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Thousands protest against Canary islands’ ‘unsustainable’ tourism model

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Protests are set to erupt across the Canary Islands this Saturday, with demonstrators calling for a reevaluation of the region’s tourism industry and a halt to the influx of tourists. The movement, named “Canarias tiene un límite” (The Canaries have a limit), is supported by various environmental organizations such as Greenpeace, WWF, and Friends of the Earth.

The protests are fueled by concerns that the current tourism model, which has been in place for decades, is financially burdensome and environmentally unsustainable for locals. Víctor Martín, a spokesperson for the coordinating collective “Canarias se Agota” (The Canaries Have Had Enough), highlighted the strain on resources and the rise in poverty and social exclusion among locals.

Martín emphasized that the focus on tourism persists despite challenges like water scarcity and housing crises. He noted that low wages and high living costs exacerbate the situation, leaving many workers struggling to make ends meet. Martín stressed that the issue lies with the tourism model itself and not with the tourists, many of whom are warmly welcomed by locals.

The protestors demand an immediate halt to large-scale luxury developments and a reassessment of tourism’s impact on the islands. They call for a comprehensive study to determine the carrying capacity of each island and advocate for a transition towards sustainable tourism practices. Martín believes that addressing these issues could position the Canary Islands as a global example of sustainable tourism development.

In response, Fernando Clavijo, the regional president, stated that the government is already taking steps to address the concerns. He acknowledged the need for refinement in the tourism model but defended its overall success.

Overtourism has become a pressing issue not only in the Canary Islands but also in various Spanish cities and regions, prompting protests and discussions on sustainable tourism management.

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Tenerife Wildfire: Evacuations Ordered Amidst Resurgent Blaze in Scorching Heat

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Around 3,000 individuals have been forced to evacuate their residences on Spain’s Tenerife island due to a rekindled wildfire. This fire, originally ignited on Wednesday, has now affected communities in the island’s northeast, situated away from the primary tourist zones. High temperatures and strong winds have caused the same fire that ravaged the area in August to flare up once again.

To assist in firefighting efforts, Spain’s military has been deployed. Rosa Davila, president of the Tenerife Council, expressed hope that the deployment of multiple helicopters on Thursday would aid in stabilizing the fire. As a precautionary measure, most people have been evacuated from the towns of Santa Ursula and La Orotava, according to local authorities.

The Canary Islands, including Tenerife, have been on high alert for wildfires due to unusually high temperatures. Although the August blaze was brought under control, it was never completely extinguished. That wildfire persisted for several days and caused extensive damage to thousands of hectares of forest surrounding Mount Teide, Spain’s highest peak.

The increased frequency and intensity of heatwaves are attributed to human-induced climate change, which has caused global temperatures to rise by approximately 1.1 degrees Celsius since the start of the industrial era. Without significant reductions in emissions, temperatures will continue to climb.

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Villages Forced to Evacuate as Tenerife Wildfires Worsen

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A significant wildfire on the Spanish island of Tenerife has resulted in the mandatory evacuation of five villages. The fire, which originated in a nature reserve on the island’s northeastern coast, has expanded to cover approximately 800 hectares since it ignited on Tuesday night. Access to the forest encompassing Mount Teide, Spain’s highest peak, has been restricted by local authorities. Additional outbreaks of secondary fires have also been reported. Helicopters equipped with water have been deployed to the area, and the main blaze is proving challenging to combat due to its spread through wooded areas and ravines in Candelaria and Arafo. Rosa Davila, the head of Tenerife Council, emphasized the necessity of aircraft in navigating the steep terrain and acknowledged the blaze’s significant potential.

Villages including Arrate, Chivisaya, Media Montaña, Ajafoña, and Las Lagunetas were evacuated on Wednesday morning. Tenerife’s emergency services leader, Pedro Martinez, reported multiple secondary fires breaking out. Images reveal substantial flames consuming parts of the forest, accompanied by thick plumes of smoke rising into the sky. Despite the wildfire’s impact, Tenerife’s South and North airports appeared to be operating without disruptions as of Wednesday evening.

This wildfire incident follows a recent heatwave in the Canary Islands, leaving numerous areas parched and elevating the wildfire risk. In the preceding month, La Palma, an adjacent island within the Canary Islands archipelago, witnessed evacuations due to a wildfire during a period of extreme heat. This summer, wildfires have surged across various regions worldwide, including Southern Europe, Northern Africa, Canada, and Hawaii.

The heightened frequency, intensity, and duration of heatwaves are attributed to human-induced climate change. Global temperatures have already risen by around 1.1°C since the commencement of the industrial era, and further increases are anticipated unless concerted emissions reductions are enacted by governments across the globe.

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Spain coast guard spots boat during search for missing migrant vessel

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The Spanish coast guard has located a boat carrying around 200 migrants that went missing over a week ago. The boat was found 71 miles south of Gran Canaria, and a coast guard vessel has been dispatched for rescue operations.

The fishing boat had departed from a coastal town in southern Senegal, approximately 1,700km away from Tenerife, with 200 people on board, including many children. Two other similar boats carrying additional migrants are also reported missing, with limited information available. This brings the total number of people missing across the three boats to over 300.

The route from West Africa to the Canary Islands is known to be perilous, and last year alone, at least 559 people died attempting to reach the Spanish islands. The exact number of departures and shipwrecks often goes unreported. The migrants attempting this route typically come from countries such as Morocco, Mali, Senegal, the Ivory Coast, and other sub-Saharan nations.

Despite a decrease in the number of unauthorized arrivals in the Canary Islands in 2022 compared to the previous year, the route remains dangerous, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) emphasizes that the flows are still high compared to previous years.

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Accidents

In the Canary Islands catastrophe, at least 30 migrants are thought dead

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According to two NGOs, more than 30 migrants may have perished after their boat capsized in the Atlantic Ocean off the Canary Islands.

Alarm Phone and Walking Borders reported that the boat was carrying about 60 passengers.

Authorities in Spain said that 24 people were saved, but they did not know how many passengers were on board. They also reported that rescuers discovered the dead of a man and a kid.

After a boat capsized off the coast of Greece last week, the tragedy has renewed attention focused on Europe’s handling of immigration.

While Alarm Phone reported 35 individuals missing, Helena Maleno Garzon of Walking Borders said that 39 people, including four women and a baby, had drowned. Both organizations keep an eye on migrant boats and take calls from passengers or their loved ones.

On Wednesday, the boat capsized around 100 miles (160 km) southeast of Gran Canaria.

“It’s torture to have 60 people, including six women and a baby, waiting for a rescue for more than 12 hours in a flimsy inflatable boat that can sink,” said Ms. Garzon.

According to Reuters, quoting Spanish official news agency EFE, a Spanish rescue service ship, the Guardamar Caliope, was just about an hour’s sail from the dinghy on Tuesday evening.

The mission had been taken over by Moroccan officials, who sent a patrol boat that arrived on Wednesday morning, 10 hours after it had been detected by a Spanish rescue plane, thus the ship did not assist the dinghy, according to Reuters.

The interior ministry of Morocco has received a request for response from the BBC.

The governor of the Canary Islands, Angel Victor Torres, termed the occurrence a “tragedy” and urged the EU to create a migration strategy that “offers coordinated and supportive responses” to the issue of migration.

The Canary Islands located off the western coast of Africa but are a part of Spain, and many migrants from Africa sail there in the aim of travelling to mainland Europe.

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