Month: September 2013

IU-Andalucia wants to expropriate land not used for 2 years and give it to the poor

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The IU, the communist coalition partners of the PSOE in the Andalucian government, have proposed a new law that will allow for the expropriation of any “productive land which has not been used for its assigned social function” during the last two years. Such land, explains the proposed law, would be that should be dedicated to productive uses such as forestry, farm or ranching land. Or, indeed, my back garden. As a cited example by the IU, they Continue reading IU-Andalucia wants to expropriate land not used for 2 years and give it to the poor→

Desperate backpeddling from Madrid over Argentina’s claim of an anti-UK “alliance”

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There was a desperate and emergency press meeting last night in Madrid just a couple of hours after Argentina stunned London by announcing that Spain and Argentine had signed an agreement to jointly force the UK’s hand over Gib & the Falkland Islands. “No such agreement or alliance exists” insisted the Spanish Deputy Foreign Minister, Marisa Cruz. “There has been a misunderstanding”. It seems that the FO for Spain, the somewhat doddery José Manuel García-Margallo Continue reading Desperate backpeddling from Madrid over Argentina’s claim of an anti-UK “alliance”→

Why it’s called “Almanzora”

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A tale is told to me of how the Almanzora river got its name*… Locals say that their ancestors told them that the name comes from Moorish times, when Caliph Mohammed Almanzor was returning with his troops from a sortie into the Levante. When he reached the banks of this river, he was warned by an old crone of its dangerous flash floods. Seeing the storm clouds gathering in the mountains, he wisely decided to Continue reading Why it’s called “Almanzora”→

Panther from Berja now spotted in mountains above Dalías

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The “Berja Panther”, a large black cat that has terrified the town since August, has now been spotted in the mountains above Dalías. A massive operation by the Junta de Andalucía, Tabernas Zoo, the Seprona arm of the Guardia Civil and specialists from the Ministry of the Environment has so far failed to catch the animal, although spoor has been found. The above photo is just one of the many teams sent out into the Continue reading Panther from Berja now spotted in mountains above Dalías→

6 towns in Andalucia are 50% foreign. 5 of those are in Almeria!

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In 1998 there were about 100,000 foreigners living in Andalucía. By 2012, this had jumped to 750,000, or 8,8% of the population here. Quite a few forasteros. 6 towns in Andalucía have more than 50% of foreigners resident on the padron. Of these, 5 are in Almeria: Arboleas (68,4%), Partaloa (62,4%) Mojácar (61,5%), Los Gallardos and Bedar. The first two are dumps, the third a fascist run right wing penal colony, the fourth a nice place to live Continue reading 6 towns in Andalucia are 50% foreign. 5 of those are in Almeria!→

Spanish government considering switching nation to UK time

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A government committee has been setup to investigate the benefits of switching Spanish clocks over the UK (GMT) time. Currently Spain is an hour ahead of the UK (GMT+1). An Orwellian sounding committee called Racionalización de Horarios, la Conciliación de la Vida Personal, Familiar y Laboral y la Corresponsabilidad del Congreso has been setup by request of Congress to see if putting the clocks back an hour would benefit Spains economy, after a subcommittee said Continue reading Spanish government considering switching nation to UK time→

The state of the Andalucian banking sector

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The recent waves of bank closures in Andalucia got me thinking about the state of the banking sector in the region. Under Manuel Chaves during the boom years, the Junta did all it could to allow the rapid growth of credit institutions in the region. In 2006 the region could boast of being the home of : 5 savings banks (cajas de ahorros) (Unicaja, Cajasol, Cajasur, CajaGranada & Caja de Jaén) 1 bank (Banco de Continue reading The state of the Andalucian banking sector→

Catalunya Banc to close all Andalucian offices at the end of the month

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The newly formed Catalunya Banc (CatalunyaCaixa) will close all offices in Andalucia at the end of the month, leaving its Andalucian clients with the offer of internet only banking. It only has three offices remaining in Almeria province after having closed several others last year. Catalunya Banc was formed at the end of 2011 by the forced merger of several bankrupt Catalan caixas, and is currently majority owned by the state run FROB. It has Continue reading Catalunya Banc to close all Andalucian offices at the end of the month→

Ex-minister of Defence in hot water over her illegal extension on Almería holiday home

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Carmé Chacón, the ex-Minister of Defence, is in hot water with her neighbours after she illegally erected a large wooden pergola in the garden of her luxury apartment in Pulpí. The matter could end up in the courts if she doesn’t respond quickly to requests to have it taken down. She made the extension to her 300,000€ property in the “Mar de Pulpi” urbanisation without bothering to ask permission back in the summer of 2011, Continue reading Ex-minister of Defence in hot water over her illegal extension on Almería holiday home→