Spanish use water guns to protest tourism
Listen to the story (Kenyan accent)
In Spain, some local people are worried about overtourism. They are now using water guns in their protests.
Why Water Guns?
It started in Barcelona last July. A small group of activists protested the growing tourism industry. It was a hot day, so they brought water guns to spray each other and stay cool. One organizer said it started as a joke.
But then, some protesters started spraying tourists. Pictures of this went viral and people started to talk about the problem. Then, the water guns started to appear at other protests in Spain.
On Sunday, about a thousand protesters marched in Barcelona. They walked down a popular street for tourists that has many luxury shops. They sprayed some tourists with water and carried signs. One sign said, “One more tourist, one less resident!” They also had stickers that said, “Tourist Go Home!”
However, not all protesters had water guns. Also, many protesters only sprayed the air or each other. Most people in Barcelona do not carry water guns or bother tourists. They know tourism is very important for the city's economy.
A protester named Lourdes Sánchez said the water gun is a symbol. It shows they are tired of tourism changing their country into a theme park. Another protester wants to send a message to the government.
The water guns they use are small and cheap, not powerful ones.
Some tourists who were sprayed did not mind. They said it was refreshing on a hot day. But there were also some problems. When protesters sprayed hotel workers, the workers became angry.
Vocabulary27 words
- Local
- related to or connected to a specific/particular place; existing in or belonging to the area that you are talking about; part of or in the city or country you’re talking about
- Worried
- Feeling nervous or concerned; having a feeling that something bad happened or will happen
- Overtourism
- When too many tourists visit a place, it becomes crowded and uncomfortable
- Water gun
- A toy that shoots water
- Protest
- an event where people come together to show strong disapproval/disagreement about something; demonstration; rally; to fight against
- Activist
- Someone who tries to make changes in the world;
- Protest
- to show/say you are unhappy; to complain strongly about something you disagree with
- Industry
- business field; area of work or business; type of business
- Spray
- To send out small drops of liquid; to spread or shoot liquid/water into the air
- Organizer
- a person or group that organizes an event or meeting
- Joke
- to say funny things; to say or do something for amusement or to make other people laugh;
- Protester
- a person who publicly shows disagreement or objection to something they think is unfair or don’t like
- Tourist
- Someone who visits a place for fun and to learn about it; traveller; visitor in a new city or country
- Go viral
- to quickly become very popular on the internet
- Appear
- to become visible; come into sight; suddenly noticeable; emerge
- Thousand
- 1,000 = one-thousand
- March
- to walk together in a group
- Popular
- Liked by many people; something many people like; common; frequent
- Luxury
- very expensive and high quality
- Resident
- a person who lives in a specific place; a person who lives somewhere
- Air
- The invisible gases all around us; the “sky”; “nothingness”
- Economy
- all the money and jobs in a country; the system according to which the money, industry, businesses and trade of a country/region are organized; the flow of money between people, businesses and government;
- Symbol
- a thing that represents or stands for something else; metaphor; representation; something that stands for, represents, or suggests another thing
- Tired of “something”
- Feeling bored or annoyed with something; When you don't like something anymore because you've had enough or too much
- Theme park
- A place built for fun, with rides and shows, like Disneyland
- Send a message
- To show or tell something important; to try to make a clear point
- Government
- the group of people who have the authority to make and enforce laws and manage a country or region; the people/group that manage and operate a country
Quiz
Answer key
1. In Barcelona 2. Last July 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
In Spain, _____ local people are worried about overtourism. _____ are now using water guns in their protests.
_____ Water Guns?
It started in Barcelona _____ July. A small group of activists protested the _____ tourism industry. It was a hot day, so they _____ water guns to spray each other and stay cool. One _____ said it started as a joke.
But _____, some protesters started spraying tourists. _____ of this went viral and people started to talk about the problem. Then, the _____ guns started to appear at other protests in _____.
On Sunday, about a thousand _____ marched in Barcelona. They walked down a popular street for _____ that has many luxury shops. They _____ some tourists with water and carried signs. One sign _____, “One more tourist, one less resident!” They also _____ stickers that said, “Tourist Go Home!”
_____, not all protesters had water guns. Also, many protesters _____ sprayed the air or each other. Most people in Barcelona do _____ carry water guns or bother tourists. They know _____ is very important for the city's economy.
A protester _____ Lourdes Sánchez said the water gun is a symbol. It shows they are _____ of tourism changing their country _____ a theme park. Another protester wants to send a _____ to the government.
The water _____ they use are small and cheap, not powerful _____.
Some tourists who were sprayed _____ not mind. They said it was refreshing on a _____ day. But there were also some problems. _____ protesters sprayed hotel workers, the workers became _____.
Discussion questions
- Do you think using water guns is a good way to protest? Why or why not?
- What does "overtourism" mean to you? Can you think of any places that have this problem?
- The text says tourism is important for Barcelona's economy. What are some good things that tourism brings to a city?
- If you were a tourist and got sprayed with a water gun by protesters, how would you feel?
- Do you think protests like this can really change how governments think about tourism?
- Besides protesting, what are other ways people can show their feelings about problems in their city?
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