05 Apr

Posted at 13:12h in Opinion Piece, SustainableTourism by
0 Likes
Local activists are organising large-scale demonstrations across the Canary Islands on April 20th, to make their concerns heard over the impact of a rampant increase in tourism numbers and large-scale resorts planned in the islands. While the Canary Islands depend heavily on tourism for their income and are among world leaders in providing holidays in the sun, the current tourism model favours international developers with a record return on their investment and unrivalled occupancy rates year-round. This has led to traffic jams, pricing locals out of the housing market, and increase pressure on natural resources. Local administration representatives and hoteliers are speaking out against the demonstrations, saying that any negative coverage could impact tourism numbers and lead to job losses. However, reasonable and sustainable solutions are available.

04 Apr

Posted at 09:31h in Opinion Piece, Published paper by
0 Likes
After nearly fifty years without showing obvious signs of volcanic activity on the surface, in 2021 there was a new eruption in the area known as Cabeza de Vaca in La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain). The eruption lasted eighty-five days and caused numerous losses due to the extensive area affected by the continuous lava flows and the fall of pyroclasts. The eruption received extensive coverage in the regional, national and global media for weeks after it began, and became one of the most well-recorded eruptions in recent years. Researchers from GeoTenerife and VolcansCanarias analysed the communication work during the eruption of La Palma 2021.

04 Apr

Posted at 09:19h in Opinion Piece by
0 Likes
A God that is ‘with us’ may seem a long way off amid volcanic crises, and yet, the work of one charity ‘Caritas’, has been an extraordinary example of working with the local community during disasters and the subsequent recovery, and a light within the darkness.  In La Palma, Cáritas Diocesana de Tenerife, a charity that works throughout Catholic dioceses across the world to ‘end poverty, promote justice and restore dignity’, has helped over 3,000 people affected by the eruption by stepping in where government assistance has been felt to be insufficient. This article will explore the work of Caritas within community recovery from the 2021 eruption, and the role of the faith-based organisations within disasters, before questioning what we can learn.

04 Apr

Posted at 09:02h in Opinion Piece by
0 Likes
We have long since entered an era where social media is our main source of news. Our timelines are oversaturated with ten-second reels, clickbait, delicate stories explained in 145 characters, and even the latest trends (such as 2023’s ins and outs) being used by government comms teams. A fast news cycle combined with a disaster of any scale can mean the people most affected can be put to one side to make way for likes, comments and revenue. This article will explore the ethics of using social media during disasters, with a specific focus on volcanic crises. 

04 Apr

Posted at 08:45h in Opinion Piece by
0 Likes
Volcanoes have both fascinated us as a species and facilitated our development for millennia; owing to the many benefits of living on volcanic lands, such as fertile soils, building materials, and tourism many communities have chosen to make their home on the flanks of active volcanoes across the world (Brown et al., 2015). However, despite all that they offer us, volcanoes can take everything away, and change our lives in an instant. For those living on volcanic lands, it is crucial to understand the risks associated with living close to a volcano. How individuals think about understanding that risk is called Risk Perception.

03 Apr

Posted at 09:26h in La Palma, Reconstruction, VolcanoStories by
0 Likes
Lava Bombs 2: The Reconstruction Premieres on La Palma at Teatro Chico cinema. The hard-hitting film follows on from the prequel Lava Bombs: Truths Behind the Volcano, and analyses the current situation on the island and the progress of reconstruction of the island, through the voices of those affected. 63 more homes opened in Puerto Naos: From 18th March, 63 more homes, located in the green, orange and red zones of the town, have been opened up for their inhabitants. The €1.7 million fine imposed on the Insular Water Council in 2023 for the nature of the installation of the Las Hoyas-Remo pipeline has expired

04 Mar

Posted at 13:35h in La Palma, Reconstruction, VolcanoStories by
0 Likes
• GeoTenerife attends Cities on Volcanoes: GeoTenerife and international collaborators attended the Cities on Volcanoes Conference in Antigua, Guatemala, to share their research and lessons learnt from La Palma with a global volcanological audience •Current aid summary: The public resources reaching La Palma after the volcano have reached €950 million. •Water recovery: Work is ongoing to recovery drinking water to the coastal areas Corujo and Cabrera in Tazacorte, that were both affected by the eruption and have been without drinking water in their homes since.