June 2007

Download issue 27

By Dan Myers on June 29, 2007

The Real State of the Nation

By Dan Myers on June 26, 2007

THE third day of July sees the traditional State of the Nation debate between Señor Zapatero and shadow leader Mariano Rajoy.
This annual event is usually won by the socialist leader, who with his smart suits, facial gestures and hand movements, seems to have learnt a few tricks in vacuity and substance from former UK PM [...]

Fury as coin toss mayor takes post

By Dan Myers on June 26, 2007

Between shouts of “corruption” and banners protesting against alleged illegal building in the village, the mayor who won a municipal election by the toss of a coin faced angry protestors as he officially accepted his post

European Parliament slams “urban abuse” in Spain

By Dan Myers on June 26, 2007

MEPs want change in Spain’s Constitution to protect individual property rights
LOCAL authorities in Spain adopt a “Wild West” attitude towards construction while giving excess powers to property developers.
That is the position of Brussels after the EU reiterated its stance against construction abuse in the country.
In a sitting of European Parliament in Strasbourg, 327 MEPs voted [...]

Power to the Demos!

By Dan Myers on June 26, 2007

Lisa Tilley believes, 30 years on, Spain is finally coming to terms with democracy as the past is unearthed
THIRTY years ago, Spain held its first elections since 1936, ending a 41-year democratic drought. Overnight, Spanish citizens went from subjects to participants as they exercised their right to representation. The demos (the people) were back in [...]

The Mayor and the Property Developer: What Happened in Alhama de Granada?

By Dan Myers on June 25, 2007

Across Spain the mayor/property-developer relationship has become infamous – but what happened in Alhama? As Lisa Tilley discovers, allegations that the mayor of the town allowed a property developer to set up an office in the town hall have still not been investigated
IT is a time-honoured romance; they talk, they go out for dinner, there [...]

Rotten to the core

By Dan Myers on June 25, 2007

Following the hard-hitting report into Spanish urban corruption, which paints a bleak picture of mayors and developers abusing human rights to make a fast buck, Brussels has openly criticised the ongoing situation in the country
AFTER a report claiming urbanisation in Spain is fuelled by avarice and greed, the European Parliament has voted in favour of [...]

Judgement day for Iznajar

By Dan Myers on June 25, 2007

With doctors, teachers and even High Court judges buying here, Iznajar is fast becoming THE town for the discerning foreign buyer

Nightmare in the sun as home dreams fall apart

By Dan Myers on June 25, 2007

Following news of the EU resolution into “rampant construction” in Spain, Jon Robins of the Observer takes a look at the situation in Albox – one of the towns in the spotlight of MEPs in Brussels

Greens demand more expensive water for greater users

By Dan Myers on June 25, 2007

Figures show levels in Granada reservoirs lower than in 2006
DROUGHT will continue to plague Andalucia while the demand for water will rise, according to the Los Verdes (Green) Party.
The political group has asked the Junta de Andalucia regional government to charge people for their water in direct relation with the amount used to counter the [...]

Briton arrested in Loja drugs bust

By Dan Myers on June 25, 2007

OFFICERS from the Guardia Civil have arrested a British national after finding more than one and a half tonnes of cannabis resin in the van he was driving.
The un-named man was detained at the Los Abades service area outside Loja on the A92 Almería-Sevilla road.

Prison for woman who sold grandson

By Dan Myers on June 25, 2007

A WOMAN who sold her eight-month-old grandson to a childless married couple has been sentenced to six months in prison.
A court in Motril heard how the un-named woman gave the baby to the couple on the forecourt of an Almuñecar petrol station in 2002 for an undisclosed sum of money.

Boar and trout poachers arrested

By Dan Myers on June 25, 2007

OFFICERS from the environment department of the Guardia Civil (Seprona) have arrested three men for poaching.
Two were detained for the illegal fishing of ten common trout from the Maitena river inside the boundaries of the Sierra Nevada National Park.

Horse in traffic accident

By Dan Myers on June 25, 2007

A WOMAN was injured when the car in which she was travelling was involved in a head on collision with a horse.
The woman was travelling along the N340 Mediterranean dual carriageway when her Renault Twingo hit the horse, which police believe had escaped from nearby farm.

Electric olives

By Dan Myers on June 22, 2007

Claire Doole visits a Córdoba olive farmer and finds he is doing his bit to combat global warming

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