Housing Campers in Valencia Offer to Move Tents for 9 d'Octubre Festival
Listen to the story
A group of people is camping in Valencia, Spain, to demand better housing. They have set up tents in a public space as part of their protest.
Valencia celebrates an important festival on 9 October, known as 9 d'Octubre. One key part of this event is the mascletà , a traditional daytime firework display known for its loud, rhythmic noise rather than colourful lights.
The campers say they do not want their protest to disrupt the festival. To disrupt means to stop something from happening normally. They have offered to move their tents so the celebrations can continue.
However, the campers also want the mascletà itself to be moved to a different location. They argue that there is not enough space to hold both the firework event and their encampment at the same time. An encampment is a place where a group of tents is set up together.
This request has led to controversy, meaning public disagreement, among different groups in the city. The workers who produce fireworks, called pyrotechnicians, have entered the debate.
These workers insist that the mascletà must be guaranteed, which means made certain to happen, on 9 October, in its usual place. They argue that moving the event could cause problems for the celebration and for their work.
The campers have defended their right to stay in the area during the festival. They say it is not possible to move their entire camp just for one day of celebrations.
City authorities have not yet announced a final decision. The situation remains unresolved as both sides continue to express their positions.
Vocabulary8 words
- camping
- living for a time in a tent in a public place
- housing
- homes where people live
- mascletÃ
- a loud, rhythmic firework show held during the day
- disrupt
- to stop something from happening normally
- encampment
- a place where many tents are set up together
- controversy
- public disagreement about something
- pyrotechnicians
- people who make and set off fireworks professionally
- guaranteed
- made certain to happen
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Quiz
Answer key
1. To demand better housing 2. Move their tents to another place 3. To guarantee the mascletà happens as planned
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
A group of people is _____ in Valencia, Spain, to demand better _____.
Valencia celebrates an important festival on 9 October, which includes the _____, a loud daytime firework display.
The campers say they do not want their protest to _____ the festival, so they will move their tents.
They still want the mascletà moved because there is not enough space for both the event and their _____.
This request has caused _____ among different groups in the city.
The workers who make fireworks, called _____, say the event must be _____ on its usual date.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think the campers chose to protest during a major festival?
- Do you think it is fair to ask organisers to move a traditional event like the mascletà ? Why or why not?
- How might city authorities balance the rights of protesters and the interests of festival organisers?
- Have you ever seen a protest affect a public event in your country?
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