*[Enwl-eng] The only whale sanctuary in Europe is under threat

[ENWL]

      The EU is set to fund the destruction of Europe’s only whale 
sanctuary. All because profit-seeking businessmen are pushing to redirect 
money into a new megaport – right in the middle of it! A half a 
million-strong petition could get us the meeting with the EU Commission we 
need to avert this disaster.

      SIGN THE PETITION!
This petition was launched on our YouMove platform by the Citizens Platform 
'No to Fonsalía Port'. We think it may interest you.

Hi,

Europe’s only whale sanctuary is under threat. All because profit-seeking 
businessmen are pushing to redirect EU money into a new megaport – right in 
the middle of it!

Today, more than sixteen species of whales and dolphins find safety in a 
strip of calm waters in the Canary Islands. [1] As one of only five 
sanctuaries in the entire world, it’s a gem we can all be proud of. [2] 
After months of backroom talks, businessmen are sneaking their project 
through while people's attention is elsewhere in August.

The good news is: they need EU funding to make it happen. The same funds the 
EU Commission promised would be spent with the environment in mind. But, 
with billions of euros to provide to thousands of projects across Europe, 
the EU is not watching closely enough. If we raise our voices together, we 
could shine a spotlight on the sanctuary before it’s too late.

Right now we’re pushing to secure a meeting with the EU Commission. Already, 
over 340,000 people have signed the petition to save the sanctuary, but the 
more of us that stand united, the better our chances will be.

So, will you add your name and help us hit half a million signatures before 
it’s too late?

      Yes, I'll sign!

In Tenerife, thousands of great mammals find a paradise to rest, thrive and 
reproduce.

Well, that’s when there’s no ship traffic. Hope, a baby whale, has become a 
symbol for the whale sanctuary – her tail was shredded by a passing boat. 
Hope, like many reefs, turtles and dolphins, didn’t survive. Imagine what a 
megaport with cruise ships and boats would do to the area. We’d see hundreds 
more stories like Hope’s each week.


The baby whale 'Hope', after a passing boat shredded her tail.
When local Canarians launched this petition, they knew this was a common 
European concern. They knew Europe is not just about EU politics. It’s about 
how we join forces to influence what is happening in all of our hometowns, 
villages and countries.

That’s why so many are already standing up for the sanctuary. But if we can 
get to half a million supporters, the EU Commission would have a hard time 
refusing a meeting with us. Can you help the petition get there, and block 
the funding needed to damage the whale sanctuary?

      Yes, I'll sign!

Thank you for joining the movement to help to protect our wildlife,
David (London), Virginia (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria), Tom (Brussels), Mika 
(Bordeaux) and the whole WeMove Europe team



P.S. As you read this, the lobby of local businessmen are already reacting 
to people’s mobilisations and making joint declarations to push for the 
megaport, as their allies in the local parliament just won a vote. [3] Time 
is of the essence – take action to protect Europe’s natural heritage now!



References:
[1] 
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/231778730_Cetacean_diversity_and_distribution_off_Tenerife_Canary_Islands
https://www.canarianweekly.com/posts/tenerife-first-whale-heritage-site-europe 
and 
https://verdeyazul.diarioinformacion.com/por-que-tenerife-es-el-primer-lugar-patrimonio-de-ballenas-de-europa.html
[2] https://whaleheritagesites.org/heritage-sites-2/
[3] (in Spanish) 
https://www.eldia.es/tenerife/2021/08/10/cest-pide-ampliar-puerto-cristianos-56112336.html
https://cadenaser.com/emisora/2021/07/31/radio_club_tenerife/1627730589_371975.html



You Move Europe is an online action platform dedicated to help making Europe 
a more democratic, environmentally and socially just place. You Move Europe 
puts power in your hands. If you have an idea to make Europe a better place, 
You Move Europe helps you make it a reality. Petitions on this platform are 
started and run by civil society groups and members of the public. WeMove 
Europe hosts these petitions and they are in line with our values but they 
are not necessarily endorsed by WeMove Europe.


From: David - WeMove Europe
Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2021 3:25 PM
Subject: The only whale sanctuary in Europe is under threat

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