Hahn’d over the dosh Johannes ; Thieving from the homeless ; Strategic buildings at risk
Today’s photo – Many thanks to Tom … "Vintage hidden view point on St. Luiza street behind house # 152. No one knows about it I guess".
Many thanks to Becky for these web snippets :
"This afternoon the wardrobes and cupboards here will be a little emptier. We wish the best of luck to everyone associated with the collection and hope that it makes the lives of the people of Madeira a bit easier in the short term." MORE
"We left Madeira in the middle of the night, stealing away from our hotel, from the sleepy-eyed night clerk we roused from slumber on the lobby’s wicker furniture who watched us drive away through the glass lobby doors, from the sea finally quiet and the stars which we could see for only the second time in a week, with the yellow lights of the city guiding us, the air calm, the night quiet, the whistling wind at last abated–we left the island more full of peace than when we arrived". BLOG STORY
"A bit more on Funchal ships over the years" … Pete. HERE
"Comment here about Graf Zeppelin passed over Funchal" … Pete HERE AND HERE SIGHTING / PHOTO
Also from Pete … "Johannes Hahn, European Commissioner flying over Funchal looking at February flood damage on the 7/3/10. Thanks for all that Pete.
Which is rather good timing, as Paul kindly sent this in, along with the CR article :
Know your EU Commissioners: Johannes Hahn : Without a doubt the most significant EU Commissioner for Madeirans indeed all Madeiran residents is Johannes Hahn, European commissioner for regional policy who is now responsible for a policy that accounts for about one-third of the EU’s spending. He is expected to overtake agriculture as the single biggest budget item. He was of course in the Region to assess the floods damage and discuss scope for EU support with the President of Madeira’s regional government, Alberto João Jardim. The Madeira visit follows up a meeting the Hahn held with the Portuguese Interior Minister, Mr Rui Pereira, in Bruges (Belgium) on 26 February.
The sheer scale of regional spending, roughly €50 billion per year, makes Hahn one of the more important figures in the college.
Johannes Hahn, lover of baroque music and a keen sailor, is that rare breed of politician who does not feel a constant need to talk.
Philosopher: “At university, Hahn quickly discovered that philosophy suited him far better than law. His whole outlook on life changed soon after, however, when, aged 22, he was diagnosed with cancer. “If you are confronted with death, your priorities change,” says Hahn, who still goes for regular check-ups at the age of 52.”
Vienna man: “spent his entire life in Austria’s capital, Vienna, occupying the same flat for the past 24 years”. To read Johannes Hahn’s profile and CV click to this ARTICLE
Imagine Ronaldo playing for Australia!
Had the planets aligned differently, Cristiano Ronaldo might have been playing for the Australian national team rather than Portugal.
“Maria-Angela, 80, and Jose, 81, have had 13 children and four live with them in Perth. Ronaldo, 25, was just a child when Vivieros – who works as a cleaner – moved to Australia to find a better life about 20 years ago.
These days Vivieros pines for the beauty of Madeira, but his parents – who migrated to Perth about a decade ago – are settled and have no wish to return. ”They look after me and I look after them as well,” Vivieros said. ”Now my life’s here.”
Western Australia boasts a Portuguese population of about 8000 and 85 per cent are from Madeira, according to the Portuguese consulate in Perth. The Madeirans started arriving in large numbers in the 1950s and many settled in Fremantle as fishermen.” Link to full article
Marítimo only managed a dreary 0 – 0 draw on Madeira yesterday with Académica. Nacional play tonight, and could climb to 5th in the league table if they win.
Many thanks to Elaine once again for yesterday’s top news stories :
DIÁRIO 07/03/2010
FRONT PAGE NEWS
Infrastructures in areas of risk. Link to the map is on yesterday’s blog. Infrastructures of strategic importance are in areas at risk. These include those needed in an emergency, for example fire stations and health centres. Porto Santo is one of the three regions in Portuguese territory that are most at risk if global temperatures increase by two degrees over the next few years, (December 2004 study). Madeira is at risk depending on volcanic activity on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands. A BBC documentary said that in the worst case scenario, a tsunami tidal wave could reach Madeira within a few hours. By the end of the century, it is predicted that the archipelago will have an average temperature increase of 2 – 3 degrees with a 35% reduction in current rainfall. Water availability will decrease by 40 – 50%, (Filipe Duarte Santos, September 2006). Madeira has a population density (310 inhabitants / square km) higher than the EU and national average. 75% occupy only 35% of the territory, mainly on the south coast. 45% of the population (130,000) reside in Funchal, (1,500 inhabitants/ square km). Since 1991, only two counties have increased in population, Câmara de Lobos (10%) and Santa Cruz (26.7%). The first increase is natural and the second as a result of improved road access to Funchal. The development of the Calheta – Machico transport network has allowed a more equal distribution of the population on the south coast, resulting in Funchal losing 12,000 inhabitants between 1991 and 2001. Due to the physical characteristics of the territory, the north coast has been consistently losing population and represents less than 10% of the total population of Madeira.
MADEIRA
‘Delusional fantasy’ reported in the London newspapers. This story has been reported in previous blogs. Diário has picked up on the Daily Mirror and Daily Telegraph reports of the discovery of a nail from the time of the crucifixion of Christ, on the Ilhéu da Pontinha (Forte de S. José). Élvio Sousa of CEAM says it is purely delusional fantasy, agreed by Brian Philp from the Centre for Archaeology. Élvio Sousa guarantees that reports that objects have been found on this site are manifestly false. In the area of the dig, there were found objects from the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries, however there are some remnants that can be traced to the seventeenth century. He said it is sensationalism to say that these were found in a wooden box by the sea, perfectly preserved for over two thousand years. The nail that was found is strong, but is just like the ones used in constructing residential dwellings in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and there are many of these found in the excavation. Contacted by Diário, Renato Barros the owner of Forte de São José, said he himself found the pieces therefore it was a finding, not an archaeological discovery. He added that 200 – 300 people visit the Fort each day and a "person from the British Museum" took note of the relics and then returned to London where the museum authenticated the pieces. He said he would not give any further details, as they will be divulged in Madeira in conjunction with museum officials.
Lack of salary causes strike in Jardim da Serra hotel. Tired of not receiving their wages on time, 16 of the 20 employees of the Hotel Quinta do Jardim da Serra started a two-day strike yesterday. The staff have repeatedly threatened to go on strike since last year for wages paid in arrears, and job insecurity since early 2009. The situation worsened at the end of last year when the salary was two months in arrears but a strike was suspended as the company said they would pay the salaries. The staff are on strike now because they have not received wages for December and the Christmas bonus.
Thieves take items donated for the homeless. Dozens of articles donated by the public for victims of the storm of February 20th were stolen from the warehouse at Rua do Brasil, Nazaré. The burglars entered through the door to the rubbish storage area. According to the president of the charity Cáritas Diocesana do Funchal, they took appliances such as toasters, kitchen mixers and hairdryers. The charity had already suspected that the warehouse could be subject to a possible burglary as some volunteers had noticed on Friday, a group of individuals who attempted to divert products. The doors will be reinforced and the police have been asked to investigate. As well as the army, police will patrol the area.
Today’s news headlines from the front page of the Diário de Notícias :
MPT [Earth Party] makes possible Serrão [PS-M leader] as vice of the table of parliament.
Women of Madeira that telephone to APAV answered in the Azores – On the Day of the Woman there is a signalling of the lack of an office of APAV on Madeira, the presence of 20 complaints of domestic violence per week to the PSP Police, and the myths amongst the young people that consider the pressure and the jealousy to be normal. Victim support for Madeira’s battered women is handled initially in the Azores, by the Associação Portuguesa de Apoio à Vítima (APAV), as there is no office on Madeira. This is despite of there being 511 complaints to the Public Security Police in the first six months of 2009. The calls to a Madeiran number are automatically rerouted to Ponta Delgada, in the Azores. The distance causes some difficulties, as often the women are desperate and need information immediately, but the staff of APAV in the Azores need to contact someone on Madeira to seek further help, to give support and if necessary access to sheltered accommodation.
Today’s main news headline : Solidarity already raised €7.3 million. Companies and citizens are on a wave of notable generosity. Mota Engil on its own is giving 1.2 million Euros for 10 (or even 12?) houses for the homeless due to the storms of 20th February. But there are many and good examples that arrive from all the Country and Region. The generosity of companies and the Portuguese is unprecedented. The Diário has done an assessment of the various fund raising initiatives and bodies, to come up with the figure of €7.3 million, and has also concluded that over 40% of that figure is promised by companies. Aside from Mota Engil, Jerónimo Martins has pledged €1 million, BES (Banco Espírito Santo), €500,000, Montepio €150,000 (plus more direct help), Totta €100,000, and Galp Fuel €200,000, are amongst the most generous pledges to support the various fund raising initiatives. Amongst many other sources of support, the Portuguese Football Federation is giving €100,000, whilst the teams Sporting and naval have donated complete gate receipts. Two ‘countries’ have also given, with a €50,000 cheque from the USA Embassy in Lisbon, and €556,000 from one of the poorest countries in the world, East Timor. The list goes on, and on, and on ….
Pestana JR, R. Oudinote and the tunnel Sá Carneiro reopen. Funchal today will be better-off. Running late are Avenida do Mar and Rua do Anadia. As Funchal returns to normal, on a day to day basis at least, roads and tunnels are reopening albeit with restrictions in some cases. Rua Visconde do Anadia needs two or three more weeks before reopening, because the drains are completely blocked. Also the roads Avenida do Mar and Comunidades Madeirenses will continue with restrictions for some time, although there will also be some movement on the South side in a few days when drainage problems have been resolved.
The main sports headline today : Latest draw distances Marítimo from Europe – The ‘verde-rubros’ returned to distance themselves further from the objective of a European placing. The draw with Académica left the team of Mitchell in 10th place. Tonight Nacional close the weekend fixtures in Guimarães.
If anyone else can oblige with the translation of any of the ‘blank’ or sparsely filled headlines, or other news stories, here is the link. All contributions much appreciated.
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Update on Avenida do Mar. Yesterday it was reported that the renovation had been finished. There is an ‘Observatory’ (structure made of decking) next to the Praça da Autonomia, the Blind Man sculpture, the pedestrian area near to ETAR (sewerage plant) and Teleferico repaved with a square that can be used for temporary exhibitions. The Blind Man sculpture was inspired by the traditional game ‘Blind Man’s Buff’ and the lives of women of the Old Town coping with the men going to sea. The other two associated projects are the recovery of footpaths in the Garden of Almirante Reis and renovation of the walls of ETAR. The work has been finished although there is still a court case as a company from the mainland has challenged the awarding of the work.
Gale rips off Christmas lights. Ribeira Brava battered by bad weather. Ribeira Brava was battered today for a few brief minutes of intense winds and rain that ripped off Christmas lights, terraces and roofs. According to the Chief Fireman, "Everything happened too quickly, with record rains and strong wind." "The Christmas lights that were attached to poles on the sea front were ripped off from the balcony from where they were hooked." The river is in full spate. At Atouguia in Calheta, the river overflowed and flooded some houses (photo). Trees fell onto a road at Terreiro da Luta (photo) and the Estrada Monumental in Funchal, and rockfalls closed roads in Arco da Calheta and Calheta. 
At the Lido bathing complex, the waves ‘swept’ the pool and the surrounding sundeck. Six flights were cancelled at the airport during the morning and four planes diverted to Porto Santo. The cruise ship Oriana was to berth off-shore due to lack of space. Due to the high seas causing problems in ferrying passengers to the shore, the captain decided to return to England early mid-morning. Thus, the region lost revenue from 1,700 passengers. The wind will continue over Wednesday and on Thursday, the forecast is for the return of heavy rain and the possibility of thunderstorms. The Azores have been affected by bad weather with nearly 100 people displaced in Terceira, also floods and landslides. (Video on 
Celebrating Madeiran traditions. Xarabanda at Baltazar Dias on Saturday, December 19 at 21.00. Concert entitled, ‘Cantigas ao Menino Jesus’. The repertoire consists of themes of the musical tradition of a Madeiran Christmas. 
Gale causes damage - Floods, landslides and rough seas are other symptoms of the bad weather, that is coming back tomorrow. There are several articles on the bad weather, with some info already provided by Elaine above, so just a few highlights. Gales rip out Christmas lights – Ribeira Brava battered by bad weather. The town of Ribeira Brava was battered on Tuesday, during several minutes of intense winds and rain that ripped out Christmas lights, terraces and roofs (tiles?), according to a fireman. The Chief Fireman of Ribeira Brava, Agostinho Silva, said that "everything happened so quickly, with intense rain and strong winds". The Christmas lights that were attached to poles at the sea front of the town were uprooted and ended broken and mangled, and the steel barriers they were attached to were bent over. Another report says that a small tornado shook the town, with chairs and tables flying around. The bad weather made itself felt all over the island. In Funchal there is no record of significant damage, besides a small downfall in the area of Terreiro da Luta, and a tree felled in Estrada Monumental. In Calheta there was a rockfall that forced the closure of the regional road between the town and Arco da Calheta, and in Sítio do Atouguia, a river overflowed and flooded some homes. There are also reports of crops damaged, with Banana plants particularly affected. 
