“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead” Benjamin Franklin
ISSUE 31
Santa Cruz de Tenerife Saturday 31 March 2012
STRIKE PROMPTS MANDATE QUESTIONS War of words over which ‘voters’ are more legitimate ◗Thursday’s general strike has rekindled the debate as to who is more entitled to dictate economic policy: voters who elect a government or the much smaller number of workers who elect union representatives. Spain’s main unions united to convene this week’s
mass stoppage as a warning to the new government, which holds an absolute majorty in Parliament, that its economic reform programme, particularly the recent changes to employment legislation, will not be tolerated. Although publicly acknowled-
ging the right of people to strike, government sources have made it known that the votes of almost 11 million people in November are ‘a much bigger mandate’ than that given by thousands of workers to union officials in elections with very low turn-outs.
DROUGHT
Authorities promise action on water ◗The Tenerife authorities say they are working closely with local councils across the island on a strategy to ensure water is guaranteed for agriculture to combat the effects of the worst drought in 68 years. Senior Cabildo officials met with representatives of the island’s 31 town halls to coordinate a response to the growing crisis, which may necessitate restrictions in order to save water for use by farmers, who have warned that crop production this year will be very low.
CINEMA
Tenerife filmed blockbuster on release ◗The sequel to Clash of the Titans has gone on general release in Spain, following the sneak preview given in Tenerife on Tuesday. Wrath of the Titans, directed by Jonathan Liebesman and starring Sam Worthington and Liam Neeson, was partly shot in Tenerife last year and represents one of the biggest successes of the island’s Film Commission to date. The first film grossed some $500 million worldwide.
The national strike was called by unions in protest at the new Spanish government’s economic policy decisions. / DA
ECONOMY
EDUCATION
LANGUAGE STUDENTS VISIT THE SUPPLEMENT
Electricity bills set for increase as of 1 April ◗The feared increase in electricity prices has been confirmed by Spain’s energy minister José Manuel Soria. Household bills are expected to rise by between 5-7% as of 1 April after power companies successfully applied to the courts for bills to reflect actual costs.
The language students were shown how the paper is produced. / S. MÉNDEZ www.diariodeavisos.com/thesupplement
A group of language students from the Escuela Oficial de Idiomas in Puerto de La Cruz paid a visit to the DIARIO DE AVISOS recently to learn about the paper and
its production process. The visit included a glimpse behind the scenes at The Supplement and some unexpected homework for the keen students.
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Saturday 31 March 2012
ANNIVERSARY OF WORLD’S WORST AVIATION TRAGEDY
Slow Food movement reaches Tenerife DA Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Diario de Avisos Santa Cruz de Tenerife
The 35th anniversary of the world’s worst aviation tragedy was marked in Tenerife this week. The island’s Los Rodeos Airport, now known as Tenerife North, was catapulted to international media fame for the wrong reasons on 27 March 1977 when an accumulation of factors made it the scene for the horrific collision between two jumbo jets, which would not have been there had it not been for a terrorist incident at Gran Canaria airport. On the fateful day, a bomb alert in Gran Canaria led several planes to be diverted to Los Rodeos, where weather conditions were much poorer and worsened as the day progressed. By the time the Pan Am and KLM 747s involved in the crash were on the runway, a dense covering of fog had enveloped the airport, which was not equipped with ground radar and had to rely on radio communications for information. Both airplanes were destroyed when the KLM plane tried to take off in low visibility, unaware that the Pan Am jet was still on the runway. All 234 passengers and 14 crew members on board the KLM plane died, while 326 passengers and 9 crew members on the Pan Am flight were killed, primarily due to the fire and explosions resulting from the fuel that spilled and
ignited following the impact. The accident had major consequences for the aviation industry due to the evidence that avoidable communications misunderstandings between the planes and the control tower had played a major part in the collision. Standardised phraseology was quickly introduced in ATC communication by controllers and pilots to reduce the possibility of
mix-ups and loose terms such as ‘OK’ were eliminated. Back in 2007, the 30th anniversary of the tragedy brought together for the first time Dutch and American next of kin, who joined aid workers from Tenerife in an international commemoration service held at Santa Cruz’s Auditorium, which was followed by the inauguration of a 27 March Memorial in honour of
the crash victims at the Mesa Mota outside La Laguna, a short distance fromTenerife North airport. The monument was designed by Dutch sculptor Rudi van de Wint. A special 50-page booklet commemorating the accident, including a DVD in English, Dutch and Spanish, was published a year later, on 27 March 2008.
The collision of two 747s at Los Rodeos remains the worst tragedy in aviation history. / DA
Homeopathy course causes rift at La Laguna University
Parents protest at dangerous school walls
Diario de Avisos Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Diario de Avisos Santa Cruz de Tenerife
A homeopathy course in La Laguna University during the week triggered a furious row between the organisers and influential members of the university community. News of the 3-day course, which attracted many students because it enabled them to earn credits required for their pharmacy degree, prompted a formal note from the university’s Association for the Dissemination of Science expressing outrage that the Faculty of Pharmacy should participate in the promotion of a form of medicine based on beliefs rather than proven science. In a statement issued to media, the association expres-
sed its opposition to the use of university premises for ‘a pseudoscience which has the same scientific basis as tarot futuretelling, feng shui or graphology: none’. The academics added that it failed to understand how a Faculty tasked with training students in health issues based on scientific knowledge could lend its support to the course. ‘It is not our intention to attack beliefs but we insist that they should not be confused with science, particularly in a university Faculty’ the statement ended. The criticism met with swift reaction from supporters of the course, who called the association members ‘Talibans’ and ‘blinkered’ for refusing to accept other approaches to medicine.
Parents of pupils at a secondary school in south Tenerife refused to allow their children back to classrooms after a second evacuation in the space of a few days was ordered due to concerns at the possible collapse of a building. Over a hundred pupils were evacuated from a wing of the San Miguel school in Las Zocas last week after a rumbling noise was heard and cracks appeared in classroom walls. An immediate structural inspection by the Department of Education led to the all-clear being given soon after but a second evacuation at the beginning of this week proved the last straw for
parents, who said the authorities were putting the teenagers’ lives at risk by not closing the school completely. ‘We are terrified that the land on which the school wing was built is unsafe and the ground might give way, causing the walls to collapse with the pupils inside’ said parents. Education sources confirmed that surveyors had felt the tremors during their visit but insisted initially that the building was safe. A protest was staged on Tuesday to coincide with the arrival of education officials to inspect the latest damage. A short time later, the authorities ordered the closure of the wing pending further investigation of the causes of the cracks. Pupils have been rehoused elsewhere.
The Tenerife wing of a culinary movement set up to counter the impact of fast-food habits has been created in La Orotava. The island now has its very own chapter of Slow Food International, a global, grassroots and non-profit organisation with supporters in 150 countries around the world who are linking the pleasure of good food with a commitment to their community and the environment. Currently boasting over 100,000 members, Slow Food was founded in 1989 as an antidote to the rise of fast food and fast life, the disappearance of local food traditions and people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how our food choices affect the rest of the world. The new chapter, which was formally launched at the Humboldt Mirador on Monday, is headed by wine-maker Gabriel Morales and Dutch chef Adrian Bruins. As a first step it is to compile a database of ecological farmers to work with.
Plea for action over abandoned Teide dogs DA Santa Cruz de Tenerife
A political party here has called for urgent action by the authorities to resolve the problem of stray dogs roaming on Mt Teide. The ANC party says the long-standing problem is worsening by the month and can be expected to increase further in the Las Cañadas area when hunters abandon dogs, particularly pharaoh hounds, that no longer serve their purpose. ‘The huntsmen have been doing this for years, leaving their unsuitable dogs behind after hunting trips to Teide. Staff at the Parador Hotel and elsewhere feed and leave water for them. We have asked the Civil Guard to try and catch the dogs but they cannot get close enough’ it added. Foreign visitors to Teide have regularly complained down the years of the distressing spectacle of the abandoned and often starving dogs roaming in the area, alone or in small packs.
The Supplement
Saturday 31 March 2012
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SPORT
Dressing room strife adds to Tenerife woe Diario de Avisos Santa Cruz de Tenerife
The early success of new Tenerife manager Andrés García Tébar seemed too good to be true for many and the reservations have proven correct. Successive defeats by sides at the bottom of the table have earned the club an unwanted reputation as a ‘resurrector’ of teams in trouble, a gift that unfortunately plunges the side into its own serious trouble. Having lost 0-2 in a midweek game to Sanse, Tenerife had by far their worst game of the season against Leganés last Sunday, losing not just the game (by the same score) but several key players for this week-end, including Lusmi Loro who was sent off for an infantile hand-ball having been booked earlier. Also missing will be Zazo and Kike López, who are suspended after receiving their fifth yellow cards. If the performance on the pitch was shocking, even more shocking was the explosive postmatch press conference by García Tébar in which he slammed his players for their lack of effort and urged the club ‘not to pay their wages’ if they do not finish in the promotion spots at the end of the season. Coming just weeks after
ATHLETICS
Jonay turns in impressive Cardiff showing ◗La Laguna’s Jonay Jordán made his international debut with a deserved second place in the Under-23 triangular between Great Britain, France and Spain in Cardiff. Jordán finished just behind Britain’s Ben Gregory in the heptathlon, almost matching his personal best for the event. Two poor scores on the second day deprived him of what looked to certain victory after a good Day 1.
an earlier attack on several players for their training performances during Carnival, the recommendation lit a fuse that had been smouldering for some time due to the manager’s outspoken approach. However, this time the players were not prepared to bow their heads and accept the rebuke. Several expressed their anger at their manager for his outburst and ‘invited’ him to concentrate his efforts on the training ground and pitch rather than on trying to run the club’s finances. Angriest of all was Raul Llorente, who said that the players’ pay and con-
EQUESTRIAN
Big turn-out for dressage season opener
The Tenerife manager angered players with his ‘no pay’ rebuke after the Leganés loss Tenerife’s troubles have been worsened by García Tébar’s outburst. / DA
tracts were none of García Tébar’s business. The tense situation prompted director of football Pedro Cordero to call an ‘All is Well’ press conference on the team’s return to Tenerife after the Leganés disaster. Cordero stres-
sed that all clubs experience ‘ups and downs in player-manager relations’ but ‘any difficulties should be resolved internally’. He called on both to unite for the final straight of the league to keep Tenerife on course for a play-off
place. ‘The last games of the season always bring added tension but it is the time when we all need to remain calm’ said Cordero. Tenerife have taken just four points from twelve of late and play Toledo at home this week-end.
BASKETBALL
Morale-boosting win for Tenerife but job not over Diario de Avisos Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Tenerife’s ‘other’ senior basketball side notched up a rare and urgently-needed win against Barcelona’s reserve team in front of a sizeable crowd in Santa Cruz to give fans hope of a positive end to the season. Under new coach Ruymán Delgado, who replaced Jou Costa at the end of January, the side have slumped to the foot of the LEB Plata division. However, things came together last Saturday against the young Catalans, with key players such as Nacho Guigou, Javi Pérez and Sammy Monroe turning in their best performances for some time to help Tenerife to a hard-fought but deserved 91-80 win. The result lifted Tenerife off the bottom
Tenerife basketball club have struggled all season in the league. / DA
and, with just a couple of games to go, the battle is truly on to avoid the drop into the EBA division. Even if relegation is avoided, many question whether the
cub can afford to continue in the LEB league and it is by no means certain Tenerife will field a team next season. Indeed, its presence in the competition this year was
something of a surprise because of its financial circumstances and the decision to apply for a place after failing to win promotion from the EBA last year raised eyebrows. With the exception of the Barcelona game, attendances at home games have been poor and the fan base is certainly not large enough to sustain further particpation in an expensive league that requires travel every other week to the Spanish mainland for away games. Tenerife can only look enviously up the motorway to neighbours Iberostar Canarias, who are having their best season ever in the much tougher LEB Oro division. With just a few games remaining they top the league, having already won the Cup. The recent home match against second-placed Menorca drew just under 5000 to the Santiago Martín stadium, the club’s biggest ever crowd. Promotion to the elite ACB league would cap a historic season.
◗Tenerife’s first dressage competition of the new year brought a large turn-out of participants to the Atalaya Club in La Laguna. More than 50 riders and their horses from all over the island competed in the different categories, with a particularly strong presence of novices. The competition calendar continues this week-end with an event in the El Manchón club.
CD TENERIFE
Pay delays not a problem, says Perona ◗The ongoing problems betwen players and manager at Tenerife have served to publicise the financial difficulties at the club, particularly delays in payments to the squad. Forward Jorge Perona has admitted that wages are being paid a month late but he and his colleagues were confident that they would receive their money. ‘Things are a lot worse elsewhere’ added Perona.
BASKETBALL
La Palma promotion rejection leads to consultation ◗Clarification is being sought from the basketball federation as to the situation of La Palma, who have confirmed that they will not take up a place in the ACB league if they win promotion. Should the islanders win the LEB league but not go up, other clubs want to know for sure if the second-placed team will get the automatic spot.
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Saturday 31 March 2012
TENERIFE GASTRONOMY With the 8th edition of the Canary Island’s Top Chef Contest taking places during the food and wine fair Expohostel from 16-18 April and the Canary Islands Ham Cutting Competition on 18 April, we spotlight the island’s cuisine. Tenerife offers authentic cuisine blessed with an array of intoxicating flavours, varying from coriander-based sauces to red hot pepper-infused cheese. The hallmarks of traditional dishes are simplicity, quality and freshness of locallyproduced ingredients such as potatoes, tomatoes or bananas. Bananas in Tenerife are easily identifiable by their small size and speckled skin. The island’s ideal subtropical climate allows bananas to stay on the plant for longer, resulting in an extraordinary, intense flavour. Potatoes are the star product and are often accompanied by “mojo” sauce, which can also be partnered with fresh fish or meat. Varieties include “papa bonita” meaning pretty potato, “papa negra”, “papa azucena”, “papa cara” and King Edward (pronounced “quine-gua” in the Canarian dialect). Potatoes originally arrived from America over four centuries ago and have since played a significant role in everyday cuisine. Cheese Approximately 24,000 tonnes of cheese is consumed every year in the Canary Islands, being one of Spain’s largest cheese consuming regions. Roughly half of this amount is produced locally and around 80% of these are artisan farmhouse cheeses, generating an important income for the farming sector. Most cheeses are made with indigenous goat’s milk or sheep’s milk. One of the most unique products on Tenerife is locally-produced honey, particularly the flower-based honey prepared with endemic floral species. Tenerife’s beekeeping tradition dates back more than 500 years and was once an important source of income on the island. The distinct variety of flowers has generated a spectrum of exquisite floral aromas, which
can only be produced with native flowers such as the “Tajinaste” or the Mount Teide broom. Visitors can learn about the unique preparation of Tenerife honey and its seal of approval at the Honey Museum in El Sauzal. Unknown by many, although praised by Shakespeare, Tenerife’s award-winning wines are of great quality and were exported to England for over three centuries. Brought by colonists in the 16th century, Tenerife’s wine production began in Los Realejos, and rapidly developed throughout the island resulting in over 100 operational vineyards. Tenerife’s wine-making tradition has generated five Denominations of Origin (produced in five different wine regions), varying from fresh, aromatic whites, to roses, reds, as well as Malvasia-based wines Wine enthusiasts can discover the island’s wine treasures by following wine trails, sampling different varieties at many of the wineries or by paying a visit to “Casa del Vino La Baranda” in El Sauzal, a true wine haven set in a restored farmhouse from the 17th century. Its facilities include a wine cellar, a wine shop, a wine tasting room, a restaurant, exhibitions and an old wine-press located in a pleasant courtyard. Tenerife boasts a wide selection of restaurants, varying from high-end outlets offering haute cuisine to rustic eateries, perfect for traditional Canarian recipes. Fine dining has grown in Tenerife with the arrival of several renowned Spanish chefs, offering innovative and creative dishes. Visitors can also discover the island’s delicacies in markets such as “Nuestra Señora de Africa” in Santa Cruz, the capital of Tenerife, or the different local farmers’ markets called “Mercadillo del Agricultor”held at weekends. Edible souvenirs are available in various outlets across the island, such as banana liquor and chocolate-coated almonds. For a list of restaurants see: www.webtenerife.com/Actividades/ Comer-y-beber/?Lang=en