News from Andalucia & Costa del Sol

News Archive

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Week March 20th to March 26th 2003.

BRITS TRAVEL DESPITE WAR

Survey indicates Iraq conflict may have little impact on travel to Costa

By Oliver McIntyre

Even with the onset of a war in Iraq, most Britons do not expect to change their holiday travel plans, according to a recent survey by the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA).

The survey results suggest that just one in five British citizens feel that war would likely change their travel plans, and only four percent of those surveyed said they had changed their mind about trips they already had planned. Of survey subjects who had travelled by plane in the last two years, 33 percent indicated that they already have airline reservations for their next holiday outside the UK, 29 percent said they have immediate plans to make air travel reservations, and 17 percent said they plan to travel but don't expect to make reservations until the last minute. This last group, of course, could be key in determining the actual effect on holiday travel.

COSTA PROSPECTS GOOD

The Costa del Sol's prospects as a holiday destination for the British look good, based on the ABTA survey results. When asked to rank destinations by the level of perceived danger, survey respondents put Spain at the very bottom of the list. Just six percent of those surveyed said they would avoid Spain as a destination due to the risk of danger. The destinations survey respondents ranked highest on the danger scale included Israel (61 percent), the United Arab Emirates (48 percent), Indonesia (42 percent), Kenya (40 percent), and Turkey (39 percent).

EFFECTS SIMILAR TO GULF WAR

The ABTA draws a parallel between the probable effects of war in Iraq and the effects on travel that were seen during the Persian Gulf war in 1991. As in that war, the ABTA would expect war in Iraq to cause an initial dip in the number of airline reservations, followed by a recuperation once the conflict is underway.

In its poll of British travellers' intentions, the ABTA surveyed 1,010 people, of whom 613 had travelled via plane within the last two years. The survey was conducted by telephone between February 28 and March 2.

GUARDIA CIVIL FORCES GREENPEACE BOAT TO LEAVE ROTA

Málaga heralds good prospects for diabetes patients

By David Eade

AT 19.00 ON FRIDAY GUARDIA CIVIL OFFICERS BOARDED THE INSIGNIA VESSEL OF THE GREENPEACE ORGANISATION, RAINBOW WARRIOR, WHICH FOR THE PREVIOUS THREE DAYS HAD BEEN ANCHORED AT THE MOUTH OF THE NAVAL BASE AT ROTA. THE OFFICERS ARRESTED THE ITALIAN CAPTAIN OF THE VESSEL, DANIEL RIZZOTTI, WHO ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE CREW OFFERED ONLY PASSIVE RESISTANCE AND NO VIOLENCE.

According to Greenpeace spokesman Emilio Rull, 20 Guardia Civil officers boarded the Rainbow Warrior and announced that they would arrest the captain unless he removed the ship from the zone. When he refused to do so he was arrested along with around 20 crewmembers consisting of Greenpeace activists from Spain, Australia, the United States, New Zealand and Germany.

At the time the Guardia Civil intervened, the Rainbow Warrior and various Greenpeace launches were trying to impede the US cargo ship Cape Horn. The environmental group claims that the vessel was heading for Iraq carrying tank ammunition and other war materials. The boarding of the Rainbow Warrior followed three days of action during which inflatable launches belonging to the ecologist group were involved in various protests in the waters off the Rota base. One action coincided with the US Coastguard ship Dallas leaving the military dockyard. The activists believe the Dallas is being used to transport missiles between various vessels of the US fleet. A similar protest had been held the previous day, when the launches entered the military exclusion zone around the base.

MILITARY BASE DEMONSTRATIONS

There was also a demonstration by local workers at the gates of the base at Rota. Another 10,000 people marched under the slogan "No to the War" on the military base at Morón de la Frontera in Sevilla province, which is also used by US forces heading for Iraq. By contrast, there was almost a carnival atmosphere in Algeciras, where crowds flocked to see the Spanish aircraft carrier Príncipe de Asturias. It docked at Algeciras for repairs, along with the frigate Reina Sofía, after participating in exercises in the Straits of Gibraltar.

RESIDENCIAS & RETIREMENT

By Danny Collins

Following concern over the recent Costa del Sol News report on residence card obligations with respect to retirees and EU pensioners, CDSN reproduces below the relevant clauses of royal decree 178/2003 for further clarification. Ministerio de la Presidencia 3708 178/2003 Article 7, paragraphs 1 & 1ª with reference to Article 6: Residence Without a Residence Card.

"Those with the right to residence of a permanent character are nationals of the member states of the European Union and of other states that are part of the Agreement on Economic European Space who have developed an economic activity, either as employed or self employed persons, in Spanish territory and conform to all or some of the following circumstances. "That in the moment that they ceased the said economic activity, they had arrived at the age for pensionable retirement set by Spanish law, having exercised the said activity during the previous 12 months and having resided in Spain for more than three years."

OTHER EXEMPTIONS

The residency card exemption also applies to those residing in Spain who are EU students or are currently employed or self-employed EU nationals, as well as to these people's family members, as explained in our previous report.

RIGHT OF RESIDENCE

The right to residence with a card still applies to those EU nationals and their families who are unemployed but with visible means of support or those who have retired to Spain on independent means or with an EU member state pension.

BUREAUCRATIC PROCESS

For those relieved of the need to seek a residence card, a passport or national identity card of their member state has now replaced the residence card for identification in opening bank accounts, buying a property, registering an EU driving licence or in any similar bureaucratic process.

However, a Solbank spokeswoman said that while a passport is sufficient to open a non-resident account, the only proof of residency is the official Número de Identidad Extranjero (NIE), either originally issued with a first residence card or obtainable from any local National Police station.

In the words of a Spanish Home Office official: "All those persons who no longer need to carry a residence card are obviously on the National Register of Foreigners and should supply their NIE number as proof when dealing with government or fiscal institutions." A copy of the Boletín Oficial de Estado 178/2003 is available on the official government website at www.boe.es/boe/dias/2003-02-22/seccion1.html#00002 where it can be read and printed in Adobe format.

MALAGA JOINS IN FURTHER WAR PROTESTS

Estimated 80,000 marched on Saturday

By Dave Jamieson

DESPITE WHAT WAS ALREADY BEGINNING TO LOOK LIKE A LOST CAUSE, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TOOK TO THE STREETS THROUGHOUT SPAIN ONCE AGAIN LAST SATURDAY TO PROTEST AGAINST WAR IN IRAQ.

As President Aznar prepared himself for the weekend summit with Bush and Blair, every city was filled with ordinary people, young and old, wishing to make known the strength of their feelings.

The biggest demonstrations were seen in Madrid and Barcelona, while many smaller towns and villages also saw chanting crowds calling for peace. In Málaga, the city's Plaza de la Merced filled with what organisers estimated as 80,000 people, although the local police estimated half that number.

'IRAQI PEOPLE' VICTIMS

Shouting slogans and carrying anti-war banners, the protesters made their way to the Paseo del Parque to hear a number of anti-war speeches from a variety of speakers. One, journalist Inmaculada Jabato, told them "the victim of this war will be the Iraqi people," and estimated that half a million were likely to die, justified by hidden economic interests and strategies. Sra Jabato also read a moving letter from those who have travelled to Baghdad to act as 'human shields'.

AXARQUIA TOWN MAKES SPECIAL STAND AGAINST U.S.

Boycott of everything American in war protest

The Axarquía town of El Borge has taken a firm stand against US involvement in a war against Iraq. A meeting of the town council last week unanimously approved a motion consisting of three specific anti-war or anti-US measures.

First, the motion designated an official day of mourning in the municipality at the firing of the war's first shots, including the pealing of bells and flying flags at half-mast. Second, and more significantly, the town council's motion called for a boycott of all products originating in the United States or coming from companies affiliated with it. The boycott is to include all material relating to the North American economy, such as movies or TV series. Finally, the motion stated that the village will become a member of the Málaga network of municipalities for peace.

MORAL SUPPORT

While none of the measures adopted by the small town are likely to hold much sway in the global politics of war, the town council believes that its motion sets an example and shows moral support for peace and diplomacy.

SAN PEDRO TAKES ITS PROTEST TO MADRID

N-340 to be blocked on Monday Thursday and May 14

By David Eade

OVER 100 CITIZENS FROM SAN PEDRO DE ALCÁNTARA MADE THE 600-KILOMETRE TRIP TO MADRID TO PROTEST OUTSIDE THE MINISTRY OF PUBLIC WORKS OVER THE 12-YEAR DELAY IN BUILDING THE N-340 UNDERPASS THROUGH THE TOWN.

The protesters gathered outside the ministry in the Paseo de la Castellana at 11.00 for a two-hour demonstration around a giant banner declaring, "Minister. Underpass Now. Project 91 - Necessary Immediately." They also filed a petition with 11,500 signatures, which had been collected in San Pedro in just ten days. The protest was supported by numerous local and provincial politicians.

GOVERNMENT INFIGHTING

Part of the reason for the 12-year delay in building the underpass has been infighting between central Government, regional government and Marbella Town Hall. However, ombudsman Enrique Múgica recently wrote to the Government in Madrid, advising that it had full jurisdiction in the matter and could order an immediate start to the underpass. But no action has yet been taken, and the 40,000 vehicles that pass daily through the San Pedro bottleneck still often experience long delays. Juan Antonio García, spokesperson for the residents of San Pedro and organiser of the demonstration, decried Minister of Public Works Francisco Álvarez Cascos, saying he has been deaf to the people's cries of protest and blind to the letter from the ombudsman.

The protest in Madrid was the first phase of the activists' new campaign to force the ministry into action. On Maundy Thursday, at the height of the Easter holiday, the San Pedro protesters plan to block the N-340 where it passes through the town. They intend to take to the streets again on May 14, during the local elections campaign, to again stop the traffic through San Pedro.

SECOND CHANCE FOR DISABLED IN COIN

By Oliver McIntyre

A new name and a second chance; that's what parents and family members of the 90 disabled residents of the newly re-inaugurated Doble Amor de Coín centre celebrated last week. The facility, previously known as the Promi centre, has been taken over by the parents' association after problems arose with the previous management.

The centre was always owned by the parents' association, but for the last 13 years was managed by Promi. Two years ago, Promi suffered economic problems that resulted in the company failing to pay centre employees. The centre's staff was reduced from 65 employees to just 30, leaving the remaining workers unable to adequately attend to the needs of the centre's disabled residents. Just under a month ago - after two years of lawsuits and bureaucracy in order to break the 30-year management contract with Promi - the parents' association won the right to take over management of the facility.

GO EASY ON THE BULLS

Regional government passes law to protect toros

By David Eade

THE REGIONAL GOVERNMENT HAS ISSUED A DECREE REGULATING THE TREATMENT OF BULLS OR YOUNG COWS USED AT FESTIVALS IN ANDALUCÍA. THE NEW EDICT WILL ALSO STOP THE GROWTH OF FESTIVALS THAT MALTREAT THE ANIMALS.

Government councillor Alfonso Perales presented the law at a press conference, where he said that the new government regulation prohibits such practices as using fire, attaching blazing ropes to the bull's horns or binding them with rope. Sr Perales added that only 11 municipalities in all of Andalucía will be allowed to continue with such practices, as their local town hall's have issued guarantees on the security of the animals.

Also to be banned are night festivals held between 23.00 and 07.00. The only exceptions are in Iznatoraf (Jaén) and Paterna de Rivera (Cádiz). Indeed, Sr Perales observed that the provinces of Jaén and Cádiz accounted for the majority of the now prohibited festivals. Two such festivals in the Campo de Gibraltar region now face bans. Los Barrios has reputedly misused a bull to celebrate Resurrection Sunday, whilst the town of San Roque holds the traditional 'Toro del Aguardiente'. Under the terms of the new law, both of these festivals should now be prohibited, although there is a suggestion that the San Roque event might survive because of its historic character.

TORO HISTORY

Meanwhile, San Roque Town Hall has announced that the newly enlarged bullfighting museum below the bullring will be opened to the public in April. The town's bullring dates back to 1853, after it was built by public subscription of the people of San Roque and Gibraltar. Included in the museum will be exhibits dedicated to Mariano Tornero and Eduardo Liceaga, two matadors who were killed in the ring in the 19th century and 1946, respectively.

FLAMINGOS ARRIVE AT FUENTE DE PIEDRA

By Oliver McIntyre

Spring is in the air. Or so say the nearly 11,000 flamingos that have descended on the Fuente de Piedra lagoon just north-west of Antequera since mid-February, bringing the total colony there to 12,000 individuals. The warming temperatures and recent rains have attracted the birds to the lagoon, where they are in process of creating their mating colony for the 2003 season. According to the Junta de Andalucía's Department of the Environment, more birds are expected to arrive between now and April, when the colony will reach its peak population.

The Fuente de Piedra lagoon, a protected bird habitat, is an important mating ground for one of the most important colonies of pink, or common, flamingos in the western Mediterranean area. The colony's selection of the lagoon is determined by water levels, which are directly impacted by the amount of rainfall during any given year. Heavy rains over the last couple of months have brought lagoon's water level to 40 centimetres, creating the conditions necessary for the birds to create their mating colony there.

Since 1986, over 155,000 pairs of flamingos have produced over 106,000 offspring at Fuente de Piedra. Last year alone, 10,650 flamingo chicks hatched at the mating ground. Flamingos banded by scientists at the lagoon have been tracked to the western Mediterranean population, as well as to the north-western African population.

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