Arcos de Valdevez needs a website!

Arcos de Valdevez, the municipality to which Soajo belongs, does not have an active website! Here we are in 2008 and Arcos does not have a website to provide useful information to its residents and tourists. How shocking is that? The Mayor, Francisco Araujo, should make the launching of the website a top priority. Click on this url to see what happens: http://www.cm-arcos-valdevez.pt.

Many other municipalities in the region have excellent sites containing current information. In fact, Arcos is the only municipality in the District of Viana do Castelo without an operable website. The other 10 municipalities in the District (Caminha, Melgaço, Monção, Paredes de Coura, Ponte da Barca, Ponte de Lima, Valença, Viana do Castelo, and Vila Nova de Cerveira) all have excellent sites.

Ponte da Barca (pop. 13,000), for example, which is half the size of Arcos de Valdevez (pop. 24,500), has an excellent online presence. What is wrong with this picture? It's time for Arcos de Valdevez to modernize and provide current and useful information on the world wide web. The business community of Arcos should especially insist on the creation of an informative site. Terras de Bouro (pop. 7, 955) which one-third the size of Arcos, maintains an outstanding site. Other municipalities in our Alto Minho region have managed to create and maintain informative sites. It is time for Arcos to join the modern world and establish its online presence.

Finalmente, PNPG faz uma coisa boa para a nossa região

Finally, the PNPG is doing something positive for our Alto Minho region. The PNPG, in collaboration with the Instituto de Conservação da Natureza e da Biodiversidade (ICNB), is reintroducing a near extinct hawk back to our region.

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PNPG não respeita a gente de Terras de Bouro

The national park (PNPG) once again show its true colors. In Terras de Bouro, the municipal council passed a resolution accusing the PNPG of neglecting its responsibilities to maintain the park. The resolution also accuses the PNPG of failing to remove trash, maintain roads and restore forest roads. It is indeed ironic that such a poorly managed park service like PNPG would seek to join the prestigious PAN Parks organization. (Read my blog post of June 19)

Terras de Bouro: Assembleia Municipal acusa Parque Nacional da ...
28 Julho LUSA - Lisboa, Portugal
"Como isto não bastasse, a revisão do Plano de Ordenamento do PNPG, que era para ser feita em 2007, foi adiada para 2008 e, agora, dizem que só depois das ... "ao longo dos tempos, as populações residentes no Parque têm sido vítimas da apatia dos seus dirigentes e da falta de investimentos e, sobretudo, das restrições que contribuíram para o êxodo das pessoas".

O governo Português não se importa com o povo do Minho

Está aqui mais um exemplo da falta do interesse do governo na saúde do povo do Minho.

Sindicato dos Médicos considera "inaceitável" fecho do SAP
Jornal de Notícias - Porto,Porto,Portugal
... no distrito de Viana do Castelo, que prevê igualmente o fecho dos SAP de Melgaço, Paredes de Coura, Arcos de Valdevez e Valença, ainda sem data marcada.

PNPG seeks even more restrictions on life within the park boundaries

The Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês (PNPG) is seeking to become certified by the PAN Parks, a European parks association. There are nine Certified PAN Parks: Bieszczady, Poland; Central Balkan and Rila, Bulgaria; Fulufjället, Sweden; Oulanka, Finland; Retezat, Romania; Paanajärvi, Russia; Majella, Italy; and Borjomi in Georgia.

The PNPG desperately wants to be certified by PAN. The problem is that if PNPG becomes part of the PAN network, many more areas of our region will be effectively off-limits from human intervention.

The people of the Alto-Minho region already respect and cherish the beautiful natural landscape that makes up our precious region. We already conserve our land and maintain the beauty of the region. We do not need even more restrictions and regulations imposed on our people. If PNPG is successful in meeting the conditions of the PAN membership, it will result in far more rules being imposed on our people's activities within the PNPG's boundaries. Membership in PAN Parks will kill our region. We will eventually become a lifeless park, with only wolves and other wild animals, but few people. Maybe that is what the PNPG bureaucrats want to achieve.

I am hopeful that PAN rejects PNPG's application. To oppose the PNPG application, send an email to Mr. Vladivoj Vancura, PAN Conservation Manager, e-mail: vvancura@panparks.org Tell PAN that we do not need, nor want, any more restrictions on human life and activities within the PNPG boundaries.

19 Junho 08: Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês aderiu a rede das áreas naturaisde excelência da Europa

O Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês (PNPG) aderiu hoje à PAN Parks, uma rede que integra as áreas naturais mais importantes da Europa, o que lhe poderá valer um «incremento substancial» do afluxo de turistas estrangeiros

«Com a certificação PAN Parks, é de esperar um incremento substancial do afluxo de turistas estrangeiros, nomeadamente do norte da Europa, pois irá permitir integrar o PNPG no roteiro dos grandes operadores turísticos especializados em turismo de natureza», explicou fonte do Ministério do Ambiente.

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Bravo to the Irish for killing the Lisbon Treaty

Yesterday, Ireland's voters rejected the European Union's Lisbon Treaty (i.e., constitution), a blueprint for centralizing the 27-nation bloc. Without Irish approval the treaty cannot become law. This is a major blow to the EU's bureaucrats and large countries. With 53.4 percent of Irish voters NO to the treaty, EU leaders will convene a summit next week to try to negotiate a new way forward. They will not give up on their dream to create a hegemonic super-state.

Thankfully, Ireland's rejection of the Lisbon Treaty should send a clear message to the EU that the people want to maintain their national identity. The Portuguese wish to remain Portuguese, the Irish want to remain Irish, the French want to remain French, and so on. The Lisbon Treaty would in essence require people to consider themselves European first. What the political elite don't realize is that the people will no so easily surrender their cultural, linguistic, and national heritage for the sake of creating an EU super-state.

Despite yesterday's clear rejection in Ireland, I'm certain that the EU leaders will come up with yet another clever attempt to undermine the people's will. In Portugal, Socrates lied. First he promised that the Lisbon Treaty would go to the people for a decision by referendum, then he changed his mind after heavy lobbying by Sarkozy. The EU leadership can't be trusted. I can only imagine what other clever tactics they will come up with at the summit. The people do do not want to give up their national identity. Why can't the political elite just accept this simple fact?

It is immensely interesting that opposition to the Lisbon Treaty is shared by both the Left and Right of the Portuguese political spectrum. The Bloco da Esquerda and the Partido Nacional Renovador both vehemently oppose the expansionism of the EU.

Find out more about the dangers of the EU constitution: X09; Libertas;

The EU will make the Nazis look like amateurs

For years, I've been protesting the hegemonic expansion of the European Union (EU). I'm not opposed to a strong Europe. I am opposed to a Europe that is far too centralized, bureaucratic, undemocratic, and disrespectful of national sovereignty. Today, the Irish will have a opportunity to vote "NO" on the Lisbon Treaty, which in essence is a back-door attempt impose a European constitution that French and Dutch voters defeated in 2005. Let's hope the Irish do the right thing and put a stop to the diminishment of civil liberties and elimination of sovereign rights.

Why am I opposed to the EU? The primary reason is that I love Portugal and want Portugal to remain an independent nation-state. If Portuguese politicians pass bad laws, the people have the power to vote them out and elect a different party. But under the EU's Lisbon Treaty, power will shift to a central bureaucracy. The EU will have its own President and will conduct its own foreign policy. The larger European countries (Germany, France, Spain and Italy) will gain more power and the smaller nations (Portugal, Greece, Ireland and others) will have far less influence on policies.

From a macro political level, the Lisbon Treaty contains much to worry about. This consolidation of power, however, touches on a more personal micro level. In May 2008, the EU's bureaucrats proposed requiring "car advertisements to carry cigarette-type health warnings" (read more...). Under this policy, car ads would have to have labels (approximately 20% of the ad space) listing the amount of carbon emissions and gasoline consumption. On the surface, this appears to be a good idea. The problem is that this idea is symptomatic of dangerous forces at work. Pretty soon, newborn babies will also be tagged before leaving the hospital with warnings on how much pollution will be generated over a lifetime. These EU bureaucrats I'm sure are well-intentioned. They are trying to create a heaven on earth, but that is precisely what Lenin, Pol Pot, Mao, and Hitler tried to do too. And look where that got us.

Let's hope the Irish do the right thing today.

Political Dishonesty

O Tratado de Lisboa é um erro enorme! Aqui pode-se ver o PM Socrates que está sendo felicitado por outros PMs para ter perfeitamente enganado o seu povo. Agora, é so a Irelanda para parar esta loucura no voto nacional de 12 de Junho. Ireland é o único membro estado do EU que exige uma decisão pelo referendum. Ler mais...

Dia de Portugal

Dia de Portugal, de Camões e das Comunidades Portuguesas

June 10, 2008: Today is the National Day of Portugal. Known as the "Dia de Camões, de Portugal e das Comunidades Portuguesas" ("Day of Camões, Portugal, and the Portuguese Communities"), today marks the date of Luís Vaz de Camões' death on June 10, 1580 and is Portugal's National Day.

Camões wrote the Lusíadas, Portugal's national epic poem celebrating Portuguese history and achievements. Although this special day is only officially celebrated in Portugal, Portuguese emigrants and descendants throughout the world celebrate the holiday whether they live in the United States, Brazil, Africa, Europe, India, Canada, and Macau among others. Portugal was founded in the year 1139 by King Afonso Henriques who declared his kingdom to be an independent nation-state, making Portugal one of Europe's oldest continually existing nations. Viva Portugal!

Dez cavalos abatidos a tiro em Paredes de Coura

On June 3th, a cruel human being killed ten horses. The horses were shot while grazing in a protected reserve. The heartless animal who shot these horses should be punished severely once captured. The Garrano horses are a beautiful smaller breed typical of the Alto Minho region. Let's hope the GNR are competent and thorough in their investigation of this cruel crime.

Dez Cavalos abatidos a tiro em Paredes de Coura
June 4, 2008: Os animais pastavam soltos em plena Paisagem Protegida de Corno de Bico e o caso já está a ser investigado pela GNR. Garranos foram atingidos a tiro de caçadeira com zagalote nos concelhos de Paredes de Coura e de Arcos de Valdevez, em plena Paisagem Protegida. Ler mais

Amigos de Galicia (A Baixa Limia)

Yesterday, I received an email from Arsenio Landa, a resident of Lobeira in Baixa Limia which is located in the Galician province of Ourense. Galicia and Minho are neighboring provinces. The two provinces are linguistically, architecturally, culturally and ethnically similar. Arsenio operates a couple of websites promoting Lobeira and Baixa Limia. In his email, Arsenio mentioned how much he enjoys visiting Soajo with friends.

This picture of the Espigueiros of Soajo was taken by Arsenio during one of his frequent visits to Soajo. This type of cultural exchange is important for both our Alto Minho region and Baixa Limia. We are essentially the same people who share a cultural heritage. The artificial border that divides Alto Minho and Baixa Limia was a consequence of historical political forces that divided people and villages.

Arsenio appreciates Soajo. I encourage Soajeiros to visit Baixa Limia and to check out two websites created by Arsenio: www.diariodelobeira.org and www.elmaiz.org.