The mayor, Concepción Narváez, inaugurated this morning the IV International Peace Conference organized by the Rotary Club Maspalomas
The Rotary Club Maspalomas held, this morning at the Lopesan Costa Meloneras Hotel, the IV International Rotary Peace Conference in Maspalomas, within a cycle of interventions around raising awareness about peace and sustainability. The mayor, Concepción Narváez, inaugurated the day of reflection together with the Councilor for Culture, Elena Espino and the Tourism Councilor of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, Carlos Álamo.
For Mayor Narváez, it is important to highlight that “something that is so natural for us, such as living in peace and in a sustainable territory, is not natural for other places in the world, which is why we must continue debating these issues in a city like this one.” , where different nationalities coexist in harmony.”
Narváez wanted to remember that “Maspalomas Costa Canaria was named 'Rotary City of Peace' in Spain in 2016, and the official inauguration was on June 30 at the Monument to Peace, on Paseo Príncipe de Asturias, in Meloneras. “It was quite an honor for this municipality.”
In his opening speech he recalled that, at the last IX International Tourism Forum of Maspalomas Costa Canaria, he argued “about the importance of sustainability in the actions we carry out as public and institutional leaders. And, as it is very much in line with the inaugural program of this magnificent and laudable institution that is The Rotary Club of Maspalomas, I want to repeat them and argue them in this inaugural day and conference where, "The Spanish Cleanup" Project, deals with awareness for the conservation and cleaning of our natural spaces.”
The Councilor for Culture Elena Espino has declared that “it is important that all these values are transmitted to young people, so that Maspalomas continues to be a Rotary City of Peace. “That we form as people, that we become better.”
The Tourism Councilor of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, Carlos Álamo, highlighted that, “in strange times like the ones we are experiencing right now, the island of Gran Canaria precisely offers a series of extra values: the tranquility of coexistence between nationalities, freedom for diversity and security in times of pandemic.”
Manuel Menéndez, Governor of Rotary District 2201, concluded by adding that “we are going to work for peace and all these young people who are part of these talks,” referring to those attending the conference.
Both Menéndez and Daniel Bazán, member of the Rotary Club Maspalomas and organizer of the event, have been very satisfied with the result of the IV International Rotary Conference in Maspalomas, “precisely in the midst of a pandemic is when we must work the most to raise awareness and to help to those most in need,” Bazán assured.
In front of a group of students from IES El Tablero and Colegio Arenas, the series of conferences started with the intervention “The Spanish Cleanup, raising awareness for conservation and cleaning of natural spaces”, which was given by Gonzalo Sánchez, district representative. from District 2201 who, at only 21 years old, is a Nautical and Maritime Transport Engineer and Merchant Navy Officer dedicated to taking Spanish scientists around the world in search of the effects of climate change.
According to Sánchez, waste from the American continent or Europe is already reaching Antarctica and destroying species such as penguins and whales. "More than 2.000 kilometers from land in our expeditions we have found waste, dragged by ocean currents." Precisely, The Spanish Cleanup is a program of actions developed by Rotary and Rotaract in Spain for environmental education, recycling and sustainable development. Groups of young people coordinate to clean beaches, rivers, forests and all types of environments.
Under the title “Chronology of Peace”, the following conference was held by Andrés Barriales, Past Governor of District 2201, who wanted to highlight above all that “Peace is born within each of us to be able to connect it with the inner peace of others. It is important to get vaccinated, it is true that it should be an exercise of freedom, but it should never attack the freedom of others, their freedom to take care of themselves. We have to think globally, but from the individual peace of each one.”
The IV International Rotary Conference in Maspalomas has been organized by the Rotary Club Maspalomas, with the support of the City Council of San Bartolomé de Tirajana and the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, through the Ministry of Solidaridad Internacional.