The César Manrique Foundation (FCM) has once again shown its support for the demonstration against oil exploration and has called on the population of the Islands to support this event, which will be held on Saturday. In addition, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., the entity will distribute free t-shirts and stickers printed with slogans against the surveys and in favor of renewable energies, until supplies last. The distribution point will be installed in front of the José Saramago Hall, in La Plazuela, in Arrecife.
The FCM wanted to express its opposition to this Repsol project due to "the risks that derive on the main economic resource of these Islands, tourism, on its natural heritage, and on the security in the supply of drinking water." In this sense, it recalls that the risks, recognized by Repsol in its environmental impact study, are intrinsically associated with the activity of the surveys that, from the moment of their beginning, "will have negative effects on the funds and the marine fauna of the place."
In addition, there is the danger of "eventual spills that could occur from the moment it is drilled, something that should not happen in any way." Saturday's demonstration, which is supported by numerous groups, public administrations and citizens from all the Canary Islands, wants to express the rejection of broad sectors of the population to the authorization of the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism, headed by José Manuel Soria, for Repsol to start exploration on the coasts of the Canary Islands.
"Insensitive action" by the Rajoy Government
Likewise, it will serve to reject the beginning of the test work by the oil company and, in general, the "insensitive and dismissive action of the Government of Mariano Rajoy with the Islands, whose decisions in this matter confront the will of the Government of the Canary Islands, the regional Parliament, the councils of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura and numerous municipalities representing the will of many of its citizens."
"The discriminatory treatment that the central government grants to the Canary Islands in terms of exploration, compared to that given to the Balearic Islands, Valencia and Málaga, with evident institutional irresponsibility that undermines the cohesion of the state and generates discomfort and disaffection, deserves a broad response in the street by citizens," considers the FCM, which makes this call to society to show its "strong protest and rejection" of the Repsol project.
