The
OLIVE PRESS
FREE
GIBRALTAR
Vol. 5 Issue 150
www.theolivepress.es
The Rock’s only free local paper
One man’s ‘bonkers’ adventure ends on the Rock See page 14
June 16th- June 29th 2021
ALARM: over 53 mega parks
SOS Save our Sol By Fiona Govan
RESIDENTS are mounting a battle over plans for a series of massive solar farms that threaten the environment, rural tourism and some of the ‘best views in southern Spain’. Dozens of expats have joined locals to oppose the large-scale projects which have been slammed as ‘a speculation frenzy’ threatening to carve up some of Spain’s beauty spots without proper environmental impact studies. In recent weeks protests have taken place around Malaga and Cadiz where plans for a staggering 53 photovoltaic plants have been unveiled. The mayors of Gaucin, Casares and Jimena de la Frontera have expressed concern about at least four ‘massive’ mega-projects in the pipeline.
Protest
Vote of their lives With just over one week to go until the Rock goes to the polls to vote on whether or not to update abortion laws, the Olive Press takes a look at a vote that has been a long time in the making
RESIDENTS on the Rock will finally go to the polls on Thursday June 24, more than a year after the vote on abortion was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. On Tuesday, June 15 the ‘No’ campaign made a lastditch attempt to persuade voters to ‘protect the unborn child’ with a march that began in Irish Town and ended in John Mackintosh Square. Speaking ahead of the event, Save Babies Vote NO spokesperson, Karenza Morillo said: “We are really excited and energised about this event which we believe will build on the momentum that is already there among the people of Gibraltar THE SKY to protect mothers and babies here.” DOCTOR Organisers were ALL AREAS COVERED hoping to sway those who are still undecided which 4G UNLIMITED way to vote next INTERNET Thursday. IDEAL FOR But polls suggest STREAMING TV an overwhelming majority will ALSO IPTV, vote in favour of SATELLITE TV bringing Gibraltar in line with the tel: (0034) 952 763 840 rest of Europe on info@theskydoctor.com abortion laws. www.theskydoctor.com A poll conducted
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While in Coin last week, a protest, backed by the town hall, was held against proposed solar farms in the beautiful Rio Grande area of the Guadalhorce valley. In Jimena alone, an area of over 2,200 hectares – the equivalent of 3,500 football fields is destined for panels. Protesters claim that energy companies are deliberately dividing applications into smaller projects to bypass environmental regulations. The vast solar parks threaten to carpet an area rich in flora and fauna and destroying archaeological sites and ancient pastures. They allegedly also drain already scarce water supplies. Others fear a plummet in house prices and rural tourism, which is so essential to the economy of the region. Affected residents are being urged to contact their town halls and lodge complaints.
DECISON TIME: Both sides of the debate are making their voices heard in the run-up to the referendum
See Sunny valley, solar eclipse on pages 6&7
AT RISK: Stunning countryside
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By Fiona Govan
by GBC ahead of the suspended vote in March 2020, suggested that over 70% will vote ‘yes’ to reforming what is one of the most antiquated abortion laws on the continent. Under current rules, which are not implemented, a woman can be thrown into jail for life for having the procedure. Instead, any Gibraltarian woman seeking an abortion travels across the border where the procedure is carried out in a Spanish clinic. The vote on June 24 is the culmination of a campaign started in 2018 led by the Gibraltar’s Women’s Association. The GSLP/Liberal government under Chief Minister Fabian Picardo studied the proposal for some time before coming to the conclusion it would hold a referendum set initially for March last year. Registered voters in Gibraltar will vote on whether to enact legislation amending the Crimes Act to allow abortion under defined circumstances that relate to injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman, or where there is substantial risk of fatal foetal abnormality. If the ‘yes’ vote wins, the amendment to the legislation will come into effect. But if more people vote ‘no’, the law would stay the same. Gibraltar’s strong Catholic roots have historically
swayed the population to take an anti-abortion perspective. Although the pro-life group claims to be non-religious a number of religious figures feature in its ranks. This situation came to a head when male religious leaders posed over the Holocaust memorial in Commonwealth Park in a campaign event widely condemned across the Rock. Speaking in a live televised debate last week, Selena Victory from the Gibraltar for Yes campaign said: “Every single international human rights and public health body supports access to safe and legal abortion services. “It is a fundamental healthcare right. “Abortion is one of the oldest medical procedures and will continue to happen whether we legalise it or not. “The evidence is clear – in order to reduce abortion rates we need to legalise and regulate abortion.” In a panel discussion earlier this month, Marlene Hassan Nahon, leader of the Together Gibraltar Party criticised Gibraltar’s male-dominated political and religious hierarchy for their contributions to the local debate. “It’s up to women to fight for this right and force the issue forward,” she said. She underscored the importance of people turning up to vote on the day of the referendum, and was concerned that ‘COVID fatigue’ which had set in over the past year would discourage people from voting. Opinion Page 6