So what's the story with Benirrás?
Updated: October 05
As we pledged to last month, a meeting was held with the Mayor of Sant Joan, Toni Marí, to which Greenheart team members went in representation of all the people who have signed up to the campaign that was launched in order to try to save Benirrás from more construction. The aim of this meeting was to find out what steps the Mayor would be taking in order to propose the purchase of this area by the Spanish Ministry of the Environment, as the letters that were handed in to the Council asked for, signed by around 1500 people.
Conclusions of this meeting:
- Mr. Marí does not trust the offer of the Ministry of the Environment to be genuine, and therefore before making any moves in that direction he wants to be sure of the seriousness of the offer, understandable due to the large amount of "pie-in-the-sky" offers that appear in political and media circles. For this, and due to his condition as Senator, he had already written a number of questions about the issue that he intended to put to the minister Cristina Narbona. The answers to these questions will take a few weeks to come. We await with interest these replies – especially since in the media we have all seen these days how the State budgets that have been published do not include such investments.
- Due to the existence of this offer from Madrid, the local Consell asked the Ayuntamiento of Sant Joan to put forward ONE and one only area to be protected, and the Council, advised by their technicians, proposed the area within Es Amunts known as Allá Dins. There are other technicians we have spoken to who do not agree with this, as they consider that this area is already sufficiently protected and it would therefore be redundant to buy it in order to protect it. When we insisted on this point, the Mayor answered that none of us present, neither him nor us, are technicians and so could not discuss this point. Point accepted. However when insisting that, should it be proven that Allá Dins is an already protected area and should therefore not be their only option for purchase, he answered "if we've made a mistake with this, well that's it, we've made a mistake. Too late to do anything about it". That just explains some of the perils of politics… it seems the notion that "wise men rectify" escapes politicians, and the citizens suffer the consequences.
- The Mayor was not at all happy with the signature collection campaign that was carried out in the last days of August. According to him, asking for a meeting with him would have been sufficient. We tried explaining that making such a campaign, with the media presence it involved, was en effort by Greenheart to coordinate the efforts and feelings of many people. Until we knew how many people agreed with the given points, we could not talk in anyone's name, only our own.
- According to the Mayor, he is one of the most interested in having this area protected, as he is very fond of it too. In this sense he has in the past made efforts to guide the institutional purchase of the land, which were unsuccessful – that's why he also mistrusts the ministerial offer. He is also adamant in affirming that he has no personal nor financial interest in the area's development. As we know, others around him, and also his superiors, do.
As Mayor of Sant Joan, the only way the Council would pursue the ministerial purchase option would be:
- if it is proven, with money on the table, that the offer from Madrid is a serious one, and that part of the state budget is aimed at this, and specifically to the island of Ibiza.
- if the Council receives in compensation an area equal to Benirrás as urban soil, elsewhere within their municipality, as otherwise the Council would miss out on some revenue that they need in order to give service to their citizens.
We will see how things develop, but it looks like that money from Madrid will not arrive in the amounts that were expected, and even less to cover the various purchases that citizens and our representatives would wish for the protection of different areas such as Ses Feixex. In any case, and even if enough money arrived, the possibility of buying up Benirrás would need to at least be down on paper as an option, which is not the case nor does it seem to be likely to be…
So what options are left? It seems like we have to accept that Benirrás will be developed, and within that choose the lesser evil. The architects who will develop the area are known for their integrated aesthetic taste of authentic Ibiza style, and as they themselves live there they wish to do a good quality job. Greenheart can offer to continue contacts with them and guide them wherever possible towards techniques and appliances that are more respectful with the environment and aimed at saving resources. In our last conversation with them they were very much prepared to consider these eco-ideas and implementing them as a rule into the new constructions.
If you have any alternative ideas, comments or suggestions, we would be very glad to receive them! Send them to mail@greenheart.info
Update: 08.09.2005
After an investigation that covered many fronts, the Greenheart team and all others involved decided this month of August to put our informed conclusions to the public and provide the tools for people who felt so inclined to act (please read further down for the full story).
In only five days, between August 27th and 31st, the team collected 870 signatures and over 100 individual letters that were handed in to the Ajuntament of Sant Joan.
We do not know for now how many more letters were sent by individuals who downloaded them from our site, or who were inspired to write their own, although we will make our best efforts to find out. Judging from public reception and the hits on our site, the Council will have by now received over a thousand more letters.
In any case, the response was so unanimous that it has become clear (had it not been already!) that the majority of the population do not wish to see Benirras developed any further.
Local politicians are starting to make noises in response, and we strongly believe that something can still be done to save Benirras.
Believing therefore that we are representing the opinion of many, Greenheart is trying to get an appointment with the Mayor of San Juan to discuss with him this delicate issue. We would like to know from him what is his response to this popular demand, and what steps he is taking in order to persuade those who can to include Benirras in the list of areas to be considered for Governmental purchase.
We would like to thank everyone who has taken part so far in this campaign, especially those who have worked many hours and who have been brave enough to do so, and to do it publicly. Thank you also to GEN and Amics de la Terra for their support and participation, and of course the press & media, as they have been very helpful indeed in publicising these informations, even helping out on the day the signatures were handed in! And thanks to all those who signed, sent letters, and/or passed on the info to their friends. Every one counts. Drops make ripples that make waves... of change!
Please stay tuned for more action to try to save Ibiza's beloved Benirras.
As a note, we are not only concerned by the development of this small area... but also about the totally unsustainable route the whole island is being taken on. There are so many fronts to contest, it's daunting for anyone to try, but we believe that social action is the road to change and that community voices must be heard. In this age of modern communication technology, it is up to every individual to use it to our common advantage. Protecting nature, as Earth stewards that we should consider ourselves to be, is surely the one common cause that should unite all good-hearted people.
Visit the weblog created by Amics de la Terra (Friends of the Earth) to inform yourself of this Benirras issue and many others that are affecting the island of Ibiza at this crucial time, as well as the actions being taken. You can also read other people's opinions and share your own.
Find it at http://blogs.ya.com/amics/
Let us open our good greenhearts and rise up to the occasions happening before us!
If you wish to help or participate further, send us an email at mail@greenheart.info
To all Ibiza lovers: please take 5 minutes to read the following
Are you in love with Ibiza? Have you ever blissed out at Benirrás beach? Can you imagine it built up? Neither can we! Help us stop its needless development…
So what's the story with Benirrás?
As we all know, Benirrás is a beach in Ibiza of great natural beauty and wild surroundings, which has been visited by many, drawn to it also by its special energy and the happenings that have taken place there. Everyone who has been there has their own special "Benirrás moment" story to tell…
At this very moment, this beautiful space is threatened by the cranes and building machines that are becoming much-too-common parts of the local skyline.
The recently approved PTI, a local law which classifies land, now declares this area "URBAN" – this means that, in the best case scenario, 60 apartments and 40 single family houses –or more!– will be built there very soon.
When?
Very soon means building can start as soon as the Council of Sant Joan approve the plans that are right now on show – and this will happen at the end of this month of August 2005 unless those who care do something about it.
Why?
The area was granted a development permit years ago, when building = progress, which was much needed for local economic growth at the time. This original permit is what makes it difficult now to stop the building, as the Sant Joan Council would be obliged to pay huge compensation to the landowners. It is a fact that this Council cannot event aspire to footing that bill, since it is one of the poorest on the island (because it also one of the greenest! Ie. less developed).
So all is lost…
No, it isn't! A light has appeared at the end of the tunnel: the Spanish Environmental Minister announced a month ago that the Government are putting forward big funds to buy up from private owners coastal areas that are in danger of being developed, making them public land and protecting them from construction.
In order to be considered for this Ministerial concession, the Sant Joan Council has to be the one, AT THIS POINT IN TIME to apply for it.
Why would the Council do that?
For two reasons:
- because protecting remaining natural spaces & resources, and preserving them for the general public and for future generations, is THE RIGHT THING TO DO, and
- because enough people tell them to
Who can do something?
The local constituents (residents of Sant Joan) are key to the movement to save Benirrás. They need to stand up and be counted, and are invited to go to Eco in Sant Joan square to sign a petition which will be there until Monday 29th, to be handed into the Council on Tuesday 30th.
Other Ibiza residents must support our Sant Joan neighbours, by telling those they know from the area about this campaign, by sending emails and letters to the Sant Joan Council, by attending on the day that the petition is presented, by writing to the local press...
Frequent and relevant visitors to Ibiza definitely have a role to play: call or write to the Sant Joan Council to voice your opinion; call your friends in Ibiza and tell them to support this campaign; pull in your press contacts abroad (local politicians hate to look bad in the foreign press) and tell them to contact the Sant Joan Council themselves; swing any public weight you have yourself to make your petition relevant; any other peaceful means of protest you can afford to carry out...
Those who cannot write nor print their own letters can sign petitions until Monday 29th at:
- Out Of Time People (former Cáñamo) in Plaza del Parque, Ibiza Town
- Vía Romana 10, Ibiza Town
- Eco, in Sant Joan
- Herbolario, in Calle del Mar 9, Santa Eulalia
- Ecolandia, Calle Dr. Flemming in Sant Antoni
- Libro Azul in Santa Gertrudis
- Sant Jordi Market on Saturday 27th (Fabien's stand)
- Casita Verde on Sunday 28
Who to lobby:
Sant Joan Council telephone number:
+ 34 971 333003
Postal address:
Atn: Excmo. Sr. Alcalde
Ajuntament de Sant Joan de Labritja
Plaça d'Espanya s/n
07840 Ibiza, Baleares, Spain
Important: send REGISTERED letters so that the Council have to give them official entry and so recognise that they have received them.
If you care about Nature and wish to help save Benirrás, do your bit within this campaign.
If you have time and feel inspired to express your opinion, please send a REGISTERED letter to the above address.
For those who do not have the time to write their own, you can find samples at the link in red below. Please choose one, depending on whether you are a San Juan resident, an Ibiza resident or a visitor/tourist. Download the letter, make any changes or additions you wish to make, fill in the date at the top, and your details at the bottom, print & sign, and send via REGISTERED post to the Council. You may want to call them a few days later to enquire whether they have received it. They must not be allowed to ignore our appeals!
Downloads:
Sample for San Juan residents
Sample for Ibiza residents
Sample for visitors
VERY IMPORTANT:
- include your DNI/NIF/Residencia number
- send it via registered post before August 30th and keep the receipt
- send this link on to your friends (remember your famous friends, or those in press!) Every letter counts
- Tell your friends
Thank you for taking action.
We only have days to go…
… but all together we can make a difference
More info or ideas on mail@greenheart.info
