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Port of Call |
LAST UPDATE March 13, 2007
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| December 20, 2006 |
Gibraltar – Gibraltar's Peaceful Society Rocks! |
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| Peace Boat participants enjoy the view of the famous Rock of Gibraltar |
The image of the Rock of Gibraltar jutting up from the sea is famous throughout the world. Much less is known, however, about the 30,000 people who live in this British dependency measuring only six square kilometers. When Peace Boat called there on December 20, participants had a chance to learn about Gibraltar society through a Study Programme organized in cooperation with the local chapter of Friends of the Earth International. Gibraltarians, participants learned, have a fascinating mix of religions, languages, and cultures – all held together by a spirit of tolerance that is almost as monolithic as the great rock looming above them. |
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| Peace Boat participants are welcomed to a Gibraltar synagogue |
Gibraltar's diversity is the result of the country's strategic location at the entrance to the Mediterranean. In turbulent times, Gibraltar was fought over and changed hands periodically. In peaceful times, it attracted people from Morocco, Spain, England, Portugal, India, and Italy looking for promising work. Today, one can drop into a fish and chips shop on main street and find a Hindu and Moroccan conversing effortlessly in Spanish and English. Nearly everyone is bilingual, and some speak additional languages such as Arabic, Hebrew, and Hindi.
During the Study Programme, participants visited a mosque, a synagogue, a temple, and a church. The leaders of each faith welcomed participants, and explained various aspects of their services to them. They also attested to the religious and cultural harmony of Gibraltar, and to the population's conscious commitment to peace. “We have Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, and Jews here, and we're all one big family,” said one. A sign posted on a bulletin board in the Hindu temple read “All gods are One. There is no difference between a Hindu and a Muslim. Mosque and Temple are the same.” |
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| A stroll down Gibraltar's main street reveals a world of diversity |
Much of Gibraltar's peace and respect for diversity has been forged by necessity, explained Friends of the Earth. No cattle or crops can be raised on Gibraltar, so it must import all of its foodstuff from other countries. This lack of resources has compelled residents to cooperate with one another and with other countries. “We found that in order to go forward, we had to get along” said one member. The lack of anonymity in a small area also compels peace, she said. “You can't insult or be rude to someone here, because the next day you'll likely run into him or his family when walking down the street.” |
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| Only 35 kilometers away, the African continent can be glimpsed across the Strait of Gibraltar |
Although the spirit of equality is strong among the inhabitants of Gibraltar, some feel the immigration bureaucracy is unfair. Gibraltar has a number of Moroccan and Indian immigrants who have paid taxes and contributed to society for decades, and yet they are still unable to obtain a British passport. Consequently, they have to apply for a visa every time they want to cross the border into Spain only 20 minutes away. Wealthier immigrants can pay for this visa easily – as well as for citizenship – but poorer immigrants can't. The granting of citizenship to those who can't afford to pay is left to the discretion of individual bureaucrats. “Getting citizenship should be a matter of law, not a matter of if you have money and can pay for it or not” said one activist. Along with others, she is working to seal this crack in Gibraltar's monolith of peace and equality. |
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