It’s been a long time since the “end of the cycle” has gone up and the “ploughing age” has gone down. Here and there we can see the syndrome of the intermediate goal, which is that we have reached the stage that a generation – mine – began in the ruins of Franco’s regime and if a new one is about to begin. And the Basques have once again looked at the map to see where to go from now on. Always aiming for survival.

Where we are. We come from a long past, according to the most recent lines of research we can also be direct descendants of the old homo sapiens. And we have managed to survive, perhaps for 35,000 years we have been able to accept losses to postpone the most fundamental, we have been able to overcome difficulties.

We have made the final stretch between schools and euskalegi, Basque language plan and language policy, clamor and attack. We have reached some levels and levels of Basque of all time, while others are being lost. I would say that we are moving forward in general, but increasingly slowly. Sometimes so slow that we're standing behind stronger ones than ourselves. Hence the endings of cycles and the ploughing ages.

The new tools. Lately, however, new sounds have been heard. One will talk to you about the ecology and biodiversity of languages and the tasks that are inherent and that must be given to the local language. The other will tell you about your language assertiveness and show you how to maintain your language choice without giving up too easily. The following tells us that among the speakers there are people stored in cupboards, unable to untie the internal knots. Sociolinguists have also brought leadership, attractiveness, hegemony, breathing spaces and other interesting concepts to this field.

We come from a simpler era, we have acted with few variables, thinking that with all the strength in one point, the Archimedes lever would move all the obstacles of the Basque language. Now the analysis takes on more components and is being enriched to that extent. Also difficult, since it is necessary to unite all the components, also giving the corresponding weight to each one.

The reflection. The concern for the future and the need for innovation for survival are perceived in the different neighborhoods of the tribe. In this work I have found the Meeting Point of Basque Associations, with the help of a group of professors from the faculty of HUHEZI (Mondragon Unibertsitatea). They are meditating, asking, receiving, discussing and winding up. The aim is to give a new articulation and discourse to the Basque community, so that we can also achieve survival in the next stage.

In the course of the associations in the Basque Country for about twenty-five years you can find great achievements and hangouts. And at this time of the end of the cycle the associations are also weak, in the absence of the North and the proper methods. But this is accompanied by new responsibilities and passions for the federation of associations. For this reason, if one reads critically what has been done and changes courageously what needs to be changed, one can again make a powerful excursion.

Because if you’re back at the Rendezvous Point – we are – 20,000 partners, 450 professionals and 1,400 volunteers. All these people, properly organized, can form an immense skeleton, a tool that could have a great impact on the wider society.

These days I have been able to read a very rich and excellent report that focuses on the process and gives me hope. It will be analyzed on February 26 in Bilbao, XXI. At the Congress of Basque Associations of the Century. You're also called. Let's make it last.