Video: Vila de Soajo

Vila de Soajo
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Rui Solheiro eleito presidente da Comunidade Intermunicipal do Alto Minho

Como primeiro vice-presidente, foi eleito o autarca de Arcos de Valdevez, Francisco Araújo (PSD), enquanto a segunda vice-presidência foi entregue ao presidente da Câmara de Vila Nova de Cerveira, José Manuel Carpinteira (PS). Ler mais.

Windmills destroy our natural beauty

The largest wind farm in Europe is located in Soajo's backyard in Alto Minho. Let me be clear that I support sensible efforts to reduce pollution and increase alternative and renewable energy. However, we should not go so far in our efforts to harness green energy that our beautiful region is scarred. Wind farms sound like great ideas from a political standpoint. However, there are adverse consequences not only for the wildlife in the region, but for tourism too. Our region benefits from the natural unspoiled beauty. The windmills dotting the mountains leading to Soajo are an atrocity.

If windmills are so beautiful, why don't the politicians who support them install them in their cities next to their homes?

According to today's Canadian Broadcast Co., "Jose Miguel Oliveira, director of the largest wind farm in Europe, Alto Minho, on Portugal's border with Spain, laughs when asked whether people object to windmills in their backyards. "'In Portugal, that principle doesn't apply, because here people want the windmills'" because they profit from them." Mr. Oliveira is wrong in his assessment. People in Alto Minho are not thrilled to have these steel monsters on top of their mountains. We need to ask ourselves whether progress is good at all cost. For more information about the negative impact of windmills visit www.wind-watch.org.

Making wine in Soajo

Making wine in Soajo is still done the old- fashioned way .... by hand. In this picture, Justino is pressing the grapes using a hand press. The grapes are first placed into this circular wooden press. Then a cover is placed on top and hand-press is used to slowly turn the press, thus applying downward pressure on the grapes causing the grapes to crush. The grape juice is released at the bottom of the press and collected and transferred to barrels where the juice will ferment into wine.

In the old days, up until the 1970's, before these hand presses became common, people crushed the grapes by stomping on them with their bare feet.

Município de Arcos acarinha negócios inovadores

Arcos is launching a business incubation center next month. This center will be able to house 30 firms specialicing in energy or environment activities. This incubation center is the first of its kind in the District of Viana do Castelo. If only local and national governments in previous decades made job creation and business development a top priority, Portugal would not have experienced such a diaspora as has occurred especially in the north of the country. Those responsible for launching this incubator should be applauded, and best practices should be replicated elsewhere.

O primeiro centro de incubação de empresas de base tecnológica do distrito abre portas, no próximo mês, no concelho. Complexo poderá acolher 30 firmas. Sectores da energia e do ambiente interessados na instalação. O Centro de Incubação de Empresas de Base Tecnológica de Arcos de Valdevez, a primeira estrutura do género a nascer no distrito de Viana do Castelo, deverá abrir as suas portas no próximo mês. Ler mais no Jornal de Noticias.

Dois milhões de portugueses abaixo do limiar da pobreza

There are two million Portuguese citizens living in poverty, surviving on less than 366 euros per month (or $490 US dollars). This makes Portugal one of Europe's poorest countries. The question I have is this: "If the socialist Portuguese government couldn't improve the standard of living for these two million citizen during the recent economic boom, how can this government expect to do so during the worst economic period since the Great Depression of the early 1930's?"

Read the full story in Portuguese at RTP: "Dezoito por cento (18%) da população Portuguesa vive com menos de 366 euros por mês, o valor médio do rendimento nacional. Portugal é o país da União Europeia que mais reduziu a pobreza nos últimos anos, mas mesmo assim continua acima da média europeia."

Garrano candidato a património nacional

Cinco instituições querem valorizar e preservar um dos mais antigos animais do mundo, o Garrano... Uma candidatura para tornar o garrano património nacional vai ser formulada até ao fim do ano. Para além de valorizar um dos mais antigos animais do mundo, os promotores querem transformar o cavalo num símbolo do país.

Castanho, de perfil recto ou côncavo, com cerca de 1,35 metros e bastante resistente são as características peculiares que definem o garrano. Um animal com mais de 25 mil anos que está em vias de extinção. Ler mais/Read more

The Intermunicipal Community of Minho-Lima was launched today

Intermunicipal Community of Minho-Lima was launched today at 11am in an official signing ceremony held at Castelo de Santiago da Barra, in Viana do Castelo. The intermunicipal union consists of the following nine Alto-Minho municipalities of Ponte de Lima, Arcos de Valdevez, Ponte da Barca, Caminha, Vila Nova de Cerveira, Valença, Monção, Melgaço e Paredes de Coura. Viana do Castelo is not a member of the union. The addition of Viana do Castelo will be decided by referendum at the end of this year or early in 2009. To read about this union in Portuguese, click here.

Socialists declare support for Soajo

The local Socialist Party expresses support for Soajo's campaign to become recognized by the National Assembly of the Republic as a "vila". Soajo has been poorly treated over the years by politicians in Arcos and beyond. Returning the designation of "vila" to Soajo will enable Soajo to self-govern. Soajo has never been properly respected by the politicians of Arcos. The Soacialists should be applauded for bringing this issue to the forefront. Read the full declaration.

Festas de Soajo 2008: Revenues and Expenditures

The Festas de Soajo in 2008 had revenues totaling 34,410 euros ($46,607 US Dollars) and expenditures totaled 25,996 euros ($35,211 US Dollars), thus leaving a surplus of 8,413 euros ($11,423 US Dollars). The Festas Committee ("festeiros") deserve to be congratulated for not only organizing an outstanding festival this year, but for leaving a substantial surplus for the 2009 Festeiros. Click here to read a full accounting of revenues and expenditures.

As esfolhadas já não são o que eram

"Soajo é um deslumbramento, nestes dias ensolarados do princípio de Outono, quando a natureza nos aparece com aqueles combinações de cores suaves e quentes, principalmente ao cair da tarde." Ler mais, Noticias dos Arcos.

Alto Minho: comunidade intermunicipal nasce dia 15 sem Viana do Castelo

Viana do Castelo, 09 Out (Lusa) - A Comunidade Intermunicipal do Minho-Lima é constituída oficialmente a 15 de Outubro, por escritura pública, mas sem Viana do Castelo, cuja adesão vai ser decidida em referendo concelhio.

Aquela comunidade, que terá sede precisamente em Viana do Castelo, arrancará assim com os municípios de Ponte de Lima, Arcos de Valdevez, Ponte da Barca, Caminha, Vila Nova de Cerveira, Valença, Monção, Melgaço e Paredes de Coura. Ler mais/Read more

My Opinion: In general, the creation of a confederation of municipalities in Alto Minho is a good idea. With limited municipal budgets and skyrocketing costs for basic services, joining forces can lead to more efficient economies of scale, and we hope, better and more effective municipal services. Only time will tell if this inter-municipal union will last without Viana joining in. - JA

Cortelho nas Fontes de Soajo

This picture of the ancient hut in the mountains was taken last week by our friend Joaquim Neto. This "cortelho" is pretty well out of sight, tucked away in the mountains in the Fontes region of Soajo. This is most likely the first time its picture has been taken and posted on the Internet.

These granite dolmens dot the countryside in Soajo. They remain as a testament to the culture of our ancestors who trailed up and down the mountains of Soajo for well over a millennium. These shelters were created to protect the herdsmen and their animals. While the construction is basic and simple, not a a drop of rain is allowed in. They will surely remain well after we are all gone. (Click here for a close-up detail.)

Foto de Soajo - Cruzeiros

Aqui esta um retrato dos Cruzeiros em Soajo que tirou o nosso amigo Joaquim Neto. Que bonita paisagem! Pode-se ver os montes todos daqui Clique aqui para ver a foto com mais "detail". Obrigado Joaquim!

Chega de bois no fecho da Feira da Ladra (Arcos)

Chega de bois no fecho da Feira da Ladra
Correio do Minho - Braga,Portugal
Para a noite, o cabeça de cartaz é Paco Bandeira, mas pela tarde as festas animam-se com as bandas filarmónicas de Revelhe (Fa-fe) e de Arcos de Valdevez. ... (Ler mais/read more...)

Harpista dos filmes "Titanic" e "Braveheart" dá um concerto nos Arcos

A escocesa Phamie Gow, cuja harpa aparece na música dos filmes "Titanic" e "Braveheart" faz um concerto nos Arcos de Valdevez no dia 4 de Outubro na Casa das Artes de Arcos de Valdevez.

Should be a very good time for a Saturday out night in Arcos. Ler mais..

Saude e banda larga

Here are two articles worth reading. The first one deals with a consolidation of medical services in our region, which means less service. The second article is about the increased broad-band accessibility of fiber-optic lines in our region. We truly live is strange times where one is more likely to have fast internet and slow hospital care.

Gestão empresarial nos cuidados de saúde
Jornal de Notícias - Porto, Portugal
... ainda, previsto o encerramento de semelhantes serviços em Arcos de Valdevez, Melgaço, Paredes de Coura e Valença. Contudo, segundo Pimenta Marinho, ...

Banda larga cobrirá região até Dezembro
Jornal de Notícias - Porto, Portugal
... pela Comunidade Urbana Valimar, que abrangerá os concelhos de Viana do Castelo, Ponte de Lima, Ponte da Barca, Caminha, Arcos de Valdevez e Esposende. ...