leafar

I havent posted in a while. Its because im trying to sort my life out.


Anyway, what do people think of the idea that they should become an independent country?

I was born in Tenerife, and im not sure.


Advantages :

- It would be good because in a lot of ways its not Spain.

- It would be a nice novelty to be able to say that i come from this new country, consisting of 7 small islands in the atlantic.

- Hopefully whoevers in charge would try to reverse some of the negative aspects (ie overpopulation, too much urbanization)

- Maybe this new country would become richer


Disadvantages :

- I hate the term Canarian. It just sounds so silly. In spanish it sounds fine, though (its petty, i know)

- Some people might get strange ideas like trying to establish the Canary Islands dialect as a separate language from spanish. It is very different, but not different enough. Ive even seen people spell "que" as "ke", which makes me sick.

- The idea of a guanche identity is also really stupid. "Guanche Republic" is a term that ive come across but it doesnt make sense. There are no guanches left. The spanish (ie me) killed them all, basically wiped out their culture, and had sex with some of them, meaning that im a mixture i guess. But claiming that we're guanches is silly.

Discuss, boys and girls.

Licinius

Yes, not just with the Canaries but I think the idea of being ruled by another country is very imperialistic & should come to an end.

doreen

Good to see you back here, leafar

I know little about the movement for Canarian Independence, except the fact that it was a bomb warning in Las Palmas airport that rerouted the second 747 to Tenerife North which was later involved in that awful accident ... and that probably highlights the main problem with "freedom fighters" and nationalists - a seeming indifference to the fate of others, be they innocent bystanders or opponents.

I can´t see how independence would be of any benefit to the islands - normally, it is an asset rich area like the Basque country or Catalonia (or Scotland) that sees holding on to their own riches (oil, coal etc) as their right ... what, bar sunshine, is there here to protect ?

Licinius

How much is tourism worth to Teneife?

doreen

I haven´t looked into the figures, but presume the Islands need (depend on?) the large subsidies given by Central Government ... I am open to correction.

Licinius

Not from me cos I have no idea I'd be very surprised though if the Canaries are not self sufficient

Muppet

Unlikely!

Next question though - independant within or outside the EU. If you look around at many of the infra-structural projects taking place thoughout the Islands, most are funded by the EU even though we are not a full member.

Independance within the EU will eventually be irrelevant since the EU's objectives are a single federal state.

Independance outside the EU could be financially difficult.

What we do need here, above all else, is the proper deregulation of the basic "services" - Telecoms, Power etc., to allow competition proper. The costs of Telecoms especially is ludicrously high in comparison to the rest of Europe and stands in the way of our ability to progress!

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Akualele

The independence movment in the Canaries doesn´t seem as large as one may think. A lot of Canarians do not support it outright, although they may seem to show such an inclination when the Spanish government does something to anger the local population.

I do not normally support independence movements, unless they seek release from Fascist or totalitarian governments. For me, however, the biggest proof that the Canarian independence movement is fraudulent is its failure to remove itself financially from Spain. Coalition Canaria plays this game of talking independence, then asking for more financial help. It seems to me that you have to show the ability to live on your own before you seek independence. The Canarian government has not shown that ability.

Some of you might have already read the proposals of the "new" Guanche government of the Canaries. It is written by a Canarian lawyer, a leader in the indepence movement here. It is idealistic, and terribly, terribly naive. The problem that I have with idealism is that the idealist fails to understand that idealism is a product of the mind, of the imagination. It often does not take into account the needs of the greater whole, or the needs of differing groups. Which leads me to believe that inherent within the idealistic framework resides totalitarianism, or fascism. Fascism because in order for the ideal to take perfect shape, all differing views will have to be crushed. History shows this over and over again.

In Hawaii, there are small and vociferous groups of independence seekers who want to remove ties to the United States. They want to reinitiate the Royalty and go back to the old Hawaii Kingdom. Since I am Hawaiian I can say openly that they are freaking crazy. I much prefer a system where you at least have recourse to some justice, rather than a system where a few priviledged undeserving royalties have a life or death power of their people.

So . . . I do not support the indepence of Hawaii. I support autonomy, but not independence. I do not trust the leaders of such movements, nor their motives.

But ultimately the decision in the Canaries is up to their people. But since so many politicians here are corrupt, such a move by the Canarian people, in my opinion, would be a grave mistake.

Rainer

If the "United Canarian Islands" got independent, they would belong to Africa - politically and geographically.

The UCI were an African nation without the need to help boat people as they have to do now.

A clear downside to the refugees, I think.

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Fred Perry

Total Independance may be a step too far. I would always like The Canary Islands to be part of the EEC for financial stabilty.
Spanish politics are a complex affair. Certain areas of Spain lean towards Indepdance, the biggest being Catalunya and The Basque Country. Other regions with breakaway tendancies are Galicia, Andalucia and The Canary Islands.

I really hate it when the ex pats say "The Spanish" when they refer to locals, it shows such a lack of respect and knowledge. Would you call a Welsh person,yeah that "Brit" down the road. No, I dont think so.

You have to defend where you are from or where you live. When we go to the mainland(especially Madrid) to support CD Tenerife we get all the abuse like "African b****" etc. and other phrases. I am English but that just confuses them.

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