On few occasions has there been such a widespread consensus in the island society as that expressed in the demonstration of March 24 of last year, against oil extraction in the Canary Islands. An action ...
On few occasions has there been such a widespread consensus in the island society as that expressed in the demonstration of March 24 of last year, against oil extraction in the Canary Islands.
A protest action that represented the almost unanimous feeling of the people of Lanzarote, as corroborated later by the Data Center of the Cabildo. Its survey of island issues reflects the rejection of 72% of the population to the authorizations granted to Repsol.
Thanks to citizen pressure, institutional documents have been agreed and signed for History, plenary agreements of the Cabildo and the City Councils of outright opposition to the explorations, in which society and the political class have gone hand in hand. The first Corporation took a further step by filing legal actions against the permits, which have already reaped their first fruits.
This rejection, supported equally by Fuerteventura, has caused the Parliament of the Canary Islands and its government team to join the struggle of the two islands, achieving unprecedented social and institutional unanimity.
Faced with the desire of the people of Lanzarote, faced with the pronouncements of their institutions, are only the interests of Repsol and the Popular Party. Those of Repsol, as clear as the oil they trade in is black. Those of the Popular Party, not at all transparent.
It is embarrassing to see the "Canarian minister" become a spokesman for the multinational. It is outrageous to see him act as a spokesman, repeating his slogans and promising thousands of jobs that exist only in his media strategy.
He speaks of benefits for the Canary Islands that he knows are unreal. He sells a non-existent environmental safety, as spills and accidents demonstrate day after day. He paints such a flattering picture that, if he were to be believed, every Canarian should have a platform in their home.
A sterile effort in which he is accompanied by the Popular Party of Lanzarote who, in their delirium, goes so far as to propose that our Study Plans be adapted to the needs of Repsol; a portrait of their way of doing politics and exercising power: As arrogant and dictatorial with the weak as they are submissive to the interests of the strong.
But they are not going to achieve it no matter how hard they try. A year ago, in the street, we said loud and clear that we do not believe their lies nor are they going to deceive us with that sinister lottery in which they want us to participate against our wishes.
The explorations represent neither opportunities nor benefits for the people of this land. They only respond to the logic of the benefits of Repsol and the Popular Party. For this reason, the PSOE of Lanzarote is going to join this Saturday the events organized to commemorate the demonstration of 24M.
The socialists will return to the street, again and again, every time they are called, to reiterate our rejection of oil.
RePPsol no!
*María Dolores Corujo, general secretary of the Socialists of Lanzarote.