 It has been a month when I have witnessed the best – and the worst – of human nature.Let’s start with the good bit! On a sunny Sunday morning I joined approximately 300 people for a sponsored walk around Magaluf. The aim was to raise money for the Portals-based charity Mediterranea to build a home for orphans in Ghana. There was music, dancing, clowns, fun and a really loving atmosphere. The whole event was a shining example of co-operation, mutual respect of differing cultures and unity in a common goal – to help others. Fast forward a week ….and the story was very different! The following Sunday there was suspicion, intimidation and even violence all because of an election. Some parties decided to bully, bribe and buy votes. One of my friends (all 5 foot 2 of her) was physically assaulted at a polling station for wearing a Union Jack flag to show that she could assist people in English if they needed help to vote. The excuse I have heard since is that just 30 years since General Franco’s death ‘Spain is a young democracy’. Be this as it may, but the people who behaved so appallingly on the day of the election were old enough to know better. Thankfully us Brits are made of stern stuff and I am pleased that nothing deterred the foreign voters who turned out in record numbers to exercise their democratic right. This was best demonstrated by the incredible result in Calvia where a large number of non-Spanish voters returned the PP candidate Carlos Delgado as mayor with a record majority. In contrast the mayor of Palma, Catalina Cirer did nothing to communicate with the 35,000 non-Spanish residents in her city and consequently she lost the council. As the foreign population continues to grow on Mallorca its a sharp message to the ‘powers that be’ that things are changing rapidly on this island. Looking ahead, we turn from politics to Pollensa where the international Music Festival begins at the start of July with concerts taking place in the open air Santa Domingo cloisters. Some great artists are on their way to the island with Kool &The Gang, Lou Bega, Mungo Jerry and Mel C performing at the ‘Viva Mallorca’ show at the Bullring in June and Joe Cocker at the same venue a month later. This month we also welcome the Spanish royal family to Mallorca for their annual month-long holiday at their home in Marivent. Maybe we will get a glimpse of the new baby the Infanta Sophia. Finally for now, try to get to Alcudia on June 29th as the spectacular ‘Boat Procession’ is a wonder to behold. Till next month, never let the bullies win, always be careful where you drop your anchor, and keep listening to Luna 100.3 If you want more info on any of these events, or if you have anything that you want people to know about, please send me the details to: l
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Till next month, keep listening to Luna 100.3 |
