On March 29, the signature collection campaign route promoted by Liberación Canaria will begin in the municipality of Gáldar, in Gran Canaria, in order to raise awareness among civil society, political organizations present in the parliamentary arch and others that are outside, business organizations and Canarian civil society of the need to establish a true unanimous pact to address this serious situation that is entrenched in the Archipelago, year after year.
"We cannot continue to ignore the harsh reality of our people, where 760,000 people live below the poverty line and where 440 out of every 1,000 children grow up in unacceptable conditions. It is time to act with courage and responsibility to respond to this social emergency," says Daniel Falero, island manager of Gran Canaria.
This campaign will tour the municipalities of all the islands, not only to collect signatures, but to "awaken consciences and demand solutions."
"We don't want to continue looking the other way while poverty becomes entrenched in our land. It is time for institutions to assume their responsibility and work for a more just and dignified Canary Islands, just as we as a society must take a step forward with awareness to reverse the situation," says Nicolás Cabrera from Lanzarote.
The Pact against Poverty in the Canary Islands and for the Dignity of People is built on essential pillars that guarantee a real and lasting change, we need to develop cross-cutting policies from various areas to provide effective solutions:
1. Economic Diversification:
- Promoting sectors alternative to tourism, such as technology, marine biotechnologies, investment in R&D&I, the circular economy, sustainable agriculture, agri-food industries that serve to strengthen the primary sector, the financial sector and the tricontinental logistics.
- Promotion of a re-export trade and the conservation of natural heritage, biodiversity and the environment, with the capacity to generate employment.
- Recovery of our commercial freedoms to achieve supply from more competitive markets than subordination to the European Union.
2. Education and Training:
- Investment in quality education and vocational training programs that prepare our people for the new challenges of the labor market.
- Effective training programs designed according to the needs of the labor market.
3. Employment Policies:
- Creation of a comprehensive employment plan that promotes employability, job stability, that strengthens competitiveness and productivity by promoting sectors that contribute greater added value to the Canarian economy, with special attention to the most vulnerable groups.
- Development of effective socio-labor insertion programs, implementation of insertion cooperatives with special attention to people over 52 years of age
- Adopt the necessary measures to protect the Canarian labor market and incentivize the hiring of the local population with decent wages, from a new model of association with the European Union that favors these measures.
- The Canarian labor market cannot continue to support the continuous arrival of citizens from the EU and abroad to occupy the jobs generated by the Canarian economy and that the hiring of our people should be a priority.
- Reorganization of the Canarian Employment Service in view of the ineffectiveness of the services and current approach that does not help to achieve labor insertion.
- Promote incentive policies for the hiring of people linked to insertion programs, as well as a commitment pact with the business sector to achieve these goals.
4. Reduction of Inequalities:
- Application of progressive fiscal measures and strengthening of support for vulnerable families.
5. Access to Housing:
- Effective policies that guarantee affordable housing and decent living conditions, because what has been done so far has been insufficient.
6. Health and Well-being:
- Reinforcement of access to psychological and mental support services, recognizing the impact of economic stress on quality of life.
7. Attention to Child Poverty:
- Implementation of specific programs that protect children, ensuring adequate health and nutrition conditions.
8. Strengthening Social Protection:
- Strengthen social protection systems to create a real and effective safety net aimed at the true insertion of people so that they can access opportunities for progress that frees them from permanent dependence on aid for survival.
“In Liberación Canaria we are clear that this pact cannot be left in mere words. We do not want empty promises or speeches for the gallery, we want real commitment, concrete measures and tangible results," insists Angélica Calero from Tenerife. "Once the route through the municipalities is finished and the signatures are collected, Liberación Canaria will take them to the Parliament of the Canary Islands and request an audience with the Presidency to deliver the documents that accredit the will of thousands of Canarians that this pact be a reality," says Félix Reyes from San Juan de La Rambla
"We are at a point where consensus is not an option, it is an obligation. It is time for those who govern us and society as a whole to act responsibly," comments Ricardo González
Finally, they have reported that they will be informing on their social networks of the route that we will take municipality by municipality. Canarian society is called to mobilize. Together, we can make dignity and social justice an urgent priority with effectiveness.
