Hundreds of people gathered this Saturday in Plaza Cibeles called by Anima Naturalis in response to the ‘mascletà’ that will be held this Sunday in Madrid Río and to protest “its consequences” on the fauna and flora of the environment.
Raising yellow signs into the air that read ‘No pyrotechnics’, the attendees, close to 200 according to Municipal Police sources and 400 according to the Government Delegation, have denounced the celebration of the event with slogans such as ‘Almeida, Madrid is not silent’, ‘ Less noise and more empathy’ or ‘No to mascletà’.
The figure of the mayor of the capital, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, has been especially criticized during the concentration. “For a bet you cannot spend 46,000 euros on 300 kilos of gunpowder in a renaturalized area with more than 180 species of animals and could damage both the ecosystem and people and animals in the area,” stressed the coordinator of Anima Naturalis, Jaime Posada.
From this entity, they have pointed out that according to veterinary reports, “pyrotechnics can cause cardiac arrest and deafness in animals,” although people can also “suffer the same damage.”
Along these lines, Posada has indicated the existence of a nearby hospital, where “many people could be affected.” In addition, he has pointed out that the noise, which will last “constantly” for seven minutes, can evoke memories in those who “have come to experience the war.”
“If what they want is to sponsor Valencia, the Fallas of Valencia and many other things that can be sponsored without having to harm people or animals,” he stated.
Likewise, he regretted that the event will not be able to be stopped, although given the possibility that it will be organized again next year, he has assured that they will propose “a place where no one is harmed” and “other alternatives to sponsor Valencia.” .
The socialist spokesperson at City Hall, Reyes Maroto, also attended the rally, denouncing that “Madrid does not have to pay for the Popular Party’s party for having won the elections in Valencia.”
“The chosen place is an environment that, as you know, is protected. Many species of birds are nesting at the moment and a great effort has also been made to recover everything along the banks of the Manzanares,” he added.
Furthermore, he has attacked the mayor of Valencia, María José Catalá Verdet, for having called the opponents of the ‘mascletà’ “catetos”, a word “with a very negative connotation.” In this sense, she has demanded respect “because education is above everything.” “We are not hicks, we are people who want to work for a better Madrid, for a green Madrid and a social Madrid,” she concluded.
“AN ALMEIDA SCHAN”
In another demonstration, in this case in support of the Palestinian people, the spokesperson for Más Madrid in the City Council, Rita Maestre, highlighted that her party “has not moved one bit since the controversy began”, stating that the event is ” an Almeida scam, with a contract awarded at the last minute by hand to a friendly company”.
“This bungling, which cannot be placed in an environmentally protected space like Madrid Río, has to be stopped,” he denounced, celebrating speaking on behalf of “a very large majority of citizens.”
