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							<title>The Gladiators are silenced as the Romans and Carthaginians in Cartagena faces budgetary cuts</title>
							<link>news-3399-1-The_Gladiators_are_silenced_as_the_Romans_and_Carthaginians_in_Cartagena_faces_budgetary_cuts.html</link>
							<description>Cartagena Spain, The town hall is on an austerity drive and gladiator spectaculars are not on their priority list
2010-07-27
The organizers of the popular Romans and Carthaginians fiestas in Cartagena have announced that due to budgetary restraints they willnbsp be unable to put on the most spectacular and popular element of the fiesta this year - the Roman Circus.
One of the biggest problems they have is a suitable venue, as the Estadio Cartagonova is no longer open for their use, Cartagena FC now playing in the second division and needing the ground, so last year the Town Hall of Cartagena helped with the costs of hiring a portable bullringnbsp in which to hold the event.
This year, however, the Town hall, along with every other town hall in the Region of Murcia, faces massive budgetary cuts and is on an austerity drive, which means there is no money to fund the hire of a bullring.
Toni Moreno, the president of the association, is pragmatic about the decision, If we only have four coming in and the circus costs eight, it is obvious that we neither should or could put the circus on. The responsible thing is not to do it this year, and I believe that people will understand,  she said at the weekend.
It costs nearly 58,000 euros to put on the Roman Circus, which includes hiring in professional actors and trained combat experts for the mock gladiator battles, as well as the hire of exotic animals for the evening, so it has been decided to use the funds already pledged for the circus to spice up some of the other events which are taking place during the week.
Apparently were all in for some surprises this year when watching the parades passing by, and have been promised some extra treats in the encampment zone, so well keep you up to date as the Fiestas approach and let you know the final programme once its available.
The dates for this years Romans and Carthaginians, Fiestas de Romanos y Carthagineses, are the 17th -26th September.
If youve not seen these spectacular fiestas before, heres last years programme to whet your appetite. Romans and Carthaginians, Cartagena</description>
							<image>
								<title>The Gladiators are silenced as the Romans and Carthaginians in Cartagena faces budgetary cuts</title>
								<url>71505romans and carthaginians Festivl Cartagena spain 26-09-2008.jpg</url>
								
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				<title>Fire breaks out on Morata hillside</title>
				<link>news-3426-1-fire_breaks_out_on_morata_hillside.html</link>
				<description><![CDATA[2010-07-30
There have been lots of fires breaking out across the region during the last couple of weeks, although all have been contained successfully, usually just burning up a few hectares of scrub before fire-fighters manage to bring them under control.
Fortunately to date there have been no serious repercussions or injuries as a result of any of the fires, as the regional government has put vast resources at the disposal of firefighters and increased vigilance patrols to try and prevent a serious fire spreading out of control.
The wet spring has meant that hillsides are covered with crispy brown weeds just waiting for a spark to set them off, so a military firefighting helicopter has been stationed in the region and military firefighters kept on standby for the dangerous month to come.
Thank you to Caroline, who sent in these pictures of a fire which occurred yesterday in Morata. She said that it started as a very small fire which the farmers were trying to put out on their own with buckets of water, which the wind caught and it raced off up a bone dry hillside.
2 fire engines, 2 helicopters, 15 firemen, 2 police bikes and a police car attended to deal with the fire and it took about 2 hours to bring it under control, with the helicopters scooping up water from a nearby deposito, an incredibly skilled and dangerous job, then 4 fire dampening specialists stayed behind for another couple of hours checking that the fire was completely out and could not re-kindle.
nbsp
Visitors to the region may not be aware of the following laws which are in force at the moment, so please bear these in mind, it might prevent you from receiving nbspa nasty fine
nbsp
No barbeques, or cooking fires of any description may be used in any of the park areas, particularly the natural areas such as the Sierra Espuna, even the constructed barbeques are not to be used until October after the autumn rains have started. This includes the use of camping stoves.
nbsp
No bonfires or burning of agricultural prunings or garden waste is permitted until the autumn.
nbsp
It is illegal to burn dry banks as a way of clearing weeds, yes, everyone does it, and well probably find out that this is what started this particular fire, but if youre caught, its not worth it, borrow a strimmer.
nbsp
Barbeques and fires on beaches are illegal, yes, everyone does it, but itll be just your luck to be the one who gets fined.]]></description>
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				<title>Mayorial visit to the important Bajo de la Campana subaquatic archaeological site, San Javier</title>
				<link>news-3424-1-mayorial_visit_to_the_important_bajo_de_la_campana_subaquatic_archaeological_site_san_javier.html</link>
				<description><![CDATA[Bajo de la Campana is the largest and most important phoenician boat site in the Region of Murcia
The Mayoress of San Javier, Josefa Garcia Hernandez, and the Government of Spains delegate in the Region of Murcia, Rafael Gonzalez Tovar, visited the site of the most important subaquatic excavation in the Region of Murcia yesterday, Bajo de la Campana.
This site was first discovered in the 1950s, by divers scouring the seabed for salvageable artefacts, and is located at the foot of a rocky spine which has claimed many ships throughout the years, four ships lying in close proximity to each other, one Phoenician(7th century BC, ) two roman, 1st and 2nd century AD and an 18th century vessel..
This area has been the site of trading activity for thousands of years, the rich mineral deposits of the mines which litter this coastline attracting a succession of traders, and there are many wrecks littering the seabed along the regions coastline, with 75 known aquatic archaeological sites.
The Phoenician remains are what make this site so exciting for archaeologists, as although the artefacts recovered may appear to hold very little interest to the casual beholder, they supply a wealth of information about one of the greatest and least documented seafaring nations of ancient history.
The Phoenicians travelled the whole of the Mediterranean coastline, and 2700 years ago were trading with the people who inhabited this region, taking part in a sophisticated commercial network.
On this boat are ingots of tin, nothing particular to look at, but representing a structured network of trading relationships. Archaeologists have found no proof that tin could have come from this area, so the likelihood is that those little pieces of raw metal had come down from the north of Spain, and there are also ingots of copper, so where had those come from?
This boat is believed to have been around 20 metres long when it sunk, and appears to have been carrying raw materials which would have been transported to workshops for manufacturing purposes in other parts of the Mediterranean, bearing ingots of tin, and various metals, as well as ivory from Africa.
In amongst the raw materials are tantalizing finds of the luxury goods for which these materials would have been traded, little pieces of amber , tools, a carved stone pillar, the ivory handle of a knife, little objects which merited great prestige for their owners on this coastline 2700 years ago.
However, for the archaeologists, its not these items which cause the greatest excitement, its the tiny things which give intimacy to the everyday activities of these people and which are the details that remain undocumented about their lives. One of the most interesting finds was a little pile of what turned out to be pine nuts, together with a few ragged teeth from 2700 year old pine cones which had lain beneath the silt intact, a gastronomic delicacy which is still widely used in Mediterranean cookery today.
So they prized pine nuts, as we do today.
A grinding dish for making sauces, fish sauces a popular component of the Mediterranean diet, manufactured, exported and traded extensively by the romans who colonized this area several hundred years later, a tantalizing hint as to the diet they enjoyed.
Tiny weights, used for bartering, inscriptions in the Phoenician alphabet on the tusks, more valuable historically than the tusks themselves.
And pieces of wood, almost more prized than anything else, yielding priceless information about the shipbuilding techniques used in those ancient times, evidence which is so rarely found due to the scarcity of wrecks from this era, boats of this size being few and far between.
Excavation of the site began in 2007, run jointly by the National Institute of Archaeology( INA)of the A and M University of Texas, with Research Associate , Mark E. Polzer, and the Spanish Ministry of Culture, represented by Juan Pinedo Reyes, an important marine archaeologist who has carried out numerous excavations around the regions coastline.
The project is financed primarily by National Geographic, with the support of many other organizations, supported by the ARQUA, the Museo Nacional de Arqueologia Subacuatica, and weve listed just a few of the parties at the end.
Each summer, a team of volunteers work to excavate the site, an exhausting and painstaking operation which well describe in detail in a separate piece, undertaken by marine archaeology students and researchers from around the world, and this year there are volunteers on site from many countries, a truly international team from Greece, Holland, Australia, Italy, France, Turkey , the USA and Spain.
The Town hall of San Javier will be mounting an exhibition in the form of a mobile Centre of Intrepretation about the works being carried out by the team soon, to not only explain the extreme importance of this site in historical terms, but also help visitors to the area to understand the processes involved in marine archaeology and emphasise the importance of conserving sites such as these.
Much of the important knowledge gleaned lies not in spectacular artefacts, but in the tiny details such as the pine cones , and thoughtless vandalism by souvenir hunters can destroy irreplaceable historical evidence, so although this site is strictly vigilated, the aim is to educate that the value of what the archaeologists find lies not in monetary terms, but the historical detail it provides, the INA summing it up, Out of darkness we find meaning, and out of what was lost, we find answers.
nbsp
If you would like to know more about the Phoenicians, we have some information here on the site about the important Phoenician boat uncovered at Mazarron, Click for Mazarron 2.
If you would like to learn about the trading activities of the Phoenicians, there are some extremely interesting displays in the ARQUA, Cartagena, together with a reproduction of the small Mazarron 2 boat and some of the elephant tusks which came from the site before it was properly excavated.
nbsp
Click for ARQUA.
nbsp
Wenbsphave a quantity of images, showing the archaeologists working and the finds, but are onlynbspallowed to use them in one report, so are preparing a full story for you with all the images, which we will publish next week, nbspso apologise for the lack of interesting pictures on this report- it was extremely choppy once we got out of port and into open water, andnbspvery difficult for the divers to work.
San Javier council are justifiably proud that this site is within their jurisdiction, and although it will take several more years to complete the excavation, the team working on the project are optimistic about the information still to be gleaned from what lies beneath the silt and rocks on the seabed, and hopeful that financing will continue, to enable them to complete their work.
nbsp
The team would like to thank 
Ayuntamiento de San Javier
Consorcio La Manga
National Geographic
INA, Institue of Nautical Archaeology
Arqueomar
ARQUA
Capitania Maritima
Furnove
Associacion de amigos de la arqueologia subacuatica de Cadiz
Planeta Azul
Celestino maquinaria de Alquiler
Cademar
Puerto Tomas Maestre
And all the wonderful people who give their services for free on this project.
nbsp]]></description>
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				<title>Court ruling, Polaris World must repay deposit to Hacienda Riquelme purchaser</title>
				<link>news-3423-1-court_ruling_polaris_world_must_repay_deposit_to_hacienda_riquelme_purchaser.html</link>
				<description><![CDATA[Murcian property news Polaris World back in court again
 Reports have appeared today whichnbspstate that Polaris World has not contested the sentence passed by Court number 2 of Primera Instancia in Murcia, which ruled that it must repay 77,000 euros to the purchaser of a property on the Hacienda Riquelme development,nbspmeaning it must now pay the money owed.
The judge found in favour of the purchaser, who claimed the return of his deposit, plus costs, following the failure of the construction giant to deliver a completed property as per the contract of purchase drawn up between the two parties.
The purchaser claimed back 77, 326.49 euros, plus costs.
nbsp
The contract of purchase was signed for the purchase of an apartment with garage, on the 2nd December 2005, with a completion date of 2nd June 2007.
However, on the 24th August of that year, the purchaser received an email informing them of delays in the works, due to the necessity to divert an underground electricity line, which would delay the delivery of their property until summer 2008.
As compensation they offered a furniture pack, or golf package, but the purchaser insisted that they were not interested and requested that their deposit be re-paid.
nbsp
The developer contested the claims of the purchaser by saying that the purchaser was just trying to wriggle out of his contract as he no longer wanted to go throughnbsp with the purchase, stating that the delays had been outside of their control.
nbsp
The developer again attempted to resolve the situation by offering an alternative apartment, but just as the purchaser was on the verge of accepting, changed the conditions of the offer, leaving the purchaser to continue pressing for the return of his money.
The court ruled that the company should have taken the position of the electricity cable nbspinto consideration when planning the schedules for its construction schedules and that the purchase contract had been invalidated.
nbsp
This purchaser is not alone. According to judicial sources, many people are in the same boat, and now that the company has escaped the bankruptcy courts, making a legal declaration of its solvency , that it could now face an avalanche of claims from those pressing for the return of their deposits.
Had it entered into a state of bankruptcy protection, the claimants would have stood very little chance of actually recovering their deposits, but given its current declaration of solvency and its failure to contest this case, this could be the first of very many cases to come to resolution, providing, of course, that the company has now resolved its operational issues to be able to make the repayments it now legally will be forced to make.
nbsp
It narrowly escaped bankruptcy earlier this year when a last minute deal resulted in an exchange of assets for debts with major banking financers,nbsp the terms of which have never been made public, but which left some questioning the financing package agreed to secure ongoing operating finances.
The property market is still bumping along a rocky canyon bottom, some experts expressing the opinion that theres still a further fall in prices to come before we emerge from recession, although economic indicators appear to indicate that there could be signs of stabilization in the financial sector..
nbsp
nbsp
NB. Please dont deluge us with requests for more info about this case , as this is all we have and we cannot give any advice on decisions which need to be made, we only wish we had a crystal ball. Good luck to those affected, we really hope you get it sorted.]]></description>
			</item><item>
				<title>Police say enough is enough and start fining bathers who ignore  red flags</title>
				<link>news-3418-1-police_say_enough_is_enough_and_start_fining_bathers_who_ignore__red_flags.html</link>
				<description><![CDATA[Cartagena Spain, Bathers at both La Manga and Calblanque beachers were fined and exhibitionist arrested
2010-07-29
Enough is enough.
Local police in Cartagena decided yesterday that bathers have been given enough warnings about safety and started issuing fines to those who ignored the requests of safety personnel, ignored red flags, entered the water and had to be rescued by safety staff.
Several bathers were fined yesterday as strong winds whipped up the waves on the Mediterranean beaches.
A spokesperson for the Direccion General de Emergencias said that the decision had been taken following irresponsible behaviour on the part of the bathers, who endanger not only their own lives, but those of rescue personnel, as some beaches have quite dangerous undercurrents and the red flag system is designed to protect them from harm.
Bathers on the beaches of Entremares and Las Sirenas at La Manga del Mar Menor and in the natural park of Calblanque, were warned not to enter the water , but did so, so the safety personnel contacted local police who came down and issued the fines.
The region has been engaged in a publicity campaign to warn bathers of the dangers of entering the safe waters of the Mar Menor alone, as so many people are dying from heart attacks this year, normally occurring when they are far from the beach and alone.
The Mar Menor is a wonderful place for bathers as it is possible to walk out several hundred meters from the beach in places and still only be chest high in the warm waters on the sandy fringe of the Mar Menor, but this leads to a false sense of safety, as more mature bathers subjecting their bodies to a hot beach, colder water shock, are more prone to heart attack, and if far from the beach and alone, are less likely to be noticed when suffering distress.
Last year Cartagena police resorted to fining bathers who endangered their own lives, and it now appears that this year will be the same.
Emergency services have reminded bathers that in some of the more isolated and natural beaches there are dangerous undercurrents around the rocks, and that bathers should exercise great care on windy days, and choose the safer beaches within the shelter of the Mar Menor.
Both of these photographs taken yesterday show the difference, the Mar Menor yesterday was flat and calm, whilst rollers and waves, with strong winds created totally different conditions on the Mediterranean side of the La Manga strip.
nbsp
Meanwhile, police were called to El Portus after a French bather carried out what was described as  exhibitionist behaviour  in front of three young French ladies on the beach.
He had come from the nearby nudist colony, leaving his clothes behind, and became a little over-excited in a public place, demonstrating his interest in the three young ladies in a fashion which resulted in him overstepping the fine line between wandering around with no clothes on, which is apparently perfectly legal should the desire so overtake you, to committing a lewd act in front of the three, which apparently is not.
Police carted him off to Cartagena where he was placed at the disposal of the judicial system.]]></description>
			</item><item>
				<title>And now some news which didnt make it into the spanish press</title>
				<link>news-3414-1-and_now_some_news_which_didn't_make_it_into_the_spanish_press.html</link>
				<description><![CDATA[2010-07-29
And now some news that didnt make the press releases this week, but which impacts on the lives of residents in this region.
The economic crisis has resulted in a marked increase of petty thefts, with dozens of little crimes happening every week, which lull both residents, visitors, and the police into a false sense of security about the crime statistics, as most go unreported and certainly never appear in the official stats.
A report came in this morning from hard-working volunteers on the Camposol urbanization near to Mazarron that someone had stolen their community trailer, which was used for a variety of purposes, but generally for the benefit of the entire community, as these volunteers work hard to improve the area in which they live, something which they shouldnt have to do themselves, but thats another story.
How despicable.
Hopefully the police , who are busy checking paperwork for anything with wheels may pick up this trailer somewhere, as if it is a home build, it will have no vin-plate, a legal requirement here, so hopefully whoever stole it will get their just deserts.
nbsp
The second incident this last week was in a hospital. A very , very special lady from this same community passed on this week. Her name was Gill, and she had been an enthusiastic supporter of our undertaking from day one, and to be honest, if it hadnt been for her enthusiasm, support and kind words during a time in which we were disillusioned by lack of support, I doubt that we would have carried on with this project.
We are deeply saddened by her loss and will miss her warm personality and enthusiasm as a member of the gardening group and her presence as a wonderful human being.
She was very ill in hospital, and had left the ward for treatment, and whilst she was gone, someone stole her mobile phone from her bedside table.
nbsp
What a world we live in.
Apparently in one of the big Murcia hospitals, thefts of this nature are so common that theyve had to bring in extra security personnel and install security systems, as not only patients, but also staff are the target of these scum.
nbsp
So, if you are going into hospital, or visiting someone, be aware that this is happening and take extra care with possessions and phones.
nbsp
And secondly, crime like this is perpetuated by us. How many nbsppeople have bought something knowing full well that its bent.
The true definition of bent should be,  stolen from someone who actually cant afford to lose it,  so please, dont buy these things if you know that theyre  not right.
It could be your possessions on offer next week.
nbsp
nbsp
Here is the release which arrived from the volunteers
nbsp
The Greenfingers Gardening and Social Club have had their much needed trailer stolen from the storage area opposite the Masa Office on Sector lsquoC.nbsp The trailer was last seen at the storage area on Friday 23 July and was a vital tool for keeping Sector lsquoC supplied with water tanks for watering the plants that the group have planted over the last 12 months.nbsp It now means that the residents will have to carry water some distance to be able to keep the plants alive and in the August heat this is going to have to be done twice a day and as a lot of residents are elderly it is going to be a particular problem.
nbspThe trailer was donated by Sue Jones one of Sector lsquoCs residents last year and it was an English self build wooden trailer about 5 feet square and 3 feet tall and painted black.nbsp The Greenfingers Club did a lot of work on the trailer to make it roadworthy and converted it to hold the water tanks and cannot believe that someone has stolen it after all the work they have done on the area to make it a better place to live. If you were in the area of the Masa Office on Friday 23 July and saw anything suspicious please contact Bernard Holland on 626513842, e-mail spainvilarosa@gmail.com
nbsp
nbspnbsp Greenfingers Gardening and Social Club are a group of volunteers from Camposol Sector lsquoC who are improving their sector by clearing the roadside verges and gravelling and planting them up, taking the bins off the road and have built a Petanca Pitch on C1 for the use of all sector lsquoC residents and friends.nbsp They have various social events with a Quiz and Family Disco at the Golf Club on the 6 August and a Table Top sale on 24 September at Sector lsquoB square.nbsp If you would like to attend any of the events, can donate clothing, bric a brac etc for the sale, donate plants, would like to make a money contribution towards the work or become a volunteer for your sector please contact us as above.nbsp
nbsp]]></description>
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				<title>The Roman Theatre Museum sponsors Cartagena FC as a tourism promotion initiative</title>
				<link>news-3413-1-the_roman_theatre_museum_sponsors_cartagena_fc_as_a_tourism_promotion_initiative.html</link>
				<description><![CDATA[Cartagena Spain, Lack of construction sponsors means ingenuity is required to ensure Cartagena FC stays solvent
nbsp
2010-07-29
Football had a difficult season last year.
Traditionally many of our regionsrsquo teams survived through the sponsorship of construction companies, or those who were in some way related to the building and tourism boom.
However, the economic downturn has resulted in many clubs losing their sponsors, and last season was a sorry saga, with historic football clubs unable to pay their players or officials, and more than one game suspended until the linesmen could be paid what they were owed.
Several clubs are unlikely to begin the new season as financing is in short supply, and crippling debts are likely to keep some off the pitches for good.
nbsp
Cartagena council, however, have decided that whilst itrsquos inappropriate for the council to prop up the football club, that therersquos always a way of achieving their aim of not allowing their football team to fall by the wayside, so decided to offer the patronage of one of their historical attractions to support the team instead.
The foundation which financed the restauration works of the Roman Theatre in Cartagena comprises the Town Hall of Cartagena, the Autonomous community of Murcia, and the Caja Murcia Foundation, as part of the Obra Social programme.
The Cajas are forced to re-invest their revenue back into schemes which benefit the community, so are enthusiastic sponsors of many( most) cultural events in the region in some form or another, enabling a strong arts tradition to continue, and ensuring that the Spanish people receive the benefit of their own money. 
nbsp
The sponsorship of the Cartagena Football team has been undertaken by the Roman Theatre Foundation, the justification being that every time the team play anywhere, the spectators are seeing publicity for the Roman Theatre Museum in Cartagena, and are more likely to choose Cartagena as a holiday destination or somewhere that they will wish to visit in the future.
This is the second year that the Foundation are sponsoring the football team in this way, and are presenting their new strip this week.
nbsp
Where therersquos a will, therersquos a way.
Even a tenuous one.
nbsp
nbsp]]></description>
			</item><item>
				<title>Momentous day in the history of Spain as the catalan parliament bans bullfighting</title>
				<link>news-3412-1-momentous_day_in_the_history_of_spain_as_the_catalan_parliament_bans_bullfighting.html</link>
				<description><![CDATA[Catalan ban on bullfighting, many claim this is about separatism, not animal rights
2010-07-29
An interesting event occurred today in the Catalan parliament, which, whilst it may seem to have little effect on the Region of Murcia directly, will nontheless be the topic of heated debates in this region for months to come.
The Catalan Parliament today voted to ban bullfighting completely from January 2012, a controversial decision, which, whilst many say was inevitable, is an enormous decision for the government to make, and one which could be of major importance to those who are looking at the wider picture, not the picture of a changing mentality towards the future of bullfighting, but towards the question of the Spanish national identity, and more critically, the separatist movements.
The vote for a total ban was carried by 68 to 55, with 9 abstentions, ending more than 200 years of bullfighting tradition, signaling the closure of Barcelonas last remaining bullring.
The political manoeuvring has already begun, as the regional parliament was packed today with media, the eyes of the world interested to witness this event which will undoubtedly go down in history as a turning point in modern Spanish history.
The President of Cataluna, Jose Montilla declared that the move to push through this legislation had not been engineered by the government, but the Plataforma Prou, which had campaigned for a complete ban, The government has not pushed this law through,  he said,  I voted against the prohibition because I believe in liberty. I respect the decision, and lament the pretension of those who want to use this debate as a thermometer for the relationship between this region and Spain.
The majority of political parties expressed roughly the same sentiments, although all denying that the debate over the bullfighting had anything to do with a debate over the Spanish identity or the future of the Spanish nation, Were not looking for a debate about national identity where there isnt one, today we have taken a moral step forward to being a better society,  said Joan Puigcercos, president of the ERC.
nbsp
Only the PP expressed an alternative point of view,  Today is a sad day, because a tradition of many centuries has been wiped out today,  said Alicia Sanchez Camacho, president of the catalan PP,  Today a ban has won out over liberty. The theme of animal arguments has been used to break down that which we share, Catalans and Spaniards. We live in complicated times.
And she then stated that the PP would push for the bullfighting fiesta of Barcelona to be declared  de interes general cultural of general cultural interest, a move which would then bring the bullfight under the control of culture, meaning that its existence and operation fell out of the jurisdiction of Parliament and it could continue as being of cultural interest.
nbsp
The Region of Murcia has a strong bullfighting tradition, and many corridas take place here throughout the year. This weekend there is a fairly major event in Calasparra, North Murcia, as part of their local fiestas.
Ramon Luis Valcarcel, the PP President of our region, today gave his full support and backing for the murcian tradition of bullfighting.
In Murcia we have already spent several months initiating the process to declare our bullfighting of BIC status, BIC being Bien de Interes Cultural, of cultural interest.
He also said that in his opinion, this is just an  artificial argument.Theyre not seeking protection for the bulls, this is absolutely false. This is a nationalist offensive on spanishness, they are attacking the Spanish identity.
nbsp
The vice secretary of the PP, Teresa Moreno, said, this is not an initiative which fights for the protection of animals, as theyve tried to make out, but an electoral manifestation, which wants to eliminate any cultural or artistic demonstration which unifies our country.
nbsp
Reaction from non-political parties is predictably mixed. Animal rights campaigners such as Brigitte Bardot are delighted with the decision, whilst the pro-bullfighting camp are angry and feel let down by the system. Nobody is compelled to go to bullfights, but equally nobody should be prohibited from going to them if they want to.
nbsp
Its interesting to see that much of the video footage showing on the media tonight is about the confrontation between the pro and anti nbspprotestors outside the parliament today, symbolically pouring wine over themselves to represent the blood of the bulls. Several of the media pictures up for sale tonight are of exultant animal rights protestors following the announcement, many of whom dont look remotely Spanish, which of course, will just add fuel to the fires already burning.
nbsp
Today is a momentous day in the history of Spain, signaling an end and a beginning, but the beginning of what is the question which should undoubtedly concern us most as Spain struggles to remain Spanish, and fights with itself and its own diversity to remain a nation and not a collection of regions, each with its own identity and its own direction.
Theres a haunting little poem we found which sums up the attitude which is at the heart of all this,
nbsp
No hay tierra como mi tierra
Ni cielo como mi cielo
No hay Rio como mi Tormes
Ni pueblo como mi pueblo
nbsp
Theres no earth like my earth (land)
Nor sky like my sky
Theres no other river like my Tormes
Or town like my town
nbsp
This fierce pride is what defines this nation, each believing his own is the best. The loss of these traditions is changing attitudes towards what Spain is, and diluting a sense of national pride.
And you were here when this happened.
This is just the beginning.
nbsp]]></description>
			</item><item>
				<title>Murcia, Busy day for the forces of law and order</title>
				<link>news-3411-1-murcia_busy_day_for_the_forces_of_law_and_order.html</link>
				<description><![CDATA[Jumilla cocaine plant raided,, Human trafficking network shut down, Mazarron man crushed and Irish diver rescued
Police and emergency services kept busy today
nbsp
2010-07-28, Wednesday.
nbsp
Cocaine laboratories dismantled in Jumilla
Police swooped this morning on a total of 7 addresses in the Jumilla area, arresting 5 people, 2 Spanish, 2 Columbians and 1 Bolivian.
The 5 have been running laboratories in which they converted pure cocaine into a vastly more profitable commodity by combining it with other chemicals in what the police called ldquococaine kitchensrdquo to create larger quantities of material which yielded nbspincreased profits when sold on the open marketplace.
The swoop took place this morning following a period of discreet surveillance, undertaken by members of the ECO, the Equipo Contra el Crimen Organizado, the team for organized crime, based in Alicante, who had become aware that the team were operating throughout the region, and, following information proceding from another investigation, were able to identify the 2 columbians as being part of the processing operation.
A sizeable quantity of drugs, chemicals, cash and firearms were confiscated when the arrests took place this morning.
nbsp
Mazarron, Greenhouse worker killed by Plastic bobbin in agricultural zone.
Details are sketchy about how the accident occurred, but a worker engaged in the construction of an agricultural greenhouse was killed this afternoon by a large coil of plastic, in an incident which occurred at 12.30 midday.
Emergency workers report that the man was completely crushed in the accident and they were unable to resuscitate him upon arrival. The incident has been reported to the department of worker safety for evaluation.
nbsp
Murcia, Major human trafficking ring smashed
Another operation, entitled ldquo Operacion Patera 7rdquo came to itsrsquo conclusion this week, as police in both Spain and Morocco closed down a group dedicated to smuggling illegal immigrants into Spain from Morocco.
The operation began just over a year ago, when a boat carrying 40 illegal immigrants capsized off the coast of Cadiz, and 10 people drowned. There is a particularly graphic image of a dead man lying on the beach at Cadiz which we unfortunately canrsquot reproduce as itrsquos Reuters Press and theyrsquore a little out of our budget, but which is plastered across some of the national press today. Itrsquos quite a disturbing image and shows police on the beach with the corpses.
Police set about trying to identify the victims, and via DNA testing were finally able to identify all the victims, a trail which lead them to Morocco and the hunt began for the people organizing this human trafficking.
Following a year of investigations, teams in both Morocco and Spain swooped at the same time , arresting the group who sold the ldquoplacesrdquo on a series of boats, operated the ferry service to Spain, and helped the new immigrants to melt invisibly into Spain.
Arrests were made in Cadiz, Murcia and Seville.
The Murcian end of the operation involved the operation of transit centres, in which the newly arrived immigrants would be held for a few days, whilst paperwork and identities could be prepared to send them on their way. Murcian police found 3 illegal immigrants in 2 different transit flats when they arrested the two murcians involved in this part of the operation.
Each of the immigrants had paid the equivalent of 1500 euros to make the journey.
nbsp
Nobody knows how many immigrants actually manage to get across without being detected, or how many never reach these shores. Evidence of failure occasionally appears as it did today off the coast of Alicante when 2 corpses of Moroccan origin were found floating in the water in an advanced stage of decomposition.
The likelihood is that these corpses came from a capsized boat, or were thrown out of a boat at sea. Very often immigrant boats are detected with the occupants in a state of advanced dehydration, as a boat has gone off course or suffered mechanical failure at sea, leaving the boat adrift before it enters Spanish waters.
nbsp
Librilla, men caught stealing copper cable
Thefts of copper cabling are reported almost daily by the police, and today was no exception. Police in Librilla actually caught two men stealing cable from industrial units on an Industrial Poligono in Librilla.
Their car was full of cable which had been cut from various installations, around 200 metres of thick cable, with an estimated replacement value of 30,000 euros. 
nbsp
nbsp
Finally, Cala Reona, off the Cartagena Coast
A 48 year old nbspirish diver had to be rescued today after he fractured his leg in an accident and remained trapped between the rocks
His diving buddy alerted emergency services and they affected a rescue before transferring him to the Rosell Hospital.
nbsp]]></description>
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				<title>Air Berlin consider suspension of  international flights to Murcia airport next year</title>
				<link>news-3407-1-air_berlin_consider_suspension_of__international_flights_to_murcia_airport_next_year.html</link>
				<description><![CDATA[Air Berlin and Ryanair are both angry at the lack of support from the Murcian Regional Government.
2010-07-27
Another slap in the face for tourism today.
Air Berlin have just sent out a press release saying that they may possibly suspend their international connections with the airport of San Javier from summer 2011.nbsp
They give the reasons for their press release as being the reduction in reservations and the lack of aid from the government of Murcia.
nbspAir Berlin has been operating out of Murcia for the last 4 years. It says that it will continue to operate flights between Murcia and Palma de Mallorca, its most important connection outside of its German flights, nbspbetween the 1st November of this year and the 14th April 2011 but would not comment on the future of the service after that date.
At the moment services between 16 German cities and Austrian and Swiss hubs will continue, but the airline is experiencing similar problems with the regional government to those discussed by Ryanair last week, during their announcement that they were closing down 7 major routes with the UK.
nbspThe Director General of Air Berlin for Spain and Portugal, Alvaro Middelmann, said that he found the stance of the Consejeria de Cultura y Turismo de Murcia nbspincomprehensible,nbsp and that he could not understand why  they have not been able to understand the importance of this aerial connection for the Region of Murcia.
nbspMiddelmann said he himself was pushing for the development of combined publicity campaigns, such as those which are undertaken in conjunction with other regional administrations, with the aim of stimulating demand for flights in a manageable and sustainable fashion and to increase the number of air connections.
nbsp
nbspComment
This week, weve received many emails from readers angry at the suggestion that British tourists dont spend any money in the region, and that spanish tourists are better than British because they spend more. Our readers were quick to point out that whilst they love to see their family and friends, that these visits practically bankrupt them, as so much money is spent going to restaurants, visiting tourist attractions, buying vast quantities of luxury foods which we wouldnt normally buy, paying for petrol to pick people up, drop them off, run a free taxi service for a week, purchase bedding and luxury goods which are only needed for this one visit, and all for the price of a thank you bottle of wine from Lidls at the end of the week!
We love to see them come, we love to see them go!
They were also keen to point out that their visitors arrive throughout the year, not just for one summer month, and that local restaurants and businesses benefit from the money we all spend 52 weeks of the year.
There seems to be no value put on our contribution to the local economy, no regard given for the billions we have contributed to the wallets of this regions businesses following the purchase of 100,000 second homes, most of which have been fully fitted out with new goods purchased in murcian stores, and no value placed on the money that flows into the coffers of local businesses by our very presence.
( These are your comments, which were fairly numerous and all along the same lines.)
It was interesting talking to a young journalist at the Mark Knopfler concert on Saturday, a great British export which must have generated good revenue for murcian businesses that evening judging from the thousands who packed the Plaza de Toros.
She was from Alicante, and was astonished that Ryanair were cutting so many routes.  Great for us,  she said,  tourism is our blood. Without it we are nothing. If people come to Alicante and not Murcia it can only be good for us. 
Shell be busy, as Ryanair start spending money promoting Alicante instead of promoting Murcia and switch their operations to Alicantes new terminal, Alicante chasing their projected airport traffic of 20 million visitors next year.
nbsp
The Region of Murcia wishes to attract 1.5 million a year once Corvea Airport opens, but if they keep losing airlines like this, theyll be lucky if there are enough incoming flights to even open it in the first place.
nbsp
The Concejal for Tourism and Culture, Pedro Cruz, has come under fire this week for his policies and the direction in which he is leading the Culture of tourism in the region.
He was heavily criticized by the PSOE spokesman, Antonio Martinez Bernal ( this regional government is PP) who said that the campaigns of Pedro Cruz, who is the nephew of the President of the region, Ramon Luis Valcarcel, were not only  damaging to the ear, but were threatening regional tourism.
He continued,  the experiments of the concejal are eroding the weak foundations of the regional tourism sector,  and he continued to speak of the destruction of the good works done by his predecessors, complaining that the concejal was destroying the brand of Spain and the identity of the region, and that by changing the marketing of the region at a whim, he was ignoring the demands of the tourism sector.
Pedro Cruz is actually a professor of Modern Art History at the Region of Murcia, and his passion for modernity, design and determination to convert Murcia into a centre for modern art and culture have been well documented.
His campaign focuses on the logo Murcia, Not Typical,  and his marketing has been anything but typical whilst his predecessors focused on bronzed bodies spreadeagled across sandy beaches, Cruz adopts a stark, simplistic presentation with black backgrounds and bold coloured text. The regions stand at the Madrid tourism fair attracted a great deal of attention with violent pink sailshades and lime green panels, but many felt that beaches, sun, sea, The Mar Menor, the beauty of the region is what draws the visitors and there were as many who didnt understand what the presentation was about, as did.
Cruz is focusing on bringing the eyes of the world to rest on this region, so has embarked on bold plans such as sponsoring the tailfin of a Formula 1 car ( well a little strip of it, you dont get much tailfin for 9 million euros over 3 years. ) This has attracted good publicity from the Spanish press, particularly as Carabante , who owns the team, still hasnt managed to bully the region into paying him to come here, so his will he take the team to Germany or wont he  vacillations have done quite well for Murcia, but then , is seeing a name on a tailfin the incentive needed to make you book a holiday there, or is a bronzed buttock on a beach more nbsplikely to press the right buttons.
Hes also brought the MTV Music night concerts to the region, beamed live worldwide to an audience of millions, promoting the name of the region, Murcia, Not Typical, Cool-tura, great stuff, except the websites in Spanish which isnt a lot of good to a worldwide audience, most of whom speak English. Sadly, and I mean sadly nbspbecause it was a cracking concert , hardly anybody went to it, and we were able to amble up to the front and lean nonchalantly on the railings a couple of minutes before world superstar Mika hit the stage.
Although the concert may have raised the profile of the region worldwide, it caused a little friction amongst the religious element of Caravaca . The religious brotherhood failed to appreciate the subtleties of using a controversial young pop star, who is renown for his suggestive posturings and sexually potent stage act, and who has managed to fend off the media who are desperate to talk about his  is he gay sexuality by saying he sleeps with who he wants to. Their point of view is that Caravaca is one of the 5 Holy Cities of the World, and this year is celebrating its Holy, or Jubilee Year, with millions streaming in to venerate the cross on which Christ perished, so couldnt they have chosennbspa popstar whos a little more ........virginal or something.
.
Lets just say , his harmonies caused a little disharmony locally.
Great concert though, and it certainly did attract a lot of eyes to the region, but will it bring in the tourists.
nbsp
Cruz is increasingly coming under fire from those who saynbsphe isnbspmore interested in art, than tourists, whilst he would maintain that culture attracts tourists.
nbspWhilst he my have managed to dismiss the British tourist as being inconsequential, he may face a few more harsh words from the Spanish press tomorrow once the columnists have had time to digest this one, and the germans and the british together represent nearly 70% of the total overseas visitors to the region. There seems little point in promoting the region worldwide if there are no airlines left flying to it.
All he needs now is for Paramount Studios to pull a rabbit out of the hat for him
.
Watch this space.
nbsp
nbsp
nbsp]]></description>
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				<title>The Gladiators are silenced as the Romans and Carthaginians in Cartagena faces budgetary cuts</title>
				<link>news-3399-1-the_gladiators_are_silenced_as_the_romans_and_carthaginians_in_cartagena_faces_budgetary_cuts.html</link>
				<description><![CDATA[Cartagena Spain, The town hall is on an austerity drive and gladiator spectaculars are not on their priority list
2010-07-27
The organizers of the popular Romans and Carthaginians fiestas in Cartagena have announced that due to budgetary restraints they willnbsp be unable to put on the most spectacular and popular element of the fiesta this year - the Roman Circus.
One of the biggest problems they have is a suitable venue, as the Estadio Cartagonova is no longer open for their use, Cartagena FC now playing in the second division and needing the ground, so last year the Town Hall of Cartagena helped with the costs of hiring a portable bullringnbsp in which to hold the event.
This year, however, the Town hall, along with every other town hall in the Region of Murcia, faces massive budgetary cuts and is on an austerity drive, which means there is no money to fund the hire of a bullring.
Toni Moreno, the president of the association, is pragmatic about the decision, If we only have four coming in and the circus costs eight, it is obvious that we neither should or could put the circus on. The responsible thing is not to do it this year, and I believe that people will understand,  she said at the weekend.
It costs nearly 58,000 euros to put on the Roman Circus, which includes hiring in professional actors and trained combat experts for the mock gladiator battles, as well as the hire of exotic animals for the evening, so it has been decided to use the funds already pledged for the circus to spice up some of the other events which are taking place during the week.
Apparently were all in for some surprises this year when watching the parades passing by, and have been promised some extra treats in the encampment zone, so well keep you up to date as the Fiestas approach and let you know the final programme once its available.
The dates for this years Romans and Carthaginians, Fiestas de Romanos y Carthagineses, are the 17th -26th September.
If youve not seen these spectacular fiestas before, heres last years programme to whet your appetite. Romans and Carthaginians, Cartagena]]></description>
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