CERMI Aragón on Friday called before the Aragon Parliament for eight safeguards to strengthen the rights of people with disabilities in the future Aragon Housing Law and ensure universal accessibility translates into concrete, effective measures.
Umbrellas will remain essential across Aragon throughout the weekend. After AEMET activated an orange alert in Teruel on Thursday for significant rainfall, unsettled conditions will continue this Friday and last at least until Monday. Rain is forecast in Zaragoza, Huesca and Teruel, with temperatures remaining moderate for this time of year.
What was meant to be just a saucepan protest on Thursday ended with Spain Square filled with tents. Dozens of young people spent the night camping outside the Zaragoza Provincial Council to demand improvements in access to housing, particularly lower rents. Early Friday, posters could still be seen on the ground and walls bearing slogans such as “Being a landlord is not a profession” and “Our home is not a market value.”
The camp set up on Thursday night in Plaza de España has brought together around a hundred young people demanding action over housing prices and the difficulties of accessing a rental home. After spending their first night in tents, some participants said the protest stems from frustration with a situation that, they claim, forces many people to spend a large share of their income on renting a room or an apartment.
The housing encampment that has occupied Zaragoza’s Plaza España since Thursday is beginning to take shape beyond the tents. After spending their first night in the rain, with dozens of people sleeping in the city center, participants have established initial rules for coexistence and drawn up a list of materials needed to maintain the camp over the coming days.
The housing encampment set up in Zaragoza’s Plaza España faces its first full day this Friday, with activities scheduled from mid-morning until night. Workshops, talks, an assembly and concerts are part of the program organized by participants to keep the protest active and prepare for upcoming mobilizations.
Housing, pensions, healthcare and unwanted loneliness are among the main concerns of older people, who used International Older Persons Day on October 1 to demand their rights and “an active and visible role in society”. Dozens of older residents gathered in Zaragoza’s Plaza de España on Thursday to call on public administrations and political leaders to make “real commitments in the face of today’s uncertainties”.
Mental health care does not end with a consultation. Social support, assistance for families and coordination between organizations have become key to providing a comprehensive response, a reality highlighted by the Forum of Aragonese Mental Health Organizations this Thursday in Zaragoza on World Mental Health Day.
On the International Day of Older Persons, the commitment and social work supporting this group were also recognized. The Government of Aragon presented the third edition of its Older Persons Awards on Thursday, chaired by Vice President Alejandro Nolasco.
The Zaragoza Provincial Council has awarded grants totaling €500,000 through its Equality for All Plan, reaching 224 town councils across the province this year to fund activities promoting women's equality, preventing gender-based violence and guaranteeing rights for trans and LGBTI people, among other objectives.
The Government of Aragon wants the legal framework, regular residence and established roots to play a decisive role in the management of social aid. Francisco de Asís González, director general of Social Aid, told the Cortes of Aragon on Thursday that public funds should not be used to “shield, encourage or reward” situations outside the law.
Aragon's 112 emergency service remains quiet for now, having received no alerts. Cecopi is monitoring the afternoon's developments due to the orange warning for rain and thunderstorms affecting the entire province of Teruel. Authorities are currently focused on municipalities bordering Castellon, where red rain alerts have been in force since 7 p.m.
The University of Zaragoza and Ibercaja Foundation have renewed their partnership to promote research, university entrepreneurship and young talent development over the coming year. The agreement establishes four areas of work focused on creating opportunities, fostering employment and bringing university knowledge to projects with an impact in Aragon.
Asapme Aragón highlighted the rise in mental health problems, particularly among young people, during its annual awards ceremony at the Aljafería Palace this Thursday. The event, held around World Mental Health Day, brought together political, institutional and social organization representatives and also recognized the work of several organizations.
Working on two wheels or spending much of the day behind the wheel will also change from October 1. The reform of the General Traffic Regulations introduces new specific obligations for those who use a vehicle as a work tool, from riders delivering by bicycle, motorcycle or scooter to taxi drivers, goods vehicle drivers and driving school instructors. The measure will affect thousands of workers in Aragón.
The Government of Aragon has stepped up monitoring of the rain and storm episode forecast for Thursday after the orange rain warning was extended to the entire province of Teruel. Yellow warnings remain in place for rain in Huesca province and the Ribera del Ebro, and for storms across most of the region.
This Thursday, Paseo de la Independencia swapped the noise of cars and trams for the movement of hundreds of pieces across a chessboard. A large crowd gathered in central Zaragoza to turn one of the city’s main thoroughfares into a huge open-air chess venue, with dozens of tables and games attracting the attention of passers-by. It was an unusual sight with which the city celebrated International Day of Older Persons on October 1.
A cup of coffee is one of the gestures repeated every morning in many Aragonese homes. Some drink it as soon as they wake up, others prefer to order it at a café, while some wait until their work or university break. This daily habit translates into around 1.8 million cups of coffee consumed every day in Aragón across homes and hospitality establishments.
October brings a return of healthcare strikes. Doctors will resume their indefinite strike on October 28, while Higher Healthcare Technicians will walk out from October 13 over “19 years of non-compliance, lack of recognition and no real solutions”. The nationwide strike, including Aragón, was called by the State Union of Higher Healthcare Technicians (SIETeSS), which says the group has spent “too long” providing essential healthcare services without the professional, financial and academic recognition it deserves. They are also demanding the effective implementation of their classification in Group B, provided for under the law since 2007. Meanwhile, doctors will launch an indefinite nationwide strike on October 28 to protest the Framework Statute bill approved by the Government on September 1.
An episode of very heavy and persistent showers will begin this Thursday across practically all of Spain and last at least until next Monday. Aemet has warned that rainfall totals in some areas could lead to “local flooding and rising water levels in waterways.” Aragón will not escape the unstable weather, which will be particularly intense in Teruel, where Aemet has issued an orange alert, indicating significant risk, across the entire province.
