25 years of the emblematic ecologist occupation of Sa Dragonera

This Sunday, July 7 is the 25th anniversary of the famous occupation of the Sa Dragonera by Freedom and Ecologist activists.

At the end of the 60s and beginning of the 70s, in the so called tourist boom, large tourist urbanisations started to be projected in the Balearics in the best natural areas of the coast. In a short time, the islands suffered the process of severe urbanisation that originated the concept known as "Balearisation" known by promoters in the world as an example of what should not be done to a coast.

The continuous destruction on the coast line and unchecked urbanistic speculation initiated in the Islands a movement that had started in the United States during the sixties: ecologism. A very important mile stone that marked the future of Balearic ecologism is the occupation of Sa Dragonera by freedom and ecologist groups, with a view to avoiding the project of a luxury urbanisation on the island. The action, that took place on July 7, 1977, had so much repercussion that the urbanisation was stopped and now the island is a Natural Park. Next Sunday, July 7, is the 25th anniversary of that famous occupation of Sa Dragonera.

More information:
- Sa Dragonera Natural Park, article published on MallorcaWeb (22/7/2001).
- Information on Sa Dragonera at WebVerd

Photos © BalearWeb:
1. The island Es Pantaleu, in the foreground. In the background, cape of Es Llebeig, extreme SW of the island Sa Dragonera.
2. The island Sa Dragonera, seen from Sant Elm.
3. The island Dragonera, seen from Sa Mola del Port d'Andratx

Date of publication: 04/07/2002

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