The people’s paper Issue No. 1885 19 - 25 August 2021
Cruises return PALMA is clearly back on the desired ports of call for cruise ships as in the last few days it has welcomed two of the world’s largest cruise ships by passenger size as first Harmony of the Seas called in and then the following day it was the turn of Costa Smeralda from Carnival Cruises, which can accommodate some 6,000 passengers.
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Marathon swim NOW settled in Mallorca, former soldier from Scotland Caroline Livesey is a professional triathlete used to swimming, but she encountered some problems in the last five kilometres of her 16kilometre swim from Cabrera to Mallorca to raise awareness of ocean damage and to raise funds for Project Stellaris.
Bulky junk EVERY summer, possibly linked with holiday visitors, the Felanitx Council finds itself having to remove carelessly dumped rubbish from its streets. It is now employing two members of staff to check on fly tipping and to promote a campaign explaining what can be left out and when.
Hotel takeover DESPITE the problems of the pandemic, hotel giants continue to grow and the takeover of American Apple Leisure Group by the better-known Hyatt Hotels will see it inherit Mallorcan hotel group Alua which should see significant promotion of the island through the Hyatt chain.
Credit: Nitin Madhav (USAID)
AFGHAN WOMEN: Freedom is a fleeting gift. GIVEN the bleak situation following the takeover by the Taliban, the Balearics have offered refuge to women and children from Afghanistan. The Governing Council approved on August 17 a motion for a resolution urging the government of Spain to propose a meeting of the European Council to agree immediately on the rapid activation of extraordinary temporary measures to deal with the force majeure cause in the field of migration and asylum of Afghan women. In accordance with regional, state, European and international regulations, and based on a report prepared by the Balearic Women’s Institute, the government has requested the Spanish Government to intervene to help ensure life and integrity to the women of Afghanistan. At the same time, the Balearic Gov-
ernment has made itself available to the government of Spain for the reception of Afghan women as refugees or asylum seekers. This offer is understood as a reinforcement of the existing reception agreements for the entire Afghan population that is at risk of persecution or human rights violations. Following 20 years of growing democracy in which women have secured rights such as education and access to university; the freedom to walk alone on the street or drive a car, things have changed almost overnight as the Taliban restored the state of terror towards women according to the government. It lists a number of measures reintroduced by the Taliban which it denounces such as: Marriages with eight-year-old girls, collective rapes and the following prohi-
bitions have already begun. Women cannot go to school and university. They cannot leave the house without being accompanied by a family man (mahram). They cannot walk alone, ride a bicycle and a motorbike, taxi or bus where there is no separation of men and women. No man other than a partner or relative can see a woman’s face, as she is considered a source of corruption; therefore, they must make use of the burqa. No male doctor can perform a body examination on them. They cannot speak out loud in public. They cannot play any sport. It is estimated that in 2019 (the latest statistics available), out of a total population of 38,040,000 people in Afghanistan, 18,512,029 were women.
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MEETINGS BAN
AN extraordinary meeting of the Balearic Governing Council on August 16 approved the extension of the limitations of social meetings at night currently in force in each of the Balearic Islands. The Superior Court of Justice is to be asked to ap‐ prove this extension, which is required in order to con‐ tinue to combat Covid‐19 infection, until September 15 although the situation for each island will be reviewed every 15 days. The government has announced that it has taken this decision in light of the experience gained in recent months, which has highlighted the risk involved in so‐ cial activities of a recreational and festive nature associ‐ ated with alcohol consumption. This in turn sees a drop in Covid‐19 contagion prevention measures, such as maintaining interpersonal distance or using a mask so by restricting these activities, it is believed it does re‐ duce the risk of new infection among young people, many of whom are still not fully vaccinated. In summary, this regulation means when the cumu‐ lative incidence at 14 days on any island is greater than 350 cases per 100,000 inhabitants and hospital pres‐ sure is greater than 5 per cent in relation to critical care beds for Covid‐19 or 2 per cent in terms of beds of hos‐ pitalisation, social or family meetings of people are not allowed between 2am and 6am unless they are co‐ habiting. Should the number of cases increase to more than 450 cases per 100,000 inhabitants and pressure on hospital beds rises accordingly, then the ban on meetings will run from 1am to 6am. The government believes that whilst it could have taken more stringent measures in order to keep the number of infections from rising, they may well have restricted the rights of residents too greatly and could have further harmed the financial situation of many who have suffered already over the past 18 months. The decision to restrict large ‘get togethers’ which have in the past not only been potentially anti‐social but have been seen to exacerbate infection are a sensi‐ ble and controllable target. The next review, will take place on August 23.