Also distributed in Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. 1.50 euros at newsagents.
THE INDEPENDENT ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER WITH LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL NEWS
FRIDAY 13th FEBRUARY TO THURSDAY 26th FEBRUARY 2015 UK GENERAL ELECTIONS
EDITION 519
PAGE 6
PAGES 62 PAGES 29 - 36
Las Galletas Half Marathon
Safety first as Carnival begins
Oil search: don’t ever come back!
A
new campaign is being mounted in the Canary Islands to make sure oil giant Repsol never returns.
Environmentalists have been celebrating the news that test drilling off the coast of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura has come to an end without any finds. But the authorities are still cautious about the future, especially after the Spanish Government expressed disappointment that Repsol has apparently given up for good. Ministers have even suggested that the company could be fined for not meeting all its obligations under the licences which were granted against the express wishes of the Canaries ie. it believes Repsol should try again. Lanzarote Cabildo says it is imperative that the ocean space around the islands is officially protected “effectively, comprehensively and definitively” and has demanded accountability “for those reponsible for this unworthy episode for the Canary population.” On January 22nd, a delegation travelled to Brussels to deliver a 220,000-signature petition to the European Parliament supported by nearly 200 countries. They want to see an urgent change in the rules which never allows oil testing or drilling in areas of marine importance, together with a special classification for the area where Repsol sunk their test wells. Spain is also being asked to clarify the position about Repsol’s permit amid fears that the permission remains valid until August 2017, therefore allowing the company to return if it so wishes. Lanzarote Cabildo is leading the way in asking Repsol to rescind all its rights to drilling here as the best way to dispel any lingering doubts. President, Pedro San Ginés said Repsol leaving “opened a door of hope” but he felt the Canary Islands had been deceived in the past and did not intend to trust anyone and legal cases against the Spanish Government would continue.
C
ARNIVAL fever is hitting all parts of Tenerife and huge efforts are being made to ensure that everyone keeps safe and happy.
Massive crowds are expected in Santa Cruz which leads the way with its futuristic theme but other towns are celebrating too, including Puerto de la Cruz, La Orotava and Los Realejos. All the organising committees have gone to great lengths to make sure spectators and participants alike have a great time and avoid accidents. In Santa Cruz, a major campaign has been launched in schools to educate younger people about the dangers of taking drugs and drinking too much during the Carnival. “You decide” is using Twitter, Facebook and YouTube to relay the “keep healthy” message and giant images will be projected on to screens at the Carnival funfair. The city will celebrate its main “Coso” on February 17th though there are Carnivals of the Day on February 15th and
the 21st (see www.carnavaldetenerife.com for full programme). General advice to visitors is to come early, don’t try and park your car inside the capital, look after your own safety and don’t under-estimate how cold it can get at night so wrap up well! La Orotava is celebrating its big Carnival from February 14th to 21st and councillor for safety Narciso Pérez said there would be a massive taskforce of police, emergency services and volunteers. For some of the
events, such as the Coso and traditional burial of Crispin, which involved fire, the special protection plan would operate. Thousands of people are expected to flock into Puerto de la Cruz for the carnival always described as the one
with a special family atmosphere and here, as elsewhere, police will be out in force to make sure all runs as smoothly as possible.