'VEÏNS DE PARCENT' JOIN NATIONAL
CAMPAIGN AGAINST URBAN PLANNING
ABUSES














Three members of 'Veïns de Parcent' travelled
to Murcia on saturday April 1st to take part
in the formative meeting of a new national
campaign to fight the rampant spread of
urbanisation in Spain. The meeting was
chaired by the group 'Murcia no se vende'
and was attended by members of citizens
protest groups from all over Spain, including
Valencia, Alicante, Murcia, Almeria, Malaga,
Seville and Madrid. Many representatives were
invited as a result of the February conference
held in Madrid by the Green Party which led to
a discussion of the need for a national forum and
the subsequent organising of saturdays reunion.

After a long day of debate during which many
pertinent issues were raised, a committee was
formed and the name 'no se vende' adopted
as a working title. The idea of 'NOT FOR SALE'
being relevant to all, not just referring to our
land but our politicians who are presently
proving themselves to be easily corrupted,
especially in the area of urban planning.

The national grouping will eventually be legalised
as an association but in the meantime will function
with a coordinating committee.

At the closing session a statement of aims and
complaints was prepared amongst which
featured the call for a moritorium of contentious
building projects, urgent investigation into
suspected cases of corruption, particularly in
light of the scandal in Marbella, a united effort
to bring pressure to bear on local and national
government and justices to uphold the current
laws protecting the environment and implement
new laws giving the citizens more protection and
a voice in the development of their towns and
villages.

The issue of corruption was a constant theme,
the majority of representatives believing that
Spain needs a new culture of urban planning
that respects local culture and identity and a
move away from the idea that Spain can only
prosper under a tide of cement with corruption
oiling the wheels.

'NO SE VENDE' is currently developing a
website which will be linked here when
possible and will be planning activities
to further the debate and protest.
We are pleased that Veins de Parcent
is part of this new initiative and continue
to believe that working together will
benefit us all in fighting this national
threat.