News

New exhibit sets out to 'unearth the silence'

Thursday, 18 October 2018 16:30

foto-desenterrant-el-silenci-1 The Formentera Council's culture office announces that at 8.00pm on Friday, Centre Antoni Tur “Gabrielet” will hold the opening of an exhibit on historical memory titled “Desenterrant el silenci”.

Drawing on photos by Sergi Bernal, the exhibit is about uncovering memories of the mass graves left in the wake of the Spanish Civil War. But it is also more than that. It is an attempt to make good on the promise of schoolteacher (mestre) Benaiges to his pupils that once his notebook “El mar” was published he would take them to sea.

The show stems from a teaching philosophy in which the student is at the centre of the learning process. This is also true of the notebooks which the pupils themselves prepared at their school in Bañuelos de Bureba, a small town in Burgos where Antoni Benaiges used the Freinet method (so named for Célestin Freinet).

Since first opening in September 2011 at the civic centre in Les Esmandíes de Mataró, the exhibit has been visited by people in nearly thirty cities and towns across the country.

Warnings issued ahead of expected heavy rains

Thursday, 18 October 2018 13:30

The president's office of the Formentera Council wishes to advise islanders that Formentera is currently on orange alert based on Aemet's forecast of rain and storms on Eivissa and Formentera. Experts say the showers could increase in intensity this afternoon.

In light of forecasted heavy rainfall and storms from this afternoon until tomorrow morning which could leave potentially dangerously large amounts of water in their wake, the Council is urging caution and discouraging both unnecessary car travel and parking in areas prone to flooding.

If you are in danger or involved in an accident, the 112 emergency assistance service is in charge of any storm-related operations. In related news the municipal pool will be closed from 2.00pm.

Formentera holds Posidònia Fòrum

Wednesday, 17 October 2018 13:18

foto compilant dades This Friday the tourism and environment bureaus of the Formentera Council will host Posidònia Fòrum, a day of dialogue between business, residents and the administration as the Council works towards sustainability with one of the island's most precious heritage features: posidonia seagrass.

Posidònia Fòrum
The working day will focus on the milestones towards conserving posidonia, a key species in the Balearic ecosystem. The day is also about developing a sustainable model of tourism that encourages sound use of natural and cultural resources, economic stability and quality of life improvements for the local community.

The day, which kicks off at 9.30am in the Council's Sala de Plens, is split in two parts—tourism first, and then initiatives associated with Save Posidonia Project. Tourism secretary Alejandra Ferrer will start things off with an opening address. Journalist Carmelo Convalia will follow Ferrer with a talk on changes over the last decade in Formentera tourism. Next, the island's head of tourism, Carlos Bernús, will talk about promoting tourism and occupancy figures in 2017. CEGOS, a consulting and training firm, will enlist company representatives to share their analysis of the “Tourism Barometre”.

After a break, environment secretary Daisee Aguilera will help get the second part of the day under way with a report on the take-aways and SPP growth in 2017 and 2018. Then participants will get a look at some SPP projects, like IMEDEA's Antroposí; GEN-GOB's study of the seagrass and how it can be used sustainably; and marine biologist Manu San Félix's presentation of Posidònia Maps. A round table about the delicate balance between tourism and the environment will be followed by a discussion with suggestions from within the sector and from actual residents. Secretary Ferrer will oversee the conclusions and closing portion of the event.

Save Posidonia Project
Since its inception in 2017 (International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development) SPP has been a pioneer project in the western Mediterranean. SPP reflects the Formentera Council's goal of promoting sustainable tourism and launching an action plan to raise funding for Posidonia oceanica conservation. The goal is to bring awareness to the seagrass's importance for both present and future generations.

The project continues today in 2018, accruing active participants and encouraging adoption of swaths of seagrass meadows around the island.

Many have elected to sponsor posidonia meadows over the last two years, helping as they do further awareness around the importance of the underwater plant for our future.

Formentera local police write 115 citations for itinerant vending

Wednesday, 17 October 2018 16:13

foto venda ambulant 1 The president's office of the Formentera Council reports the island's law enforcement force has logged 115 citations for itinerant sales this summer.

Bartomeu Escandell, who is the chief of the department in addition to head of the local police, says the citations reflect the administration's commitment to supporting local business and stemming the unfair competition that itinerant vendors represent. Quipped Escandell, “itinerant selling is illegal and at odds with the image of tranquility we want our visitors to enjoy”.

Operations and confiscated material
From June to September agents wrote 115 citations and confiscated an array of material including 1,392 pieces of fruit, 1,028 drinks, 1,257 pieces of clothing, 165 pieces of costume jewellery, 13 rucksacks, a barrel, 11 parasols, 20 knives, 17 hammers and other equipment used by vendors.

The months of July and August were particularly noteworthy, with 41 and 42 citations, respectively, or 13% and 27% higher than last year. September saw the number of citations triple, going from three to nine, despite the fact fewer agents were on the force this summer.

Most of the confiscated material came from near Ses Illetes beach, although operations also focused on beaches like Migjorn, Es Caló and the area adjacent to the Es Cap de Barbaria lighthouse.

Drone operations
Formentera local police also wish to highlight their current partnership with the Sant Josep force's drone specialist. The collaboration made it easier for agents to pinpoint well-stocked hiding spots and catch multiple vendors in flagranti and issue the corresponding citations.

Day of learning about children, wellness and sport on Formentera

Tuesday, 16 October 2018 17:04

foto nens salut i esport The culture office of the Formentera Council has selected the department's Sala d'Actes to hold a discussion led by Xavier Cañellas. The gathering will kick off at 9.30am on Saturday October 20, and will focus on the island's so-called “values plan” concerning children, wellness and sport.

Cañellas is a psychoneuroimmunologist, lecturer and professor involved in an array of master's programmes and courses, plus coauthor of “Nens sans, adults sans”.

Often in today's world we're not conscious that our routines and surroundings reflect a fairly stark departure from the natural state of things. Junk food, long days at the office and lack of physical exercise or “sedentariness” are just some of the ways our artificial environment takes a serious toll on our health, often manifesting themselves in the form of allergies, intolerances and mental disorders.

For this Saturday's course, Cañellas will share how to uncover the causes of our ailments instead of merely tackling the symptoms, part of what he calls an “active approach” to healing. Cañellas emphasises the role of dietary and lifestyle changes in restoring wellness and resolving emotional conflicts if real quality of life improvements are desired.

Topics covered during the course will include “Fact and fiction about the food we eat”, “Gut microbiota”, “Sport: a need, not an obligation” and “Children, wellness and sport”.