Less Tourism, More Life: "Breaking the lock of tourist rentals is not violence, the destruction of the territory is"

PalmaThe Less Tourism, More Life Platform has once again defended that actions directed against illegal tourist rental housing "are not violence", while considering that the effects of the tourism model on the territory and the population are. The collective made this statement in a press release responding to the controversy generated by its Manual of Action Against Touristification, after criticism from the Government, the Spanish government delegation, political parties, tourism sector employers' associations, and social and environmental organizations (including some affiliated with the July 26th demonstration, such as GOB and Terraferida).

In the text, the platform assures that "making graffiti and putting silicone on the locks of illegal tourist rental housing that breaks the law is not violence". On the other hand, it argues that "violence" is the destruction of the territory, the expulsion of neighbors, the difficulty of accessing housing, the depletion of natural resources, gentrification, and the aggressions that, it claims, occur during the tourist season.

The platform insists that the manual does not promote violence and claims non-violent direct action as a "legitimate" tool for social and ecological movements. "We do not advocate for violence; on the contrary, we denounce it," states the press release, which recalls actions such as the occupation of La Dragonera and mobilizations to prevent the artificial regeneration of beaches as precedents of civil disobedience that were decisive in the defense of the territory.

According to Less Tourism, More Life, the publication of the manual responds to the need to channel the "growing unease" caused by the lack of institutional response to the consequences of touristification. The collective maintains that, after years of demonstrations, proposals, and protest actions, society continues to suffer from a housing crisis, the expulsion of residents, and sustained pressure on natural resources.

In this context, it argues that civil disobedience and non-violent direct action are also tools "of popular organization" and states that the manual aims to guide actions that, it assures, are already taking place, "towards safer forms in the face of repression."

The platform also responds to the criticisms received in recent days and assures that it still has "the broad support of the entities", even though some have publicly expressed their disagreement with certain contents of the manual. Likewise, it emphasizes that the publication of the document "is not linked" to the demonstration called for July 26 and insists that ADNV means "non-violent direct action".

Finally, it accuses "certain interests and groups" of wanting to "distort the narrative", "generate alarm" and "discredit and divide" the movement. It also regrets that no institution has yet responded to the political demands presented last week and maintains the call for the protest on July 26 in Palma. "We continue and will continue", concludes the statement.

The Civil Society Forum joins the peaceful protest

The Civil Society Forum will attend the demonstration on July 26, which aims for it to be "peaceful" and to expose the "unsustainability" of the Balearic Islands in the face of a political class that "does nothing" to change the model.

This was expressed by the president of this entity, Josep Benedicto, at a press conference held this Thursday to present a document of proposals for transitioning to a "more sustainable" economic model. In this way, he emphasized that the Forum's intention is to mobilize so that these changes can occur in a "persuasive" and "convincing" manner. At the same time, they have indicated that they will try to dialogue "with everyone, from left to right," about economic diversification.

When asked about the manual disseminated by the entity Menys Turisme, Més Vida, Benedicto clarified that he "has not read it" but detailed that the Forum has already participated in other mobilizations of this type and "in none has there been any problem," for which he appealed for this to "continue to be so." "This is the spirit of the Forum, which has been standing up for life, and it wants to continue demonstrating," he alleged. Likewise, he pointed out that the intention is for there to be "a lot of people" at the demonstration and stressed that its purpose is to "convince," as the Forum wants to "persuade" and "win over" with its proposals. "No one is won over by force, and it will be done peacefully, as it has always been done," he maintained.

Complaint against the promoters of the manual

The law firm MD Law Group has filed a criminal complaint with the Court of Instruction of Guard of Palma, in response to the manual against touristification, against the organizations Arran Mallorca, the platform Menys Turisme, Més Vida and their public spokespersons. In the complaint, the firm states that the promoters of the manual could be committing crimes of belonging to a criminal group, aggravated coercion, incitement to public disorder, and incitement to damage.

In parallel, the firm has submitted to the Bureau of the Parliament and its president, Gabriel Le Senne, a proposed law that they have named the law for the protection of the image and sustainability of the tourist resources of the Balearic Islands. With this initiative, they aim to pursue "the financial asphyxiation of the promoters of tourism phobia, by introducing administrative sanctions ranging from 60,001 euros to 300,000 euros for those who finance or disseminate sabotage guides, in addition to establishing joint and several liability and patrimonial responsibility for spokespersons who publicly justify them".