|
|
|
| Port of Call - Las Palmas |
 |
| Dunes and palm trees in the south of the island |
Geographically part of Africa, administered by
Spain since annexation in the fifteenth century, and a long-time supply
and trade port for ships to the Americas, the Canary archipelago has
a history that links three continents. Such geopolitical background
has resulted in a multi-ethnic population whose diversity matches
that of the islands' natural environment. Stopping in Las Palmas before
the long trek across the Atlantic, Peace Boat's brief stay allowed
passengers a glimpse into the serenity of the landscape and the richness
of the indigenous culture as well as the more troubled side of migration
to the Canaries. Cultural and linguistic similarities attract people
from South America, while those from Africa often hope to use the
Canary Islands as a "Gateway to Europe" a large percentage of both
groups fleeing conflict or poverty in their countries of origin. In
recent years, however, tightening of visa procedures has resulted
in an increase of illegal immigrants, some coming by motorboat from
West Africa, risking shipwreck, others placing themselves in the hands
of traffickers. |
|
 |
| Immigrants from Western Sahara join a festival
of solidarity against world poverty |
As participants in one study tour discovered, immigrants
problems continue upon arrival, as they endure harsh living conditions
and the fear of discovery and expulsion. Representatives of Caritas,
an international organisation whose activities in the Canaries started
with the distribution of emergency relief after WWII, showed Global
University students around their Las Palmas facilities. With over
one thousand volunteers in Gran Canaria alone, Caritas・projects include
education and literacy programmes, culture classes and job training,
as well as awareness-raising campaigns fighting negative representations
of immigrants in the media and promoting social integration. Casa
Mafasca, the Caritas and government-funded shelter visited by Peace
Boat, provides short or long-term accommodation for the homeless regardless
of nationality, while a further project offers meals, showers, laundry
facilities and use of a day centre for those in precarious situations.
Bearing witness to the fact that new arrivals to the islands are dying
on the streets, members of Caritas also spoke of recent protest movements
involving groups campaigning for amendments to the immigration laws
and recognition of their basic human rights. |
|
 |
| Luc Andre Diouf, head of the General Union of
Workers "Information Centre for Migrant Workers" in Las Palmas |
One such group is Spain's largest trade union,
the General Union of Workers. As well as providing vocational training,
qualifications and assistance with job applications, the GUW fights
against discrimination in the workplace and advises migrant workers
being held in detention centres. According to their spokesperson,
providing immigrants with information concerning their rights, not
only in the workplace, but also society as a whole, is as important
as petitioning the Spanish government on their behalf. It was also
explained that, due to the current political climate, immigrants themselves
were too scared to come and talk to Peace Boat. As had members of
Caritas, they urged passengers to address letters of protest to the
government, demonstrating another way in which participants can become
human rights activists. Elsewhere on the study tour, members of the
independence movement of Western Sahara and refugee support groups
introduced conflict as another cause of migration to these small islands.
The massive displacement of the indigenous population due to a quarter
century of conflict means that refugee camps in Algeria now house
over one hundred and fifty thousand refugees. Those seeking political
asylum have also fled to the Canaries and are demanding a free, democratic
referendum on independence, overseen by an international body such
as the UN. These opportunities for discussion allowed participants
to expand on the theoretical knowledge they had gathered onboard. |
|
 |
| Traditional Spanish architecture |
Another tour brought passengers into contact with
Ingenio town's indigenous Gaunche population. A visit to the local
school had children from all year groups joining Japanese cultural
activities such as calligraphy, Bon Odori dance and origami. Cries
of "Sayonara!" followed participants as they left for a welcome speech
by the mayor who emphasised the importance of cultural exchange and
understanding before encouraging everyone to dig in to a delicious
lunch of paella. The afternoon saw participants admiring the Ingenio's
nineteenth century stone architecture before attending workshops on
traditional methods of making bread, pottery and meals using "Gofio",
a staple food made from ground maize. In Las Palmas, others joined
the football exchange, a popular repeat event where passengers play
in earnest against the local club, composed of residents who say they
work to support their soccer habit! Other passengers chose to lounge
by the coast while others headed for more rural areas, from mountains
carpeted in lush forest and underwater reefs, to rocky deserts and
beaches with ripple marks etched in the sand. |
|
 |
| IS Uri, Shapke, Pili and Zini in T-shirts covered
in farewell messages from friends onboard |
As the sun set over the mountains in a blaze of
orange, a checkered group of international guests, volunteer staff
and passengers gathered to play beach volleyball, share a picnic on
the sand and compose farewell messages for each other. Las Palmas
being the final port of call for the International Students, the mood
was subdued, groups forming and fragmenting as people swapped addresses
and stored away memories to last until such time as they might meet
again. Final hugs and tears coincided with bursts of fireworks as
locals celebrated the Festival of Light. As the boat started to pull
away, Shapke could be seen clutching his video camera, Walid and Amit
sitting together on a pile of suitcases and Dusan picking up last
tokens flung from the deck. Jasmina blew kisses to a madly waving
Pili, while Rishi called out goodbyes, Zini danced to the departure
song and Uri exchanged last glances with friends onboard. Streamers
were clutched until the last strands broke and those on the dock streamed
to the end of the pier to wave until they became mere dots, soon obscured
by the lights of the town. |
|
| Peace Boat's
39th Voyage index |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
PEACE BOAT is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
