Roma, Itália – A Greenpeace apresentou evidências perante a Comissão de Pescas da Organização das Nações Unidas para a Agricultura e a Alimentação (FAO), reunida em Roma, de que a empresa espanhola Vidal Armadores S.A. recebeu mais de 3.5 milhões de Euros em subsídios do governo espanhol, apesar de estar envolvida na pesca pirata. Além disso, a empresa continua a receber ajuda do governo espanhol, recebendo contratos e licenças para pescar noutros países.
Archive for April, 2009
Our initial plans were to introduce wonderful
Sepp Holzer to you, along with his internation-
ally celebrated, beautiful Permaculture farm
Krameterhof in Austria. There, the Holzer family has lived
on this ever-thriving and expanding hillside paradise for
decades. But then we thought again: What will many peo-
ple and groups need first and foremost, even before they
might plant seeds and maybe practice Sepp’s amazing
Permaculture approach on their Spaces of Love, their Kin’s
Domains? And we had to answer: They will need land. And
more so, many of you will need help with the acquisition of
land.
The information below, which Sepp graciously shared
with us, is not necessarily focused upon methods of obtain-
ing government land. But we nevertheless see it as a
courageous call-to-action and call to take heart, for all of
us, from a man who has been called the Rebel Farmer for
good reason. (The latter is also the title of his wonderful
book.) While Sepp, assisted by his son Josef, is now in
great demand as Permaculture authority and trainer inter-
nationally, and finally considered a national treasure by
many people in Austria and around the world, his life as a
farmer of unusual growing-methods has been quite chal-
lenging – and NOT via challenges from Mother Earth, al-
though those have been many. But Sepp has had to fight
and face down the most amazing opposition to his simple
wish to practice agricultural methods upon his family’s land
which were neither understood nor appreciated by bureau-
cratic systems which seemed intent on thwarting his efforts
at every turn.
Right along with all those challenges, Sepp and his
wife Veronica, along with their beautiful children, main-
tained their good-natured spirits and thriving Garden of
Eden on their mountain side.
Sepp himself was inspired more recently by a coura-
geous Chech Mayor, Petr Pavek, who seems to have taken
matters into his own hands with regard to the menace of
bureaucratic control. Pavek’s community, it appears, sports
signs at the entrance and exit to the township, forbidding
bureaucrats from entering, with the penalty for perpetrators
set at 10.000 CZK. More power to those two!
May Sepp’s Open Letter and the letter of Michael
Schilt, here reprinted by special permission, serve to
inspire our undertakings as we go out into the world to
introduce another way of life which will feel threatening to
some, and might need heartfelt strength and loving,
soulful fortitude. Thank you, dear Holzers! May we all
move forward at the exact clip which is needed to help our
beautiful Mother Earth to right herself and turn into the
paradise we see in our shared vision!
The presenting problems and my proposal
for their solution:
We come into the world, usually in a sterile hospital
where immediately, our natural roots are cut. We are
then inoculated and nursed with a chemical cocktail and
begin our journey into and through an unnatural world,
increasingly severed from Nature and from natural
processes. Instead, would not a natural birth in the cir-
cle of one’s family and a natural childhood be the cor-
rect start for the future life of a young person? And
should not every planetary citizen have the birthright to
their own piece of earth upon which they could develop
and maintain their essential need to be nurtured and
sustained by their natural environment? I maintain that a
land reform which confirms these realities is long over-
due.
By growing up in insulation and isolation from Na-
ture and our Mitlebewesen, the creatures co-existing
with us, we lose the natural relationship to our environ-
ment. Growing up in symbiosis with plants, animals and
humans, however, enables an experience of meaningful
belonging and sharpens the task and ability to act as a
thoughtful individual,
the task of mastering the challenge of Directing rather
than Fighting. By observing the life all around us, our
Mitlebewesen, do we discover that Nature is perfect
already and that Creation has considered everyone;
that everything is in relationship one with the other
and that there is nothing to improve. Our task is to
conserve and protect this perfection.
Permaculture Farming A Natural Revolution Sepp Holzer – the
Rebel Farmer of Austria.
Dragon´s place
A place where everybody is welcome.
But certainly for all the ones who will learn about the new Celtic view on it and put in practice the harmonious integration of landscape and people providing their food, energy, shelter, and other material and non-material needs in a sustainable way.
In fact, an update of the ideas of Permaculture set by Bill Mollison:
Food: We will work on our quinta (4 hectares own + 4 hectares use) , together with local traditional, together with others biological farmers in the area, and learn from each other to provide healthy foods for our own needs and other people.
Our quinta is a beautiful natural area in mid Portugal. An old Celtic place, consisting of large areas of woodland, and a terraced vineyard, where every day you can enjoy living a natural lifestyle. Living on the quinta is also an adventure, and we will be very self-supporting. For almost 200 years, generations of the same family have lived there. When we arrived in 2003 there was only a wild area (jungle), for over 30 years no one has done anything with it. We have already cleared a lot of areas, and still we continue to find new exiting things (including trails of Wicca). There are several sources for water, and ingenious distribution networks to deliver the water where it is required.
Of the three stone built buildings on the property, we have restored one already, and one of the others is planned.
Permaculture Launched in Taiwan
Taiwan is embracing permaculture with the first Permaculture Design Course starting Oct 26 in Taipei. Robyn Francis has been invited to Taiwan to conduct the course which will be translated into Chinese. The course organiser, Peter Morehead of Earth Passengers NGO, based in Taipei, is very excited about training a team of committed permaculture practitioners and teachers to develop strategies for sustainability for the island nation. The group has already translated Permaculture Educations PDC Handbook into Mandarin in readiness for the course and hopes this will provide a springboard for accelerating the adoption and spread of permaculture, not only in Taiwan but also in mainland China. Taiwan has a similar unsustainable ecological footprint to Australia and is very dependent on imported energy and goods.
Taiwan terá o priemeiro courso de permacultura començando no 26 Outubro em Taipei. O Robyn Francis tem sido convidado a Taiwan facilitar o courso que será traducido em Mandarin. O organizador o PEter Morehead de Earth Passengers ONG em Taipei tá mutio contento sobre o treinimento dum grupo de particantes e preceptors desenvolver estratgías sustentaveis. O grupo tem traducido Permaculture Educations PDC Handbook em Mandarin usar para o courso. Esperam que vai acçelerar o movimento de permacultura em Taiwan e também China . Taiwan tem uma pegada ecológica semelhante insustentável para a Austrália e é muito dependente da importação de energia e de mercadorias.
Destinatário: Assembleia da Republica, governo Português, o Departamento de Infra-estruturas Publicas e Estradas de Portugal (EP)
Petição contra o projecto de construção da nova IC 6, entre Tábua, Oliveira do Hospital, Lagos da Beira, e Seia, pelas seguintes razões:
For ENGLISH text: scroll down plaese.!
Petição contra o projecto de construção da nova IC 6, entre Tábua, Oliveira do Hospital, Lagos da Beira, e Seia, pelas seguintes razões:
1. Desastroso para uma zona protegida de reserva ecológica nacional (REN).
2. Não ser necessária para tráfego ou outras soluções.
3. Prejudicial para os agricultores, relativamente ao seu abastecimento de água.
4. 300 het. de floresta e REN terão de ser destruídos, 800 famílias serão expropriadas,
250 Moradias e Quintas serão demolidas.
E tudo isto custa 1200 milhões de Euros de fundos Europeus.
Na semana passada, nós, a população da Beira alta, descobrimos por acidente que o governo tinha subitamente e contrariamente a planos anteriores (Porquê a reviravolta?), decidido construir uma Auto-estrada através da nossa região. Tal projecto tem consequências desastrosas tanto para o ambiente, natureza como para os seus habitantes.
Vimos deste modo demonstrar que o governo Português, o Departamento de Infra-estruturas Publicas e Estradas de Portugal (EP) estão a violar os direitos democráticos, a abusar do seu poder, a não dar ouvidos ao desejo da maioria, a conduzir uma administração faltosa, a tencionar destruir uma zona de reserva ecológica nacional (REN), estão a fazer uso abusivo de fundos comunitários, estão a construir obsessivamente tantas quantas estrada desnecessárias puderem e a prejudicar os seus cidadãos.
Nós acusamos o governo Português e o Departamento de infra-estruturas de:
1.Violação dos direitos democráticos.
O governo ficou de dar inicio a um processo democrático para este assunto (Como é normal), nem o poder local tinha conhecimento deste projecto.
2. Abuso de poder.
Apesar de termos pedido mais informação sobre este assunto, pormenores e afins, o Departamento das EP em Coimbra recusou dar qualquer tipo de resposta. As únicas informações que temos são que muitas casas terão de ser demolidas e que muitos terrenos terão de ser expropriados, deste modo muitas pessoas sentem-se bastante inseguras e desorientadas sobre o que está para acontecer. O pânico está instalado entre a população mas ninguém sabe o que fazer.
Isto não é forma de tratar os cidadãos!
3.não dar ouvidos aos desejos da maioria.
No (pequeno) inquérito feito por ATKINS em 2007, constata-se que a maioria dos inquiridos, câmaras, indivíduos e outras organizações, no seu total 42!! Não pensa necessitar de uma nova Auto-Estrada que passe por reserva ecológica (REN), aldeias antigas e terreno Agrícola tão valioso para a população e preferem que nada seja feito.
4. Conduzir uma administração faltosa.
Ao atropelar os procedimentos normais, não informar as câmaras, os conselhos e os cidadãos, não dar prazos, ao não pesquisar as consequências para a natureza e população a curto e médio e procurar outras alternativas estão a conduzir uma administração faltosa!
5. A destruição de uma zona e Reserve Ecologica Nacional (REN)
80 % do projecto aprovado será através de uma suposta zona de reserva ecológica (REN). Esta é uma zona de reserva única com uma imensa diversidade de animais, plantas e árvores.
Florestas de carvalhos e castanheiros, zonas de pasto, vinhas antigas, inúmeros cursos de água, tanto à superfície como abaixo dela e até zonas pantanosas. Muitas espécies animais exclusivamente Portuguesas são ameaçadas por estes planos, tal como a águia Portuguesa.
Se partirmos do principio que o impacto de uma auto-estrada com ambas as direcções é de pelo menos 1000 metros, tal implica que no mínimo 5000000 m2 ou 500 het. desta zona protegida serão destruídos. Tal é inaceitável por uma auto-estrada que ninguém quer ou precisa.
Toda esta natureza atrai muito turismo, e também estrangeiros (maioritariamente Ingleses e Holandeses) que investem em propriedades abandonadas, restaurando-as e tornando-as em pequenos paraísos. Tudo isto será perdido e será muito contra-producente, algo que o governo teima em não querer compreender.
Sem a natureza, o turismo morre e os estrangeiros deixam de investir e são forçados a partir, deixando
A economia local na banca rota.
5.1. Água
Nesta comunidade rural 80% da população está dependente da água do solo para beber e para irrigação.
Esta água provém em grande parte das montanhas da Serra da Estrela, em cursos subterrâneos, esta é extraída em poços ou espontaneamente.
Como é verificado em casos por todo o mundo, Há uma grande possibilidade de que por causa de alterações no subsolo, por exemplo com as fundações das muitas pontes, os poços sequem e que muitas famílias se vejam forçadas a abandonar as casas onde viveram por muitas gerações.
Não houve estudos efectuados para determinar o impacto ambiental nestes cursos de água, tão importantes para tanta gente.
Outro exemplo de administração faltosa.
5.2. Fogos florestais.
Esta região é uma das mais fortemente afectadas por fogos florestais nos últimos anos.
È portanto uma região muito vulnerável que necessita de protecção extra. Cortar cerca de 250 het. De floresta, contrasta com o dever de proteger e de manter a paisagem natural.
5.3 Destruição de aldeias típicas
Devido ao projecto, muitas aldeias típicas, algumas com mais de mil anos, estão a ser completamente demolidas, portanto em violação da lei Europeia!
6. Uso abusivo de fundos comunitários EU.
Os custos estimados para o projecto são de 1200€ milhões. Não compreendemos como é que a Europa apoia este projecto, e achamos que a construção desta auto-estrada é completamente redundante.
Alguma pesquisa efectuada por nós mostra o seguinte: A nova Estrada é supostamente para aliviar o tráfego na R17 (EN17), que existe quase paralelamente, a apenas alguns quilómetros de distância.
Nós fizemos uma contagem de carros e chegamos à conclusão de que apenas 1400 carros utilizam esta estrada por dia (24 horas).
Desta forma é ridículo investir 1200€ milhões num projecto devastador que não traz nenhuma solução para um problema que não existe. Aqui também não foi feito nenhum estudo relativamente à sua necessidade.
Não sabemos qual a base para um subsídio tão grande por parte da comunidade Europeia, só pode ter sido concedido com base em informação falsa, e tem de ser retirado imediatamente.
Portugal está conhecido por construir estradas de sítio nenhum para sítio nenhum.
Já agora, parece muito estranho que Portugal receba dinheiro da UE para plantar 1 milhão de carvalhos na Serra da Estrela por um lado, e por outro receba também dinheiro de UE para cortar 1 milhão de árvores na nossa região.
7. Prejudicar cidadãos Europeus.
As estimativas são de que 10.000.000 m² ou 1000 het. De terrenos têm de ser expropriados, juntos com 250 moradias e quintas que terão de ser demolidas. Algumas absolutamente únicas e com centenas de anos. Cerca de 800 pessoas perderão os seus terrenos e fonte de rendimentos, maioritariamente pequenos agricultores que estão totalmente dependentes da terra.
Cerce de 35 quintas de estrangeiros (maioritariamente Ingleses e Holandeses) têm de ser expropriadas, famílias que durante décadas investiram fortemente para restaurar terras e propriedades, sempre respeitaram a natureza e trabalharam duro para se radicarem aqui. Tudo isto ficará perdido para sempre e as autoridades Portuguesas pagam muito pouco em casos de expropriação. De qualquer modo, também este dinheiro provem de fundos comunitários EU e nós próprios financiámos a nossa destruição! A maior parte das pessoas serão postas na rua com pouco dinheiro, perderão as suas posses incluindo animais, não sabem para onde ir e assim tornam-se refugiados na sua própria Europa!
ESTE NÂO PODE SER O CASO!
Pedimos gentil e respeitosamente que nos ajude a travar este plano devastador. E assinar este Petiçäo.
Contacto; aguiaportugal@gmail.com
Os Peticionários.
———————————————————————————————————————
English version:
Petition against the planned construction of a New IC 6 highway, between the towns of Tabua, Oliveira do Hospital, Lagos da Beira, and Seia, because of ;
1. Devastating for protected Nature area (REN)
2. Not needed for traffic- or other solutions.
3. Harmful for watersupply farmers.
4. 300 ha. of forest and REN (Protected Nature Area)
has to be destroyed, 800 familys are getting expropiaded,
250 houses and Quinta’s will be broken down.
And this all costs 1200 million Euro European money.
Last week we , the people of Beira-alta, cental Portugal, discovered, by accident, that the Government has suddenly, in contradiction of earlier plans!!! (why the sudden Change??) , decided to build a major highway through our Region , which has disastrous consequences for Environment, Nature and Habitants. !
Hereafter we will show that the PT-Government, the Department of Public Infrastructure, and Estradas de Portugal (EP) are violating Democratic rights, are making abuse of power, are neglecting the wish of the majority, are conducting maladministration, are planning to destroy Protected Nature Reserve (REN), are making abuse of European funds, are obsessively building as many unnecessary roads as they can, and are harming a lot of their own citizens,
We accuse the Portuguese Government and the Department of Infrastructure of:
1.Violating democratic rights.
The Government has neglected, as usual, to start up a Democratic procedure in this matter, even the local Councils knew nothing about it.
2. Abuse of Power.
Although we requested further information, details, and so on, the Department of EP in Coimbra refuses us to inform. The only information we got is that a lot of houses will be broken down, and a lot of land will be expropriated, so a lot of people are very insecure and disorientated of what will happen. There is big panic amongst the people, but they don’t know what to do about it.
This is not the way to treat citizens!
3. Neglecting the wish of the majority.
In the (minor) survey held by ATKINS in 2007, states clearly that the majority of “consulted” councils, individuals, and other organisations, in total of only 42!! have no use for a new highway true Nature-reserve area (REN), ancient Villages and precious farmland, and prefer to do nothing.
4. Conducting maladministration.
By neglecting proper procedures, not informing councils and citizens, not giving any time-span, not research any alternatives, consequences for nature and citizens, in short and long-term, and so on, they are conducting maladministration.
5. Destroying Protected Nature reserve Area (REN) and this is probably the most important issue!
80 % of the set project is going true so called protected REN-area. REN stands for Reserva National.
This is a unique wildlife reserve with a mass scale of different Animals, Plants and Trees.
Forests with Oaks and Chestnuts, grassland, ancient vineyards, countless under- and above ground water streams, even swamps. A lot of protected animals like for instant the Portuguese Eagle, are threatened by above plans.
If we assume that the impact of a highway to left and right sides will be at least 1000 meter, this implicates that at least 5000000 m² or 500 ha. of this protected area will be demolished. This is unacceptable for a highway nobody wants and needs..
All this nature attracts many tourists, as well as foreigners (most English and Dutch) who invested in tore-down farms here to restore them thus making small paradises. This will all be lost, therefore working strongly contra-productive, something the Government still does not want to understand.
When Nature is gone, tourists will stay away, foreigners will not invest anymore and even are forced to leave, making the local economy go bankrupt. Here to: no research on this matter.
5.1. Water.
In this rural community almost 80% of the people are dependent of groundwater for drinking and irrigation. This water is mainly coming from the mountains of the “Serra Estrela” mostly underground. and is pumped up through wells, or comes out spontaneously.
We see in similar cases throughout the world, there is a big chance that, because of the disturbance of the underground, for instance by the deep foundations of the many bridges, at least a part of these wells will dry up and will force families to go elsewhere after maybe living there for generations.
There has been no research what so ever regarding the effects on these water streams, so important for a lot of people.
Another example of maladministration.
5.2. Forest fires.
This region is one heavily affected by forest fires from the last years.
It’s therefore very vulnerable and needs extra protection. Cutting down at least 250 ha. of forest, is in contrast with the aim to preserve, and maintain natural landscape.
5.3 Destroying authentic villages.
Because of the plans, several authentic villages, some thousand years old, are being completely demolished, thus being a violation of European law!
6. Making abuse of European funds.
The estimated costs of above project are €1200 million. Besides we don’t understand why Europe finances this devastating project, we believe that this planned highway is complete redundant.
Research on our side shows the following: this new road is supposedly mend to exonerate the nearby
R17 (EN17), which exists almost parallel, at only few kilometres away.
We did a car-count, what shows us no more than 1400 cars a day (24 hours) use this road.
It’s therefore ridiculous to invest 1200 million in a devastating project that doesn’t bring any improvement in a problem which doesn’t exist. Here too there has been no research what so ever regarding the necessity !
We don’t know on what ground Europe has granted this massive donation, it can only have being granted on false information from Portugal, and it needs to be withdrawn immediately.
Portugal is known for building highways from nowhere to nowhere, under the guise of stimulance of the Economy. Well, there is, and will be no industry here, no provision of services, mainly only agriculture. Once again, this is obsessive behaviour from the Government..
By the way, it seems odd that Portugal receives EU-money to plant 1 million new oak trees in The Serra Estrela, and on the other hand gets EU-money to cut down 1 million trees in our region!
7. Harming European citizens.
An estimated 10.000.000 m² or 1000 ha. of Land has to be expropriated, along with an estimated 250 houses and farms which will be broken down. Many of them absolutely unique and hundreds of years old. About 800 people will lose their land and form of income, most of it small farmers who are dependent of their land.
About 35 Farms (Quintas) of foreigners (most English and Dutch) have to be expropriated, families who invested heavily the last decades to restore the authentic lands and buildings, respected nature and worked hard for years to settle here. This will all be lost forever and the Portuguese authorities pay very little money in expropriation-cases. Anyway, this money too is coming from the European Union so a lot of us have financed our own destruction and downfall.!!
Most people will be set on the street with little money, loose all their possessions, including many animals, don’t know where to go, and so become refugees in their own Europe!
THIS CAN NOT BE THE CASE!
We have recently sent many letters to the EU, PT-government and many others, but need your help to.
We therefore kindly and respectfully ask you to help stop this devastating plan and sign this petition at bottom or Top : Assinar!
Contact us: aguiaportugal@gmail.com
Moringa Tree
The Moringa oleifera Tree is one of the most useful and multi-purpose plants that exists.
Because of its wealth of vitamins, minerals and proteins the Moringa Tree is a rich source of nutrients. Per gram, fresh Moringa leaves contain 7x the vitamin C of oranges, 4x the calcium of milk, 4x the vitamin A of carrots, 3x the potassium of bananas, 3x the iron of spinach and as much protein as in eggs.
O Avore de Moringa é um dos mais utíl e multi-functional que existe.
O avore tem uma requeza de vitamínas, minerais e proteinas. Por grau as folhas tem 7 vezes de vitamina C de laranjas, 4 vezes o cálcio de cenouras, 3 vezes o potássio de bananas, 3 vezes o ferro de espinafres e como muito proteina de ovos!
O encontro verede foi muito bom e depois tivémos uma visita de amigas a ver a casa. Gostam :-)
Em breve (duas semanas?) vamos a començar rebocar a casa. Se tem intressa ajudarme fico muito agradecido
The green gathering was fantastic and after we had a visit from some friends from the green gathering to see the house. They like it :-) Soon we are going to start plastering the walls (maybe two weeks) and anyone who wants to help will be much appreciated!