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Just and Sustainable Economy
for Lanzarote
Mass-market tourism and unsustainable development,
advanced largely by off-Island corporate interests, have driven
Lanzarote's economy. The over-expansion of mass tourism has
degraded Lanzarote's unique natural and cultural environment,
inflated the cost of living, driven up housing prices, and
generated mainly low paying service jobs. Continued promotion of
mass tourism and luxury shopping malls will mostly further
enrich mainland corporations and well-connected local allies,
not Lanzarote's average citizens.
We call for a new definition of wealth that
includes clean air and water, biodiversity, health and education
instead of destructive growth. We encourage "sustainable
development," which means that economic activities satisfy
everyones basic needs and provide a high quality of life for
people today, without destroying the environment, the heritage
of the Islands past, or compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their needs.
Lanzarote could grow and process its own food,
instead of importing at least 80% of it. Islanders could use
energy more efficiently and use locally available renewable
energy sources rather than pay for expensive imported fossil
fuels. Supporting local manufacturers, artisans and services
would keep money in our local economy. Reducing imports would
mean lessening our dependence on the income derived from mass
tourism to supply our basic needs.
In sum, we favor an economy that benefits the
whole community. We envision a business environment that rewards
the local entrepreneur, the small business, and the responsible
locally owned company. Many well-proven ways exist to increase
the value of local products, and to develop and support the
community's human capital - the talent, experience, and
knowledge of our own residents.
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