Kepa Junkera

Published by DEIA, Feb. 23, 2012-02-26

You get up in the morning, turn on the radio and you know the news landscape will be dominated by politics, economy and society, that does not fail. But suddenly, there are days that coincides with something unexpected and, sometimes, even with an event that looks like it came out of a movie script, one of those catastrophic in which many details of the event is given until the same event itself devours the argument of it.

That day I am referring to, all the news revolved around an erupting underwater volcano off the coast of the Canary island of El Hierro. It took place in waters south of the island and could result in the appearance of a small island that would arise of water by the accumulation of magma and solid waste. From that moment, all we began to learn more about volcanoes, listening studies carried out by one or another scientific society and feel passion for this phenomenon of nature that demonstrates, once again, how small we are first and foremost. Thus, a beautiful and unique corner becomes the center of world’s attention by the strangeness of the case.

And we are very used to hearing that in remote places nature is displayed in all its rawness but we’re not prepared for what is in our latitudes. As if the Earth held distinction between borders and climates rather than narrowing the battered face. Today, the situation is more controlled and this news is no longer part of the daily news. We went through danger or i more distressing interest, more fascinating oblivion and everything revolved around the volcano is losing our attention. What is at present the true picture of the phenomenon? How is it possible that we all forget so soon? It is known that natural processes are very slow and we must add that our interest is diluted by the events in time if that that was presented to us lengthened his life beyond the momentary.

If we intensify our interest, we enrich more and have a different perspective on things, right? Or not? What I was talking about …?

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Published by DEIA, Agosto 4, 2011

Traveling around the world, in addition to pleasurable, is one of the most enriching activities that one can do.  Meeting people, places, habits and cultures entails an almost constant discovery of different worlds.

Some weeks ago I talked about Rogelio Botanz, a Basque that settled in the Canary Islands and that is a true expert in the Siblo gomero (a canary island whistling language). In one of those trips that I visited the islands, Rogelio invited me to accompany him in a documentary recording about the “Salto del Pastor” (Jump of the Shepherd).  It is called the Salto del Pastor or, more colloquially, the Brinco (Jump Over), they move around the mountains with the help of a stick that is around 2 to 4 meters long, ending with a metallic tip. It is a traditional practice that the shepherds of the Canary Islands have used to move through those so abrupt payments.  It seems incredible to observe how jumpers run through incredible slopes, accomplishing amazing leaps, thanks to the use of the pole that, nailed firmly to the ground and used like a rod for them to slide down arriving to the ground, allows to carrying out such exploits.

Although it is not well know the origin of the Jump of the Shepherd, one knows that already the guanaches  (refers to the aboriginal inhabitants of the island) used this technique in their displacements. Talking to Rogelio he commented me that the most spectacular leaps, according to the elders, took place, not in the steep mountains and cliffs, but the shepherds, far from using it only for work, used this technique to date. They would go up to the church’s bell tower, they waited until the girl they were interested pass  by, they would toss a coin to the ground and immediately afterwards they let themselves fall, nailing down the lance tightly where they had thrown the coin and sliding their body beside the pole smoothly down to the ground. Skillful action, target and courage, a full demonstration of manliness to call the lady’s attention.

Once again, the proof of the human being’s need to compete to evolve. We all react giving our maximum when we spark competitiveness off, even when one is the more daring one of all, the one of ourselves.

www.kepajunkera.com

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