It was the gateway to paradise. Fresh, crystalline water, all shades of green, and fruit trees of every kind. It was, and is, right next to the Estella canal and the Company road. They called it Ca na Beatriu. The young couple spent their summers there, too hot in the city and in sa Pobla. In the summer house, one could hear the waves of the sea, of that immense, blue bay. The first tree they planted there was a cherry tree, as a symbol of purity –for its white blossom– and of love and fertility –for its intense red fruit. They had recently married in London, after meeting at the theatre owned by Mr. Aubyn, at 15 Bedford Row. In the fertile, black lands of l'Albufera, a cherry tree suggested the longed-for paradise or the desired reward. At Ca na Beatriu, the lady –as the Company laborers called her– commanded the ancient rhythm of the sleeping water.

In the Balearic Islands, the coastal space not only constitutes an environmental heritage of the highest order, but is also a structural pillar of the Archipelago's economy and identity. Coastal ecosystems —beaches, dunes, salt flats, lagoons, cliffs, and posidonia meadows— function as interconnected and inseparable habitats, part of a harmonious whole. Their preservation is key to the good health of marine and terrestrial biodiversity and, moreover, represents a factor of excellence in the tourism model.From this point of view, the tendency to privatize or regulate in favor of commercial interests, as is the case with the new coastal law that the Government of the Balearic Islands intends, represents a direct threat to these strategic values. Continuing to bet on a coastline as a space for private exploitation implies displacing public interest and degrading the most valuable resource that sustains the Balearic economy: its natural environment. The coast should not be understood as a marketable good, but as a common, vital, and organic asset for citizens and also for visitors. In this order, brazenly, not the other way around. The Balearic Islands are a country and, incidentally, a tourist destination, we cannot fail to take this into account.The Government, with the new regulation, intends to save irregular buildings and economic activities within the public maritime-terrestrial domain. Bars, restaurants, and beach bars, which do not comply with the state coastal law, are intended to be included in the register of constructions that the autonomous regulation considers of “cultural interest”. An exceptionally justifiable point, only in cases of irrefutable heritage and ethnographic value, always for public and community use.By favoring concessions and lucrative uses in the public maritime-terrestrial domain, territorial cohesion is weakened and citizen trust in institutions is eroded. Preserving the coastline is not an economic obstacle, but an essential condition for maintaining the productive and social fabric of the Islands. Right now, safeguarding these systems is essential to curb erosion, mitigate the action of storms, and, ultimately, globally help to mitigate the effects of climate change. In a sea as threatened and stressed as the Balearic Sea, strengthening coastal protection and marine reserve figures is a necessary condition to curb biodiversity loss and maintain ecological balance in the long term.On the other hand, the new Balearic coastal law constitutes an evident act of institutional disloyalty, by prioritizing sectoral and private interests over the principles of environmental protection and common use of public space. The purpose of the transfer of powers from the State to the community that took place at the time was to promote homogeneous environmental policies (the community is competent in environmental matters), seek efficiency through proximity to the territory, and boost preservation. The defense of kiosks (and other buildings) located in the public maritime-terrestrial domain not only violates the original constitutional philosophy, on which the law should be based, but also opens the door to a covert privatization of coastal space.Engage in clientelism

All of this, from an institutional perspective, leads one to think that the current Government of the Balearic Islands cannot be trusted. Its behavior is far from exemplary: through a fabricated stratagem known as “local identity”, the Government takes advantage of the transfer of new powers to consolidate illegal activities and engage in clientelism. This perverse drift erodes trust and collaboration between administrations, weakens the sovereign authority of our country, and jeopardizes the legal balance between the general interest and private privileges. In an archipelago particularly vulnerable to climate change and tourist pressure, promoting exceptions that perpetuate coastal occupation is a grave error that compromises our credibility as an adult and modern society.Allow me to explore the poetic path in the face of the stubbornness of the eternally stubborn. I know I will neither soften them nor make them change; however, I believe in lyricism as a drop capable of piercing clay. I am drawn to the beauty of Sylvain Tesson's words in "La vida simple", when he sings of the vital need he feels to change his relationship with nature: “I want to put down roots, to become part of the earth after having been part of the wind”. To stop eroding, to abandon the habit of flying over places, at the rhythm of digital messages without music, and to curse the capital's slot machines, perhaps this will help us to be a little freer and richer. So free as to observe the vote in future elections, from a perspective more respectful of the country's sovereignty, collective well-being, and not with our heads bowed before the market.Possibly, the Government plays with the idyllic image of jetties where boats were kept, forming part of a unique landscape, and attractive piers, which have acquired public use because the former concessionaires have stopped paying. But, this is not the issue, the catalog of impacts is much broader; a lot of concrete and activities not permitted in expired concessions. Not much more can be expected. The Executive has long since aligned itself with radicals who traffic in people's dreams to feed the greed of merchants. They can be fought.

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The Advisory Council of the Municipality of Bunyola has met to advance the development and approval of the land use plan for this natural area, which aims to establish criteria for regulating and reconciling its recreational use with its conservation. At the last meeting of the advisory council—comprised of technicians, institutional representatives, social organizations, and experts—criteria and proposals were shared to make human activity possible while conserving one of Bunyola's most emblematic natural areas, as reported by the Town Hall. The future land use plan must allow for balanced management that protects the ecological, cultural, and social values ​​of the Comuna and ensures that any activity carried out is done with respect and responsibility. The document's objective is to guarantee responsible and sustainable use. "The Comuna is a collective heritage that defines us as a community, and regulating its uses is a way to ensure that we can continue to enjoy it without losing what makes it unique," stated the Mayor of Bunyola, Marian Serralta. The mayor believes that to develop the land use plan and "bring common sense" to the use of the Comuna (communal land), it is necessary to "listen to all perspectives, to protect the environment and make it compatible with the life of the municipality." Esquerra Oberta de Bunyola believes that the governing team is carrying out a "whitewashing" campaign with the Comuna Advisory Council.

For its part, Esquerra Oberta de Bunyola (EOB) has criticized the governing team for only convening the Commune's Advisory Council once during the entire legislative term, despite continuous interventions. "The PP's proposal is pure empty political marketing," sources from the Bunyola-based party stated. "We believe that using a collegiate body to carry out a whitewashing campaign is, at the very least, in bad taste," they denounced. "The Advisory Council should serve as a consultative body and a key element in the management of the communal forest, not be used at the discretion of the governing team to serve their media interests," EOB pointed out.

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The General Directorate of Public Health, through the Food Safety and Nutrition service of the Balearic Islands, has published recommendations for properly storing holiday meal packets and ensuring food safety.

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Almost six years ago, the Marilles Foundation recognized the importance of raising awareness about the conservation of the Balearic Sea through the visual arts and created MARE, an annual image and video competition whose main discipline is underwater digital photography, to inspire action for the Balearic Sea. The project coordinator, Amador Garcia, explains that art "has the power to stir consciences and touch hearts." He also believes that this positive initiative "has more impact than a catastrophic campaign that conveys a negative message." This year, MADRE celebrates its sixth edition with the MADRE25 Conference, "The Sea Moves Us," a space for meeting, inspiration, and action for the conservation of the Balearic Sea. This year, the project program has been expanded, and in addition to the awards ceremony taking place this Friday at 6:00 p.m. at the CaixaForum in Palma, other activities will be held throughout the weekend.

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Part of the roof of the Charterhouse of Valldemossa collapsed this Saturday. In response to the situation, the Association for the Revitalization of Ancient Centers (ARCA) has criticized the situation, calling for "effective preservation of this monumental complex for years" and stating that the neglect and lack of investment "has been a constant" and has demanded its restoration. "The roofs of the church and the Charterhouse have not been repaired; some are in the process of being repaired, while others are not," explains Concepció Bauçà, a doctor in Art History and member of ARCA. The problem with the Charterhouse goes back a long way. "Sometimes things are done, but not everything," she laments. As the association points out, this is not the first collapse that has occurred at the complex "due to insufficient conservation."

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