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GIBRALTAR
Vol. 5 Issue 153
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Scandal of Mar Menor in focus See pages 6, 7 and 11
The Rock’s ONLY free local paper July 28th - August 10th 2021
Small sea, GIANT PROBLEM
THINK AGAIN
Heatwave hell en route DOZENS of Spain’s most beautiful beaches could vanish due to rising sea levels. Hundreds of thousands of coastal homes could also be in danger within decades, as a result of climate change. Key cities such as Valencia, Cadiz and Huelva could lose large areas to rising seas, according to the prediction by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Some parts of the coast could see predicted rises as high as 8mm a year. It comes as it emerged that 19 of the hottest years on record have been this century, claimed the US space agency NASA. The rapid rise of climate change is putting an alarming 75% of the country at the threat of extreme desertification, according to studies. “Spain is high-risk for climate change impacts,” scientist Francisco Blanco Velazquez told the Olive Press this week.
Brexit agreement over Gibraltar derailed as EU told to revisit rules at border with Spain
Threat
“The frequency of heatwaves has increased significantly over the last 10 years and we need to adapt to this threat because it is a risk for human health,” added the climatologist. Maximum temperature readings in Malaga are on average 3C higher than they were 60 years ago. According to meteorologists at the University of Malaga, the maximum heat reached on the hottest days in the 1960s was 42.8C, while last year it was 46C. The ongoing study found an average 1.93 heat waves per year in the 1960s and 1970s, while today there is an average of six heat-
DEBATE: Spain’s Minister of the Exterior Jose Manuel Albares, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab
X
HEAT MAP: Predicted hot spots
THE British government has rejected the latest plan from the EU in post-Brexit treaty negotiations over the future of Gibraltar insisting that the bloc ‘think again’. The European Commission presented the 26-page draft negotiating mandate, which it said would have a positive impact for people living and working on either side of the border between Spain and the Rock. But both London and Gibraltar said the proposed mandate strayed over red lines established in the New Year’s Eve agreement and could not form the basis for talks as it gave Spain the mandate to carry out border control and surveillance at Gibraltar’s port, airport and waters.
Continues on page 4
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Under the framework agreement of December, it was agreed that the EU´s Frontex would carry out this role, rather than Spain. But the new draft mandate stated that these powers would be given to Spanish border guards. The mandate also gives Spain a deciding voice over the issuing of visas and residency permits and on asylum decisions. And it recommends that Gibraltar be required to join the EU’s VAT area for goods and services. “It seeks to undermine the UK’s sovereignty over Gibraltar, and cannot form a basis for negotiations,” insisted UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab. “The UK, with Gibraltar, and Spain carefully agreed a pragmatic framework agreement, in full conSee page 9 - 16 sultation with the EU Commission,” said
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By Fiona Govan
Raab. “The Commission’s proposed mandate, published today, directly conflicts with that framework.” “It seeks to undermine the UK’s sovereignty over Gibraltar, and cannot form a basis for negotiations.” “We have consistently showed pragmatism and flexibility in the search for arrangements that work for all sides, and we are disappointed that this has not been reciprocated.” “We urge the EU to think again.” Raab added: “The Commission’s draft mandate fails to respect essential elements of the framework, does not reflect a real-world solution, and cannot form a basis for negotiations.” Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian Picardo echoed the view from London. “The draft EU mandate is a matter for them, of course, but I must say that on the basis of the current draft, there is no possibility of this forming the basis for an agreement,” he said. “We will work closely with the UK ,
especially Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, to continue to seek the best possible outcomes for Gibraltar.” In Madrid however, Spain’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs welcomed its publication and said it remained committed to negotiating a treaty over Gibraltar. “Spain will at all time work alongside the European Commission to ensure that its legal positions, interests and objectives are protected and that the commitments reached between Spain and the United Kingdom are respected,” read a statement.
Prosperity “Spain wishes to conclude this negotiation as soon as possible so that a new framework is rapidly established that guarantees shared prosperity for the benefit of all parties and, in particular, the citizens of the Campo de Gibraltar.” The mandate must be approved and adopted by the European Council prior to the start of negotiations.
2
CRIME
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NEWS IN BRIEF No more visitors OCEAN VIEWS mental health hospital is closed to visitors in order to minimise the risk of further spreading the COVID-19 virus, as numbers continue to rise.
Beach care BEACHES in Gibraltar now have free specialised equipment available for people with disabilities, including amphibious chairs, mobile hoists, and ramps.
Enter this ENTRIES are now open for the 48th Gibraltar International Art Competition. Anyone aged 16 and over can enter and their work will be exhibited at the Gustavo Bacarisas Galleries in November.
Locked up GIBRALTAR prison is 95% full, due to the number of immigrants from Morocco, who officials are unable to repatriate due to a lack of travel links.
CRIME is on the rise in Gibraltar with a number of recent incidents including the seizure of 800 litres of fuel and police assault. Police recently arrested a man for drink-driving, after they found him lying on the ground next to his motorcycle, following a crash. The 40-year-old was found to have 93 micrograms of alcohol when he blew into a breathalyser, almost three times more than the legal limit of 35. He was also found in possession of cannabis. In the early hours of the following morning a 24-yearold man was seen loading a car with fuel in Laguna Estate.
July 28th - August 10th 2021
Keeping busy
Once again THE ‘Messi del Hachis’ organisation in the Campo de Gibraltar has been broken up again. Some 77 people have been arrested and eight tons of hashish have been seized in the operation. In addition to 14 raids on drugs plantations, 10 house searches were made in Algeciras. Known as the ‘hashish Messi’, leader of the gang Abdellah El Haj Sadek, is currently on the run from the spanish justice system. Investigators say that despite numerous police operations, he is still responsible for most of the drug trafficking in the strait. Since his escape in March 2019, the part of his organisation based in Algeciras has been dismantled four times.
Drugs, drink-driving and violent crime hit the Rock Later, the vehicle was found abandoned in the area of North Worlds, with 35 x 25 litre fuel containers. On the same Saturday, an
Narco bank bust
A GANG operating between Gibraltar and Sevilla has been busted over an elaborate scheme to launder illicit drug money through investment projects including a solar park. Spain’s Guardia Civil arrested five people during an investigation that uncovered a plot to launder more than €120million in drug money. During an investigation dubbed Operation Jarco police discovered that the gang set up a series of shell companies and laundered drug money through third parties who took cash to invest in properties including a solar park scheme. The gang acted like a bank, investing and transferring illicit funds while charging interest of between 3% and 15%, the Guardia Civil said. The organisation was able to launder more than five million euros since 2015, investigators said but recently hit funding problems and was facing bankruptcy, having to make payments with funds from new deposits, in order to meet the threatening demands of previous investors.
History, adventure and romance. That’s just the setting.
officer was abused by two young men, after trying to break-up a fight by the Bristol Hotel. The 15-year-old and 17-yearold males kicked, punched and spat as the officer intervened. They were both arrested. There have also been multiple drug incidents recently, with a 45-year-old man arrested on suspicion of selling cocaine, and a 23-year-old woman for the possession of cannabis.
Deal
Police have also had to deal with a number of noise complaints, speeding fines (car and jet-ski) and assault. A spokesperson for the Royal Gibraltar Police, said: “It’s been a busy time for our officers, with a number of arrests. “It’s totally unacceptable for our officers to be punched, kicked and spat at whilst doing their job. Luckily, there were no serious injuries this time.”
BELLA ‘VISTA’
The Bella Vista Day Centre is closed until further notice due to the rising COVID-19 cases in the community. The Bella Vista Outreach service will be reinforced to increase the support available to those who need it.
From zealot to zero STEPHEN YAXLEY-LENNON, aka Tommy Robinson, has been told to pay £100,000 damages to a schoolboy that he libelled in 2018. The diminutive ex-convict fraudster has also been ordered to pay costs of an estimated £500,000 by the English High Court. He made headlines last year when he announced he was seeking refuge in Gibraltar, despite persistently campaigning against refugees entering the UK for many years. The Olive Press reported how he was looking for schools and property in the area and in Southern Spain`
Bullying The founder of the English Defence League (EDL) got into trouble when he responded to an online clip of school bullying by falsely claiming the 15-year old victim was guilty of threatening to stab others and attacking ‘young English girls’, himself. After the videos were posted, Syrian refugee Jijazi said in an impact statement that he received a barrage of abuse and unwanted contact on social media, forcing him to change his name and move house.
Join us for a celebration of history, art, heritage and pageantry in a unique part of the world.
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VIVA LA VIDA!
KICKING BACK HE’S got every right to lie back and take it easy. Having won the Golden Boot at the Euro 2020s championships, Cristiano Ronaldo deserved a long and luxurious break. And the Portuguese star certainly looks to be having it swanning around on boats in the north eastern corner of Mallorca. He and girlfriend Georgina Rodriquez, from Murcia, have been renting the magnificent Castell de Manresa estate, near Pollensa.
The pair were seen out and about with their four children, while the Juventus star also posted images of his holiday on Instagram. The Castell de Manresa was a citadel built in 1715, which has now been converted into a luxury holiday home where prices start at €50,000 a week. It comes with a fully staffed kitchen and personal spa. It also has its own helipad, tennis court and, of course, private beach. Conveniently he also has his €6m yacht the Azimut Grande 27 on hand nearby.
Piano man zooms in
H
E has supported a host of famous acts, including George Benson, Simply Red and Michael Bolton. But now Paul Maxwel has an amazing show of his own to demonstrate why he has the nickname ‘The Piano Man’. Tinkling the ivory since he was nine years old, the Marbella-based expat has a huge, fitting concert at the recently-opened Marbella Arena next month. Showcasing his exciting new project The Elton John Experience, he will be playing alongside the Malaga Symphony Orchestra. Belting out the famous hits of Elton and songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, it is expected to be a sellout show, which he then takes on a world tour. Born in England, Paul moved to the Costa del Sol with his showbusiness parents at an early age and began playing the piano at nine years old. Music is his life and he has had many successes including his song I’m So High, becoming the official composition of the 2008 European Championships, which Spain won.
COLDPLAY frontman Chris Martin, 44, and his 31-yearold actress girlfriend Dakota Johnson have been living la vida in Mallorca. The long-time couple have been spotted enjoying themselves on a romantic break in Palma, as the Balearics welcome back more than their fair share of A-list stars this summer.
Paradise gained
A PAIR of British brothers who have made fortunes investing in property and aluminium have turned their sights on Spain. But this time, David and Simon Reuben claim to be sinking their cash into protecting the environment rather than turn-
ing a fast buck. The brothers, 82 and 79, who have an estimated wealth of €25.1bn, now own 1,360 hectares in Mallorca, including a staggering 18km of virgin coastline. Their spending spree has been quietly taking place over the
Billionaire brothers buy swathes of Mallorca to protect coastal paradise past 18 months with the purchase of six separate properties in the north, east and west of the island.
Green Specia
l
The show takes place at the Marbella Arena on August 21. For more information visit www.corteingles.es or 0034 633647260
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Email your answer to newsdesk@theolivepress.es with the subject catchline ‘Piano man competition’.
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Although the Balearic property portfolio includes several villas, a restaurant and a yacht club, the vast majority of land cannot be built on. Comprising sandy beaches, rocky coves and even an inland lake as well as virgin forests, almost all is classified as rural and non-developable. The brothers meanwhile, have also bought 180 hectares of land including 7.3km of coastline in Ibiza, just south of the famous party resort of San Antonio. According to a Mallorca architect, who knows the brothers, none of it is intended to be transformed into lucrative tourist developments.
Wary
SAVED?: Mesquida headland and (inset) the Reuben brothers
of tickets offering two pairs The Olive Press is g show, plus a backstage to this breathtakinand the band. meeting with Paulswer the following question: To win, please an Elton John Top 40 hits has How many UK had?
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SHE’S the world’s highest paid model. And Kendall Jenner looked fittingly sensational as she revealed the cover of her latest shoot with Vogue Spain. The brunette beauty, 25, who is being lauded for her campaigning for mental health, showcased her long limbs in a gorgeous sheer floral dress, paired with high-waisted trousers.
AN influencer has been chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a guest at the five-star hotel in Huelva for the whole summer. Lorena Garam, who has 41,700 followers on social media, is to be paid €2,000 a month to share the highlights of her stay. The hotel attracted more than 500 applicants, in a competition to find an influencer for the job.
EASY MONEY
+34 951 566 192 Duquesa Port, Manilva
“At first I thought they were strategic investments to make land swap deals with town halls interested in preserving natural spaces but I have been changing my mind,” he told El Mundo. “Instead they are aware that space will increasingly be a greater luxury, and ultimately they are buying luxury in a paradise,” he said. The duo own more than 100 properties across London and the UK and recently acquired Manhattan’s 189-room hotel The Surrey for a reported $151 million. The brothers are descended from Iraqi Jews and were born in Mumbai before moving to London and making their fortunes in scrap metal, later dominating the aluminium trade in Russia.
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NEWS
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Beach heat From front page
waves a year. The rise in heat, which causes an increase in ice melting near the poles, is in turn putting the precious coastlines of Spain at risk. Since 1900, global sea levels have risen between 13cm and 20cm; while throughout the previous 2,000 years, sea levels essentially didn’t change. The rate of the rise is also increasing: between 1900 and 1990 levels rose by around 1.3mm a year. But since 2000, according to the IPCC, the rate has been 3.6mm a year.
Devastated
By the end of the century some estimates suggest a rise of between 29-59cm. To see how the rise could affect where you live or own property, website Climatecentral.org has constructed a map detailing which parts of the world could be below sea level over the next few decades. It indicates that much of the Spanish coastline and especially its bay towns could be devastated by 2100. However, by 2050 large areas of Cadiz, Huelva and parts of Valencia, which are already struggling with rising sea levels, could be swamped. See environment special page 6, 7 and 11
THE son of a British tycoon who killed a woman in a drink drive incident and stood trial accused of kidnapping a model in Marbella has died. Westley Capper, who was facing prison over the disappearance of Latvian Agnese Klavina, 30, had a stroke, reportedly brought on by COVID-19. He died in the early hours of Monday in hospital after being admitted several days earlier, the Olive Press has learnt.
Died A business acquaintance close to the family confirmed he had died after spending ‘a few days at least’ at a hospital understood to be the Quiron in Marbella. “He had definitely been in hospital for a few days seriously ill having caught COVID,” the businessman, who is close to the Capper family, told the Olive Press. “We are waiting to see what plans his father and the family
SECRETS TO THE GRAVE! are going to make in terms of a possible wake and funeral but we are not bothering his father now,” said the estate agent, who asked not to be named. The 44-year-old - who killed a Bolivian mother-of-four while over the limit on drink and drugs - caught the virus near his home in Benahavis, on the Costa del Sol. Capper had been spared jail at trial in 2020 after admitting to the manslaughter of Fatima Dorado in San Pedro, in 2016. But in an earlier case Capper and his friend Craig Porter, 38, were handed suspended
NIGHT OUT: Capper, left, with Craig Porter
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Expat playboy linked to case of missing model Agnese Klavina dies of COVID By Dilip Kuner
sentences of two years and six months respectively on charges of coercion after being cleared of the kidnapping of Klavina. The friends were also ordered to pay €10,000 to her family and one third of their legal costs. The charge of kidnapping – for which the British pair faced 12 years in prison – could not be proved, leaving Klavina’s family ‘stunned’. While the judge agreed that they had conspired to force her into their car following a late night at a Marbella nightclub, the prosecution was unable to prove why she has not been seen since. This was despite a large, heavy bag being seen taken onto Capper’s father’s boat four days later in Duquesa port, according to statements produced during the trial. “The family are very disappointed,” Fernando Scornik
VICTIM: Dorado (left) and missing Agnese Gerstein, representing the Klavinas, told the Olive Press at the time. “They are heartbroken at losing a daughter, sister, and the two people they believe are responsible have got such light sentences. “Meanwhile the bouncer who clearly helped force Agnese into their car got nothing.” The Madrid-based lawyer said he strongly disagreed with the judge’s interpretation of the law. “We will be appealing this verdict to the Supreme Court,” he added. The case has still not been resolved. The family lawyer had asked the court for long sentences
and €85,000 in compensation for the pair’s alleged role in the disappearance from Aqwa Mist nightclub in Puerto Banus, in 2014.
Appeal Capper was also set to appeal the coercion conviction, and had been told to lie low at his multi-million euro home in the upmarket Madronal development. Robert Taylor, the lawyer of privately-educated Capper, who attended private Aloha College in Marbella, told the Olive Press: “He had no intention to take Agnese Klavina against her will and she entered my client’s car of her own volition.”
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To infinity… STUDENT Pilot Oliver Daemen became the world’s youngest person to travel to space at the age of just 18, after training at the One Air pilot school in Malaga. The Dutchman joined billionaire Jeff Bezos, his brother Mark Bezos, and 82-year-old Wally Funk (part of Mercury 23 in the ‘60s and now the oldest woman to go to space) on the Blue Origin mission. The New Shepard Rocket took off from a desert in West Texas and performed a suborbital flight, reaching a maximum altitude of around 107km (351,210ft). Daemen obtained his licence at the Malaga pilot school in March 2021, and was lucky enough to be invited on the monumental trip after the anonymous winner of a public auction pulled out. ANDALUCIA’S vaccination programme has opened up to 18-year-olds. Since yesterday, all 18 and 19-year-olds - those born in 2002 and 2003 - resident in Andalucia, can apply for the COVID-19 jab. And from tomorrow (Thursday) those born in 2004 and 2005 (17 and 16-year-olds) will also be eligible for their first COVID-19 vaccine dose.
A PAIR of local councillors had a rude awakening when they were asked to join their police force in breaking up an illegal rave of around 1,300 people. The duo joined up to a dozen police to break up the mega-party in the early hours of the morning. It came after numerous emergency calls were received from neighbours of the private bash in Cadiz at around 1.30am.
Jail
The organiser of the illegal gathering could face jail as well as a fine up to €100,000. The unofficial event, near Vejer de la Frontera, has caused considerable outrage as the COVID-19 figures continue to soar around the region. The gathering took place at a private estate, after a post went out on social media and quickly went viral. Tourists and expats joined
Mega-party EXCLUSIVE: Police and councillors unite to break up illegal drugs rave of 1,300 people locals to make their way to the isolated finca, where they partied until it was broken up at 2.20am. Local police called in the councillors after neighbours had noticed an unusual number of cars traveling up and down the local roads. Mayor of Vejer, Francisco Flor told the Olive Press it had been ‘a huge mission’ to find the estate. “It’s a plot with hardly any houses; the music was very low and there were very few lights,” he said.
Jabbing the young Appointments can be requested from authorised groups according to the vaccines available. They can be requested directly on the Andalucian Health Service (SAS) website via ClicSalud+, through the mobile app and the Salud Responde telephone number (955 54 50 60) and also at lo-
July 28th - August 10th 2021
cal health centres. Immunisation for young adults will be carried out with the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, of which 308,880 doses of Pfizer and 91,600 from Moderna are expected to be delivered to the region this week. Andalucia continues to encourage as many people as
DOUBLE HOPE DOUBLE jabbed expats travelling to the UK may soon be able to do so without having to quarantine. The news comes after reports in the UK media suggested Spain may escape being put on the dreaded amber-plus list. UK Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi confirmed the government was working hard on a scheme to offer quarantine free conditions to those who have been fully vaccinated abroad.
Deadline
He added it came as a real shock to his team to find ‘up to 1,300 people of all differpossible to get vaccinated this summer by reducing potential barriers even further with more mass walk-in campaigns in all provinces for those who have yet to receive their initial dose of COVID-19 vaccine. The Janssen vaccine is the one currently used in the walk-in campaigns, with the advantage that it’s a single-shot vaccine.
ent ages’, with some clearly under the influence of ‘narcotic substances’. Police took the details of those found in possession of drugs and according to the mayor, ‘calmly broke up the party’.
Biggest
“This isn’t the first illegal party to take place in recent months, but it is the biggest in the history of Vejer,” he added. “Those involved will be dealt with firmly, and the owner of the property will be prosecuted for ignoring health regulations.”
5
“We want to offer the same reciprocity as the 33 countries that recognise our app and that will also happen very soon,” he said without committing to a deadline. The exemption from quarantine for those arriving from amber list countries currently only applies to people who were vaccinated in the UK and have an NHS COVID certificate or digital pass. A decision to put Spain on the amber-plus list, which would mean travellers having to self-isolate on arrival in the UK, is expected to be made on August 5. It is believed more likely that France will come off the amber list than Spain going on it.
GREEN SPECIAL
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OPINION QUESTIONS NEED ANSWERING IT seems like every day there is a new headline reminding us of the very real effect of climate change on our environment. Just this week we have seen record temperatures in Aragon, fires raging in Catalunya and drought warnings in Andalucia. Another week and there might be flash floods, coastal erosion, warnings of overfishing. We are very aware that Spain is particularly vulnerable to the dangers of climate change but are we really doing enough to tackle it? Volunteers may give up a day here and there to pick up litter on a local beach or wildlife spot. And we all do the best we can to recycle don’t we? COVID may have curtailed our air travel and therefore reduced our carbon footprints over the last year, but let’s face it, we still rely too much on gas-guzzling cars, on air conditioning in summer and central heating in winter. We still want our favourite vegetables available on supermarket shelves even when they are not in season. We still eat too much meat. Even environmentalists aren’t united on the way forward as our recent reports on the protests against mass solar parks illustrate. But it’s time we woke up to the disaster ahead and pushed our governments to take it more seriously. Why has no-one been held accountable for an ecological disaster as huge as the one we have witnessed in the Mar Menor (see right)? Are the energy companies going to be allowed to continue to make big profits, and big polluters to get off scot free while the rest of us sort through our plastics and carry home our shopping in hemp bags in the belief that we are doing our bit?
Heatwaves, droughts As desertification threatens 75% of Spain and sea level rises spell doom for tourism, Shannon Chaffers takes a look at how the country is handling climate change
A
RECENT heatwave that swept across Canada and the United States set record temperatures, while flooding in central Europe claimed at least 100 lives. Both due to global warming. And while Spain swelters in yet another scorching hot July, it won’t come as a surprise to learn that the Mediterranean region is particularly vulnerable as global temperatures rise. A 2018 report identified that 75% of Spain’s land mass is now at risk of desertification, making it one of the most atrisk nations in the world. Desertification means more than just the expansion of deserts, although that is one very real result, particularly if temperatures rise to more than 2ºC
above pre-industrial levels… climate scientist Francisco Blanand the Mediterranean has al- co Velazquez. ready seen an average rise of He told the Olive Press that pro1.5ºC since the end of the 19th longed periods of extreme heat Century. officially described as heatwaves Extreme heat - will only become leads to the demore frequent as terioration of soil the region warms. For every to the extent that “The frequency of it can no longer heat waves has degree of sustain former increased signifiwarming there cantly over the plant life. It becomes less and last ten years and will be a 4% less productive. it will not change. The problem is drop in rainfall Spain knows that often worsened we need to adapt by over-cultivato this threat betion, deforestacause it is a risk for tion, and urbanization, all con- human health,” added Velazquez tributing factors placing Spain who works at Evenor-Tech, a even more in the danger zone. company that researches the im“Spain is one of the countries pact climate change has on soil. classified as high-risk for cli- Unfortunately, adverse impacts mate change impacts,” insists don’t stop there. With rising tem-
Small sea, GIANT PROBLEM
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Vaccine fury
it went on page
ress.es
July 15th - July
Female expat makes moving tribute to her famous bullrunning dad
28th 2021
DISASTER: Tens of thousands of dead fish, our report last issue (above) Jo Scott
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DOOMED T O CLOSE
OVER 40,000 signed a petition people have cinated British to allow vacthe UK without Expats to visit It comes after quarantining. pats expresse dozens of exrule that maded outrage at a them exempt and needing their return to quarantine on to see family friends back home. or The digital claimed the petition, which rule prejudic up to six million ed Britons living abroad, caused a rapid response from the ernment, defendin UK govg its ‘pragmatic approach RECENT A spokesman ’. said: “Public Blanca LY-reopened Costa already health has always hotels will have put been our close again to off making many families number one if UK a plunge for their will not risk priority and we do not pick up next bookings summer holidays month. in Spain our hard-won throwing away The regional hoteliers this year. achievements.” asso- But there ciation, Hosbec For the petition are insists that it ered in Parliame to be consid- is very difficult sands who are tens of thoureach 100,000 nt it needs to itable without to stay prof- to travel for still planning signatures. their annual masses of Britishthe normal break in the sun. tourists. The British “If British tourists Letters special government’s do not confusing arrive in August, on page 10 and frequent hotels are ly-changing messages have- doomed to closure,” ed Hosbec presiden insistt, Toni bike rentAL • e-scoo
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VALE NCIA / COST A AZAH FREE Vol. 1 Issue AR
Rollercoaster ride getting married onfor our man Euro final Find the Rock during out how
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peratures come reduced rainfall and drought. The MedECC group (Mediterrranean Experts on Climate and Environmental Change) estimates that with each degree of warming there will be a 4% decrease in rainfall. And this will bring an increasingly arid climate with more droughts and fires, phenomena that Spain is already seeing. There is also the threat of rising sea levels, as increasing temperatures have caused faster melting of glaciers and ice caps, resulting in the sea level rising globally at a rate of about 3mm per year over the last two decades. While it is uncertain exactly how much the Med will be affected, experts have made clear that Spain’s coastal regions are par-
See page 14
PUBLISHER / EDITOR
Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es
l
The
6
Green Specia
ters BIKE TOURS • repair S
By Alex Trelinsk
Costa Blanca for the retur hotels are left praying n of UK touri Germans and sts French stayi - with ng home
EU COVID certifica te would bring in EU Mayor. tourists as France and Mayor regards Germany are most the last the UK as al- not recommending Spanthe summer hope in saving ish travel, which just leaves season with already gloomy an us with the British market,” visitors from outlook over said Mayor. France and Many hotels only Germany. reopened in late June “Rising COVID or early this month cases in have anticipa reduced the hope that the laxed UK travel tion of rerules as they are heavily depende nt on the i
British market. From July 19, ‘fully-va cinated’ ctourists from England going ber-listed countryto an amlike Spain will no longer have to go into self-quarantine on their return. However all British tourists, minus children under the age of four, will still need two negative They have to COVID tests. fore you get be booked beand can coston your flight up to £100 (€117) each. Holidaymakers will also have to get a gen test prior negative antito flying home.
Pollution probe
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T’S an area that was long known for its beauty with its breathtaking geography and varied flora and fauna. But today the Mar Menor, in Murcia, makes headlines for the horrific pollution that has ravaged the lagoon killing tens of thousands of fish as people in power stood by and appeared to do little or nothing about it. Take a trip to the southern shore, an area once teeming with tourists drawn to the golden sands and clear blue water of Punta Brava beach, in Los Urrutias. Today the coastal stretch is awash with dirty mush, covered in algae and emitting a putrid ‘rotten-egg’ stench. The water is distinctly murky and, not surprisingly, there’s barely a bather in sight. Cleaning teams from Cartagena City Council come and go, but are faced with a thankless task as any work is quickly undone with a fresh wave of algae sweeping in. Los Urrutias is one of the worst pollution blackspots because of its close proximity to a creek dumping gallons of nitrate-laden irrigation water into the lagoon. So bad was the situation that in 2016 phytoplankton, also known as microalgae, came under attack, due to the high levels of nitrate in the water.
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A GOLF course judge investiga is among a blacklist of polluters given into the Mar ting the dumping of imprope to a rly-treated water Judge Angel Menor. Garrote has ordered nesses to testify, 42 agriculture-based as well as the busibosses
The surface ended up turning dark green stopping sunlight reaching lagoon vegetation and leading to the loss of 80% of its seagrass, according to the Institute of Oceanography. Within a year, all of the Mar Menor’s beaches were stripped of their ‘Blue Flag’ status. Just when it didn’t seem things could get worse, in September 2019, exceptional flooding saw excess water pumped in the lagoon, which in turn led to tens of thousands of oxygen-starved fish washing up dead onto beaches such as Villanantitos at San Pedro del Pinatar. The images flashed around the world as over three tons of fish and crustaceans were collected from the beaches. Tests confirmed they had died of anoxia (lack of oxygen) and, worse, there were countless thousands more dead on the bottom of the lagoon. It caused a national outrage and, as covered in the Olive Press, some 55,000 people marched on the regional parliament (see right) in Cartagena to call for urgent action. “The floods were the last straw,” recalls La Manga resident, Graham Bradley. “There was anger that nothing had been done for years about preserving such a beautiful area. It is incomprehensible how this has been allowed to happen,” he added.
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Germany last fied the whole week classiof Spain as ‘high risk’ for COVID-19, but there is currentl y no outright bar on German visitors coming to Spain an EU COVID if they have certificate. The same applies to French tourists, who are the second-highest eign visitorsnumber of forafter the UK. traditionally However a French Junior Minister suggeste d that both Spain and Portugal were not ‘safe destinat tion denied byions’, a suggesism Minister Spain’s Tour, Reyes Maroto.
And it certainly is not a recent problem. Environmental campaigners have spent the last four decades slamming the huge number of farms in the area that allowed their wastewater to enter the inland lagoon. Warnings were first sounded when the dangers of intensive farming, urban development and mining were seen to pose a serious threat to the area’s ecosystem. “I remember a scientist saying in 1980 that if farming developed close to the lagoon, then remnants of fertilisers and other nutrients
GREEN SPECIAL July 28th - August 10th 2021
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and floods
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ticularly at risk for erosion and flooding. This poses not just a threat to those who live in coastal and floodplain areas but will have a massive impact on Spain’s
tourism industry, which currently drives 12 to 15% of Spain’s economy and much more in key regions like the Balearics, Valencia and Andalucia. Flood risk is also predicted to increase throughout
the country, as extreme rainfall events become more common in a warmer world. But increased rainfall doesn’t mean an end to water shortages, quite the opposite: Torrential rain and subsequent flooding threatens water stores, destroys drainage and water supply systems and compounds the risk of drought. These same factors also threaten Spain’s food supply. Heat waves, droughts, and heavy rainfall all have a detrimental effect on crops, while the ex-
pected rise of invasive species also poses a threat. This food scarcity issue could be compounded by the effects of rising temperatures on Spain’s marine ecosystem. Already, overfishing is a major problem in Spain. With warmer ocean and freshwater temperatures, combined with ocean acidification due to higher levels of CO2, once abundant species of fish will become more scarce. But amid this doom and gloom, Velazquez believes Spain has the right tools to adapt to climate change. “I think that the strategy to adapt to climate change is [on the right path]. Several initiatives are on the table and they will be adapted if it is required,” he explains. Indeed, Spain recently passed its first law aimed at combating climate change, putting the country on track to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 in line with EU goals. Velazquez believes this plan sets Spain on the right track. “The current carbon neutral plan is ambitious but if it is correctly implemented, and other countries do it too, the final results will set us on the right path,” he said. But for some Spanish environmental activists, the plan falls far short of what is needed. The Spanish government was recently hit with a Supreme Court petition by activists insisting it lacked ambition and had no chance of preventing global temperatures from rising 1.5ºC by 2030.
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HE Olive Press has been batting for Spain live on Sky twice over the last week. Editor Jon Clarke pleaded with the UK government not to put the country on the amber-plus list despite rising COVID-19 figures. He told Sky News breakfast show that, despite a sharp rise in infections, the key statistic was far lower hospital numbers. Alongside the Greek Tourist Minister, he also pointed out how well Spain had done to get 55% of the country vaccinated - overtaking France and even the UK. It means that it is largely youngsters catching COVID in Spain now and they mostly ‘swat it away easily’. The Olive Press team are regularly appearing on UK news channels, also including the BBC and ITV, giving their detailed local analysis on key issues around Spain. We have also helped on a trio of investigative documentaries, including one for Swedish national TV and another for Australia’s CBS, over the last month. We are the most trusted English media outlet in Spain, which is reflected in rising online numbers of well over 20,000 visitors a day. Thousands of regulars have now signed up to our paywall, which provides over 20 stories a day about the country.
Bison
Spain’s Mar Menor is Europe’s largest saltwater lagoon, and now the site of one of the continent’s greatest ecological disasters, writes Alex Trelinski would end up in the water and would annihilate the flora and fauna,” recalls one campaigner Isabel Rubio. There were other issues too. Like much of coastal Spain, the 1970s saw tourists flood in from abroad leading to a construction boom with buildings constructed all along the shore, particularly in the mid-1980s. Then followed dredging work to allow access for bigger boats that further damaged the delicate ecosystem. But the biggest environmental threat came from the large number of unlicensed desalination plants that were introduced by farmers for irrigation around the
Campo de Cartagena. A law change in 1979 meant irrigated zones increased by over ten times, while an alarming quarter of the region became ‘watered’ illegally without licences. It was good news, of course, for northern Europe, as internationally-exported crops saw their reliance on rain reduced. Fruit and vegetables ended up on UK supermarket shelves with customers oblivious to the environmental price paid to get them there. It was a similar situation in the Campo de Dalias in Almeria, where the aquifers were drained so fast by intensive agriculture, mostly under plastic, that the spread of desertification rapidly sped up. However, while these green gold crops brought a Continues on page 11
The fight against climate change extends beyond action at a national level, however, and Spaniards are walking up to the need to become more environmentally friendly at home. Aside from recycling far more, in Andalucia, farmers are being handed subsidies to switch to more sustainable methods of farming in a bid to fend off desertification. Elsewhere, both Malaga and Madrid have released plans to create a green belt around their cities (see green page 9), while other initiatives include the reintroduction of bison, long extinct within Spain, for the effective way they graze on undergrowth and help to prevent forest fires. The jury is still out whether these efforts will be enough to mitigate the impending consequences of climate change, but Velazquez believes that with continued action on the issue, we have a chance. “Climate change impacts are inevitable,” he concludes. “The increase of droughts, heat waves, and wildfires will affect us, but we can reduce their impacts if we work on it now. If we delay any longer, maybe it will be too late.”
The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are: luggage rules over flight switches are 1- Ryanair ruled unfair by the Supreme Court in Spain knitters create beautiful crochet screen 2- Local to keep sun off the streets in town inland from Spain’s Costa del Sol known towns worth a visit on 3- Five lesser Spain’s Costa del Sol this summer expat returns to Spain to find squatter 4- Irish living in her home and demanding money to move out Spain’s Balearic Islands will cover cost to repa5are-triate Covid-19 positive tourists whose holidays prolonged with mandatory 10-day quarantine
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LETTERS
8
My 90 day woes Dear Olive Press, 17 As a homeowner in Spain for it years and recently retired I findday all very confusing around the 90resistay rule and registration as a go as dent, wishing to just come and mess planned before Brexit. What a plans that has caused and makes my will much harder. Do you think theynear sort out an easy solution in the t the future or is becoming a residen only solution? Keith Day, UK plicatED: Hi Keith, Yes it’s com ation situ xit Bre the il unt and ed er, settles down and we get a calmeen betw ship tion rela xed more rela lly you Spain and the UK technica dency are going to have to get resi or abide by the 90 day rule…
BOTELLON VANDALS Vandals and litter turning paradise into a dump, with residents having to pay
FOR the last couple of weeks, gangs of youths have been roaming the streets around the La Fossa Beach area of Calpe, throughout the night. Each morning, the footpath from the harbour is littered with bottles and rubbish from their activities in the night. This morning however, the path was covered with broken glass. Vandals had smashed a large number of the street lights that lit the path. I felt that this is something that should be reported and questions should be asked as to why the Local Police are seemingly not interested in stopping their activities. Ultimately it is us residents who will have to pick up the bill which is unforgivable.
Y
T I C I A PA R
AUGUST HOROSCOPES by Leticia Parmer
M
A cluster of outer planets – Jupiter, Saturn Neptune and Pluto – are already retrograde and now the other outer planet Uranus also turns retrograde, easing recent contradictions between tradition and innovation. Thus, for the month of August, life should run more smoothly with fewer strugglesr surprises.
ER ARIES
Patience is a virtue but not normally one of your strong points. However, this August you would do well to slow down and pay more attention to detail and focus on precision. So change your mantra from ‘got it done’ to ‘getting it right’.
TAURUS
At times you can be quietly dignified and reserved but this August you will be far from shy, in fact you might elbow your way right onto centre stage. So it is the spotlight for you, whether as a performer or merely as the kids’ cheerleader.
LEO Money is hot in your hands this August, it may pour in fast but can pour out just as quickly. Like a river, money flows through you and on, to the next deserving soul but do resist the urge to be overly extravagant this month.
GEMINI
SAGITTARIUS
CANCER
CAPRICORN
LIBRA
AQUARIUS
You can be a bit of a wil-o-the-wisp, as you weave and dodge through life, always fun yet wriggling to obtain freedom. But this August you are more settled, quite homely in fact. Why not re-design your nest or perfect that new recipe. Buzzing with ideas this August, you cannot wait to share them. You will be talkative and very visible on social media. Communications are key for you now. You are so quick witted and persuasive you could sell ice to the eskimos! Dreams may be more vivid than usual. This is because Mars is firing up your imagination this month. Just what you need to provoke you into getting on with that writing or art project you have been procrastinating about.
SCORPIO
The whole social scene will stimulate and energise you this August. You may surprise yourself as you cast aside your usual reticence. Now you don’t need to stay protective, private or hidden, you want to reach out and share.
AN airline has called on the UK Government to bring an end to unnecessary and expensive testing for flying abroad, in line with much of Europe. Two-thirds of British adults are now fully vaccinated, but still face prohibitive PCR test costs in order to travel with a family of four paying up to £400 for COVID tests – even to Green list countries. Being able to travel was a key driver (47%) for many to get the vaccine. Nearly nine-in-10 (88%) Brits believes the UK Government travel policy advice over the past 18 months has been confusing according to new research. It is a disgrace and no surprise that easyJet insisted that UK holidaymakers could be priced out of their first holiday abroad for the first time in two years if test costs and rules remain. David Anderson, Newcastle
Jim Gracey, Belfast
ED: Hi Jim, I don’t think it is a problem. You might need a PCR test. A Scottish journalist we know came in via Dublin, no problem. He might have just been lucky... but as far as I know, there is no bar to entering Spain from the UK anyway. Please check first though about the test.
7 Laconic (8) 8 Garnish (4) 9 Finish it once and for all (3,2,4,4) 10 "Deep ---" (1998 Morgan Freeman film) (6) 12 More secure (5) 14 Humble dwelling (3) 15 Big name in harvesters (5) 16 Be that as it may ... (6) 17 Bedfordshire/Essex neighbour (13) 20 Principal (4) 21 Nude song about old lockups (8)
Curiosity and maybe a little suspicion, push you to investigate. Whatever you focus on it will be with intensity and depth, stimulated to dig down beneath the first answer. Whatever you discover, resist the temptation to cut and run.
Down
PISCES
Partnership stimulates you now. You would rather be in a two-some than flying solo because teamwork feels energising and inspiring. You are diplomatic, charming and peaceful, but will react fiercely to a perceived injustice.
For a private appointment with Leticia for an in depth reading of your own Astrological Chart email: leticiaparmer@yahoo.com. Also check out Leticia's insightful book WHY ON EARTH which is available from Amazon
AS a regular reader (now online), can you help me answer a question I’ve been asking without a definitive reply, including from the consuls in Dublin and Edinburgh. As a UK passport holder, resident in Northern Ireland, am I permitted to enter Spain via Dublin? Northern Ireland has a peculiar status under Brexit, still being subject to some EU laws, in particular exports, imports and travel. I am a property owner in Torreblanca (and Sports Editor of the Belfast Telegraph, for my sins).
Across
Travel beckons and you feel fired up by thoughts of adventures away from home turf. You’ll enjoy learning from other cultures and traditions and may be inspired to share your own expertise by teaching or coaching others.
With Mars, the planet of energy and vitality, in your own sign for the whole of August you will be a force to reckon with. Others would be wise to take a back seat and let you shine in the helpful role of organiser and planner.
Help the Irish
OP QUICK CROSSWORD
It is time to start taking stronger career steps and putting energy into establishing yourself so others will take you more seriously. A father figure or wise male elder will have a strong and positive, mentoring influence on you now.
VIRGO
DISRACE: Litter bugs
Airline plea to UK
OP SUDOKU
E S TA R S B
LE
IN
Stuart Eynstone-Hinkins, Calpe
TH
July 28th - August 10th 2021
1 One of Eve's three (4) 2 Contest at the bar? (8) 3 Safe (3,2,3,5) 4 Seeing daunting nerds in error (13) 5 Defect (4) 6 South Africa's administrative capital (8) 11 Of the Middle Ages (8) 13 Steam or internal combustion engine component (8) 18 Look after (4) 19 Offensively malodorous (4)
All solutions are on page 14
LA CULTURA
July 28th August 10th 2021
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World renowned Iconic Madrid sites put on UNESCO heritage list
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Green Specia
GREEN ESCAPE: Retiro park
NO BULL
AN account promoting a Spanish matador has been banned from Twitter after posting videos of his latest bullfight. Footage of Jose Antonio Morante de la Puebla taking part in a corrida in Algeciras on Saturday breached the network’s rules for ‘promoting sadistic pleasure’. The social media giant suspended the account of @moranteinfo, which is run by a fan of the famous bullfighter, because of the ‘explicit content that breached the site’s basic rules’.
MADRID will appear on the list of world heritage sites for the first time after its Retiro Park and Paseo del Prado was awarded the coveted status by UNESCO. The tree-lined avenue of the Paseo del Prado is one of the main attractions in the capital with six museums along its length including Spain’s most famous art museum, El Prado, the Botanical Gardens next door and Museum Thys-
Crochet shade
Torture
“You cannot share on multimedia scenes which are gratuitous (injuries, violence, torture),” it said, explaining the ban. “The showing of gratuitous bloody scenes can be prejudicial, especially if the content is published with the intention of promoting cruelty or sadistic pleasure.” The ban provoked outrage from the account holder who posted: ‘freedom in this country does not exist, enough is enough’ alongside the response he had from Twitter.
COLOURFUL: Crocheted awnings in the streets of Alhaurin de la Torre are a striking sight created by local residents
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sen-Bornemisza opposite. The Retiro is one of the finest city parks found in all of Europe. Its 118 hectares include woodland areas, a boating lake, a rose garden, a sports centre and a glass palace which hosts art exhibitions. The Paseo del Prado was described as ‘one of the first boulevards inside the city limits of all European cities and capitals...where all citizens, without distinction of class, could enjoy leisure and a stroll’, by Spain’s foreign ministry.
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Iconic
Unesco included the ‘Paseo del Prado and Buen Retiro’ as ‘a landscape of Arts and Sciences’ on the World Heritage list, saying: “The avenue features major fountains, notably the Fuente de Cibeles and the Fuente de Neptuno, and the Plaza de Cibeles, an iconic symbol of the city, surrounded by prestigious buildings. The site embodies a new idea of urban space and development from the enlightened absolutist period of the 18th century. It added: “The 120-hectare Jardines del Buen Retiro, constitutes the largest part of the property displaying different gardening styles from the 19th century to the present.”
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2/8/18 17:01
LA CULTURA DANCING DAYS 10
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t’s been a long time since I stepped foot in a theatre. Infact, the last performance I saw was The Comedy About a Bank Robbery, in London, in March 2020 just weeks before we went
into a nationwide lockdown. So, when founder of Esperanto Ballet Archil Kusikashvili invited me to his dance school’s show, I jumped at the opportunity. Formed on the Costa del Sol, Esperanto Ballet fuses a variety of dance styles including Georgian, Russian, ballet, flamenco and gymnastics, creating its very own ‘language’ of dance. And Archil and his team per formed their first live show at
Katherine Brook enjoys a rare evening of music and dance with Esperanto Ballet the Teatro Auditorio Felipe VI (TAF), in Estepona. Being such a huge auditorium, we were well spread out and I was happy to see everyone still wearing their masks throughout the performance. Kusikashvili opened the show dressed in a typically Georgian outfit; he made pirouettes look effortless and had a face of pure enjoyment throughout. Next to the stage was a young man whose dance I can only describe as expressive ballet with a hint of break dancing. He glided around the stage like a slinky, my eyes following
his every move. Four flamenco dancers standing out in their incredible red outfits were the real crowd-pleasers as they stamped, tapped, and laughed around the stage using their bodies as percussion instruments and each with a castanet. However I particularly liked a violinist, who played beautifully to a series of backing tracks one from Game of Thrones.
July 28th - August 10th 2021 THE government has put a stop to large events until September 2021 as the virus continues to spread. Small events will be able to go ahead but they must be seated and ticketed. Only those who have been double vaccinated and can show a negative COVID-19 test within 24-hours will be allowed to attend. The Ministry of Culture and the Office of Civil Contingencies will be reaching out to event organisers to explain the new rules, and has said it will do its best to ensure these events can go ahead in the future, when the ‘situation once again improves’. The government has said it is ‘saddened’ that it has come to this again but has had to ‘respond to the rapid
AFTER a three year refurb and delays caused by archaeological discoveries as well as a pandemic, Madrid’s Gran Via metro station has reopened. It has mixed retro style with state-of-the art technology in a design that seems to be a hit with Madrileños. People flocked to the station on the opening weekend which saw some 41,000 visitors on the first day alone. At least 6,000 of those said they had come just to look at the new design.
Clapping
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growth in COVID-19 cases, in particular recent hospitalisation’. It has also asked that private bars, restaurants and nightclubs be ‘cautious in the events that they hold, to strictly control numbers and to ensure that clients are vaccinated and have a negative COVID-19 test result’. The government is not considering introducing legislation to ‘control catering establishments and nightclubs’, but notes that it is a ‘possibility should cases continue to rise’.
GOING UNDERGROUND
She was joined occasionally by some of the dancers and the show finished with all the dancers on stage together with the audience on its feet; clapping and whistling. Kusikashvili with his dance partner performs every weekend in Marbella but to find out when the Esperanto’s next performance is, keep an eye on their Facebook page.
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MADRID has unveiled plans to create a ‘green belt’ of forest around Spain’s capital in a bid to combat climate change and reduce pollution. The project involves trans-
Madrid plans ‘urban forest’ to reduce pollution and combat climate change forming disused areas between roads and buildings by planting more than half
GreenMatters By Martin Tye
T
HE song Too Much, Too Little, Too Late by Johnny Mathis was a massive hit back in 1978, but the words could be seen as prophetic when put into a modern contect. Try applying those words to our environment which is clearly under attack.
Earlier this month the European Union announced many climate change proposals , with the target of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050. That is 31 years away! Right now we are witnessing events all around the world that more than prove the time for action is now: • Hailstones the size of golf balls in the UK in July • Flash floods across the world • Widespread forest fires • Temperatures rising • Sea levels rising How can this be kicked down the road by the politicians who talk the talk but never walk the walk? The EU’s draft proposals have to be ratified by the bloc’s
July 28th - August 10th 2021
GREEN BELT ELT
TOO MUCH, TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE!
Too much – climate change and pollution Too little – action Too late – is it?
Green Specia
a million trees to create a 75km long urban forest. The trees will be chosen from varieties indigenous to Spain that require very little watering and can withstand heat. Once developed the Bosque Metropolitano, as it’s being termed, will help improve city air by absorbing 175,000 tons of carbon dioxide each year. “We want to improve the air quality in the whole city,” said Environment
By Fiona Govan
Councillor Mariano Fuentes. “To fight the 'heat island' effect inside the city, to absorb greenhouse emissions and to connect all the existing forest areas around the city.” The urban forest is just one phase in a city-wide plan to fight climate change that includes more pedestrian zones, bicycle lanes and restrict-
From Page 7
27 member states and the EU parliament (herding cats comes to mind). Plans include taxing jet fuel and effectively banning the sale of petrol and diesel engines within 20 years. The measures will increase household utility bills and increase the cost of flying within the EU. Surprise surprise – the plans triggered serious infighting at the European Commission. EC President Ursula von der Leyen said: “By acting now we can do things another way, and choose a better, healthier and more prosperous way for the future.” Yada yada yada or in Spanish ‘bla bla bla’ Greepeace European boss Jorgo Riss, who said: “Celebrating these policies is like a high jumper claiming a medal for running under the bar.” I agree…………DO YOU?
Martin Tye is the owner of energy switch company Mariposa Energy. +34 638145664 ( Spain Phone ) Email him at martin@mariposaenergia.es
SOLAR PV PANELS
big influx of cash to local landowners, they spelled further bad news for the Mar Menor - or Small Sea - lagoon. Once wells and rainwater supplies dried out, the farmers began to use desalinated water which ended up mixing with fertilisers as well as residues from old opencast mines. It was a chemical time bomb, which the politicians and water authorities appeared to be largely unconcerned about because farmers were in the money. It has since emerged that huge numbers of these desalination plants were illegal and they were quite simply not properly monitored. Unfortunately, the economic consequences stretch far beyond agriculture in a region where tourism now plays a vital role in the economy.
Tourist disaster
“It’s simple. This region depends on tourism and tourism depends on the lagoon, “ local expat Jo Scott told the Olive Press. The councillor, who represents the PSOE party at Los Alcazares council, continued: “We are working on new ways to remove silt residues from our beaches because once you go into the water for a swim, it is crystal clear.” Scott, who has lived in the area for 16 years, blames the regional Murcia government run by the Partido Popular since 1995. “The government has paid little attention to the Mar Menor for decades,” she declared. Her town hall is now fighting to get a unique legal status for the area, giving it extra protection.
ing private car use. Deputy mayor Begoña Villacis described it as ‘the largest green infrastructure to be created in Europe in the next decade’. The cost of planting the estimated 600 hectares is expected to reach €75 million and take ten years. Madrid already boasts more trees per capita than any other European city and has great stretches of woodland on its outskirts with El Pardo and the Casa de Campo as well as the Retiro park at its centre.
11
Snout to laugh about THE climate impact of wild boars is nothing to snort about. The mischievous animals are to blame for 4.8 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide every year - equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions of 1.1 million cars, a new report from Australia has discovered. In their never ending search for food, the wild boars dig endlessly, exposing microbes in the soil to oxygen, which reproduce at a rapid rate, producing carbon emissions in the form of CO2. Scientists have always known the boars were a problem but only recently have they realised the extent of it.
No menor scandal
SCANDAL: Mar Menor fish lie dead in their thousands Four months ago, the Ministry for Ecological Transition in Madrid finally produced an ‘action plan’ aimed at improving the state of the lagoon. Measures include a clamp down on any illegal behaviour that causes pollution to the area with the promise of ‘severe’ penalties. As for bringing the polluters to justice, it is a long-haul job. While a fortnight ago the Olive Press reported on our cover that 42 farmers and a golf course have been ordered to testify in a court hearing in Murcia, it is not expected to see any conviction this year. Furthermore, many abusers are likely to escape justice with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) claiming that ‘over 1,000 desalination plants were putting poisonous nitrates into the Mar Menor’. Worse, the WWF report, alongside local group ANSE, claimed that politicians ‘ac-
tively permitted desalination’ in protected areas. Prosecutors have now also threatened legal action against Murcia’s Environment Ministry if it fails to investigate a further ten companies accused of polluting the lagoon. The European Parliament also launched a probe last year into what four Murcia presidents, all from the Partido Popular, did to prevent pollution. Meanwhile the United Nations this year began hearing complaints from environmental groups that Spain had breached international rules over the lagoon. So far, not one single politician or administrator has been brought to account for the disgraceful situation. But what is certain is that the whole sad tale is even murkier than the colour of the waters at Los Urrutias beach.
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PROPERTY
Dear Jennifer:
Can you recommend a good travel insurance provider for British expats in Spain?
U
NFORTUNATELY due to Brexit, the travel insurance company that we worked extremely well with for over 20 years is no longer able to offer cover to British expats in Spain. At first, this did not worry me as there was no travel allowed. However, it seems as though this is changing and people are hoping to be able to have holidays and visit loved ones this summer. It was therefore necessary to me to discover if there was a company which offered similar cover at reasonable realistic prices. Fortunately I discovered one of my members of staff had experience with an alternative travel insurance provider, which provides the policies and covers that expats are used to.
Quotes
That means I'm pleased to be able to offer this service to my clients again. We are in the process of contacting all our travel insurance clients, by email and a follow up call to explain the new policies and to issue quotes. We can now provide travel insurance for both annual and short trip policies with a choice of three levels of cover and there is an additional option for COVID-19 protection. The policies are underwritten by Lloyds of Belgium, so of course, the company is fully authorised and regulated within the EU. After such a long time of not being able to offer travel insurance because there was no need for it due to the restrictions, I am now full of hope that our long wait is drawing to a close, although I am still feeling apprehensive. To be able to hug a loved one after such a long time will be such joy- a word that is rather under-used at the moment.
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR A QUOTATION, PLEASE CONTACT ONE OF MY OFFICES, VISIT THE WEBSITE WWW.JENNIFERCUNNINGHAM.NET OR EMAIL INFO@ JENNIFERCUNNINGHAM.NET
July 28th - August 10th 2021
SELLING UP The masked avenger returns for good having put UK property on the market for €3.4 million By Katherine Brook
HE may have been mooching around Malaga for a couple of years now, but now Antonio Banderas is making the move apparently permanent. The Hollywood heartthrob
STYLISH: Banderas’ super-green Surrey home has put his stunning British any time soon. mansion on the market and The Zorro star is hoping to doesn’t look to be returning get £2.95 million (€3.4m) for
Yanked out the water!
A TV producer is looking for ‘fish out of water’ Americans who have recently relocated to Spain and are renovating properties. Casting director Jesse Rosales expects to find quite a few Americans in Spain, as well as in Italy and France. As he explained: “Whether you are leaving everything behind and buying a $1 villa in Italy, a vineyard in France or some other overseas destination we want to document your journey for a fun series.” He added that the show is going on a premium streaming platform and is open to those who are considering moving, as well as those who have already relocated. While the show will mostly revolve around the participants’ properties, it will also focus on their adaptation to the culture of The drama of the show will come from
the ‘fish out of water’ experience, so subjects don’t necessarily need to know the language or culture of the country they’re moving to. For more information email Jesse at buyingabroadcasting@gmail.com
the Surrey home where he lived officially from 2015. The leafy property in the celebrity hotspot of Cobham counts on five bedrooms, a private cinema and neighbours including Andy Murray and John Terry. He moved out of the leafy home he shared with Nicole Kimpel just before the Covid lockdown and has recently confirmed he’ll be moving back to Malaga, where he lived until he was 18. Banderas has become more committed to Spain since he opened the Teatro de Soho CaixaBank, in Malaga, in 2019. He lived in Los Angeles with his ex-wife, actress Melanie Griffiths, with whom he has a daughter, Stella, 24. The Oscar-nominated actor has just announced he’ll be appearing in the 5th Indiana Jones film, premiering this week.
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FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL HOLY MOLY
July 28th - August 10th 2021
13
Architectural masterpieces, history aplenty and even the Holy Grail. Jon Clarke and Shannon Chaffers take a poke around Valencia
I
T is Spain’s east coast conurbation. The country’s third biggest city with an important port, occasional grand prix and half decent football team. But for decades, Valencia has been too often overlooked by tourists, who flock to the famous cities of Madrid and Barcelona, or the historic gems further south, like Granada, Cordoba and Sevilla. Today however, Valencia has truly come into its own. It is now one of the country’s fastest-growing cities… and for all the right reasons. Aside from its stunning City of Arts and Sciences that has truly put Valencia on the global architectural map, it has worked
hard to make its gem of a city centre pedestrian-friendly and scooped some key environmental awards along the way. It is not for nothing that thousands of new expats have been relocating from other parts of Spain to make the city their home over the last few years, with Ruzafa, Cabanyal and Patacona some of the favourites. They appreciate the quality of life of Valencia, which is far better value than its bigger neighbours, but has an equally good climate and friendlier locals. So what is there to do in this wonderful Meditteranean city?
CONTRASTS: The modern City of Arts and (below) Palace of Dos Aguas and (left) the Holy Grail
History tour
F
or history lovers, there is much to explore. Occupied by the Romans, and later the Moors, Valencia has a unique blend of architecture. First up is the famous Cathedral (right), built in 1262 on the site of a former mosque. Intricate with Romanesque, Baroque and Gothic styles, it is most famous for the cup Jesus is said to have drunk from during the Last Supper, known as the Holy Grail, and with its own room, understandably. While 200 sites in Europe lay claim to the relic, Valencia’s is one of the strongest, given its cup has been confirmed to be Middle Eastern in origin and forged between 2BC and 1AD. The cathedral’s charms don’t stop there and we strongly recommend
climbing the 207 steps of the El Migulete bell tower for stunning panoramic views. Nearby you’ll find the Church of San Nicholas, celebrated for its magnificent interior, which has
been likened to that of the Sistine Chapel. Make sure you don’t miss the Palace of Marques de Dos Aguas, which is regarded as one of the best examples of Baroque ar-
chitecture in Spain and a true joy. Inside you’ll find a ceramics museum with prehistoric, Greek, Roman, and Arab works. Also in the centre are the Torres de Senarros towers, built in the Continues on next page
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FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL
From previous page
On safari
14th century and once serving as the main entrance to the city. Another gothic gem is the Silk Exchange, a UNESCO site and hallmark of Valencia’s once thriving silk trade. The industry is well explained inside, as well as at the Silk Museum, which you will find in the Velluters barrio. Other museums are the Institut Valencia d’art Modern or Museo de Bellas Artes de Valencia for a great sampling of medieval and contemporary Spanish works.
One of Spain’s most respected zoos is the Bioparc Valencia, a fully immersive zoo that allows you to experience African wildlife including lemurs, elephants, zebras, and giraffes up close. More wildlife abounds at the Albufera Natural Park, a large freshwater lagoon with over 250 bird species, including flamingos.
Market life
July 28th - August 10th 2021
STRATOSPHERIC
I
T was one event not to be missed. The Cure playing a free concert at the not-long finished City of Arts and Sciences. It was March, 2008, and well worth the drive up from Malaga to see one of my favourite British bands fill up a section of one of Europe’s most expensive architectural masterpieces. The final sections (mostly the bridges) of Valencia’s mega-site had just been finished and the controversial project was said to have been four times over budget and costing €1.2 billion, or about ten times the price of Bilbao’s amazing Guggenheim museum.
Justify
I had seen photos but I wanted to see with my own eyes how Spain’s architect Santiago Calatrava - coincidentally best known for his bridges - had converted the banks of the old Turia river that once skirted Valencia’s centre. Could the city really justify that huge cost? Having seen it then and returned again recently, I would give it a resounding ‘yes’. The giant collection of surreal buildings that give a space-
T
o get a flavour of local life and culture make sure to visit Valencia's Mercado Central, one of the oldest food markets in Europe. Described as a ‘foodie
SPACE AGE: The City of Arts and Sciences is a creative gem genheim effect revolutionised the run-down northern Basque city of Bilbao, Calatrava’s swooping lines of white concrete and glass have
age look to one edge of the city have put Valencia very much on the map. Just like the celebrated Gug-
paradise’, here you’ll find a full range of Valencian produce located in a beautiful building with domed ceilings adorned with mosaics and stained glass.
Language learning made simple COSTA de Valencia language school is offering classes, days out and accommodation during the summer season while complying with all anti-COVID requirements. Specific courses are available to prepare students to access Spanish schools and universities in September, with a wide range of intensive programmes scheduled throughout the year. Costa de Valencia offers everything from grammar and conversation to business and even Spanish football for all levels from elementary to proficiency, while those who need an official qualification can sit the DELE or SIELE exams. It also provides courses to obtain Spanish na-
tionality, extensive long-term courses for expats and au pairs, and fun days out to explore local culture and traditions. Students can spend anything from one week to a year at the centre and there are several accommodation options, including flats owned by the school as well as staying with local families and university halls of residence. It boasts certifications guaranteeing COVID safety (Escuela ELE Safe School Certificate) and the SICTED Advanced Good Practices stamp, with full contingency plans in place. For further information and to sign up, visit: Website: www.costadevalencia.com
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SUDOKU
Quick Crossword
A beacon for ‘smart and sustainable’ living Valencia is the first city in Europe to obtain double UN certification as it aims to become greenest and most sustainable city in the world, writes Glenn Wickman VALENCIA is on the way to claiming the title of greenest and most sustainable city in the world. The groundwork was laid many years ago by projects such as the Turia gardens – a green belt that snakes through the city’s old riverbed, and a major hotspot for walkers, joggers and cyclists, as well as families enjoying a day out. Meanwhile, the Albufera lake, considered the city’s ‘green
lung’, withstood decades of pressure as the city grew around it and remains a beacon of flora and fauna, and the source of livelihood for countless generations of rice farmers and fishermen. However, things have been stepped up several notches lately. Valencia has become the first city to measure its own tourism carbon footprint, i.e. the environmental effect of welcoming millions of visitors every year, in order to find ways to lessen
IC
FOOD & DRINK
July 28th August 10th 2021
15
Despite costing €1.2 billion, Valencia’s City of Arts and Sciences is a world wonder, believes Jon Clarke
Enjoy Mediterranean cuisine in a beautiful environment
created an addictive unworldly creation that is definitely the city’s unique selling point today. It has changed the city’s skyline and
created a wonderful counterpoint to the surprisingly impressive historic centre, which itself is also full of medieval gems. Yes, there is still some work to do in uniting the two cities, as local expat architect Kevin Cash wrote in the Olive Press last year, but I believe the prize is there for the taking. Tourists who brought in €314 million for the city in 2018 are set to start flying in again in their droves… and Valencia has in that one complex, a feature that can’t compete with anything else in Spain, except maybe Bilbao. Yes, Aviles, in Asturias, has its Oscar Niemeyer Cultural Centre and yes, Sevilla has its Setas (also controversial), but nothing comes near to the sheer impact and scale of the City of Arts. I particularly like the use of water, which reflects the otherworldly creations and the way the former riverbed area is incorporated into the overall design. It is easy to spend an hour sitting and marvelling at the curving lines interjected by arches and cross beams, and at its scale as cyclists zip by or
a lorry unloads its wares. Each of the half dozen buildings have their own flavour. The Palau de les Arts d ominates the skyline with its jutting silhouette, while the L'Hemisfèric is like a reptile's eye, lurking half underwater. The Oceanographic aquarium has a life of its very own, while the mussel-shaped Agora is finally entering the fray. I also like the way you can meander up the shady riverbed from this magical collection of buildings towards the Ciutat Vella, which is crammed full of charming squares and equally alluring buildings with most of the streets traffic-free.
Paseo Maritimo de la Patacona n 14, 46120, Alboraya, Valencia I T. 96 372 40 95 I 618 356 043 I info@casapatacona.com
Mediterranean Cuisine
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Medieval
Indeed, for the City of Arts to be a true success the vast bulk of tourists need to be pulled into the casco historico to understand how cleverly designed the original medieval footprint of Valencia was and how well it has aged today. Like chalk and cheese, it is the contrast between the old and new that helps to make Valencia one of Spain’s most exciting places to visit this year.
the impact and guarantee sustainability. opment Goals (SDGs). The pioneering study focuses on several key areas Valencia City Hall has set up a specific departincluding water use, refuse collection and transport, ment and website outlining the objectives and with the aim of becoming the first global tourist desdetails of the Smart City project, which can be tination to achieve zero environmental impact by the visited here in English: year 2025. http://smartcity.valencia.es/en/ It is expected to be done by boosting renewable energy sources, making public transport totally electric, and a number of other ways to absorb carbon dioxide. It is now recognised by the United Nations (UN) as a ‘Smart City’, becoming the first in Europe and only the third in the world - after Dubai and Singapore - to obtain both the official ISO and ITU certificates confirming the use of technology to guarantee the implementation of the UN’s Sustainable DevelREROUTED: The Turia riverbed is now an effective green lung of the city
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reservas@palaciodelabellota.com www.palaciodelabellota.com C/Mosent Femades, 7 CP. 46002 VALENCIA
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FINAL WORDS
A CAMPAIGN has been launched offering young families a free house and job in Spain to those willing to relocate to Griegos, Teruel.
Red hot A NEW wildfire app has helped to raise the awareness of 84 fires in Andalucia since it launched in June, sending information to local users to warn them of the blazes.
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Vol. 5 Issue 153
July 28th - August 10th 2021
New Airbnb-style app allows you to rent a swimming pool from €12 per person THINGS could go a bit more swimmingly for cashstrapped Spanish property owners this summer. A brand new website is allowing punters to rent private swimming pools by the hour or day.
A Legacy MALAGA regional boss Elias Bendodo has commissioned an oil painting of himself for €26,000. The portrait will be done by Malaga artist Revello de Toro.
By Katherine Brook
Swimmy could earn owners over €1,000 a month by renting their pool for those who aren’t lucky enough to have one.
Still got it BUDDY, a retired Gibraltar police dog, has still got a nose for it, after he found a stash of cannabis in a stationary vehicle. The 12-year-old Golden Labrador was out for an evening walk when he detected the drugs and alerted his master - an off-duty police officer. Police later found 64 grams of cannabis, worth roughly £300, and arrested the owner.
The app has seen the number of users soar during the pandemic, as the tightening of restrictions saw the closure of all public pools. And even when municipal pools did open again, many people opted for the more secluded option, many for health reasons.
Profit
Described as ‘the Airbnb of swimming pools’; owners register their pool and then rent it to guests for hours, days or even events. The app has over 150,000
users across Spain and France, who can take their pick between over 3,500 pools. In Madrid, prices tend to range from €12 to €30 per person, for half a day. Meanwhile, in Marbella, the average price for a pool for a half day was around €14. In Sevilla, one pool in the centre costs €120 per person to rent. The pandemic has been favourable on pool manufacturers. Fluridra, the world’s largest pool equipment maker, posted a 40-fold jump in profits in May.
LAWMAKERS in Andalucia’s regional parliament had an unusual visitor during a debate when a rat entered the chamber. The rodent was first spotted by speaker of the house Marta Bosquet, who was conducting proceedings when she let out a shriek and clasped her hand over her mouth. The rat was first spotted under the chair of an MP from the VOX party, Angela Mulas who ran from the chamber, alongside other parliamentarians.
Vote
The speaker urged calm and moments later there was applause as the rat was ushered out allowing the vote to resume. PP politician Elias Bendodo later described it as an unusual sighting, but added: ‘it is not the most dangerous species in Parliament’. Podemos member Diego Cañamero quipped: “If parliament was suspended each time a rat entered the chamber, nothing would ever get done.”
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