Another year, Benicassim (Castellón, Spain) hosted the 19th edition of the largest Reggae festival in Europe, the Rototom Sunsplash.

The event was originally born in Italy in 1994, in Gaio di Spilimbergo, province of Pordenone, in the Rototom Disco, which was held until 97. Since 1991 this club coming to host the heads of the reggae world as Burning Spear, Black Uhuru, Inner Circle, Third World, Culture, U-Roy, Yellowman, Misty in Roots, Pablo Moses, Shaggy, Buju Banton, and so on.

Over the years, the event was gaining strength, and from 2000 to 2009 was held at the Park Rivellino in Osoppo (Udine). The event went from three starting days to 8, or even 10, with plenty of space dedicated to art and culture, in addition to lots of music, which now becomes the largest reggae festival in Europe, and well known in worldwide.

From the year 2010, and due to pressure the government of Italy has on the festival with the help of article 79 of the law on drugs Fini-Giovanardi, Rototom Sunsplash Benicassim definitely moved, the venue since and at least until the next edition of 2013, as announced and the organization of the festival.

Benicassim

From 16 to 22 August 2012

Rototom is not just a music festival Reggae, much less. It is a place that offers many possibilities to spend a few days of peace, freedom, love, music and cultural activities of all kinds. Already from the early morning could perform from percussion workshops and dances of the world, to cooking, yoga, massage, meditation, circus, permaculture, and more. A range of possibilities merely greatly enrich this special event.

The art and music accompany each step taken inside the enclosure, with murals that artists were painting as they move on, groups of people who live music, etc..

Hermanos Thioune at Rototom Sunsplash 2012

The talks, debates and meetings relating to the reggae music and Rastafarian culture were present throughout the day in the Reggae University. Writers, journalists recognized, and culture reggae artists went there to discuss and analyze important aspects of reggae music world as his repertoire, lyrical content, and social, political and spiritual.

This year, met in August to 50 years of Jamaica's Independence, the Reggae University has scheduled a major theme focused on the evolution of Jamaica has suffered, along with his Musca and art, in these 50 years of independence. Certainly, reggae music has had much to do in the course taken by the country's evolution.

Reggae University at Rototom 2012: Rastafari, Jamaican Music and Cultural Affinity. In session with Wailing Souls (Winston 'Pipe' Matthews and Lloyd "Bread" McDonald), the Congos (Watty Burnett, Roydel Johnson, Cedric Myton, Kenroy Feyffe) and film-director Monica Haim (Israel)

Social Forum

The Rototom Social Forum 2012 offered the public Susplash lot of talks and debates that addressed issues such as the global crisis, human rights, food sovereignty, cannabis (to be discussed below), the conflict in Palestine, internet, etc..

Undoubtedly, the interview of the renowned and experienced journalist Rosa Maria Calaf made ​​Prince of Asturias Award, and leader of modern thought, political philosophy, sociology and ethics, Zygmunt Bauman.

Rosa Maria Calaf (right) interview Zygmunt Bauman (center) at Social Forum of Rototom 2012

Cannabis and information

How could it be otherwise in a culture where the Ganja has such an important role, and is one of the reasons why we came to Rototom, there were some activities related to cannabis, as can imagine, was very present throughout the festival.

Friends visited the stand of the Law Firm specializing in Cannabis, Brotons & Albert, who constantly came to people interested in issues about legality. They were treated free everyone they have any queries regarding the cultivation and possession of cannabis and driving under its effects.

 

On Tuesday 21 August we went to talk to the lawyer Hector Brotons offered  Social Forum: current legal status of cannabis users. As he began H. Brotons, the situaciçon in Spain, but do not really know where it will go in próxios years with the new government, is the best in the world. About 80% of cases end up being favorable crop the grower, and in many cases even with the total return of the seized, and without penalty by the accused pending.

Furthermore, everyone follows closely, and even copy, the Consumer Clubs model in our country has been doing for some years.

Hector Brotons at Social Forum of Rototom Sunsplash 2012

One of the most multitudinous activities to which we turn in the Rototom was the debate on Wednesday August 22, A Legal regulation of Cannabis, which held four esteemed guests in the world of cannabis: the illustrious Antonio Escohotado, it requires no additional presentation, Rebeca Lerer (Global Commission on Drug Policy), Amanda Feilding (founder of Beckley Foundation), Bernat Pellisa (Rasquera Mayor), Jose Afuera (cannabis association president Maca).

(Left to right) Antonio Escohotado, Amanda Feilding, José Afuera, Bernat Pellisa and Rebeca Lerer, at Social Forum

Delicious Seeds is waiting for the next edition of the Rototom Sunsplash in August 2013, also in Benicassim, as announced on the last day of festival organizing the event itself.

Sources and pictures: Hemp Passion