SPAIN: Migrants’ Crossing Attempt & more – 29th Aug 2024

Buenos días from Gracia! This is the Rorshok Spain Update from the 29th of August twenty twenty-four. A quick summary of what's going down in Spain.

First up this week, on the night of Sunday the 25th and into the early hours of Monday, many migrants used heavy mist to swim from Morocco to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. As we reported in a previous show, a similar mass-crossing attempt was made a few weeks ago.

The exact number of migrants is unknown, but according to the local police and various media outlets, it could range between 200 and 1,500. However, the police said that many of them were intercepted near the El Tarajal beach, close to the border.

Ceuta, along with Melilla, represents the EU's only land borders with Africa, making them targets for migrants attempting to reach Europe.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday the 27th, Spanish president Pedro Sánchez embarked on a three-day tour of Mauritania, Gambia, and Senegal in West Africa to strengthen cooperation in the Sahel region.

Sánchez and his government intend to sign new migration agreements with Mauritania and Gambia, and reinforce existing ones with Senegal, allowing workers to go to Spain temporarily.

His tour began in Mauritania, where he met with President Mohamed Uld Ghazuani, marking his second visit in seven months. Sánchez's stop in Senegal was his second visit to the country as President of Spain, but his appearance in Gambia was his first.

From bilateral relations to national politics, Spain is now considering lowering the legal voting age from eighteen to sixteen, following the lead of several European countries, including Germany, Malta, and Belgium, which have recently implemented similar changes in their electoral laws.

The proposal, backed by the Ministry of Youth and Childhood and supported by left-wing parties, seeks to amend the electoral law. Advocates argue that allowing sixteen-year-olds to vote could increase political engagement among youth, saying that if they can work, they should be able to vote.

However, the proposal faces resistance, particularly from right-wing parties, and concerns about the emotional maturity of younger voters.

If implemented, it could add over a million new voters.

Next, a 5.5 magnitude earthquake struck south of Lisbon in the Atlantic, shaking parts of Spain and Morocco.

The tremor was recorded in the early hours of Monday, the 26th, and was felt across several Andalusian provinces, including Huelva, Seville, and Cadiz, where the effects were most pronounced.

According to the earthquake intensity scale, which goes from one to twelve, in Spain, the earthquake's impact was felt at level three in towns near the Portuguese border and at level two in other regions like Malaga, Jaén, and Granada.

The Andalucía emergency services received over fifteen calls regarding the quake, but no significant damage or injuries were reported.

The tremor also affected other Spanish regions, including Galicia, Extremadura, and Castilla y León, with varying degrees of intensity under level three.

In other news, resorts on Spain's Costa Brava are facing a significant increase in jellyfish due to warming sea temperatures, which are enhancing reproduction and driving species further north.

Between May and August, over 7,500 beachgoers on the Catalan coast reported being stung by a jellyfish, a 41% jump from twenty twenty-three.

Researchers point the finger at climate change, overfishing, and coastal developments, with some species' bloom cycles speeding up considerably.

While many of these jellyfish are relatively harmless, their tails can stretch up to fifty meters in length and deliver a particularly nasty sting.

Experts warn that this situation will likely persist as sea temperatures rise.

Turning to inland beaches, inadequate safety regulations are raising the risk of drowning and other incidents.

Inland beaches like the Ricobayo Reservoir in Zamora, Castilla y León, attract thousands of summer vacationers but pose a significant risk due to the lack of lifeguards, signage, and emergency resources.

The Spanish Lifesaving and Rescue Federation warns of rising dangers at reservoirs, lakes, and rivers as more people visit, often unaware of hidden risks like sudden depth changes and cold water shocks. They urged authorities to enhance safety measures at popular inland spots like Ricobayo by including more signage and fenced-off areas.

Recent incidents reveal rising risks, with more drownings and accidents worsened by remote locations and risky behaviors promoted on social media, such as entering remote unsafe waters and cliff diving.

Moving on, could olive oil Europe be suffering? According to the news outlet The Independent, sunflower oil has overtaken olive oil as Spain's preferred cooking oil.

According to Anierac, Spain's leading olive oil bottling association, rising prices have driven Spanish people to purchase 179 million liters of sunflower oil in the first half of twenty twenty-four, compared to only 107 million liters of olive oil. Olive oil sales fell by 18% from the first half of twenty twenty-three, while sunflower oil sales increased by 25%. Heatwaves and droughts have slashed olive harvests, doubling prices and making olive oil unaffordable for many.

In response, the government has cut the value-added tax on olive oil, and supermarket chains like Mercadona have reduced prices to attract consumers back to olive oil.

In energy news, the Costa Brava has become the new focus of renewable energy developers, with seven offshore wind farm projects proposed for the Gulf of Roses, the only area in Catalonia currently permitting such developments.

Repsol, one of Spain’s biggest multinational energy and gas companies, recently revealed a plan for seventy floating wind turbines, making it the second-largest project in the area.

However, the project, named Mediterráneo-1, faces opposition from local municipalities and environmental groups due to its potential impact on protected marine areas from Cadaqués to Begur. They say they plan to file objections to the project.

Returning to the ocean, on Monday, the 26th, orcas attacked a sailboat off the coast of Galicia, near O Roncudo, severely damaging its rudder and prompting a difficult rescue operation.

Two Belgians were on board; one was seriously injured because of heavy winds and rough seas and had to be airlifted out.

This attack isn't the first of its kind; in fact, it's part of an increasing pattern of orca encounters in the region, with a surge in such incidents in recent years.

Have you ever heard of Maria Branyas Morera? Well, until Tuesday the 20th, she was the world's oldest person, but sadly, she passed at the age of 117.

She was born in San Francisco in nineteen oh seven to Catalan parents and lived her final years in a nursing home in Olot, Catalunya.

Despite her advanced age, she remained lucid and healthy, with only minor mobility and hearing issues.

On an unrelated note, the Shem Tov Bible, a 700-year-old Hebrew manuscript created by Rabbi Shem Tov Ibn Gaon in thirteen twelve, will be auctioned at Sotheby’s New York on the 10th of September. Its estimated value goes from $5 to $7 million dollars.

Known for its exquisite illustrations blending Jewish, Christian, and Islamic motifs, this Bible was taken to Israel in thirteen fifteen to protect it from the Inquisition.

Let’s talk about festivals! The city of Jerez is set to celebrate its annual Grape Harvest Festival between the 31st of August and the 15th of September.

It offers a deep dive into the region's rich wine culture through different activities. Key events include the traditional Treading of the Grapes, where people crush grapes with their bare feet to extract the juice.

And finally, in Ronda, Andalucia, locals are gearing up for their biggest event: Las Fiestas de Pedro Romero. The festival kicks off with the Cante Grande and the presentation of the Goyescas Ladies in stunning traditional attire. The highlight is the illuminated parade, marking the start of a week filled with music, dancing, and local wine. A key attraction is the Goyesco bullfighting festival in Ronda’s historic bullring.

Aaand that’s it for this week! Thank you for joining us!

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¡Hasta la próxima!