Costa Calida • Issue No. 2041 • 15 - 21 August 2024
Thousands unite for the Mar Menor ILMAINEN
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Image: Facebook/ Los Alcazares Town Hall.
ON Saturday August 10, thousands of people across Spain joined hands in a symbolic gesture to support the Mar Menor lagoon. The fourth annual ‘Abrazo al Agua’ (Hug the Water) saw participants form human chains not only along the lagoon’s shores but also in various rivers and lakes across 10 Spanish regions, marking a significant expansion from last year’s event. Centred in Los Alcazares, the initiative was supported by approximately 150 organisations. Attendees formed 70 human chains, doubling the number of regions involved compared to the previous year. This year’s event, which included the distribution of 2,500 handcrafted sea horse toys, aimed to highlight the urgent
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Uniting for Mar Menor’s future.
need for effective enforcement of the Mar Menor Law. Organiser Jesús Cutillas stated that the law is frequently ignored, particularly concerning the high levels of nitrates from agriculture that continue to damage the lagoon. The local government is ca-
lling for stringent enforcement to prevent further environmental harm. Los Alcazares mayor Mario Pérez Cervera and regional MP Víctor Egío both voiced strong support for upholding the Mar Menor Law. Pérez Cervera stressed the importance of prioritising
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Royal resident for Los Belones PALOMA ROCASOLANO, the mother of Queen Letizia of Spain, has made a significant life change by moving from Madrid to Cartagena. She’s now living in Los Belones, a town known for its sizable English community. This move is largely to be closer to her partner, Marcus Brandler, a British businessman with ties to both Spain and the UK. In Los Belones, Paloma and Marcus have settled into the local scene. They’re often spotted visiting the town’s butcher, a hair salon, and relaxing at Las Mulas beach. The couple first went public at the 2022 Princess of Asturias Awards, where they attended as a couple. Brandler is the president of Tillbrook Products, a family business involved in the trade of tea, coffee, cocoa, and spices. Over the past five years, he’s spent more time in Spain, becoming an integral part of the Rocasolano family. Queen Letizia and her sister Telma warmly welcomed him, and he even organised a surprise 70th birthday party for Paloma.
environmental protection over economic interests, while Egío urged the dissolution of a parliamentary committee attempting to dilute the law. The event highlighted a unified call for immediate action to safeguard the Mar Menor and other vulnerable ecosystems.
Murcia’s rising population OVER the past two decades, the Region of Murcia has seen significant population growth, increasing by nearly 300,000 inhabitants, a 22.9 per cent rise since 2004. This growth rate makes Murcia the third fastest-growing region in Spain, surpassed only by the Balearic and Canary Islands. The Economic and Social Council (CES) attributes this increase primarily to immigration, spurred by economic growth, particularly in the construction sector during the early 2000s. Murcia’s demographic
Image: Shutterstock- GranTotufo
Murcia’s numbers rise, Brexit impacts.
changes reflect broader trends, with a decrease in the young population and an increase in those over
65. However, it remains one of the youngest regions in Spain still. Immigration has played a cru-
cial role, with nearly 20 per cent of the population now being foreign-born, particularly from Morocco, Ecuador, and the UK. The UK has been a notable source of immigrants to Murcia. At its peak in 2012, the region was home to 23,000 UK nationals. However, the numbers have declined since Brexit, with around 17,300 British residents recorded in 2023. Brexit’s impact has led to a reduction in the British population in the region, reflecting broader trends of decreased British immigration across Spain.
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