Madeira News Blog

TODAY’S PHOTO : Thanks to Tobi … another shot of Machico, with it’s new look sea front.

Front Page News : source : Diário de Notícias 24/9/2008

This will shock a few people, but Funchal is above Porto in the ratio between population and violent deaths. Funchal achieves a ratio of 0.24 homicides and violent deaths per thousand inhabitants. This is the finding of a two year European study of 321 European cities. Funchal was also rated the worst Portuguese city for domestic violence, with 6 cases per thousand inhabitants. I feel I must balance that with a good result … Funchal ranked number 12 city on the list for hospital beds, with 16.8 per thousand inhabitants, but there again I am not sure that is good news.

The same study also looked at demographics, taking into account immigration. Funchal managed a population shrinkage during the years 1991 to 2004 of 0.53%, despite immigration mainly from Brazil, Eastern Europe, and the African countries that were once part of the Portuguese ‘empire’.

Marriage is only “between different sexes” says President Jardim, who considers the legalization of  homosexual marriage “a provocation to certain sectors of  Portuguese society”. Pres. AJJ adds “I do not have prejudices” as regards the sexual options of people. The subject is to be debated in the Madeira assembly on 10th October. Why they are bothering I don’t know, because where Jardim goes, the PSD-M goes, and that can mean only one thing … no!

Estreito de Câmara de Lobos is to lose a huge stretch  of it’s finest grape growing terrain under an expropriation order (compulsory purchase), due to road construction between Câmara de Lobos and Jardim da Serra. The high quality grapes that will be lost yield sufficient alcoholic content to be used for the real ‘Madeira Wine’. Some farmers will lose all of their land, others will lose part. As an example, one farmer is losing 9,000 out of 12,000 square metres. Not much use if that is your living!

The monopoly electricity supplier here, Electricidade da Madeira, is to renew some of its generators, as they will be 30 years old next year. Electricity consumption here increases by 20% a year, making expansion and improvements an ongoing necessity. in 2011 a new plant will be operational in Ribeira dos Socorridos using imported natural gas to reduce dependency on oil.

Other News :

Those responsible for the ‘Natural Park of Madeira’ are  preparing an Atlas of Birds Identified(?) on the Archipelago. It will be the first book produced on the subject, using a team of professionals with experience on similar projects. The fieldwork for the project will start next February. I don’t think anyone is absolutely sure, but there are between 30 and 40 bird types to be found here, including the nocturnal Zino’s Petrel which is very rare and unique to Madeira, with an estimate of just 400 birds remaining.

Santa Quitéria, in Funchal, is the place, the date is 23rd October. A new 2,000 square metres store costing €6 million opens for the company IZI. Specializing in DIY (do-it-yourself), decorating and gardening, it will employ 30 staff, and promises a “different concept”  in shopping with high levels of customer service, low prices, a huge range of products, credit services, home delivery, 100 free parking spaces, and a complete fitting service where required.

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