I thank once and again the warm reception from the groups of photographers at Ibiza and the people of the Consell, whom I had also interesting conversations. The immediate perception is that something´s moving in the island, a change for better and a chance to be hopeful.

CRETU AFFAIR

My arrival to the island was in coincidence with the knock down of Michael Cretu´s mansión and Studio. The home of the Enigma musical group leader has an estimated value of more than 10 millions euro, built up in an area of the higgest ecologic value. Permissions where arranged by the last Island Gobernment, ignoring the law. As a step forward in outlaw, it was intended to legalize the construction by a aditional disposal in the law of budgets of the community in 2004. The Councillor declared reciently it has been “one of the biggest nonsenses” aproved by an addition to the law of budgets. The abolition of the “Cretu amnesty” has been a common sense demonstration opposite to the abuses in the past. The land –up in a mountain- has the strongest protection in the Balearic law of natural areas. The Supreme Court decided in 2003 to knock down the complex, more than 3.000 square meters at Corona de Sant Antoni. Cretu digged down by 3 meters the heighth of the hill and raised an arab style fortress with a volume of 7.000 cubic meters, more than 4 times what was irregularly approved in the project. The law process has lasted 14 years. The judge still is investigating the penal responsabilities of owner, officials and major.

A NATURAL PARK DISSAPEARS

In 2003, and again by the irregular formula of two additional disposals to a law of budgets, was disprotected the Cala d´Hort natural park, an area classified as LIC, which could be built up because of the change of qualification. The protected area was changed from 2.774 Ha to 0,5 Ha. That couldn´t be moved because of an important archaeological site, Ses Païses10. At the same time the Balearic Gobernment cancelled the golf courses moratorium. Ibiza only had in that time 2 Natural parks, and this one, the whole Cala d´Hort and the islands of Es Vedrá and Es Vedranell at the background, the better in landscape values.

MORATORIUM TO COASTAL BUILDING

The Gobern of the Balearic Islands plans to stop urgently, and with the oposition of several town majors, the construction of a group of polemic urbanizations locaed in fragile coastal areas and also close to main towns. In the Parliament, the president announced actions against the “bleeding urbanism” through a future project of law, of slower tramitation.

He said it was time to “measure with special attention” the coastal development, for environmental and economic-touristic reasons. The landscape is the main richness source, and

we cannot waste the natural resources, make impacts at the coast and allow an unmeasurable residetial growth also uncompatible with a quality tourism.

This politic decission was tagged as a “historical attitude”

The new gobernment wants to undo part of the politic heritage of the outcoming pannel, who dictated exceptions to the land protection and allowed to build in protected areas.

The urgent moratorium against uncontrolled urbanism, construction of aproved projects and free soil in old palns at Ses Feixes –in the heart of Ibiza harbour-, Sa Porrassa at San Josep of Ibiza, with 200 licensed houses in a virgin area, almost starting to be built, and the beautiful area at Benirrás, at Sant Joan of Ibiza.