News

Formentera Council gears up for Women's Day strike, events

Wednesday, 06 March 2019 16:00

foto-concentracio---8-de-marc-2 The Formentera Council has issued a presidential decree to establish minimum services on the day of the general strike planned for Friday March 8. In preparing the initiative, the administration considered the importance of keeping specific positions staffed to assure public services vital to the community.

The following services will be maintained: Centre de Dia—three family workers, one driver, one cook and one disabled services staff; Escoletes—three instructors; OAC (Citizen's Information Office)—three administrative assistants; Works brigade—one brigade leader, two deputy officials and one brigade officer; local police—one administrative assistant; ITV (road worthiness test facility)—one mechanic and one administrative assistance; cleaning services—three staff; Secretaria—one administrative assisant; accounting and payroll—one administrative assistant; fire brigade—four firefighting collaborators.

Demonstration
A gathering in Sant Francesc's Constitució square is planned for 12 noon on March 8 as part of the activities programme put together by the local chapter of Espai Dones and supported by the Formentera Council. For those individuals who wish to take part in the demonstration even if they decide not to join the general strike, Council staff other than those on the above list will not be required to be present at their posts from 12 noon to 2.00pm.

Female CiF cabinet councillors, who plan to join the feminist strike, have cleared the public agenda on March 8. The councillors will resume office work after attending the Espai Dones-organised events.

Formentera Council
Àrea de Comunicació
March 6, 2019

Formentera touts itself to Berliners as sustainable destination

Wednesday, 06 March 2019 14:22

foto-itb-formentera1 The Formentera Council's department of tourism will be promoting the island at Berlin's ITB travel expo through Sunday March 10. Department chief Alejandra Ferrer travelled to the city to present Formentera to expo-goers as an island where sustainability reigns.

The CiF councillor spoke to members of niche press outlets about pioneering sustainability strategies being deployed on Formentera. She talked about the forthcoming initiative to regulate vehicle ingress, the Save Posidonia Project and “the importance of safeguarding our sea and scenery”, which Ferrer called “mainstays of the island's tourist appeal”.

The tourism chief pointed out that Formentera's economy is “100 per cent tourism-based” and affirmed: “That's why the balance between protecting the land, wellbeing of islanders and working our competitive edge over other destinations is so crucial”. Getting there will require Formentera develop an identity which sets it apart from the crowd: “We've got to showcase those features that make us unique—gastronomy, culture, traditions, heritage and the list goes on”.

'Discover Formentera'
Ferrer also talked to ITB attendees about Descobreix Formentera, a push to attract visitors in May and October (that is, before or after the traditional season) with a chock-a-block slate of fitness and cultural programming. She reckoned German tourism is “part of Formentera's lifeblood”, reasoning that travellers from the country “tend not only to be keen on the outdoors and environmentally conscious, but also favour extended periods of family travel outside the high season”.

Formentera shares its promotional space at ITB with the other Balearic islands. An island rep is on hand at the stand to talk about Formentera's main draws and play up features like the local network of nature trails (rutes verdes) and opportunities for outdoor family activities, such as guided bird-watching circuits.

Other expos
Friday March 8 marks the start of Saló Mahana in Lyon (France), where Formentera will share a stand with Menorca's tourism office. Ferrer said recent efforts to expand promotional efforts in France are a reflection of how travellers from the country have become a priority.

This week Formentera is also taking part in its first Expo Sports Outdoor in Barcelona, part of efforts to promote off-season fitness events on the island.

Formentera Council
Àrea de Comunicació
March 6, 2019

New round of Catalan classes for adults

Tuesday, 05 March 2019 14:46

foto-curs-catala-20192 The Formentera Council's “Language Advisory Service” (Servei d'Assessorament Lingüístic, SAL) reports that tomorrow March 6 enrolment begins for the second round of adult education Catalan language courses. Registration, which continues through March 15, is free and can be handled in person at the OAC or online via the OVAC website.

Organised by the SAL, the course offering includes two groups at a range of levels: A2 (morning and evening), B1 (morning and evening), B2 (morning and evening) and C1/C2 (morning and afternoon).

The instruction is aimed at preparing students for the official exams that are being organised by the Govern balear's directorate general of language policies for this May.

Classes start March 18 and 19. The morning groups will meet at the adult learning centre, or Escola d'Adults, and the afternoon groups at IES Marc Ferrer.

For more information email the Formentera SAL at sal@conselldeformentera.cat or visit the OAC.

Formentera Council names Punta Pedrera quarries study winner of research grant

Wednesday, 06 March 2019 13:30

The CiF patrimony department reports that a project titled “Cultural landscape of Formentera. Studying the dynamics of stone extraction and use throughout history” (Paisaje cultural de Formentera. Estudio de las dinámicas de explotación y uso de la piedra a lo largo de la historia) has been awarded the Formentera Council's 2018 research grant. The project will be led by Anna Artina, who holds a bachelor's in Art History and a master's in Classical Archaeology, and is currently a predoctoral researcher affiliated with Institut Catalpa d'Arqueologia Clàssica.

Nine researchers submitted grant requests to the Council. From a review based on scientific interest, coherency and methodology as well as the researchers' past experience, Artina's study emerged with the highest score. The Council's €6,000 grant will help ensure the research goes forward.

The project researchers' anticipated study of quarries in the punta de sa Pedrera area of the island is conceived as a pioneering attempt to pinpoint and grapple with the sites in a geomorphological context and detail the characteristics of stone extraction. Plans include conducting a historical and archaeological study of work processes from ancient to modern times in an effort to link manufactured stone construction, the selection of specific natural areas on the island and extraction techniques used to obtain the raw material.

From a scientific viewpoint the project is interesting because Formentera's marès (limestone) quarries constitute ethnological and archaeological heritage which has scarcely been documented and that has yet to undergo systematic study. The CiF culture and patrimony councillor hailed the initiative behind the project—“it will help thicken the texture of understanding around this part of our cultural heritage”.

Formentera Council
Àrea de Comunicació
March 6 2019

Ibizan troupe Clownidoscopio presents latest, “Refugi”, Saturday at cinema

Tuesday, 05 March 2019 13:59

foto-refugi-11 The Formentera Council's culture department reports that at 6.00pm Saturday March 9 islanders will be able to catch Refugi performed at the Sala de Cultura (cinema). Produced by the Clownidoscopio company, the 50-minute show costs three euros to attend.

In Refugi, the duo formed by Ibizans David Novell and Monma Mingot combine their signature strengths —lyricism, wit and joy— with acutely honed chops as clowns, to present a keen and gentle yet powerful look at human relations. Culture councillor Susana Labrador encouraged islanders to “come to a show that is guaranteed fun for the whole family” and “enjoy an evening of culture with their children”.

Last year Clownidoscopio dazzled us with Fràgil, a family-friendly show in which the fusion of laughter and poetry invited audiences to uncover life's mysteries.

Synopsis
Two characters, two realities. In one reality, the figure makes every effort to feel safe where he is (refuge). The person in the other, meanwhile, has lost everything and flees in search of a new place in the world (refugee).

How can these two realities occupy the same space? Refugi offers a lighthearted, magical look at a conflict that is universal, a voyage through empathy and respect with the poetry and humour of clowns. We all need to find our own place in the world, and places, in the end, are merely the sum of legions of human stories.

Production
Refugi is the first of its kind: a co-production between the Fundacions Teatre Principal of Palma and Maó; Institut d'Estudis Baleàrics; the Eivissa council; the Santa Eulària des Riu town council; Sa Xerxa, a regional youth theatre group; the Clownidoscopio company, and, as of 2019, the Formentera Council. Refugi is also included in the l'Illa a Escena programme.