‘There is no planet B’ Portugal prepares to vote in Sunday’s general election. With thousands of youngsters filling the streets at Lisbon’s Global Climate strike, one wonders how ‘green’ in fact its political parties are? The centre-right Social Democrat party (PSD) recognizes ‘the state of emergency the planet is in’ but only presents measures enhancing […]
‘They sat down, lit their cigars, were about to discuss a business deal involving cork or canned fish, we would know for certain except that Ricardo Reis is now leaving’ (José Saramago, 1992. The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis) Prepared in azeite (olive oil) or tomato sauce, canned fish – the country’s original […]
Contrary to what was hoped for, global CO2 emissions actually increased in 2018. Every major city in Europe is warmer in the 21st century than it was in the 20th. In December 2015, 195 member states of the UN agreed in the Paris Agreement to limit the temperature increase to 1.5⁰C above preindustrial levels. For […]
‘It is not just about administering methadone, you have to maintain a relationship’ In 2001 Portugal became – under the leadership of prime minister António Guterres, nowadays UN’s Secretary-General – the first country to ‘decriminalize’ the possession and consumption of illicit substances, even heroin, and cocaine. Despite predictions at the time of an increase in […]
If something bad happens, we drink to forget. If something good happens, we drink to celebrate. If nothing happens, we drink to make something happen (Charles Bukowski) Global consumption of alcohol will rise another 17% over the next decade, after a 10% rise in the last 25 years. Nowadays one-third of all adults drink alcohol, […]
Portugal has no right-wing, left-wing parties, nothing, there’s a bunch of villains who come together to steal together – José Saramago Perceived corruption in Portugal has for many years been just below the European average, according to the 2018 Corruption Index from Transparency International (www.transparancy.org). This index ranks 180 countries on how corrupt their public sector […]
The Spanish company DIA, owner of the supermarket chain Minipreço recently announced the removal of any ceramic frogs at the entrance of its 530 stores in Portugal. The reason for his was the complaint of a customer, who sent photos to the newspapers of a frog at the entrance of a Minipreço branch in Várzeas, […]
‘Niet schrikken hoor’, zei ze zacht toen ik op de hoek van de smalle steeg bijna tegen haar aan botste. Haar man was een paar jaar geleden overleden. In het ziekenhuis verder op de heuvel, waar hij bijna zijn hele leven in het mortuarium gesleten had. Daar hadden ze hem dus ook van binnen leren […]
“The planet is witnessing the appearance of new creatures, ones that have already conquered all continents. At first glance, they seem very delicate and frail but this is an illusion – they are long-lived, almost indestructible: their fleeting bodies won’t decompose for some three hundred more years. These plastic bags are empty on the inside, […]
Paula Rego, one of the most famous living artists has said the recent anti-abortion movement criminalizes women and believes recent legislation banning the procedure in some US states is dangerously regressive and will force women into finding potentially deadly ‘backstreet solutions’. The painter – who was born in Portugal but lives in London – has […]