think about the
society as a hole I don’t think it is fair at all. It is true there are some differences regarding how easy is to get
to a job or to get to certain quality of live, however, I feel there are lots of measurements in place to tray to
give every person in our “continent” society the same level of equality of opportunities. Nevertheless, there
is still a certain level of unfairness in Europe/Spain which make opportunities not equal to everyone.
b. Is everyone equal under the law?
From my point of view it is. However, people who make laws or who run the laws are strongly influenced by
political parties. In those cases, it is impossible to apply the law in a fair way. There will be always
disagreements depending on how run governments when you have to be judged.
c. Should wealth be distributed more equally?
Defiantly yes. I believe there are more poor people in the world than rich. And from what I can see the
amount of poor people is increasing. This means the rich are becoming wealthier than they used to be. I
haven’t read much about it therefore I don’t have a fact based opinion on this. I can only see that the called
“middle class” is disappearing.
d. Do you complain about[2] how things work[3] in your country?
I used to complain more than I do at the moment. After living abroad for 5 years I have realised that the
grass always seem greener on the other side. We obviously have problems in our country, however, there
are tiny if you compare the problems Europe is facing.
e. Do you think you know how to organize things better?
I think I could organise things better, but I believe every politician believe that before they get into power.
For some reason we lack in sympathy and responsibility for the public wealth and services. 
All the best, 
Blanca 
Thanks Blanca. One ray of sunlight: extreme poverty is at a record low in the
world. Also people are meant to experience less violence in their everyday lives
than at any time previously. Steven Pinker has written a lot about these things
recently. We tend to focus on the bad news (i.e. Trump!).
N