Rob HorganOVER 200 people created a human S.O.S to protest against oil drilling off the Canary Islands yesterday.
Protesters turned out on the beaches of Fuerteventura against the Spanish government’s decision to allow fracking and oil exploration.
Repsol began drilling for oil on November 18, about 50 kilometres off the island.
Ezequiel Navio, who heads an environmentalist group, said: “We want to reach those in charge and declare our deep rejection of oil drilling in the Canaries.”
He added that a protest flotilla – made up of sail boats, kayaks and inflatable dinghies – will head to the drilling site as soon as the weather permits.
Spain’s Industry Ministry authorised Repsol to search for oil in the region in August.
Environmental groups including Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund, as well as the local government, have campaigned against drilling for oil.
Last week the Spanish Navy seized Greenpeace’s protest boat the Arctic Sunrise and were involved in an incident which left four Greenpeace activists injured.
