Political advocacy

Given that everything is interconnected with politics, we believe it is essential to begin training in political advocacy.


As the climate, energy, material, and social crises intensify, our vulnerability becomes increasingly apparent, putting the future of everyone at risk. Reversing this situation will require courage. A paradigm shift is crucial—one based on a systemic, cross-disciplinary analysis that allows us to develop a comprehensive perspective. We need a new model that places equity, the preservation of life, the health of both marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and social justice at the heart of decision-making and action.

With this in mind, and recognising that politics influences every aspect of our lives—particularly in conservation and land defence—we decided to educate ourselves on political advocacy. Since then, we have submitted objections and proposed amendments to regional and national projects, such as the new Ports of the Balearic Islands plan, the Draft Law for the Integrated Management and Planning of the Balearic Coastline, and the PenBal2 (the electrical cable interconnection between Alcúdia and Castellón). We have also suggested the expansion of Sites of Community Importance (SCI) and contributed to drafting their respective management plans, among other initiatives.

At the local level, where Arrels Marines has its strongest presence, during the May 2023 municipal elections, we created a package of cross-cutting, multisectoral proposals for the political parties of Pollença. In total, we presented 65 improvement proposals across 10 key areas, including coastal management, mobility and urban planning, education, and food sovereignty. We also contributed to drafting the request for the management of the Bay of Pollença, which the Pollença Town Council sent to the Ministry of the Sea and the Water Cycle, as well as co-designing safe school routes in Port de Pollença.

We believe that political advocacy by third-sector organisations is essential to ensure that the needs and rights of all—human and non-human—are heard, considered, and incorporated into public policies, leading to fairer, more realistic, and inclusive laws. For these reasons, we will continue to work and educate ourselves in this field with conviction and a critical mindset.

We would also like to express our deep gratitude to the organisations that have been advocating politically for years, from whom we have learned so much (and continue to learn!), and who have set an example of perseverance and commitment.