Yesterday I visited a certified organic vineyard in Montilla, Córdoba, where his director, Francisco Robles, walked me through, in detail, how their wine is made — with care not only for the land and the environment, but also for the people and culture around it. It was a clear reminder of the common wealth that thoughtful enterprise can create.

Being a great fan of The Godfather (1972) and having recently watched the 2025 TV mini-series The Leopard, I was struck by how differently Mediterranean, or Sicilian based patriarchal power can be portrayed. One vision is shaped by the USA myth of survival and violence; the other is rooted in Mediterranean history, human vulnerability, and a more humanised understanding of authority, politics and society.

A recent article in El País highlights record earnings by Spanish families from investments and rental income (read it here). But behind the headlines lies a deeper truth: these gains are not evenly shared—they are concentrated among the wealthiest households.

What does it really mean to be a lawyer today—whether you call yourself a barrister, a solicitor, an advocate, an attorney, or something in between?

ChatGPT does the thinking—so do we still need to?

"Only the solidarity of a group permits action, struggle, resistance, or victory. The isolation of individuals leads them to disaster. Women live in separation a shared condition.”