The Catalan Ombudsman’s report for 2017 reflects the intensity of the past few months in the country. It condemns the Spanish police violence on 1st October as well as the imprisonments of leaders, and notes that the actions taken by Madrid to stop independence have harmed important social rights. On the other hand, this weekend also brings a big celebration: it’s carnival time! And, despite the cold, many people are set to take part in the celebration in the streets.