Ladron
Even if not legally, it
certainly looks like Lanjaron Water has stolen Lanjaron's name. "Don't
ask for water, ask for Lanjaron"
is their corporate slogan. Imagine if Seville or London had its name
turned into a bottle of pop, there would be a public outcry.
At the very least Danone should be forced to change its name as it is
no longer a public utility.
Following the theme of the acequias article
on this site, what exactly is Lanjaron's (the town) policy on sustainable
development?
On one hand it blows its trumpet about its beautiful watercourses, (see
Federico
Garcia Lorca poems splattered all over
Lanjaron's chlorinated "SPRINGS"), on the other hand it's
sold its water out to a French multinational corporation that seems
hellbent on concreting acequias and acquiring more and more water rights
for its bottling plant. Its well known that concreting
acequias quickly leads to the drying up of the hillsides, erosion and
aquifer depletion. How is this compatible with the
National Park's biodiversity plans? (see National Park Magazines).
Incidentally, Llorca was shot during the civil war for his liberal beliefs.
If he were alive today he'd certainly be against the
current tide of water privitization and the destruction of the acequias
he clearly cherished! On the way into Lanjaron from
Granada the message above the springs reads "the song of water
is eternal". Well, I'd like to think so but unfortunately it isn't,
and the worry is that if "Lanjaron's" and the Rules dam get
their way, the Alpujarran water will be concreted, piped, bottled,
redirected, exported and sold to quench the thirst of the growing coastal
industries such as plasticulture and tourism (ie;
swimming pools and golf courses). The future of this area needs to be
thought of in terms of centuries, not just short term economic benefits
as seems to be the case the world over.
Please feel free to copy the
image and make t-shirts, badges, posters etc!