Thousands of Canary Islanders take to the streets to protest against mass ... trends now
Thousands of Canary Islanders took to the streets of the Atlantic archipelago today to protest against the problems caused by mass tourism and demand their politicians take action.
Demonstrators packed into Weyler Square in the Tenerife capital Santa Cruz, the start point for a march on the Brit-popular holiday island, just before midday with banners including one that said: 'You enjoy we suffer' in English.
Others said: 'Where is the money from tourism?' and 'Tourist moratorium now.'
They waved Canary Islands' flags and blew vuvuzelas to make a deafening noise.
Protests also got underway at the same time in the other islands in the archipelago, including Lanzarote and Gran Canaria, with support demos scheduled for the Spanish mainland in cities like Malaga and Madrid as well as London and Berlin.
The Canary Islands protests were organised under the slogan 'Canarias Tiene Un Limite' which in English translates as 'The Canary Islands have a limit.'
Demonstrators packed into Weyler Square in the Tenerife capital Santa Cruz, the start point for a march on the Brit-popular holiday island
Canary Islanders took to the streets of the Atlantic archipelago today to protest against the problems caused by mass tourism
The huge crowd massed just before midday with banners including one that said: 'You enjoy we suffer' in English
The backdrop to the demos is an ongoing hunger strike six men and women began on April 11 outside a church in the northern Tenerife town of La Laguna
Official sources put the number of demonstrators in Tenerife at midday at around 10,000 people
One proposed project involves the construction of a five-star hotel by one of Tenerife's last virgin beaches
Campaigners have been quick to distance themselves from anti-tourist graffiti which appeared on walls and benches in and around Palm Mar in southern Tenerife at the start of the month
At the beginning of this week a picture was published in local press showing the words 'Go Home' on a hire car in Tenerife
The backdrop to the demos is an ongoing hunger strike six men and women began on April 11 outside a church in the northern Tenerife town of La Laguna.
Speaking ahead of the start of today's demonstrations, a spokesman for protest platform Canarias Se Agota which the hunger strikers are affiliated to, said: 'Today, April 20, marks the 10th day of the hunger strike.
'Today we cannot forget these people who are putting their lives at risk for our Earth.
'Their determination inspires, their bravery moves us, their sacrifice reminds us that this struggle is everyone's and for everyone.
'We are writing a new chapter in the history of our islands, a chapter marked by the unwavering perseverance of those who bravely defend our home.
'Today the Canary Islands will scream and fight, and tomorrow it will continue to do so.'
Campaigners have been quick to distance themselves from anti-tourist graffiti which appeared on walls and benches in and around Palm Mar in southern Tenerife at the start of the month.
At the beginning of this week a picture was published in local press showing the words 'Go Home' on a hire car in Tenerife.
The protests in the Canary Islands are mostly taking place away from the main tourist areas, which in Tenerife and Gran Canaria are in the south of the islands
Protest groups including Canarias Se Agota, which in English translates literally as 'The Canary Islands are Exhausted', want the authorities to paralyse two tourist projects
The Canary Islands protests were organised under the slogan 'Canarias Tiene Un Limite' which in English translates as 'The Canary Islands have a limit'
The estimate for how many people attended had increased to 15,000 by 1pm local time with some predictions it could end up surpassing the 50,000 mark
The islands are threatened by sea pollution, traffic gridlock and lack of cheap affordable housing linked to the pushing-up of property prices because of Airbnb-style holiday lets
Other demands include the protection of natural spaces, a tourist tax and better working conditions for hotel cleaners
Protest groups including Canarias Se Agota, which in English translates literally as 'The
