teapotmonk.com

Despite the reported fever in the national press about this weekends local elections, people on the street appear to be a little less enthusiastic about the promise of no-change than the publicity merchants let us believe. Where is the spirit of change in these electorally bland times?

Despite the speed with which the electoral posters went up, they are being ripped down again by the infantile party squabbling activists who somehow believe in their tiny minds that such actions constitute important political scores.

Despite an overall majority, the ruling PSOE warn that the opposition (PP) could sneak into a position of electoral influence without a big turnout from loyal supporters. This I doubt, as they only have a couple of concejales at present with all the charisma of a discarded racion of cold churros. They would need a popular revolution to achieve a success here, something that the PP have until now tried not to encourage. However the 3rd party, a sort of izquierdista - verde alliance has at least a distinct campaign of protecting the vega, the green spaces that surround us here and challenging the hegemony of traffic culture in this narrow streeted and overparked town. Shame they have about as much chance of winning as Donald Rumsfield has of achieving the Nobel peace prize.

Despite the heat wave of the last week, last night saw a change in the climate, rain fell and fell and fell. (See video).Will this reflect a change in the childish campaigns underway by the political parties? Will this promote a period of reflection and respect for the battered electorate in Loja? Will Rajoy have a shave and then subscribe to Bit-Torrent? We may live in hope.

Change is always necessary after a few mandates of the same party. I'm not saying that id like the PP in power locally. Id rather have Captain Haddock as Mayor than this bunch of opportunists. But nevertheless, absolute majorities aren't always good - para siempre - and at times its important to take on board the ideas of others rather than just reject them wholesale because you have the numbers to do so. This is the case with the green issues here in Loja where too often lip service is paid to the technological developments of green politics (wind and solar power farms) whilst traffic continues to clog the city's streets and trees are cut down to house a new bus station whilst the old train station rots on the other side of town. Why are these trees not being replanted in town? Why are there no green spaces within the urban area? Why are all new works either bland concrete squares or a yet more carparks?.

So…Despite being from the left, I want a politics of tangible environmentalism thats rooted on my doorstep. Its easy to promote a wind farm, but try reducing noise levels in town, limiting car access, pedestrianising the old town - and then see how spirited your politics really are.