The popular protests against oil prospecting in Canarian waters continue, with the Atlantic crossing of the boat ‘Clean Ocean Project’ weighing anchor next Monday, 17th December from Corralejo.

The journey, which will take approximately 30 days to reach the Caribbean, is being undertaken as a symbolic act to represent ‘the popular request to care and respect the maritime environment’. It is also intended to reinforce opinion against the decision taken by the Government of Spain authorising Repsol to begin exploration of the waters just off the coasts of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.

“The Atlantic crossing of Oceano raises our voice in denouncing the actions of Repsol as irresponsible and entailing an unacceptable risk for those who live here”, commented WimGeirnaert, team member and founder of the non-governmental organization the Clean Ocean Project, which has its base in Fuerteventura.

The organization feels that the Spanish Government has completely ignored the Canarian Government, as well as the governments of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura and many local environmental groups who have roundly rejected the proposal for oil exploration in Canarian waters.

Wim added that this latest action is part of the bigger campaign to ‘Say No to Prospecting in the Canaries’ and will act as a reminder to the Spanish Government that ‘we are still here and we will not accept this imposition under the promise of generating economic activity.