Tobacco Sponsors 2009 Rally ; Tuna In Quantity But Not Quality? ; Monte Train Project
(30th May). The day’s main news headline : ‘Crisis Brings Tobacco Back To The Rally – Europe prohibits the advertising of tobacco and the sponsoring of sporting events by tobacco companies. But, in times of crisis, the government of Madeira just legislated for the opposite, to enable the Madeira Wine Rally’. Although there is an EU directive specifically banning tobacco advertising, and sponsorship of tobacco companies for sporting events, the government here as adopted a stance to enable exactly the opposite, by amending the obstructing legislation, with every right to do so, thanks to a get-out clause included for that purpose. The Madeira Wine Rally, which celebrates 50 years of existence and 30 years of integration in the Championship of Europe, may now be sponsored by tobacco companies. Other European countries have tried to do the same thing, without success. For example, in 2006 Germany tried to challenge the EU ban on tobacco advertising around major sporting events, but was quickly threatened with court action and decided not to proceed, partly because the ‘lobby’ of tobacco companies is losing strength. The European Union considers that "tobacco advertising in sport can negatively influence a very large number of young people and adults". One exception is Marlboro in Formula 1 racing, and that right will expire in 2011. The Madeira Wine Rally is held under the aegis of the Portuguese Federation of Motor Sports and Karting (FPAK), which in its regulations prohibits the use of any connection to brands of tobacco.
So why has Madeira taken this path? One of the reasons for opening up to sponsoring by tobacco companies is the reduction of public support, by around €12 thousand. Last year the Madeira Government supported the Madeira Wine Rally with around €650 thousand, but this year, through a Regional Legislative Decree was only able to stump up €638 thousand. So the government failed to find €12,000 through it’s own legislation, such a small amount in such a big budget, and legislated again to allow the rally organisers to raise the €12,000 shortfall through tobacco advertising. Words fail me!
‘Tomorrow is the world no smoking day : a moment to regret the growing vulnerability of youths gripped by the mortal addiction’. I am going to skip this tobacco story, as I think here on Madeira the story has been superseded by idiot politicians, who clearly don’t think that health is a relevant issue.
Following the earlier story about masses of surplus Tuna coming to Madeira from the Azores : ‘Tuna Unloaded Without Inspection – It has been a year abundant with tuna coming from the Azores’. From January until now, 800 tons of tuna have been brought here from the Azores, double that in 2008. The Madeiran boats that fish out there come back here to unload tons. In Caniçal, the fish is unloaded and sold, but it is now suggested that it was time for this operation to be subject to an inspection by a veterinarian, to assure the quality of the tuna to the consumer. On departure from the Azores, the fish is fresh and of high quality. However, the long journey across to Madeira is bound to result in some degradation to the fish, and unlike Funchal, there is no inspection regime in Caniçal. The fish is sold at €2.20 per kilo in port here, whereas in the Azores it would fetch €1 per kilo from the cannery. The previous article suggests that the Azores fishermen were bringing the catch to Madeira, but now it seems Madeira fishermen are also travelling to the Azores.
‘Quinta Do Terreiro da Luta Has A New Owner – The Cable Car Company of Madeira Wants To Push Forward The Return Of The Train’. The mansion and grounds in Monte have been purchased by the company ‘Teleférico da Madeira’, an investment aimed at moving forward a project for a train in Monte, but without any definite guarantees. If the train project does not go ahead, it will become a tourist attraction that will show the quinta in its own era of 1912, the year of construction, as a romantic setting, and a reference to matters botanical, historical, and of leisure at that time. It will also be a ‘Tea House’. The grounds comprise 5,000 square metres of gardens, and several outbuildings. The doors may open to the public in July, with restoration work and reworking of the gardens being left until later. The company ‘Teleférico da Madeira’ is a consortium company with 5 major shareholders, who are : Etermar 55%, EEM (Madeira’s electricity company) 20%, Horários do Funchal (bus company) 15%, Somagescont / Jaime Ramos (president of Madeira’s parliament) 5%, and Blandy SGPS 5%. I am not going to suggest that anything untoward is going on in this ‘maybe / maybe not’ investment, but there is one name in the shareholders list that would suggest to me that there is much more ‘maybe’ than ‘maybe not’ involved.
TODAY’S PHOTO : Thanks to Sarah … from the gardens at Quinta Splendida, Caniço.
