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Spain ships water into Barcelona to help alleviate drought - International Herald Tribune

BARCELONA, Spain: Spain's worst drought in decades forced the proud city of Barcelona to start shipping in drinking water Tuesday, an unprecedented step that business leaders bemoan as a public relations nightmare for one of Europe's top tourist destinations.

A Panamanian-flagged tanker loaded with water docked in Spain's second-largest city, launching a mission by an emergency, six-vessel flotilla scheduled to operate for at least three months.

Tuesday's scene was humbling for Catalonia, the capital of which is Barcelona, with more than 100 journalists crowded at the dock to record the water delivery.

The region likes to say it stands out from the rest of Spain for its efficiency and economic might. But it has been among the regions hardest hit by Spain's worst springtime drought since record-keeping began 60 years ago.

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Wed May 14th, 2008 at 12:11:39 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Spain's worst drought in decades forced the proud city of Barcelona to start shipping in drinking water Tuesday, an unprecedented step that business leaders bemoan as a public relations nightmare for one of Europe's top tourist destinations.
Who are these business leaders who would rather go without drinking water than without tourists?

When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed May 14th, 2008 at 02:15:13 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Maybe they think pictures of a city with no water will be a tourist draw?
by Sassafras on Wed May 14th, 2008 at 01:12:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

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