"If you think Barcelona no longer has power. If you think Barcelona is dirty. If you think Barcelona no longer has direction. If you think Barcelona is chaos. Come to the demonstration Barcelona is unstoppable". This is the motto supported by a hundred Barcelona entities that have called a concentration next Thursday, October 21, in Plaça Sant Jaume to demand that the Catalan capital "recover the leadership and dynamism that have made it one of the best cities in the world to live in" and also leave behind insecurity and street drinking.
The platform Barcelona is unstoppable is born as a reaction to "the situation of discouragement, greyness, and stagnation" that entities such as the Associació de Joves Empresaris de Catalunya (AIJEC), Apartur, Barcelona Oberta, the Gremi d'Hotels, the Gremi del Motor de Barcelona, the Institut Ostrom Catalunya, Motoristes per Barcelona, the Reial Cercle Artístic de Barcelona and the Unió de Federacions Esportives de Catalunya (UFEC) believe the Catalan capital is currently experiencing. "Now it is no longer a reference city in the world," they lament.
For the president of Barcelona Oberta, Gabriel Jené, the platform brings together a broad representation of the Catalan capital and is not confined to a single sector or demand. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, merchants, hoteliers, restaurant owners, and representatives of sectors such as sports and culture, he points out, have seen how the local administration did not offer a satisfactory response to their requests, and now they have decided to unite to collectively convey this discomfort. "We have coinciding agendas, despite being from different sectors," he summarizes.
In addition to calling for mobilization, the platform encourages signing a manifesto that highlights the importance of citizens in Barcelona's transformations throughout its history and warns that great opportunities for social, economic, and sustainability progress are being missed, especially the recent refusal of the Barcelona City Council to expand the Barcelona Airport, a project that also failed to gain the support of the Govern. But they also talk about the rejection of initiatives such as the arrival of new hotels or the Hermitage. "So many projects that are put on the table and receive negatives," defends Jené.
To reverse this situation, Barcelona is unstoppable bets on putting the Catalan capital back in motion and moving from "the Barcelona that turns its back and breaks dialogue with the different actors of the city" to "the Barcelona that listens to its people." "Now is the time to recover the attitude of optimism and pride in the city to affirm that we will not let ourselves be stopped. We want a city truly committed to the well-being of those who live there. A well-being based on respect for the environment, economic progress, and social justice," they conclude.
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THE HEARTBEAT OF BARCELONA IS ITS PEOPLE
Barcelona has undergone great transformations throughout its history, which has positioned it as a reference city in the world. Its people are unstoppable: individuals with an entrepreneurial, brave, and creative attitude.
BARCELONA IS EXPERIENCING A MOMENT OF DISCOURAGEMENT, MEDIOCRITY, AND INACTIVITY
The COVID-19 pandemic has dealt a severe blow to the health, economic, and social spheres. Furthermore, institutionally, there has been an attempt to dilute Barcelona's success model, and it has been projected as the city of no. With this, we have let slip great opportunities for social, economic, and sustainability progress.
BARCELONA IS UNSTOPPABLE AND WILL NOT MISS ANY OPPORTUNITY THAT ALLOWS IT TO ADVANCE AS A CITY
For years, we have seen opportunities pass by that could place the city at the epicenter of strategic sectors internationally. Barcelona is unstoppable and cannot live oblivious to the challenges that can mean well-being, progress, prosperity, and, ultimately, happiness for its inhabitants. We must transform "the Barcelona that turns its back and breaks dialogue with the different actors of the city" into "the Barcelona that listens to its people."
BARCELONA IS UNSTOPPABLE AND IT IS TIME TO DEFEND IT
Just like at other times in our history, those of us who love the city of Barcelona come out to defend it. The time has come to take a step forward to ensure that the Barcelona that fills us with pride does not stop due to fear and lack of future vision, nor does it let slip the global leadership we desire. Barcelona is unstoppable and will advance thanks to a model of consensus, agreement, and collaboration.
CALL TO RENEW CITIZEN COMMITMENT TO THE CITY
We call for the mobilization and strength of its people, its neighborhoods, its businesses, entities, associations, companies, and self-employed individuals to promote the Barcelona of yes. Only this union can reverse the current negative dynamic.
THE BARCELONA OF YES IS UNSTOPPABLE!
We want Barcelona to regain the leadership and dynamism that have made it one of the best cities in the world to live in. We want Barcelona to leave no one behind. May culture, sports, health, and other strategic sectors project us as what we can be, the best city in the world.
RESPECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
As the capital of the Mediterranean, we want a development model that respects the environment. Based on modern, not conservative, environmentalism, in the fight against climate change. One that opts for a responsible yes instead of the culture of no.
ECONOMICALLY PROGRESSING
As a European economic capital, we want a development model that boosts the economy in all areas, values the entrepreneurial spirit, and provides opportunities for those who want to create wealth. Only then will Barcelona once again be a competitive city full of opportunities and attract those who want to generate quality employment.
PROMOTING SOCIAL JUSTICE
We want a Barcelona that better redistributes wealth and reduces inequalities. One that promotes the active role of working women and commits to the most vulnerable people. Barcelona must guarantee quality employment and services for all citizens.
BARCELONA IS UNSTOPPABLE
The time has come to recover the attitude of optimism and city pride to affirm that nothing will stop us. We want a city truly committed to the well-being of those who live in it. A well-being based on respect for the environment, economic progress, and social justice.
BARCELONA'S MEN and WOMEN are UNSTOPPABLE!
The future of BARCELONA is UNSTOPPABLE!