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CATALONIA

Catalonia’s former separatist leader Artur Mas warns Madrid of backlash

On trial for holding a symbolic independence vote, Catalonia's former leader Artur Mas warned Madrid against implementing drastic measures to stop another such referendum - binding this time - from taking place as planned by his successor.

Catalonia's former separatist leader Artur Mas warns Madrid of backlash
Photo: AFP

In an interview with AFP this week, Mas said any attempt to take away powers from Catalonia to stop such a vote from taking place would likely create a “strong” backlash in a region led by a government backed by a majority-separatist parliament.  

But he also sought to ease fears about secessionist plans in the northeastern region at a time of global jitters.

Political trial?

Mas, a 61-year-old former economist, said he thought the trial was merely taking place because of the “big success” of the symbolic, non-binding referendum held in November 2014 when he was still president of Catalonia.

He and two former members of his government are accused of severe civil disobedience and misconduct for holding the vote after it was banned by Spain's Constitutional Court, which had declared it illegal.

More than 80 percent of those who cast their ballot in the vote did so for independence – although just 2.3 million people out of a total of 6.3 million eligible voters took part.

“These 2.3 million people who went to vote exceeded all forecasts, irritating the Spanish government which was accused of being soft and sparking an over-reaction,” he said.

“Essential and basic democratic rights such as citizen participation and the right to freedom of expression are being violated.”

September referendum

Mas, Catalan president from 2010 to 2016, has now been replaced by Carles Puigdemont, the former mayor of Girona.    

Resolutely pro-independence, he has pledged to hold a referendum in September – a binding one this time, with or without Madrid's consent.

But how exactly it will go ahead is unclear, as the central government has vowed never to allow an act that would risk the unity of Spain.    

Last week, reports emerged that Madrid was considering drastic measures to stop a vote, such as closing schools where polling booths could be set up or taking control of the police, which is normally managed by regional authorities.

The government neither confirmed nor publicly denied the reports.  

“Those who are considering interfering in Catalan autonomy should think twice, as they don't know what the Catalan reaction will be,” Mas said.    

“Depending on how aggressive (the interference) will be, the reaction of Catalan society could also be very strong. It will be democratic and peaceful, but it will be very strong.”

Global jitters

Mas acknowledged that there was currently a lot of “commotion” in the world at a time when the region's pro-independence government is trying to take steps towards splitting from Spain.

The rise of far-right parties in Europe, Britain's shock decision to exit the European Union, or Donald Trump's election to the US presidency, pledging more protectionism, have sent jitters round the world, with people fearful of more instability.

But Mas sought to allay fears over Catalonia's intentions.    

“We're in favour of the European project, the European Union, the euro, of welcoming refugees,” he said.

Street power

Mas said that Catalonia's pro-independence authorities may be up against the state and its institutions, but still have the power to call people onto the streets.

Millions have protested over the past years to demand greater autonomy and outright independence, and some 40,000 people showed up at the start of Mas's trial in Barcelona on Monday.

“Europe and the world must understand that this is not a movement organised by Catalan politicians, it's a movement channelled by some Catalan politicians but rooted in the people.”

Still, the Catalans are very divided over the issue – 44.9 percent want independence while 45.1 percent don't, according to a recent poll conducted by a Catalan public institute.

A large majority, however, wants a referendum to have their say, once and for all, the survey said.

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BEACHES

Why are Barcelona’s beaches disappearing?

Barcelona's much-loved beaches are losing between six and 10 metres of sand per year, but why is this happening?

Why are Barcelona's beaches disappearing?
Barceloneta Beach. Photo: Pau BARRENA / AFP

Barcelona may be famed for its beaches and they may be one of its biggest tourist draws, but it hasn’t always been this way.

In fact, Barcelona didn’t used to have any beaches at all, just ports and seaside neighbourhoods. It wasn’t until 1992 when the city held the Olympic Games that these neighbourhoods were demolished and the beaches were created. 

What’s the problem?

Since 2017, the city’s beaches have been losing between six and 10 metres of width per year, according to a recent study by the Área Metropolitana de Barcelona (AMB).

This beach erosion means that every year there is less and less sand for residents and tourists to lie on and enjoy. 

This is not a new problem however and has been going on much longer than four and half years. In 2016, the Barcelona City Council revealed that since 2010 Barceloneta Beach had lost over 15 metres in width, which is equivalent to 28 percent of its surface area.  

In another 2016 report, the regional authorities of Barcelona also showed that its beaches as a whole had lost 17 percent of their total amount of sand during the same time period, the same as five football pitches.

Why is it happening?

The study attributes this to the fact that there have been more storms than normal since 2017, which has prevented the natural recovery of the beaches.

Storm Gloria in January 2020 in particular caused significant damage to the beaches in the area and caused even more sand to be washed away.

In short, most of this is to do with climate change. 

The beaches that have been most affected and have lost the most amount of sand are those in the lower Maresme region and the towns of Masnou and Badalona.

Barcelona beaches being destroyed during a storm. Photo: JOSEP LAGO / AFP

What’s being done about it?

The Barcelona City Council has been continually adding a little sand to its beaches each year and moving it around from areas that have more to areas that have less.

Aitor Rumín, head of the beach management service of the Barcelona Consistory told El Pais last month that “the last major contribution of sand was made by the ministry in 2010. Since then we have only lost sand”.

“It’s survival, but we can’t do much more. The beaches lose 30 cubic meters of sand per year, especially in the southern parts of each of the beaches. The coastline is receding and we have beaches like Mar Bella, Nova Mar Bella and Llevant, where we can’t do anything to regain the sand,” he said.

Badalona Beach. Photo: JOSEP LAGO / AFP

While moving the sand around and adding a little each year may help to cover up the problem in the short term, it’s not really helping solve the problem and a long-term solution needs to be found.

The Área Metropolitana de Barcelona have been trying to stop the beach erosion with their Resilience Plan, which will ask for greater contributions of sand to try and balance out the current losses and divide the beaches up with breakwaters.

In the case of Badalona, it has been proposed that 13,200 cubic metres of sand be added to the beach each year, as well as to rethink the layout of the equipment located on the seafront. The construction of a breakwater on La Mora beach has also been proposed.

In Sant Adrià, the plan is to build another breakwater, as well as to remove the jetty in front of the old industrial areas. The council also hope to add a further 95,000 cubic metres of sand.

It is thought that similar plans may be carried out on Barcelona’s other beaches.

Is this a problem anywhere else in Spain?

Yes, beach erosion is a problem throughout Spain, as well as throughout the world, due to climate change.

Theocharis Plomaritis from the University of Cádiz who was one of the co-authors of the Nature Climate Change study published in March 2020, told El Periodico that by the end of the century the retreat of the beaches in Spain and Southern Europe could be 86 metres, if no measures are taken to contain climate change. 

According to the study, in the best case scenario – with measures to mitigate the effects of climate – the loss of sandy beaches in Spain would be 60 metres and 27 of these metres by 2050.

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