19 February, the housing issue to be debated at Ateneu de Maó

Views: 9

The debate series «Viure dins del dònut» [«Living within the doughnut»] will approach the housing issue this Thursday, 19 February, with the aim of analysing the structural causes of the current situation and reflecting on possible future pathways.

The session, which will consider the phenomenon from different perspectives, will focus on the role of public policies in Menorca, the recent evolution of the real estate market and the challenges posed by a context of growing scarcity.

The phenomenon of difficulties in accessing housing is not exclusive to Menorca, but on the island it presents particular causes that must be addressed specifically. In a scenario marked by strong social and territorial tensions, the meeting aims to create an open space for debate in order to delve deeper into how to guarantee access to a fundamental right that is currently far from being ensured.

The different invited experts will frame the conversation through interventions that observe the issue from different angles:

  • “The right to housing in dispute: causes of the current situation and proposals to protect a fundamental right”, by Guillem Domingo, housing and city technician at Observatori DESCA.
  • “Public housing in Menorca: challenges, present and future”, with Águeda Reynés, IBAVI delegate in Menorca.
  • “Housing: from abundance to scarcity”, by Jordi Sintes, real estate agent.

Jaume Verdaguer, president of Ateneu de Maó, will moderate the discussion.

This year’s series of round tables at Ateneu de Maó focuses on the concept of Doughnut Economics, formulated by the British economist Kate Raworth. Raworth proposes a radical rethinking of the notion of economic progress: the transition to an economic model in which the main objective, instead of GDP growth, is to guarantee a dignified life for all without exceeding the ecological limits of the planet.

As with the rest of the sessions in the series, the debate may also be followed online through the Ateneu de Maó YouTube channel.

The round table series of the Ateneu de Maó is organized by the Ateneu de Maó, the Menorca Preservation Foundation and GOB Menorca, and has the support of the Maó City Council and the Consell Insular de Menorca.