The demonstration has been announced in Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma, and El Hierro. The organizers want to clarify that it is a non-partisan event and has absolutely nothing to do with any political party. None of the organizing groups have engaged in negotiations with any political party of any persuasion.
They add that they cannot prevent attendance at the demonstration, but “we want to make it clear that we consider the sudden support and the attendance of any political party on 20A to be a purely opportunistic manoeuvre.”
Secondly, they want to make it clear “once again that the demonstration is not against tourism. We are in favour of tourism, but we demand that it is time to set limits. Therefore, we will not tire of saying that this is in no way about turismophobia.”
They assert that if they fear anything, it is the “mismanagement of the model and the tourist policy of continuous growth that is being pursued in Canarias, which we consider completely misguided and failed, resulting in the destruction of our territory and the loss of current biodiversity.”
They also point out that they have given the meaning from the beginning to the calling of this demonstration as one of “total seriousness and concern for the present and future of Canarias since we have had to reach the point of taking to the streets en masse for the demands that provide essential solutions for survival on the islands and have been on the table of different governments for far too long, which have not worked for a future for Canarias.”
Manifesto Demands
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Therefore, they make it known that they “do not” want there to be a festive or musical atmosphere during the march because “we have nothing to celebrate or be joyful about. What we have is a continuous sense of deception and hypocrisy from administrations towards citizens in many matters that compromise the future of our islands, hence our suggestion to demonstrate in a serious and energetic tone.” And they emphasize that their main demands are:
- A tourist and holiday moratorium in Canarias ensuring the immediate halt of new accommodation places. We cannot continue to grow.
- An effective regulation of housing guaranteeing access to this basic right for the Canarian population, halting the uncontrolled holiday rental and limiting home purchases to non-residents.
- The collection of a tourist eco-tax, meaning a small amount of money is charged to visitors to reinvest the proceeds in the care and maintenance of natural areas or in the creation of green jobs.
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Any other demands “do not emanate from the organization of the demonstration, which distances itself from any ideological or political slogans.”
The Hotel and Extra-hotel Association of Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro, Ashotel has urged, through a statement, the Canarian Federation of Municipalities (Fecam) to address a study conducted by the hotel employer association on housing needs in tourist areas, particularly in Tenerife.
This ASHOTEL statement comes just days before the scheduled demonstrations on the eight Canary Islands titled Canarias‘s Limits for a Model Change! and aims to be “the largest in history.”
An ambulance unit was called on Tuesday night, for the first time since the hunger strike began by ‘Canarias Se Agota’, to assist at one of the campsites due to a severe hypoglycemia suffered after six days of not eating.
