Back home...

It's nice to be back home from time to time; although since I came back to Galicia last week the allergy doesn't let me sleep, my eyes itchy and I'm sneezing the whole time. And it's like this each time I come back.

I also rediscover the essence of my very folk. I watch local TV--or even any national broadcaster--and become quickly ashamed of the shit on. Can't believe that so much emptiness can be enclosed in such a flat screen.

And from time to time I run into some ethical debate with myself. In large ads at the sides of the main entrances of the city we can see two children drinking or sharing a bottle of water. One of them looks healthy, the other doesn't. The one is fully dressed, the other isn't. The one doesn't, the other looks thirsty. And in between them, in huge letters: "If I drink, (s)he drinks", and a brief explanation that part of the benefits of the company would be shared with some african, thirsty children.

The ad belongs to fontecelta (a Galician brand of bottled water), and I first wondered what the increase of this company's benefits would be thanks to this propaganda. It followed, of course, the straightforward doubt about the ethical of winning a few thousand € with the thirst of any random kid. I though, if the true aim were to help those children, they could do it without telling anyone. Silent hero. Unsung hero. But heroes must be sung to exist. Latter on, I remembered many other such actions (yeah, they're everywhere, indeed). It was amazing when some musicians decided to donate 1€ of each CD's price to hungry--or such--children so to avoid 'piracy'. And they even dared say it.

Charity, as everything else, indeed; has become a show. I'm thinking of dropping a line to the fontecelta friends to know their point about this issue... I'd be nice if they would answer!!