September 2007

Junta appeals court decision to back Los Merinos developers

By on September 28, 2007

THE regional government has appealed the decision to allow developers to continue works at controversial Los Merinos golf course, near Ronda.

Serial rapist flees Granada town

By on September 28, 2007

A SEX attacker who served 16 years behind bars for 16 rapes has been forced to leave a Granada town. José Rodríguez Salvador, known as the Rapist of Valle d’Hebron, was staying with his parents in Iznalloz following his release from a Barcelona prison in the early hours of September 21.

Myths and mortar

By on September 27, 2007

Lisa Tilley delivers some home-truths about the Spanish property market and advice for those who want out

Zapatero asks UN to lead climate change battle

By on September 27, 2007

But can Spain meet Kyoto and EU emissions targets as PM promises?

Worth its weight in gold

By on September 26, 2007

Clive Muir and Sue Eatock investigate the carob tree, whose seeds are valued by jewellers and goldsmiths

The Collar of Concrete strangling Spain

By on September 21, 2007

In this exclusive, hard-hitting dispatch, author Chris Stewart warns that in selling out to developers, Spain risks destroying its tourist industry. In a call to arms, that cannot be ignored, he asks that everyone stands up to be counted before the interior is also destroyed like the coast FOR those who have never had the […]

El cinturón de cemento que acabará asfixiando a España

By on September 21, 2007

En este informe revelador, el escritor de Entre Limones, Chris Stewart, nos avisa del peligro que corre el turismo en España si sigue vendiéndose a los promotores. Una llamada de atención, que no debería ser ignorada, para que actuemos antes de que el interior del país se deteriore tal y como lo ha hecho la […]

Jailed: The two men found guilty of “protecting the environment”

By on September 18, 2007

The charges, which both men claim “fictitious,” relate to a protest at the Ismael quarry close to Órgiva, when 30 worried residents attempted to block access to the works site.

A fool shows his annoyance; a prudent man overlooks an insult

By on September 18, 2007

“Dictatorial” archbishop makes peace with revolting parishioners

EU takes regional government to court over Iberian lynx

By on September 17, 2007

The European Union is taking the Junta de Andalucia to court for building a road that cuts through one of the few remaining habitats of the Iberian lynx.

Plastic greenhouses used as pot factories

By on September 17, 2007

ALMOST two thousand cannabis plants have been seized following drug raids on plastic greenhouses (invernaderos). Police found 664 plants during a raid on an invernadero, which are normally used to grow fruit and vegetables for northern Europe, near Albuñol on September 6.

Courts study 84 objections to controversial school subject

By on September 17, 2007

A CONTROVERSIAL new subject has made its debut in schools around Spain without any of the protests planned by opponents. Throughout the country, only 84 parents had made official complaints about the new Education for Citizenship and Human Rights lesson, with 76 of those in Andalucia.

Human activity threatens land in Andalucia

By on September 17, 2007

Report claims “85 per cent of region” could be hit by desertification THE arid and semi-arid zones of Andalucia must be protected from human activity if desertification in the region is to be stopped. That is the finding of a report presented to a conference on climate change in Madrid. Natural desertification in Andalucia is […]

Court investigates Lanjaron “water grab”

By on September 17, 2007

Former environment chief in court for backing plans to extract 300 million litres of water per year from river PLANS by a mineral water company to take ten litres of water per second from a local river are under investigation by a Granada court. Aguas de Lanjarón, which is owned by French food giant Danone, […]

Court suspends Murcia golf course project

By on September 17, 2007

JUDGES at Murcia’s top court have suspended a huge scale golf course and residential project after an appeal by local environmentalists. The Zerrichera complex, which included 4,000 homes, an 18-hole golf course, a luxury hotel and commercial centre, was being built on 250 hectares of protected land in Almenera, Murcia.

PNV leader resigns

By on September 17, 2007

THE resignation of a moderate nationalist politician has led to fears of a urge in pro-independence feelings in the Basque Country. Josu Jon Imaz stepped down as leader of the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) after claims of divisions within the party.

King photo burned in nationalist protest

By on September 17, 2007

THE High Court is investigating Catalan nationalists for setting fire to a photograph of King Juan Carlos I. Public prosecutors have requested information from authorities in Girona about the incident on September 13, in which masked nationalists used flaming torches to set the picture of the king in military uniform alight.

Bringing back the bone-crusher

By on September 17, 2007

Lisa Tilley investigates the battle to reintroduce the lammergeyer vulture to the sierras of Andalucia THE lammergeyer is affectionately known as the ‘bearded vulture’ in English, on account of its facial plumage; but in Spanish the bird has a more menacing title, el quebrantahuesos: the bone-crusher. The name is well earned – the quebrantahuesos breaks […]

Corruption in the classroom: the head, the thief, his wife and her cuñada

By on September 17, 2007

Granada primary school faces legal battle and one million euro fine after an investigation found nine unqualified teachers, eight falsified salaries, and one imaginary class

Sky wars

By on September 17, 2007

Olive Press Exclusive – Jon Clarke HUNDREDS of thousands of Sky users around Andalucia could face being cut off under a European regulations clampdown.

Eta’s crusade and the imaginary Basque nation

By on September 14, 2007

Carlos Pranger looks at the history of Eta and wonders what the future holds for the separatist group ON March 22, 2006, Eta declared a permanent cease-fire to negotiate a farewell to arms with Spain’s government. After nine months, the truce was broken. The car bomb that resulted in the loss of the two lives […]

Blue plaque for destruction

By on September 13, 2007

Trembling with neglect, could Brenan´s historic home be converted into flats? DERELICT and decaying with its front door bricked up and piles of rubbish strewn in its garden, this is the sorry state of the former home of one of Spain’s most famous British writers.

Bare facts on Spain’s bears

By on September 13, 2007

Listed in the Spanish Catalogue of Endangered Species as being in danger of extinction, the Cantabrian brown bear’s existence in Spain is not widely known

Alpujarra saved…

By on September 4, 2007

… or is it? As regional government backtracks on water plans, green groups claim Trevelez river is turning into a “sewer” LOCAL residents and green groups are celebrating after the regional government backtracked on a plan that could have led to the destruction of one of Spain’s most spectacular areas of natural beauty.

We need a better-informed drug user

By on September 4, 2007

Alarming reports into cocaine abuse in Spain do not surprise Carlos Pranger. He believes too many of his countrymen confuse the freedom of democracy with hedonism IT hardly needs to be said that in developed countries the incidence of illegal drugs such as cocaine, hashish, heroin, ecstasy or PCP has become a primary health and […]