The most striking thing about deep crises like the one our society, and the whole world, is facing right now is that they are always a perfect and suitable breeding ground for giving voice to the most insipid, harmful, and demagogic intellect. These brilliant minds do not waste the slightest opportunity to make themselves noticed, even if, deep down, their proposals are mere empty lucubrations devoid of content and lacking the form and structure necessary to achieve that goal they so much preach.
How many of you have heard in recent weeks that we must take advantage of this to change the productive model of the Canary Islands? How many of you have read that we must bravely face the future and banish that mass tourism on which we depend so much? And how many of these proposals have been accompanied by real plans to face that more than noble idea? The answer to this last question is: zero.
Let's say that the Canary Islands are considering banishing tourism as the main economic sector in order not to suffer the dependence that, in situations like the current one, makes us vulnerable and puts us in a situation of risk, both economically, politically, and socially. What ideas should be implemented? If we turn to the industrial sector that the left postulates with such zeal and care, what industry are we going to implement in the Canary Islands? Dependence on the import of raw materials would make any type of heavy industry unfeasible, and no less other types of smaller industries. Therefore, the industrial sector cannot be responsible for providing employment and work to all the losers of this "renovation". In addition, it is necessary to remember certain implications such as, for example, that, apart from a small number of companies with a pull beyond the sea, the vast majority of the Canarian industry produces to cover the needs of the tourism sector. Say of concrete, cement, blocks, etc. No less we must take into account the environmental implications, so fashionable these days. Therefore, not all types of industries would be "morally acceptable" given the attitude of the Canarians towards the protection and defense of their natural environment. Something more than respectable.
What about renewable energies? This proposal has also been more than requested and defended. But we encounter its difficulties. First, in certain cases the same plaintiffs have raised their voices arguing that the construction of wind generators would mean a loss and destruction of the natural landscape. Ironic given that the protection of that natural landscape has implications derived from the tourism sector, since they are a claim for foreign visitors. I can't imagine the summit of Teide completely full of solar panels. In addition, it is not that this sector is going to give employment to many workers in the services sector, not to mention that, in most cases, it requires a fairly high level of qualification. Therefore, we also have to discard this option. And, in addition, the production would only have a function based on sustainability and the elimination of external energy dependence. This idea would be more profitable in order to save energy import costs and improve the image of the islands, nothing more.
What about the exploitation of the primary sector? This idea is more than crazy. If the producers of the continent themselves have cost problems and their export does not require transport by sea, what do some think will happen when production is high here in the Canary Islands and it has to be exported? That the costs will become unsustainable. Another sector that, at most, can be promoted internally in a clear interest in developing an autochthonous economy dependent on local products. Even so, let us remember that many products imported from the continent have lower prices compared to those here, either for reasons of economies of scale or for excess production and low demand.
What about the exploitation of our natural resources? Although a few years ago politicians had on the table the exploitation of energy resources off the coasts of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, the mobilization of Canarian society showed that this aspect is unfeasible. Something that clashes with the tension over the decisions of the neighboring country if we analyze that Morocco's claims in the expansion of its EEZ are mainly due to the interest they have in exploiting a source of rare metals located south of the island of El Hierro. Are we going to exploit it? Neither.
Therefore, the question here is the following: What markets or jobs do all those brilliant minds that today speak of abandoning tourism and betting on a change in the economic model of the islands plan to develop? This is the big question. We cannot implement an efficient industry capable of feeding the Canarian people due, mainly, to the insular fact. We cannot live from our primary sector. We cannot exploit our natural resources due to the environmental awareness existing in Canarian society. Awareness defended by many of those who now call for a renewal of the economic fabric (Let's see who understands this). So what proposals do all these intellectuals dressed in suits and, often with public office, who bet against the only and exclusive sector from which we can live at the moment propose?
The problem is that many of these voices have been firm defenders of the environment, sustainable development and all those proposals that, with an economic objective, sought to maintain the Canary Islands as a striking location for tourism. The idea has been instilled for years that the environment is untouchable and the Canarian people have assumed it as a characteristic idea of their society and their idiosyncrasy. Which must be applauded. And now they intend to combine environment with something that is not tourism? Hence my definition of "most insipid, harmful and demagogic intellect". We must be realistic.
Canarians must understand that the economy of the islands can be diversified to a certain point, but if you do not exploit your natural resources, if you cannot be competitive at an industrial level, if you cannot be the "garden of Europe", tourism will be the main engine of our island economy yes or yes. Because we are the lucky ones. Islands for better and for worse. And sometimes it makes us dependent in economic matters and in others it keeps us isolated from health crises.
The problem is that many Canarians undervalue tourism because, until a month and a half ago, it had never stopped watering the islands with money. And this comfortable position of untouchable "well-being" has led to the belief that wealth and work fall from the trees. And it is not like that.
Alejandro Pérez O'Pray , Political Science and Administration, UNED.
