Madeira News Blog

Please could you put something in you blog to tell everyone that the Karaoke Night which was planned for tomorrow night at Costa Verde to raise funds for a local family has been postponed until further notice.

Apparently it has been advertised in the Brit, so we need to get a message to folks ASAP.
It clashes with PORTUGAL playing in the Mundial, plus some other operational reasons.

Many thanks SUSAN

Contributions from Paul :

$1.3 million scientific award work from Portuguese Champalimaud scientific foundation

Associated Press reports: Two US scientists have won a $1.3 million (euro 1.07) award for their work in understanding how humans see, the Portuguese Champalimaud scientific foundation said Friday.

The Champalimaud award was established four years ago with a bequest from Antonio Champalimaud, a wealthy Portuguese businessmen who lost his sight. It claims to be the largest monetary prize in the field of vision and one of the biggest scientific prizes in the world.The private foundation was created when Champalimaud bequeathed a quarter of his euro2 billion ($2.43 billion) estate when he died in 2004. Link to full article:

António de Sommer Champalimaud (Lisbon, Lapa, March 19, 1918 – Lisbon, Lapa, May 8, 2004) was a Portuguese banker and industrialist that in 2004 was the wealthiest man in Portugal. He earned his fortune with insurance, banking and cement industries which were nationalized after the Carnation Revolution of 1974. After living in exile in Brazil for seven years, he returned to Portugal and rebuilt his companies. Source: Wiki

The Champalimaud Foundation is a private Portuguese biomedical research foundation, which aims to support the biomedical sciences, focused in particular, on the fields of neuroscience and cancer. In addition, the foundation’s António Champalimaud Vision Award carries one of the highest monetary prizes (1 million Euros) of any science prize and is, financially, the World’s largest in the field of vision. The Champalimaud Foundation is headquartered in Lisbon.

Image caption : The Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, due to open in Lisbon, Portugal on October 5th 2010

The Champalimaud Foundation’s high-tech research center, scheduled to open in 2010 at the mouth of the River Tagus in Lisbon, is to feature diagnostic and treatment units for cancer patients on the lower floors and research labs above, that will develop research on cancer and neuroscience. Source: Wiki

Crazy about cork? Associated Press Reports:

Portugal, where more than half the world’s cork comes from…

Cork is the outer bark of the cork oak tree, found in the Mediterranean and, in particular, Portugal, where more than half the world’s cork comes from. The trees are a remarkable renewable resource; the bark can be harvested every nine or 10 years for the life of the tree — most live to about 200. A tree in its prime, at 80 years old, can yield 440 pounds of cork. That’s enough raw material to produce about 25,000 natural wine corks.

Image caption : orkensammlung (ca. von 10-50 Jahre alt)

Cork is durable, lightweight, naturally insulating, fire and rot resistant, and has a soft, pliable quality. It can be shaved thin enough to be used as a fabric for anything from handbags to upholstery. In thicker forms, or layered over other materials, cork makes great furniture and building materials. For some great photographs and history about cork’s production and use over the decades, go to the Canada-based Jelinek’s website as well as the Portuguese Cork Association’s site. Simple Forms Design, the studio of Portuguese designers Alzira Peixoto and Carlos Mendonca, won the 2008 REDDOT Design Award for their cork bath collection, which includes geometric laser cut mats, soap dishes and even washbasins.

"Despite being such a traditional material, cork can be employed in very innovative and unexpected ways," the pair wrote on their Web page. Link to full article:

Discovering Portuguese Design at the New York MOMA. Posted by Bonnie Mackay Director of Merchandising, Creative and Marketing, MoMA Retail. “Throughout our travels we were blown away by how many young designers were putting a modern spin on their country’s design traditions and incorporating Portugal’s indigenous materials in their work.”

Image Caption : Whistler Cork Creamer, Sugar, Cups, and Teapot from Destination: Portugal

"Destination: Portugal” exhibition of goods. MOMA’s design store now features "Destination: Portugal," an exhibit of goods from that country’s best designers. There are cork umbrellas, envelopes and stylish tableware.
Founded in 1929 as an educational institution, The Museum of Modern Art, New York is dedicated to being the foremost museum of modern art in the world. Link:

Paula Rego has been made a Dame. "Dame Maria Paula Figueiroa Rego, DBE, GCSE (born 1935) is a Portuguese painter, illustrator and printmaker, who has lived in Britain since 1951. She was born in Lisbon to a rich family, during Salazar´s regime, which would be a later influence in her work. Rego started painting at the age of four. She attended the English-language Saint Julian’s School, Carcavelos, Portugal before studying at the Slade School of Art". Source Wiki:

Image caption : One of artist’s paintings that she talks about in the film below.

Paula was married to the artist Victor Willing and they became part of the London Group of artists which included David Hockney. Her work is often cartoon like and uses ideas and images from fairy tales with a twisted and sometimes sinister edge.
BBC Film of Paul Rego talking about how she decides what to draw and who is going to be the most important character: FILM     Radio 3 interview

The European Central Bank (ECB) has held eurozone interest rates at a record low of 1% for the 10th month running, as expected.

ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet said growth would be "moderate and uneven".

It follows a meeting of EU finance ministers earlier this week to discuss cuts in budget deficits. Mr Trichet welcomed the commitment by the finance ministers to take immediate action to address budget deficits, describing it as "essential".

The ECB’s policy committee meeting was unusually attended by EU monetary affairs commissioner Olli Rehn, who also attended the eurozone finance ministers meeting. BBC

Everything else from Elaine :

Pedro Ramos – Black Scabbard Research Centre. "This book is inspired by the birthplace of the artist, Madeira Island. BSRC gained form while gathering information and references for a new project. The book presents original work as well as appropriated content from local newspaper clippings, video stills from local tv stations, images received via email by friends and family members, etc." HERE

Madeira Island Nature’s Paradise. Video by Pedro Teixeira, taken from the website holding the largest online image archive of Madeira: www.madeiraarchipelago.com.  This archive is constantly updated, for example has photos from the recent sixteenth century market in Machico. HERE

Portugal: New Year in Madeira from 999 euros for 7 nights. This holiday includes 7 nights at the 4 **** Hotel Girassol in Funchal on a half board basis with New Year’s Even dinner and live music in the hotel. Enjoy a full day guided excursions to the East Island, the West Island and a  half day tour to the Botanical Gardens. HERE

News from Diário de Notícias and Jornal da Madeira

SATURDAY 12th JUNE

FRONT PAGE NEWS

New hospital not until 2020. The most optimistic prediction for the new Hospital of Funchal is 2020 or 2021. The hospital has been promised by the Regional Government and the PSD-M for more than a decade. The project has not been entered for financial support from the State as a project of common interest, meaning that only after 2013 can finance be obtained from Lisbon for a project costing billions of euros. When a tender was launched for the project in 2004, a time scale for the construction was 6 – 8 years then another 2 -3 years for it to enter into normal operation. If an application is entered in 2013 for State support, the new Hospital of Funchal will be fully operational in 2022 – 2024, ie 12 – 14 years time. Land has already been expropriated in Santa Rita and some owners are still waiting for compensation.

Cunha e Silva takes Calheta to court. The Vice-President of the Regional Government wants the Municipality of Calheta to stop the construction of a house near his holiday home. The house is being built within 400 metres of his second home in Lombo da Igreja in the parish of Estreito da Calheta. Cunha e Silva challenges the size and position of the house and that it provokes concerns about the environment, landscape, urban planning and the quality of life of citizens. This court action is despite Calheta Council being PSD, the same political party as the Regional Government. The Mayor of Calheta is surprised at the application for an injunction as he is personally acquainted with Cunha e Silva, but has not discussed the matter with him since it is the council that makes the decisions.

MADEIRA

Lobo-marinho in world exhibition. A photo of a member of the lobo-marinho colony of the Desertas is part of the Wild Wonders of Europe photographic exhibition. 60 of Europe’s best photographers exhibit images of wildlife living in 48 European countries. The 80 works were selected from a total of 200,000 photos. This photo of the seal was taken by Nuno Sá and was on the cover of the Portuguese edition of the National Geographic magazine last May. The exhibition is to raise awareness of European biodiversity conservation and it is expected that 700 million people will visit this exhibition when it tours Europe and America until 2012. Exhibition portal: HERE

Blessing of the statue of Our Lady of Fatima. This afternoon, the Bishop of Funchal blessed a white marble statue of the image of Our Lady of Fatima. It is placed in the garden attached to the churchyard of the parish church of Imaculado Coração de Maria, in memory of the visit of the Pilgrim Image to the Diocese of Funchal.

Hundreds of worshippers resume the tradition. For the first time in more than two decades, the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was taken out of the church of Boa Nova and carried in the procession last night. Hundreds joined in the festivities which were especially emotive for the elderly as this tradition had been forgotten in this parish. Other parishes normally have an effigy of the patron saint in their religious processions.

ECONOMICS

Estudante retreats on increased transport costs. Conceição Estudante said the Regional Government will not raise the cost of using public transport until January 2011. This is despite previous reports that ticket prices will increase. The bus company Horários do Funchal is technically bankrupt with costs 13% higher than revenue, and the company is dependent on transfers from the Regional Government that have not been forthcoming for the past two years.

Armas has a new ferry. Naviera Armas has a new ferry called the ‘Volcán de Teide’, which will enter service at the end of November, not yet confirmed for this region. It is the largest ship in the fleet, measuring 175.7 metres long and 26.4 metres wide. This ferry can accommodate 1,500 passengers and 353 cars. There are 114 cabins sleeping up to four people, four double cabins, two double cabins for disabled people and two penthouses. Top speed is 24 knots. The present ferry Volcán de Tijarafe has been operating in the region since June 2008.

COUNTRY

Portugal joined the EEC 25 years ago and is for the better. 25 years ago this morning, Portugal signed the Treaty of Accession to the EEC. The Prime Minister at the time was Mário Soares and the signing took place at the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos in Lisboa. The Portuguese have seen their living standards improve and some essential goods were more expensive in 1985. A breakfast consisting of one litre of milk and four bread rolls would have cost 80 escudos or 40 cêntimos, today 1.20 euros. The maximum permissible price for bread was 4,50 escudos (0.02 euros) and a litre of half-fat milk 62 escudos (0.31 euros). In real terms, the minimum wage is higher today. In the mid-80s, the main transport was either public transport or small cylinder motor bikes and the number of cars has increased from 119.4 to 421.1 per thousand inhabitants. Unemployment is far worse as there were 341,800 unemployed in 1985 whereas there are presently 592,000 registered unemployed in Portugal. After 25 years of accession to Europe, a snapshot of Portugal shows: more unemployment, higher wages, more expensive bread but the price of milk has fallen, more cars on the road and cheaper fuel. The Employers Confederation said that access to European Funds to modernize the economy and open borders have been the main benefits to Portugal. Employers also said that joining the single currency and the present economic crisis have been the biggest tests in economic terms that Portugal has faced since 1986. Advantages to Madeira of accession have been the development and maintenance of agriculture, fisheries and the environment. European funds have enabled infrastructure development, especially of transport and roads and joining has allowed unprecedented development. Madeira is the country that has most benefited from membership and has had the fastest convergence with the EU average. The biggest challenges that EU countries will face in the next 50 years are thought to be: world globalization, creating jobs, becoming more competitive, economic decline, integration of immigrants, demographic decline, climate change and relationship with the Islamic world. The 25 years of joining the EU are celebrated today with a return to the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos by the Portuguese and Spanish politicians Mário Soares and Felipe González. There will be ceremonies in Lisbon and Madrid as Spain joined on the same day. Speaking at the solemn ceremony at Lisbon will be the Portuguese Prime Minister, José Sócrates, the Head of the Spanish Government, José Luis Zapatero, the President of the European Commission, Durão Barroso, the President of the European Parliament, Jersy Buzek and the President of the Republic, Cavaco Silva. 

MULTIMEDIA

Crossing Madeira on foot.  A team of five people started crossing Madeira on foot today. The journey began at Porto Moniz at 8 am and is scheduled to finish on Sunday at Prainha, Caniçal at 17.00. The route is divided into two phases of 45/50 km, stopping at Encumeada for an overnight rest. The  journey can be followed on HERE. Slideshow of places visited: HERE

Crash at Santa Cruz Rally. Bruno Fernandes and Mauro Sousa in a Toyota Yaris crashed at the rally that was won by Vitor Sá. PHOTOS

SUNDAY 13th JUNE

FRONT PAGE NEWS

Jardim’s trip to Europe costs 28,000 euros. The President of the Region left on Tuesday for a marathon fortnight of meetings in three European countries. For air travel, hotels and car rental during his visit to Brussels, Strasbourg and Norway, the travel agent that Quinta Vigia always uses, Topatlântico, charged the treasury 280,342 euros. Keeping his trips secret is based on the law that states: a contract is declared secret when the execution must be accompanied by special security measures for the protection of essential interests of the Portuguese State. The Tribunal de Contas warned last year that not all trips by Jardim required such special security measures and that Quinta Vigia abused the law, but this ruling is ignored.

MADEIRA

Debris from the storm in Ribeira Brava. For more than three months, the large quantity of debris resulting from the clearance after the last great storm has been stored on the seafront of Ribeira Brava. This was supposed to be an interim solution and there have been no effective measures to reduce the effects on public health or the visual impact. IA Saúde verifies that although there is organic waste in the debris, there is no risk to public health. There were assurances that the debris would be removed before summer, but the municipality has other priorities since it has many requests for help after the havoc caused by the storm.

1.8 million euros for nature conservation. The region will soon start two new nature conservation projects financed with EU funds. The Office of the Natural Park of Madeira (SPNM) will receive funding through LIFE-Nature and LIFE-Communications for two projects totalling 1.8 million euros, financed 75% and 50%, respectively. One project is to halt the loss of European biodiversity through the recovery of Ilhéus do Porto Santo and the adjacent marine area. The other project has the theme, ‘Communicating for sustainable socio-economic, human enjoyment and biodiversity of Natura 2000 sites in the archipelago of Madeira’. This project aims to promote and enhance the compatibility between the development of socio-economic and cultural activities, such as fishing, agriculture and nature tourism, and management of Nature Reserves, classified areas, habitats and species listed in directives that support the Natura 2000 network. Since the early 1990s, the National Park has been the main beneficiary of fourteen LIFE projects and has been involved in another nine. The conservation of Freira da Madeira was considered one of the best LIFE-Nature projects for 2007 – 2008.

CULTURE

Paula Rego honoured by Queen Elizabeth II in England.  Paula Rego was among dozens of people honoured by Queen Elizabeth II in her birthday celebrations. The artist received the Order of the British Empire for her contribution to the arts. "I was completely surprised," said Paula Rego, quoted in the Guardian newspaper. "What is it for? I don’t do anything but paint pictures." Paula Rego was born in Lisbon in 1935 and attended the Slade School of Art in London in 1954. Married to an Englishman, Paula Rego has lived permanently in England since 1976. Recognized around the world, she is placed among the four best painters living in England.

House-museum invests in the work of Roberto Cunha. This Madeiran artist devoted himself mainly to clay figures but also excelled in caricature, produced puppets and oil paintings. He lived from 1901 to 1966 and the Casa-Museu Frederico de Freitas has made an inventory and invested in more than 200 pieces of his work to display to the public.

MULTIMEDIA

Atlantic Festival 2010. ‘Magic in the Air’, the second fireworks show in the 2010 edition of the Festival of the Atlantic will have surpassed the expectations of any audience, especially visitors to the region. Video: HERE

—-Unfortunately, this Diário video does not show the entire 20 minutes but it would be worth a search on YouTube etc. 

Many thanks to Paul and Elaine for sending in a contribution(s) for this blog.

—————————————————————————————————————————————–
If you can, please contribute something Madeira related. A funny story or good or bad experience, a news item, or a story from a Madeira newspaper, a teaser, news of a bargain flight or item in a supermarket. Please help keep this blog going … without user contributions it won’t survive. Please only send in ‘exceptional’ or very topical photos by email attachment, as they take quite some time to process. Links to photos that are already online take much less time. Anything submitted for inclusion will be ‘cut and pasted’  to the blog very likely unchecked and unaltered, so please check anything through before sending it in, especially ‘automatic translations’, to avoid any ‘afterthoughts’. Blogs will be published when there is sufficient material to make one worthwhile. I can’t always respond to emails, so please accept my thanks in advance, and the attribution on the blog itself. Der.

You can email dermadeira-blog@yahoo.co.uk with any articles etc., but to save time and delays, please use the comments for minor contributions and to ask any questions. Please don’t send in copyrighted / restricted material.

Madeira News Blog / madeira4u © 2007 – 2010 All Rights Reserved