Oiling the wheels

THE Spanish multinational Repsol refused to abandon plans to prospect for oil off the Canary Islands.

Despite the efforts of Paulino Rivero, regional president of Canarias, this is a David versus Goliath situation where Goliath is odds-on favourite. The public back Rivera but wouldn’t if petrol stations ran dry: nimbies – those who say “not in my backyard” – usually drive cars.