?OUR FOUNDATION COMMUNITYOUR FOUNDATION COMMUNITY

WhyWhy

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The Kosmo People foundation community is The Kosmo People foundation community is based in Andalusia, based in Andalusia, the home of Mi Casitathe home of Mi Casita..

As we start near to go far, our foundation As we start near to go far, our foundation community will provide the model and learning that community will provide the model and learning that we require as we expand to other regions of we require as we expand to other regions of the world.the world.

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WHERE IS ANDALUSIA?WHERE IS ANDALUSIA?

Andalusia is one of Spain’s seventeen regional or Andalusia is one of Spain’s seventeen regional or autonomous communities. autonomous communities.

It is located in the It is located in the south of the country south of the country and and borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It has eight provinces: Almeria, Cadiz, Sea. It has eight provinces: Almeria, Cadiz, Cordoba, Granada, Huelva, Jaen, Malaga and Cordoba, Granada, Huelva, Jaen, Malaga and Seville its capital city.Seville its capital city.

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Andalusia has a Andalusia has a very rich and fascinatingvery rich and fascinating history history which is believed by historians to be at least three which is believed by historians to be at least three thousand years old. thousand years old.

It has had influences from a range of cultures It has had influences from a range of cultures including that of the Phoenicians, Greeks, including that of the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Visigoths and the Moors who colonised it Romans, Visigoths and the Moors who colonised it for nearly eight hundred years before their for nearly eight hundred years before their surrender to the catholic monarchs in fourteen surrender to the catholic monarchs in fourteen hundred and ninety two.hundred and ninety two.

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ANDALUSIA’S HIGHSANDALUSIA’S HIGHS

During this era and particularly in the tenth and During this era and particularly in the tenth and eleventh centuries its provinces played an eleventh centuries its provinces played an important role as some of the important role as some of the most advancedmost advanced cultural, political, financial and economic centres cultural, political, financial and economic centres of the world.of the world.

CORDOBACORDOBA

Its capital at the time, Cordoba was considered the Its capital at the time, Cordoba was considered the Jewel of the world. It was the Jewel of the world. It was the intellectual centre intellectual centre of Europeof Europe and home to the world’s largest library and home to the world’s largest library and the first university in Europe.and the first university in Europe.

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CADIZCADIZ

Cadiz is said to be the Cadiz is said to be the oldest continuously oldest continuously inhabitedinhabited city in Europe. city in Europe.

ItIt has a rich history which includes its pivotal role has a rich history which includes its pivotal role during the age of exploration, as one of the ports during the age of exploration, as one of the ports where Christopher Columbus set sail on his where Christopher Columbus set sail on his voyages to America. It is also said to have been voyages to America. It is also said to have been home to the Spanish treasure fleet and the first home to the Spanish treasure fleet and the first constitution of Europe.constitution of Europe.

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GRANADAGRANADA

Granada is the home of one of the most visited Granada is the home of one of the most visited world heritage sites and emblematic monument of world heritage sites and emblematic monument of Andalusia, the walled city and fortress known Andalusia, the walled city and fortress known as The Alhambra Palace. as The Alhambra Palace.

It was once a powerful and self sufficient kingdom It was once a powerful and self sufficient kingdom until it was conquered at the end of the fifteenth until it was conquered at the end of the fifteenth century by Ferdinand II, King of Aragon and his century by Ferdinand II, King of Aragon and his wife Isabella I, Queen of Castille.wife Isabella I, Queen of Castille.

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MALAGAMALAGA

Malaga, the fourth ranking city in economic activity Malaga, the fourth ranking city in economic activity behind Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia has been behind Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia has been referred to as an ‘open museum’ for its rich history referred to as an ‘open museum’ for its rich history spanning three thousand years. spanning three thousand years.

It was once described by the fourteen century It was once described by the fourteen century traveller Ibn Battutua as traveller Ibn Battutua as one of the most beautiful one of the most beautiful towns of Andalusiatowns of Andalusia for the conveniences of both its for the conveniences of both its sea and land. This made it an important battleground sea and land. This made it an important battleground for wars such as the Battle of Malaga in the for wars such as the Battle of Malaga in the eighteenth century and the Spanish civil war.eighteenth century and the Spanish civil war.

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SEVILLESEVILLE

Seville, the current capital of Andalusia embodies the Seville, the current capital of Andalusia embodies the regions integration into modern Spain, as symbolised regions integration into modern Spain, as symbolised by the construction of the bell tower of its cathedral, by the construction of the bell tower of its cathedral, known as the Giralda, from a former minaret.known as the Giralda, from a former minaret. Its port played an important part in the Its port played an important part in the Spanish Spanish golden agegolden age and the city received many accolades and the city received many accolades from successive catholic kings for its loyalty.from successive catholic kings for its loyalty.

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The land of Andalusia thrived under Moorish rule The land of Andalusia thrived under Moorish rule and it continued to do so under the catholic kings and it continued to do so under the catholic kings for a further three hundred years during, the for a further three hundred years during, the golden age, the age of empire, when it is said to golden age, the age of empire, when it is said to have have monopolised tradingmonopolised trading with the colonieswith the colonies.

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ANDALUSIA’S LOWSANDALUSIA’S LOWS

With the end of empire and the industrialisation of With the end of empire and the industrialisation of northern cities in Catalonia and the Basque northern cities in Catalonia and the Basque country, Andalusia suffered from a country, Andalusia suffered from a seriousseriousdeclinedecline which exposed the deep social divisions which exposed the deep social divisions that had emerged between a small group of very that had emerged between a small group of very wealthy land owners and the rest of the wealthy land owners and the rest of the population made up mostly of poor people who population made up mostly of poor people who worked on the land and as trades people. worked on the land and as trades people.

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Andalusia has never fully recovered from this Andalusia has never fully recovered from this decline and is considered still economically poor decline and is considered still economically poor in comparison to the rest of Spain and the in comparison to the rest of Spain and the European Union. European Union.

Its Its strong cultural heritage and identitystrong cultural heritage and identity, , however, endures. Internationally, its flamenco however, endures. Internationally, its flamenco music and dance, architecture and the art of music and dance, architecture and the art of bullfighting as examples which are seen as bullfighting as examples which are seen as distinctly Spanish are said to be predominantly or distinctly Spanish are said to be predominantly or completely Andalusian in origin.completely Andalusian in origin.

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WHY ANDALUSIA?WHY ANDALUSIA?

Andalusians are famous for their acceptance of Andalusians are famous for their acceptance of difference, difference, their love of lifetheir love of life, as much as for their , as much as for their history of oppression. history of oppression. The endurance of the culture of the people of this The endurance of the culture of the people of this region and their psyche has been attributed in large region and their psyche has been attributed in large part to nearly eight hundred years of Moorish history part to nearly eight hundred years of Moorish history when the region was the centre of an empire that when the region was the centre of an empire that stretched across most of Spain, Portugal, southern stretched across most of Spain, Portugal, southern France and as far south as Nigeria in West Africa. France and as far south as Nigeria in West Africa.

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In fact, if alternative accounts of Moorish history are to In fact, if alternative accounts of Moorish history are to be believed, its influence reached be believed, its influence reached far deeper into the far deeper into the heart of Europeheart of Europe than is formally acknowledged. than is formally acknowledged.

It is said to be an era in which, until the Spanish It is said to be an era in which, until the Spanish Inquisition, Jews, Christians, Gypsies and Muslims Inquisition, Jews, Christians, Gypsies and Muslims lived side by side as the civilisation flourished with the lived side by side as the civilisation flourished with the introduction of new ideas and insights on architecture, introduction of new ideas and insights on architecture, astronomy, philosophy, mathematics, medicine, music astronomy, philosophy, mathematics, medicine, music and an exotic gastronomy from Africa, the Middle East and an exotic gastronomy from Africa, the Middle East and India.and India.

Andalusians endurance of poverty, oppression Andalusians endurance of poverty, oppression and prejudice after its decline combined with this and prejudice after its decline combined with this rich cultural legacy to form a mindset that rich cultural legacy to form a mindset that understands pain, grief and sadness, as much as understands pain, grief and sadness, as much as the joy of life, the appreciation of freedom and a the joy of life, the appreciation of freedom and a love for the human soul so beautifully embodied love for the human soul so beautifully embodied by Flamenco; a mindset that appreciates by Flamenco; a mindset that appreciates the the value of emotion, expression and authenticityvalue of emotion, expression and authenticity, , that is specially Andalusian.that is specially Andalusian.

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KOSMO PEOPLE & ANDALUSIAKOSMO PEOPLE & ANDALUSIA

The ability to endure is what makes Andalusia special. The ability to endure is what makes Andalusia special.

The skill with which its people learned to absorb the The skill with which its people learned to absorb the suffering that accompanied their decline and then share suffering that accompanied their decline and then share these experiences these experiences through music, literature, good food through music, literature, good food and artand art has historically been deeply extravagant, erotic, has historically been deeply extravagant, erotic, bitter and festive.bitter and festive.

Even now, we can feel it through Semana Santa and the Even now, we can feel it through Semana Santa and the unending ferias and celebrations that outsiders who have unending ferias and celebrations that outsiders who have had the privilege to live in this region have equally had the privilege to live in this region have equally enjoyed.enjoyed.

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The Green and White FlagThe Green and White Flag

The Green and White Flag The Green and White Flag returns after centuries of war returns after centuries of war

to tell of peace and hope to tell of peace and hope under our land's sunshine. under our land's sunshine.

    Andalusians, stand up!Andalusians, stand up!

Demand land and freedom!Demand land and freedom! For a free Andalusia,For a free Andalusia, SpainSpain and Mankind!and Mankind!

    We, Andalusians, want We, Andalusians, want to become once again to become once again

people of light who to Mankind people of light who to Mankind gave a human soul. gave a human soul.

    Andalusians, stand up!Andalusians, stand up!

Demand land and freedom!Demand land and freedom! For a free Andalusia,For a free Andalusia, Spain and Mankind!Spain and Mankind!

KOSMO PEOPLE & ANDALUSIAKOSMO PEOPLE & ANDALUSIA

It is this history that connects the south, the east, It is this history that connects the south, the east, the west and the north, and the west and the north, and all of us with each all of us with each otherother, that makes Andalusia so special, so right at , that makes Andalusia so special, so right at this time and place to play host as our foundation this time and place to play host as our foundation community for the development of Kosmo People community for the development of Kosmo People and our project for the renewal and transformation and our project for the renewal and transformation of our world.of our world.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.