Islands

Mexico had its own Alcatraz 130 km from the country. Fortified islands housed the most dangerous murderers of the nation

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In December we rescue A true story which possibly served Michael Bay for his film ‘La Roca’, set in Alcatraz prison. Actually, it wasn’t so impregnablebut the jail (now converted into a tourist visiting space) has become notic again because Trump considers The idea of ​​recovering it as “home” for the most dangerous criminals in the United States. The truth is that, before Alcatraz, Mexico already had such a prison. From prison to sanctuary. For more than a century, The Marias Islands They represented the confinement, exile and hardness of the Mexican Penitentiary System. A story that changed from the definitive closure of its prison in 2019, when the remote archipelago in the Pacific began a surprising and unexpected transformation towards ecotourism and environmental conservation. Located about 130 kilometers from the coast of Nayarit, the four islands, and in particular Mary Motherthey went from being the last Insular Criminal Colony from America to become a Biosphere Reserve managed by the Mexican Navy. In 2022 the visits organized for tourists began under strong security measures and with limited routes, where visitors can travel both the wild nature and the historical traces of a prison past plagued with dark stories. Penitentiary facilities still visible (such as cells, surveillance towers and a maximum security module) are now combined with hotels, trails, lush vegetation and endemic species that have survived thanks to isolation for millions of years. Violence, punishment and resistance. Founded as Prison in 1905the Marías Islands housed many of the more dangerous criminals of the country, together with political dissidents, poor peasants and religious leaders during different historical stages. There were also opponents of the Government of Álvaro Obregón, Catholics in the time of the Cristero Warand figures Like the writer José Revueltassymbol of intellectual dissent. The prison regime varied over time, since semi -liberated modalities in which some inmates lived with their families, even closed structures such as Maximum security section Open in 2011 after the militarization of the criminal system during the war against the narco. In these facilities, described as replicas of American prisons, prisoners lived with extreme punishments, such as the existence of a metal cabin that functioned as a solar heat torture chamber. In fact, The BBC counted that rumors of undercover executions and clandestine burials are still persists in the other islands of the archipelago, occasionally frequented by illegal and drug traffickers. Overpopulation During the last decades of operation as prison, serious overpopulation episodes were experienced, particularly notorious in the 2000s. The angels Times counted and testimonies collected by Mexican media Like the universal and Processat some times they came to live More than 8,000 inmates In precarious conditions, in facilities originally designed to house much less. An especially shocking example was reported by a former inmate who, in 2022, recalled that 500 women They shared only five bathroomssituation that described how to live in a “chicken coop.” Although as we said, in the beginning the prison had a relatively open regime (even allowed some inmates to live with their families), the hardening of the penitentiary policy after the War against drug trafficking In 2006 and the opening of the maximum security module aggravated overcrowding. Complaints of insufficient rations and lack of medical care derived even in A riot in 2013after which the module closed. The combination of structural deterioration, lack of resources and social pressure ended up leading to definitive closure of the prison in 2019. Biodiversity Then came the “second life” of the islands. Despite its gloomy legacy, the natural wealth of the archipelago has survived and even flourished. Since 2010, when the prison still worked, UNESCO recognized the Marias Islands as a biosphere reserve for its unique ecosystem, composed of dry forests, mangroves, coral reef, coasts and endemic fauna such as the Loro Tres MaríasMapaches and rabbits that do not exist anywhere else on the planet. Many of these species suffered during the penitentiary period (they say Some inmates hunted snakes to make belts or trafficked parrots with the help of relatives). Today, the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas (Conanp) works with the Navy to protect this biodiversity, although the challenges are maintained, especially For illegal fishing. Despite the restrictions imposed since 2000 and reinforced in 2021, scientists such as Marino Octavio Aburto-Opeza Biologist warned that Companies still operate that offer recreational fishing or with harpoon without effective control, which puts at risk the fragile ecological balance of the area. Tourism (responsible). Today, visits to María Madre have become a strange mixture of biotourism and historical memory. Tourists, mostly Mexicans, are attracted to both the wild and The history of suffering inscribed in cells, corridors, murals and cemeteries. It explained the BBC With examples, such as the tomb of “El Sapo”, an alleged state murderer Macheted killed For their cell partners, or the esculos of octopus made by inmates who decorate still closed rooms, episodes that generate an environment between the surreal and moving. In short, although the current approach gives priority to contact with nature and environmental education, the main attraction for many remains the same as in Alcatraz: the possibility of walking for what was once a penitentiary hell. Thus, in the experience of the visit two stories live together: that of an infamous prison that functioned as a tool for social control and repression for more than a century, and that of a resilient ecosystem that now seems to offer a promise of redemption through responsible tourism and collective memory. Image | Vallee, Rawpixel In Xataka | The incredible story of the men who escaped from the Alcatraz prison with spoons, false hair and a homemade boat In Xataka | The Japanese who built a replica of his cell in his garden because his sentence seemed little: he did not get out of there again

In full world cocoa crisis, in the Canary Islands they have had an idea: cultivate them themselves

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Last week, Ghana expelled all foreign companies that operated in the gold market. The situation had become unsustainable. Not only are they “disastrous economic, health and environmental consequences“Of artisanal mining (which has skyrocketed in recent years), nor the battered accounts of the Ghanaian state; but the boom of gold exploitation was eroding other national industries. The clearest example is that of cocoa. What about cocoa? Only in the last year, Ghana (the second country that produces the most cocoa) lost 20% of its total production. And that happened in a global context in which bad harvests, pests and climate change fired cocoa prices at historical levels: the ton surpassed The $ 10,000 in the New York Stock Exchange. The problem is that for Ghanaian farmers, gold was more profitable in the short term. The arrival of Chinese operators changed the rules of the game a few years ago and the consequences began to be seen now: cocoa was not the ‘golden chicken’ for the African country industry; but it was much more sustainable than the Galamsey: stir tons and tons of land Almost handmade, illegal, dangerous and little regulated form To sell the gold they find. It is also an “infectious disease” and Ivory Coast (the world’s main cocoa producer) already begins to suffer The same problem. Where some see a problem, others see an opportunity. And for “another” I mean Canarian farmers. Because, like They said in the province“It has subtropical climatic conditions that make it a different region to the rest of the continent.” And that has consequences, above all, for agriculture. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Canarian Institute for Agricultural Research (ICIA) I have been two years “Analyzing the possibilities of culture growth (cocoa) in farm -pea farms.” Nor is it that its results are positive. The new jewel of Canarian agriculture? I wouldn’t say so much. As in the case of Café Granada, the Canarian cocoa It does not consider right now as a large crop. It would be about looking for a “boutique” product, something that allows “diversifying” Canarian agriculture and fleeing from the “bananodependence”. But it is not so easy. Because it is not only about convincing enough producers to achieve considerable productive stability; but of being able to develop the entire industrial chain: things like the fermentation of the grain and its drying. And many problems arise: because raising that industry is almost impossible (profitability is very low) and selling cocoa without further ado leaves you in a very bad strategic place. You have to think very well how to take the steps so that this does not become academic hobby. Since the end of 2023, cocoa has gone from quoting at $ 2,581 per ton at 10,371. It is something extremely sweet and, therefore, little by little that we are wrong a deadly trap for the Canarian field. Image | Majestic Lukas | Kyle Hinkson In Xataka | We go to the most expensive chocolate in history: how the cocoa crisis will shoot its price

Vietnam has tired of China’s artificial islands, so he has decided to start building his own

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China has been pulling tons of sand for more than a decade. And not only is he doing it for Build airports: They are dozens of artificial islands for expand its military power. It is about China’s strategy to claim the maritime territories that they consider their own and that are also doing in the Yellow Sea coast in front of South Korea. The problem is that one of its neighbors has been tired. Vietnam has also begun to lift artificial islands in the same territory with a clear objective: to prevent China from conquering the area. AND The tension is servedclear. Spratly Islands. It may seem more reef, but that of Spratly Islands It is tremendously important at the geopolitical level. It is a reef that is located between four countries whose relations, in some cases, are a hotbed: China, Vietnam, the Philippines and Taiwan, and they are also a set of rich islands in resources natural as fishing banks (suitable for a China to which His folders fall short), oil and natural gas. It is estimated that there are 105,000 million barrels of oil and many other millions of gas drums. There is tension, therefore, to control those resources, but also because it is a relevant point at the strategic level. They are located on one of the most busy maritime routes and are key to both international trade as for world movement. Controlling that archipelago implies having an essential influence globally. Claims. And the situation is a chicken coop. The archipelago is composed of a hundred islands and there are countries that carry decades claiming his sovereignty over it. On the one hand, China says that the fishermen of the Ming dynasty of the fifteenth century have already established themselves there, so the islands belong to them. In addition, in 1947 they made a map that showed how they all belonged to them, starting to occupy some of them in 1988. Malaysia se put In the fight in 1979, claiming part of the archipelago, the same case as Brunéi. Philippines is another player on this board, occupying some islands and occupying some of them with soldiers, but the most persistent are Taiwan and Vietnam. Both demand the entire territory as their own. Taiwan, with the same foundation as China, and Vietnam, stating that the islands were part of the kingdom of Annam – predecessor of the country – during the nineteenth century. Both China and Vietnam recovered archaeological remains to demonstrate that the islands belonged to them in the past and had to remain their property today. But since they did not convince each other, they decided to go to action. Mischief is an example. It is in Chinese power and has names in different languages ​​depending on which country you ask. For China is měijì jiāo. For Vietnam is đá Vành KhĂn. And for the Philippines is Bahura Ng Panganiban. Everyone considers that it is yours Background. Thus, and at some point in 2013, China began to move. Taking advantage of the rocky parts of the reef close to the surface and using Dredging ships to lift the bottom of the sea, they began to build islands and extend some existing ones. In just five years, they created seven artificial islands, the transformation of atolls into comparative satellite images being evident. Militarizing the archipelago. In this whole story, the military presence of the countries involved in the conflict has been key, starring even armed incidents between them. And one of China’s clear objectives is the militarization of this space with a double objective. On the one hand, the most obvious: if you create an island and the militarizas, you make sure that if someone wants it, you also have to arrive with armed troops, being able to trigger a greater conflict. Subi is one of the islands in which China has placed an airport. So it was before and after 2016 On the other, establishing and reinforcing the military presence in an area that, as we say, is key. It is something we have seen recently, with the discovery of A radar anti -furtive ships on one of the islands. And it is a radar, yes, but also a powerful message in an area where the United States also has the eye: if the US and its allies cannot operate poachers in the South China Sea, they may not be able to deal with the forces of the popular liberation army. Discovery Great Reef is held by Vietnam and down to the right we see some changes. Philippines, Taiwan and China say it’s them But well, it is not just a radar: there is also a missile launch platform, and in several of the islands occupied, created or expanded by China we can see presence of military infrastructure such as bases or airports. In this TWSJ video we can see perfectly the evolution of the islands: Vietnam is planted. In 2021, Vietnam got tired of the situation and, being together with Taiwan the country that has the most interest in the archipelago, also began to lift islands in the Spratly. Mainly, for military and port presence that reinforce maritime logistics, but putting the direct in recent months. Since June 2024, Vietnam has “grown” 641 new hectares and measurements Totals of expansion 1,343 hectares compared to 1,882 of China. And the expansion is being rapid: in 2021, Vietnam only had four advanced ports with port. Now, it has tripled that number with cases such as Barque Canada Reef in which only the atolon was intuited and now has even a landing floor. Before and after in the reef Barque Canada Complaints from each other. The objective of one and others is to operate more time and in greater numbers on those islands before a relief arrives, being able to carry out maneuvers and patrols during the area throughout the year, but curiously, although Vietnam had already shouted in the sky before with China’s movements, it is … Read more

The Canary Islands have seven islands, but only one has escaped from the hordes of tourists. His secret is on earth, literally

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The Canarian archipelago is officially seven islands: Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro. In addition, we have four islets and a series of Roques (next to a centenary dispute for tiny lands, although that It is another story). The curious thing about the islands is that almost all, to a greater or lesser extent, have ended under the influence of mass tourism. With the exception of one, whose nature gave an “advantage” over the rest: iron. Shine without looking for it. Ironthe smallest, western, less visited and better preserved from all the Canary Islands, has begun to attract the attention of a time to this part, although surely, despite many stores. First was the Netflix series Iron in 2019 the one that put it on the audiovisual map. Later, during the pandemic, he once again occupied headlines in half the world. The reasons: to be one of the first territories of Spain in get out of confinement In June 2020, and for having registered alone A COVID-19 case during the health crisis. Thus came the international recommendations that placed it between the Best destinations in Europe In 2021, but the island continues as is, it has barely changed its leisurely way of life, or its resistance to the transformations that did shape the rest of the archipelago in recent decades. His secret is a paradox: What does not have He does it more strong to the hordes. The island of “No”. The peculiarity of the island resides in what it has decided Do not have: Without chain hotels, without tourist complexes, without elevators or buildings of more than two floors, the island also does not have extensive beaches, although it possesses A network of puddles (natural pools) of an incomparable beauty. Here its geography is key, since reaching it outside the archipelago already implies at least two journeys (by plane, via Tenerife or Gran Canaria, or in Ferry, via Tenerife), since there are no direct international flights or maritime connections from the peninsula or abroad. With just 11,000 inhabitants And a surface that is equivalent to half of Ibiza, the traffic is very small and the sensation remains to be in a territory where modernity has barely touched essential things. And yet, since 2018, iron almost completely self-abused with renewable energies, thanks to its hydro-eolic power plant Gorona del Vientoconsolidating itself as a world reference in sustainability. Indomitable nature. While the major islands of the Canarian archipelago face a growing social resistance to the Mass tourismIron has deliberately adopted a radically different model. Instead of joining the urbanization spiral, direct flights and mass tourism, the island has opted for a strategy of leisurely growthintegral sustainability and an intimate bond with nature. Arising from the ocean 1.2 million years ago For violent underwater eruptions, the island displays an abrupt and wild geography where impressive cliffs, volcanic boilers and dense laurisilva forests coexist with undulating meadows, centenary pine forests and abrupt black rock costs that make it a paradise for hiking, contemplation and, ultimately, an unstable instance. To get an idea, in 2023 Just 20,300 visitors They arrived on the island (in contrast to the more than 6.5 million that Tenerife receivedFor example). Sabinar Tourism to last. There is more, of course. As we said before, since 1997, iron develops an ambitious Sustainable Development Plan which has oriented its tourist model towards a way of traveling with limited impact, focused on the valuation of the natural environment and local culture. They have been created Seven Visitors and Museums CentersInfrastructure has been improved without breaking the landscape balance (the first asphalted road came in 1962 and even today there is only one traffic light), and activities that privilege contact with the environment have been encouraged. In this regard, Davinia Suárez Armas, insular director of Tourism and Transportation, summed up the BBC The spirit of the island: grow without deteriorating the quality of life of residents or compromising their natural resources. In fact, it is possible to travel in less than an hour from the warm coast of the South to the Capital of Valverdecrossing microclimates ranging from arid plains to humid fog forests, where more than a hundred endemic species thrive, including criticism El Hierro giant lizardwhich motivated the entire island to be declared Biosphere Reserve in 2000 and Geoparque in 2014 for Unesco. Resistance symbols. Among closed curves, volcanic landscapes and pastures whipped by the wind, it appears The pasturewhere the most famous trees of the enclave grow: the Sabinares twisted for centuries of Alisios winds, turned into living symbols of the Herreña resistance. In that sense, self -sufficiency has been part of the island DNA since the arrival of The bimbachesBerber people settled around 120. Without rivers or natural lakes, they learned to collect water from the fog, especially from legendary tree Garoéwhose location is traveled today through the Water route. Plus: this 16 -kilometer circular path San Andrés connectsthe tallest town on the island, with deposits, aljibes and remains of primitive hydraulic technologies, all witnesses of a history marked by water scarcity and migratory waves, especially towards Venezuela. The Virgin Downfour -year party dedicated to the Virgen de los Reyes (who, according to tradition, ended the Great drought from 1741), keeps that spiritual legacy that mixes need and faith alive. Self -sufficiency. In 2014, the island opened Gorona del Vientothe pioneer central that combines wind and hydraulic energy thanks to its privileged geography. The system pumps desalted water from a coastal deposit to a volcanic boiler at 700 meters of altitude when there is a surplus of wind, and releases that flow in times without wind to generate electricity with hydraulic turbines. In August 2015, he first managed to supply the entire island for four hours. In 2024, he beat a global record: 24 consecutive days operating exclusively with clean energy, which avoided the emission of 13,708 tons of CO₂ and the consumption of more than 4,500 tons of diesel. Yet, Climate change … Read more

The plan to empty in six days its islands closest to Taiwan

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Two news in recent months have ended up becoming a revealing announcement. The first occurred at the end of January, when many of the Sakishima Islands (the closest to Taiwan) began a series of a series of any weekend Evacuation drills. Shortly after, Japan made a historical decision: deploy long -range missiles In some of these islands. How much? Enough to get to China. Now, in the face of doubts to a war conflict, it has officialized a plan. Evacuate mission. Japan has presented for the first time A formal plan To evacuate more than 100,000 civilians, including residents and tourists, of the remote islands near Taiwan, specifically Sakishima archipelagolocated at the southwest end of the country. The plan occurs in a context of growing military tension In the Taiwan Strait, where the threat of a possible Chinese invasion has generated concern in Tokyo and the international community. To be exact, the measure includes the evacuation of Approximately 110,000 residents and 10,000 tourists through the mobilization of ships and airplanes to eight prefectures of Western and Southwestern Japan, with the goal of completing the operation in a Maximum period of six days. The evacuees would be initially transferred to the island of Kyushu and from there distributed to different destinations that are already being prepared with temporary accommodations. Military and drill preparations. As we said at the beginning, the drills have been carried out In the last datesbut without great explanations about the main reason. Now, and as part of the reinforcement of security and logistics preparation, the Japanese government has announced that as of April next year it will carry out Evacuation exercises In the Sakishima Islands, which are part of the Okinawa Prefecture, a key region that houses almost 50,000 American soldiers and that has historically been considered strategic for the defense of Japan. In addition, and as we count a few days ago, the installation of units of Surface-Aire missiles on the island of Yonagunilocated only 100 km from Taiwan, and the construction of provisional underground shelters, equipped with food and supplies for at least two weeks. These measures seek to improve defense capacity in the event of an eventual attack and ensure the protection of local populations. Increasing tensions. Although the evacuation plan does not explicitly mention Taiwan, it is evident that the growing possibility that the self -governor island (claimed by China as part of its territory) becomes the epicenter of a military conflict has been the trigger for the initiative. China ha Increased military pressure About Taiwan in recent years and has not ruled out the use of force to Force “reunification”. The precedent of the Russian invasion to Ukraine and the hardening positions Geopolitics, especially after Donald Trump’s return to the presidency of the United States, has increased the fear that the Taiwan Strait becomes the next great focus of conflict in Asia. United States and the weakness of the alliance. Possibly, the key reason that has led to Japan to missile implantation long range and to formalize an evacuation plan is uncertainty with the United States. In fact, the evacuation plan has been widely Extended in Taiwanwhere it has generated worrying interpretations about the reliability of regional alliances. Many Taiwanese and local analysts see the Japanese initiative as a sign that Tokyo does not trust In which Washington, under the policy of “America First” of Trump, maintains your commitment to defense against a conflict in the Strait. To this we must add the Recent statements from Trumpquestioning the reciprocity of the United States-Japan Security Treaty and highlighting that Tokyo It is not obliged To defend the United States in case of aggression, which has accentuated these concerns. A culture broth that has led to the perception that Japan is preparing “discreetly” to ensure its withdrawal of vulnerable areas without depending on US intervention. Reinforce regional defense. As we also said, Japan, in addition to the evacuation and militarization of the Sakishima Islands, has intensified its defensive strategy through the planned deployment of long -range missiles In Kyushu, expanding its ability to respond to threats from the Asian continent. Simultaneously, the Senkaku Islandsdisputed with China and administered by Japan, continue to be a friction point that could further complicate security in the region. The Japanese government has made it clear that all these measures are part of a comprehensive strategy Based on the forecast of “imminent armed attacks”, as Yoshimasa Hayashi, chief secretary of the Cabinet said. Vulnerability in the islands. The population of the most exposed islands shares government concern. In this regard, The Guardian told That Gen Nakatani, Minister of Defense, recently recognized the “strong sense of crisis” that is perceived among the inhabitants of these islands, who have historically witnessed the territorial disputes and military maneuvers in the region. The proximity of Yonaguni and other islands of the archipelago to the Strait of Taiwan, as well as the growing presence of China in the surrounding waters, make the feeling of threat constant. Therefore, the combination of planned evacuationstrengthening shelters, Armament deployment And cooperation with Washington, despite tensions, has a fairly clear objective: reinforce Japan’s resilience to a possible military escalation. Image | US Pacific Fleet In Xataka | Japan has made a historical decision in the face of the uncertainty of the US: to display missiles that reach North Korea and China In Xataka | The Japan islands closest to Taiwan have begun to evacuate the area. They have been preparing for the worst for two years

Mexico has decided that bullfights are without blood. Spain already tried it in the Balearic Islands and did not go well

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In 2022 there were A first conato. In Mexico, a nation whose strong tradition to bullfights is equated with Spain, “the holidays” were prohibited. However, the Supreme Court revoked the suspension and returned. Solution? In an unprecedented event in La Nación, Mexico City has decided that there will be no blood in the runs. In Spain similar initiatives have been carried out, although with discouraging results. End to deaths. As we said, in a historical decision, the Congress of Mexico City approved by an overwhelming majority of 61 votes to 1 the prohibition of traditional bullfights, eliminating the possibility of hurting or killing To bulls during these events. The legislation, promoted by legislator Xóchitl Bravo Espinosa and backed by the Head of Government Claudia Sheinbaumwill allow the realization of runs without violence or blood, in which they will only be used CAPOTES AND WITHOUT STAQUES No flags. The prohibition marks a milestone in the city with the largest bullring on the planet, The Plaza Méxicowith capacity for 42,000 spectators and epicenter of a tradition with almost 500 years of history in the country. Of course, the bullfighting sector has reacted with indignation, announcing legal challenges and protests against the measure. An intermediate measure. Unlike a total prohibition, the reform will allow a version of bullfighting in which bullfighters can only use the cape and the red crutch, with a maximum duration of 15 minutes per bull and a limit of six bulls per event. According to Bravo Espinosa, this measure seeks balance animal welfare With the economic protection of those who depend on the industry, such as sellers, bull breeders and employees of the squares. The problem? That the defenders of bullfighting consider that the new regulation completely distorts the essence of tradition. The Plaza México described the reform as “A clear threat to one of the most entrenched cultural traditions in the country”, while bullfighting groups have declared that they will legally fight to reverse the prohibition. Context of a battle. The truth is that the prohibition in Mexico City is the most recent chapter of a battle that has been gaining ground in different parts of the country. Since 2013, Five of the 31 states of Mexico They have banned bullfights, reflecting the growing rejection of bullfighting. As We explainin 2022 a federal judge He suspended the runs in the capital after a demand from a group of human rights. However, the Supreme Court He revoked the suspension and allowed him Return of events In January 2024. Now, with the new legislation, traditional runs are officially eliminated in Mexico City, although bullfighting industry continues to seek legal mechanisms to challenge the measure. A cultural shock. The debate on bullfight has transcended the legal scope and has become A symbol of tension between respect for traditions and the evolution of social values ​​around Animal rights. While the defenders argue that bullfighting generates tens of thousands of jobs and that the number of bulls sacrificed is insignificant compared to livestock in general, opponents have denounced the brutality of the show. According to data from the Congress of Mexico City, in 2019 there were 168 bulls sacrificed in Plaza México, which activists consider a sample of unnecessary suffering inflicted on animals. The group Animal heroeswhich for six years leads the Mexico campaign without bullfights, celebrated the reform, but warned that they will continue to fight for the total abolition of bullfighting in the country. For his part, Salvador Arias, a Mexican bullfighting lawyer, said that a similar model already had failed in Spain In the Balearic Islands, where the lack of interest led to its disappearance and, shortly after, to its revocation by the Spanish courts. The case of Balearic Islands. What happened in Spain dates back to 2017, when the Balearic Parliament approved a law that prohibited the death and suffering of bulls in runs, establishing what was called “Cumshots without blood”. This regulation required that the bulls were not subjected to physical damage and that the runs would be limited to 10 minutes per animal, without the possibility of using flags, estas or swords. The measure was held by the defenders of animal rights, but caused The rejection of the bullfighting sector and led to an intense debate about the viability of the show without its traditional component. The sentence. In December 2018, the Constitutional Court of Spain annulled the lawarguing that he invaded state powers on cultural heritage, since bullfighting had been declared in 2013 as part of the country’s intangible cultural heritage. With that decision, the traditional runs with death of the bull again in the Balearic Islands in 2019, although with additional restrictions imposed by the regional regulations, such as the prohibition of the entry of minors to the Celebrations. The Judgment of the Constitutional Court It was a setback for the anti -urine movement in Spain and evidenced the legal difficulties to prohibit bullfighting at the autonomous level without a major legislative reform. Extinction or transformation. Thus, the Government of Mexico City will have a period of seven months To issue the final regulation on runs without violence, including the participation of all parties involved. Mayor Clara Brugada He celebrated the decision and described it as a great advance in animal protection. Although the prohibition has already been approved, the future of bullfighting in Mexico remains in dispute. Bullfighting and fans have warned that they will continue to fight in court to reverse the measure, while activists continue to press for Total eradication of runs in the country. What seems clear is that the resolution in the Mexican capital could be the trigger for other states to follow the same path, marking an irreversible change in a tradition that has defined the cultural identity of the country for centuries. That without having the great unknown: knowing if the public will accept this new form of bullfighting without blood or if, as in Spain, the option does not work out. Image | Christian Ramiro, Jorge … Read more

Drought and mass tourism have aggravated the shortage of water in the Balearic Islands. Now it is going to entrust the desaliners

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Throughout the month of March Let’s have a storm characterized by many rains. However, when this temporary pass will come the good weather and return The drought again. Given this situation, the Balearic Islands, one of the communities most affected by water scarcityThey are looking to get ahead. The projects. The seafore and water cycle. has announced The construction of three desalination plants in Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza. The installation will have an initial budget of 3.5 million euros and are expected to be operational within five years, supplying more than 60,000 inhabitants. A serious problem. Currently, reservoirs on the islands are 51% of its capacity, showing the water problem despite the recent rains. For that reason, from the Ministry They have pointed out That these new desalination makers are to guarantee the medium and long term water supply, regardless of the weather conditions. However, this is not all, because there are other concerns, such as overexploitation of aquifers that It has generated problems With the introduction of salts. In addition, the archipelago receives a large amount of tourism every summer, which triggers demand and Test The supply capacity. Future desalination. The Balearic Government has planned the construction of desalists financed through the STI 24-25 call, with the aim of improving the water supply in the region. In Mallorca, the Rostent area will be prioritized, especially the strip between Ses Salines and Artà, as well as the municipalities of the PLA. In Menorca and Ibiza, areas with the highest water deficit will be served. The project will take place in several phases with the construction in 2027 and the commissioning of the facilities in 2030. But they already have others … that’s how, in the Balearic Islands There are desalination plants They help meet the growing demand for water. Currently, ABAQUA manages a supply and desalination infrastructure network that includes several plants, such as Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza. To give an example, the three existing desalination plants in Ibiza operate at 75 % of their capacity throughout the year, and They reach 110 % peaks In more than five months, which shows the overload of the supply system. Inconveniences. Although desalination plants have become an alternative for water use, they have a series of problem. On the one hand, they need high energy consumption, so would imply an increase in the price of water In the long term. On the other hand, these facilities They can have brinea residue with high salt concentration that can damage marine ecosystems. So the Balearic Islands will have to continue trusting technologies such as desalination plants, which despite the aforementioned problems, offer a response to the growing demand for water. However, they can bet on the implementation of long -term measures such as Wastewater reuse or Other methods within desalination. Image | Pexels Xataka | Barcelona is about to live something unpublished for 50 months and that until recently we thought it impossible: the end of drought

There is a potentially habitable planet only 59 light years from Earth. The IAC has just discovered it from the Canary Islands

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Spain has a lot to say in the search for potentially habitable explanets. On this occasion, an international team led by researchers from the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (IAC) has discovered a planet in the habitable zone of its star, just 59 light years from Earth. The finding. The newly discovered planet is called GJ 3998 d. It is a superstierra, which means that it is significantly larger than our planet, in this case with a mass six times greater than land. The important thing about GJ 3998 d is that orbits its star Within the “habitable zone”which means that it could have liquid water on its surface, whenever it is a rocky planet like ours. The habitable area. This new exoplanet orbit the GJ 3998which is a red dwarf. This type of star is much smaller and colder than the sun, so the habitable zone is at a lesser distance. GJ 3998 D completes an orbit around its star in approximately 42 days, a sixth part of what lasts a land year. Despite the proximity to the red dwarf, it only receives 20 % more radiation than the earth, which makes it a candidate to house the necessary conditions for life. Neighbors. Another point in favor of this new extrasolar planet is that it is relatively close to us, 59 light years away, which makes it a perfect candidate for more detailed studies in the future. Scientists plan to investigate whether GJ 3998 D has atmosphere and if there are signs of oxygen, which would be a strong indicator of the possible existence of extraterrestrial life. But for this they will have to wait for the future spectrograph Andes of the Extremely large telescope (Elt) of that, who will be able to analyze the composition of his atmosphere. Or to the telescope Exo Life Finder (ELF), currently in development by the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands. A red dwarf galaxy. Red dwarfs are particularly interesting because they are very common in our galaxy. They constitute almost three quarters of all known stars. In addition, its low mass facilitates the detection of planets that orbit around it. GJ 3998 has three known planets: GJ 3998 B, GJ 3998 Cy the newly discovered GJ 3998 d. This discovery was possible thanks to the Hades project, an international initiative that uses the Nazionale Galileo telescope (TNG) at the Rocque de los Muchachos Observatory, in La Palma, to look for planets around small and near stars. Image | Gabriel Pérez Díaz (SMM, IAC) In Xataka | The Webb Telescope has observed a planet so extreme that the clouds are rock and in the cold night 600 ºC ago

In 1972 the US returned to Japan the islands that China claims since 1895. A buoy recalled that the conflict is not over

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Year 2018. A buoy appears in the exclusive economic zone of Japan in the Eastern China Sea. The Boya, strategically installed, is near the Diaoyu Islands (Senkaku in Japan), and carries the Chinese “flag”. Since then, the buoys have been multiplying in a clear message to the past. The islands, according to China, They have belonged for centuries. The historical context. The tensions between China and Japan by the Diaoyu Islands (called Senkaku in the Japanese nation) They date back to the nineteenth centurywhen Japan attached them in 1895 after the First Sin-Japanese War. Later, at the end of World War II, The United States administered the islands until 1972, when it returned them to Japanwhich It generated protests from China and Taiwanthat claim them based on historical records dating from the Ming dynasty. Not just that. The dispute intensified in 2012 when Japan nationalized some of the islands, causing strong reactions in China, manifestations and deterioration in bilateral relations. Over the years, military presence and maritime patrols in the area have been increasing, with frequent incidents between Chinese and Japanese ships, which maintains the dispute as a voltage focus on East Asia. The case of the Boya (s) has raised tensions. A diplomatic gesture in a context with tensions. Last Monday, China withdrew one of the buoys that had placed in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Japan Near the disputed Senkaku Islands, a movement that seemed to be able to pave the path for the summit among the leaders of both countries this year. The Japan Coast Guard confirmed that the Boya, installed in July 2023 within the Japanese EEZ in the Eastern China Sea, It was withdrawn and is now in a new location outside the Japanese jurisdiction. As we said, The installation of buoys in waters close to the Senkaku is part of a Chinese strategy to reaffirm his territorial claim on the islands, known in the nation as Diaoyu. Tokyo has repeatedly protested against these actionsdemanding the withdrawal of the devices. What does China say. China’s Ministry of Foreign Relations assured that The buoy had “completed its task on the site”suggesting that his retirement was voluntary and for technical purposes. Beijing argues that these devices They only have hydrometeorological endsand that serve to monitor ocean currents and climate, although analysts warn that the information collected, such as water temperature, could have military applications. Impact on relationships. The withdrawal of this last buoy is produced in A context of diplomatic approach between China and Japan. In December, the visit of the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Takeshi Iwayaya, to Beijing resulted Treated waters of the Fukushima nuclear plant. In fact, these gestures are those that have promoted the possibility of a summit between Japanese prime minister, Shigeru Ihiba, and President Xi Jinping, a summit that could be done in May. One of the buoys placed by China And after the retreat of the buoy, more tension. However, the situation in the Eastern China Sea is far from finishing: in the same 2023, ships of the Chinese coast guard were sighted near the Senkaku for 353 days, a historical record. In addition, a few hours ago the Japanese coast guard reported that Four Chinese government boats briefly ventured into Japanese territorial waters. According to Chinese authorities, these operations seek to protect China’s rights and interests in the area in accordance with the law. There are more. In December 2023, Japan detected a new buoy near Yonaguni Islandin the southwest of its territory, and demanded its withdrawal. Beijing has always rejected demand, insisting that its use is strictly meteorological. The chief secretary of the Japanese Cabinet, Yoshimasa Hayashi, has avoided specular about the reasons behind the retreat of the buoy in the Senkaku, but reaffirmed that Japan will continue to demand the elimination of the one located in Yonaguni. Distance Japan from USA. Boya’s retreat could be interpreted as an effort from China to improve its ties with Tokyo and at the same time weakens the alliance between Japan and the United States. No doubt, the growing rivalry between Beijing and Washington has intensified after the victory of Donald Trump in the presidential elections, which has led China to search New diplomatic strategies in the region. Meanwhile, in Washington, Ishiba and Donald Trump held their first meeting last Fridaywhere they reaffirmed their commitment to deal with “Chinese aggression” in the southern and east seas of China. In a joint statement, both leaders They defended the stability in the Taiwan Strait and supported Taiwan’s participation In international organizations. China reacted with indignation, qualifying these statements as an open interference in their internal affairsand presented diplomatic protests against the United States and Japan. So? In this “Take and Daca” between the two nations, where there is a step forward and then retreat, the distancing seems to be maintained. Although the withdrawal of the buoy near the Senkaku could be interpreted as a gesture of approach between Beijing and Tokyo, the reality in the Eastern China Sea remains marked by the territorial dispute. The constant presence of Chinese ships in the area and The refusal to remove the buoy in Yonaguni They do not leave many doubts, and suggest that China is still committed to strengthening its control over these strategic waters. Image | Al Jazeera, GNOLIZXChinese Academy of Science In Xataka | South Korea has found a great structure in the waters that is disputed with China. It is the second time, and Beijing does not deny it In Xataka | If China is shown again in front of Taiwan in the next two years a surprise will be found: the US Army

The Japan islands closest to Taiwan have begun to evacuate the area. They have been preparing for the worst for two years

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For decades, Ishigaki It was a back of peace where the greatest concern of its inhabitants was to protect their climate crops and pests. However, for a while to this part The growing tension between China and Taiwan (and United States)has turned the small Japanese island, located only 300 km from Taiwan, into a potential conflict point. Like Ishigaki, to rest of Sakishima Islandsfrom Okinawa’s prefecture, the same thing happens to them, and they are preparing for the worst. The case of Ishigaki. A few years ago, the island has already “armed.” The installation of anti -mushroom missiles and anti -aircraft in the enclavepart of an ambitious military modernization plan in Japan, sought to strengthen the defense of the country, but it could also make Ishigaki a target in case of a confrontation in the region. Farmers like Tetsuhiro Kinjowhose greenhouse is now in the line of fire, They related to New York Times if they can continue living in peace or if the paradise that they have built will disappear under the crossfire of the powers. Of the economic opportunity to the military threat. Japan has long been to see China as an opportunity for economic growth To consider it a direct threat to your safety. For years, the relationship between the two countries It was marked by territorial disputescommercial tensions and the memory of World War II, but always with a political position that avoided confrontations. However, the hardening of Beijing’s control over Hong Kong and Xinjiang, their growing dominance in global supply chains and their aggressive movements in the Eastern China Sea They have generated a change in Japanese perception. The Taiwan inclusion in Japan’s White Bile for the first time reflected Tokyo’s growing concern on the future of the island and its impact on regional stability. The dilemma In the background, the Possibility of a conflict in Taiwan It generates a strategic dilemma for Japan. Some analysts fear that a war in the region not only will bring direct clashes, but serve as pretext for China to try to seize the disputed senkaku isletswhich manages Japan but Beijing claims as his. This concern has given a new impulse to the political sectors that seek to review the Pacifist Constitution of Japan, a historically controversial issue, although increasingly backed in the current context. Not just that. The passage of time does not seem to appease tension Between Taiwan and China, but quite the oppositeso Japan has decided to prepare its closest islands to an eventual geopolitical conflict of major words. Evacuation plans. Before the growing possibility of that crisis In Taiwan, The Japanese government has been designing evacuation plans since 2023 For approximately 120,000 residents of the Sakishima Islands chain, in Okinawa prefecture. The strategy seeks Move the population to the Kyushu region and Yamaguchi prefecturealthough it faces serious logistics challenges, from the availability of transport to the preparation of adequate infrastructure to receive the evacuees. Planning has accelerated as China shows a more aggressive position In the Eastern China Sea and the South China Sea, increasing concerns about a possible invasion of Taiwan and its repercussions in Japan. Logistic challenges No doubt, the Japanese government has identified multiple obstacles for mass evacuation in case of conflict. The plans include The authorization of airports and ports in Fukuoka and Kagoshima as a key exit pointsalthough the estimated time to complete the evacuation of the entire population would be at least six days, a figure that experts consider optimistic and difficult to meet in an emergency scenario. In addition, the lack of adequate infrastructure in local ports and airports, such as the need for clues of at least 3,000 meters and greater depth in the docks to receive large ships, has been pointed out as a critical problem. Maybe for all this, Maritime transport is contemplated as an essential alternativeespecially for those who cannot fly for medical reasons (plus: adverse weather conditions could complicate their viability). In parallel, A plan has begun to improve the capacity of shelters on the mainlandincluding the construction of underground facilities to provide temporary refuge for approximately two weeks in case of attack with ballistic missiles. Drills and tests. As we said, since 2023, the Nation has carried out simulation exercises to evaluate the viability of evacuation and improve coordination between local and national authorities. In March 2024 and This same week of 2025 exercises have been carried out of mapping under the Civil Protection Law, recreating an imminent attack scenario with part of the population participating in the drill. In addition, at the end of 2024 the authorities tested A model case in which 1,000 residents of Tarama Island were evacuated to refuge facilities in the prefecture of Kumamoto. Tests, in short, that have allowed identifying failures in coordination and the availability of resources, which has led to the review of the protocols. In this regard, one of the most urgent problems is the supply of food and supplies for a displaced population of that magnitude, a challenge that will require exceptional logistics to guarantee the efficient distribution of resources. Security evacuating. One of the biggest risks identified in these plans is The vulnerability of evacuation transport to possible attacks. In this regard, a government official has warned that The airplanes and ships that move to the civilian population could become military objectiveswhich would make an essential significant reinforcement of Japan’s air and naval defense. In addition, this has revived The debate on the strengthening of the country’s defensive capabilitiesparticularly in a context where Japan has increased its defense budget and has reinforced its military cooperation with the United States and other allies. An uncertain scenario. Thus, the growing approach to Japan in mass evacuations planning reflects a change in their security perception, going from a deterrence to deterrence to a most active preparation against possible military contingencies. While tensions in the Taiwan Strait continue to climb, the nation is in a career against time to ensure that its population is … Read more

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