Insights into Adventure, Mystery and Intriguing Personalities
throughout the History of the Algarve.
An undated eBook
and soft cover edition by Len Port has just been published by Amazon Kindle.
An undated eBook
and soft cover edition by Len Port has just been published by Amazon Kindle.
Portugal has a very significant presence in the United Nations Global Climate summit (COP28) in the United Arab Emirates, which started last Thursday and runs until December 12.
It opened last week with an impassioned speech by António Guterres. The UN secretary-general told delegates from the more than 160 nations: “Humanity’s fate is hanging in the balance. This is a sickness only you global leaders can cure.” He pleaded for an end to dependence on fossil fuels and the long over-due promise of justice in the shape of funds to pay for the most devastating impacts of climate change in the world’s less developed and most vulnerable communities and countries.
The world is heating up at an unprecedented pace, according to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). It says that temperatures this year have risen to 1.4 Celsius above pre-industrial levels, just short of the critical 1.5C.
“We are living through climate collapse in real time,” the UN chief told COP28 delegates.
“This year has seen communities around the world pounded by fires, floods, and searing temperature – and the impact is devastating,”
He continued: “Record global heating should send shivers down the spines of world leaders. And it should trigger them to act.”
The record temperatures shattered this year have caused a trail of “devastation and despair,” says the WMO. It expects next year to be even hotter.
WMO data up to the end of October showed 2023 was about 1.4C (2.5F) above pre-industrial levels, driven largely by the continued rise in carbon emissions that the major polluting countries claim they are trying to reduce.
The WMO has pointed out that, “These are more than just statistics. Extreme weather is destroying lives and livelihoods on a daily basis – underlining the imperative need to ensure that everyone is protected by early warning services. We cannot return to the climate of the 20th century, but we must act now to limit the risks of an increasingly inhospitable climate in this and coming centuries.”
“These two spots are far in distance, but united in crisis,” said Mr. Guterres. It is just one symptom of the sickness bringing our climate to its knees, he said.
The former Portuguese prime minister also said that global heating is busting budgets, ballooning food prices, upending energy markets, and feeding a cost-of-living crisis.
“We are miles from the goals of the Paris Agreement – and minutes to midnight for the 1.5-degree limit.”
Mr. Guterres emphasized that the success of the Dubai conference will depend on the outcome of the so-named ‘Global Stocktake’ – where countries will for the first time assess progress on curbing global warming – which can get the world on track to achieve the temperature, finance, and adaptation goals.
He underscored that the stocktake must prescribe a credible cure for our ailing planet in three key areas.
The UN press office has explained: First, a drastic cut in emissions since current policies are leading us to an earth-scorching three-degree temperature rise.
Second, acceleration towards a just, equitable transition to renewables, since a burning planet cannot be saved with a firehose of fossil fuels. “The 1.5-degree limit is only possible if we ultimately stop burning all fossil fuels. Not reduce. Not abate. Phase out – with a clear timeframe aligned with 1.5 degrees.”
Third, fulfillment of the long overdue promise of climate justice in an unequal and divided world – a surge in finance, including for adaptation and loss and damage.
Mr Guterres has urged developed countries to double adaptation finance to $40 billion a year by 2025 and provide details on how they plan to deliver on the $100 billion promise for financial support for developing countries.
Joe Biden and Xi Jinping have been absent from this so-called “Action” COP summit, but Prime Minister António Costa has attended and welcomed delegates for the first time to Portugal’s own pavilion to hold side events. On previous COP gathering Portugal has shared the European Union’s overall space.
Portugal has an excellent record in dealing internally with climate change, particularly in the phasing out of fossil fuels and relying on renewables. It seems hypocritical that the current summit is being hosted by one of the world’s most fossil fuel producing countries, but there we are. And worse, the main greenhouse gas polluting countries – China, the United States, India and Russia – have long indulged in rhetoric about global warming, but hopelessly failed to deliver on promises of immediate action to adequately curtail the dire situation.
Leaders of European far-right parties gathered in Lisbon at the end of the week to show solidarity with Portugal’s Chega Party that hopes to win the snap election in March next year.
Chega’s
leader, Andre Ventura, welcomed his counterparts, including France’s Marine Le
Pen. The gathering celebrated the surprise gains by Geert Wilder’s far-right
party in the Dutch general election a few days earlier.
Chega,
third in Portugal’s dissolved parliament, is hopeful of taking over from the
long-standing Socialist Party, currently disgraced by a corruption
investigation.
Chega,
meaning “enough”, is a national conservative party, formed by Ventura in 2019,
that has been gaining much support ever since.
Similar
parties are the strongest, or gaining strength, in Switzerland Italy, Greece, Hungry,
Poland, Finland, Sweden, Serbia and Spain.
The move
to the far-right has included a convergence with centre-right groups. This has involved national coalitions as well
as shifts within the European Union - and it looks set to continue.
It is
expected to change major policies in Brussels after the EU election in less
than a year from now. For example, it
could press for an eastward expansion of the EU in the continent, and maybe a
change in trading arrangements with China.
A predominantly far-right European Council
would have a different attitude to the United States should Donald Trump be
re-elected president.
The most
concerning problem for far-rightists in Europe is mass immigration from Africa.
Results in next year’s election in Portugal -
and even before that elections in other EU countries - are sure to play a key role
in the way Europe progresses in the next few years with illegal immigration.
What
Portugal and all other countries in Europe want to stop is an unmanageable
number of illegal of immigrants being smuggled in by human traffickers.
Turkey, Greece
and Italy have been inundated. The problem continues to move westward, confronting
coast guard and other services in Spain and Portugal.
In
Britain, politicians from the Labour left to the conservative right are alarmed
not only by the number of illegal immigrants crossing the English channel from
mainland Europe, but the tens if not
hundreds of thousands of legal immigrants annually seeking to study, or
get employment as care workers or nurses, in many cases at 20% discount wages.
In
contrast, the number of Portuguese citizens going to live in Britain fell by
41% in the 12 months to September this year, according to official statistics
published by the British government.
Portugal
wants its useful citizens back from the UK and everywhere else, including the
United States. A support programme is in
place until at least the end of this year to financially help emigrants and
their families returning from abroad who want to find jobs for themselves or
set up companies.
The
arrangement includes citizens who left Portugal between the end of 2015 and
started working in this country before the end of this year. It is not yet
clear, but it seems very possible this deadline will be extended.
A snap general election
is to be held in Portugal on 10th March next year. The dissolution of the government following the
resignation of Prime Minister António Costa is
expected in mid-January. Meanwhile Mr. Costa will remain in a caretaker
position.
President
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has called for the election because of Mr. Costas’s sudden resignation amid a
corruption scandal. The speaker of parliament said on Friday that parliament
would “continue to scrutinise” the Socialist government until it is
dissolved.
Mr. Costa, prime
minister since November 2015, resigned because of a major investigation into his
administration’s handling of concessions for lithium mining and a hydrogen
project. The Portuguese Prosecutor’s Office has been investigating Mr. Costa
and several members of his cabinet for alleged crimes of active and passive
corruption, prevarication, and influence pedalling.
Mr. Costa
announced his resignation on Tuesday this week in a televised statement just
hours after prosecutors detained his chief of staff over the corruption
allegations.
“The duties of
the prime minister are not compatible with any suspicion of my integrity,” he
told to a televised press conference. “In these circumstances, I have presented
my resignation to the President of the Republic.”
When the prime
minister met with the president to inform him of his decision he said his
conscience was clear, but that he would not stand for another term as prime
minister or leader of Portugal’s Socialist Party.
He said that he
totally trusts the justice system and has promised to collaborate with it over
the scandal. “I want to say eye to eye to the Portuguese that my conscience is
clear of any illicit or censured act,” he said.
In accepting Mr.
Costa’s resignation, President de Sousa summoned the various political parties
for consultations. Observers had expected the president to call not only for
the dissolution of government, but to propose a date for a new general election,
which he has now done rather than accept any proposal for replacement Socialist
leader. .
This crisis
comes at a particularly awkward time as parliament is due to vote on Portugal’s
2024 budget later this month.
In addition to
Mr. Costa’s chief of staff, Vitor Escaria, four other people, including a
business consultant, have been detained, according to the prosecutor’s
office. They are due to appear shortly before a judge.
About 140
detectives reportedly searched many residential and government premises,
including that of Mr. Costa and the infrastructure and environment minister,
João Galamba, as well as municipal offices in Sines.
With the “green
transition” in mind, the European Union wants to reduce its imports on lithium
and other raw materials from China, Africa and South America. Europe’s
increasing demand for electric cars is highlighting Portugal’s valuable lithium
reserves in the north of the country and a huge green hydrogen project in the
historic coastal town of Sines in the district of Setubal south of Lisbon. The
projects have been highly controversial and provoked environmental protests.
This developing story will be
updated.
Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is considering calling
a general election following the sudden resignation of Prime Minister António
Costa amid a corruption scandal.
Costa, Portugal’s prime minister since November 2015, has
resigned as Portugal’s prime minister due to an investigation into his
administration’s handling of concessions for lithium mining and a hydrogen
project.
The Portuguese Prosecutor’s Office is investigating Mr. Costa
and several members of his cabinet for alleged crimes of active and passive
corruption, prevarication, and influence pedalling.
Mr. Costa announced his sudden resignation on Tuesday in a
televised statement just hours after prosecutors detained his chief of staff
over the corruption allegations.
“The duties of the prime minister are not compatible with any
suspicion of my integrity,” he told to a televised press conference. “In these
circumstances, I have presented my resignation to the President of the
Republic.”
The prime minister met with President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa to
inform him of his decision and said that his conscience was clear, but that he
would not stand for another term as prime minister and leader of Portugal’s Socialist
Party.
He said that he totally trusts the justice system and has
promised to collaborate with it over the scandal. “I want to say eye to eye to
the Portuguese that my conscience is clear of any illicit or censured act,” he
said.
In accepting Mr. Costa’s resignation, President de Sousa said he
would hold consultations with the various political parties. It is up to him to
decide if parliament with its current Socialists majority must be dissolved to
make way for a new general election. An alternative for the president would be
to choose a new prime minister from the Socialist Party.
This crisis comes at a particularly awkward time as parliament
is due to vote on Portugal’s 2024 budget later this month.
In addition to Mr. Costa’s chief of staff, Vitor Escaria, four
other people, including a business consultant, have been detained, according to
the prosecutor’s office. They are due to appear shortly before a judge.
About 140 detectives reportedly searched many residential and
government premises, including that of the infrastructure and environment
minister João Galamba, as well as municipal offices in Sines.
With the green transition in mind, the European Union wants to
reduce its imports on lithium and other raw materials from China, Africa and
South America. Europe’s increasing demand for electric cars is highlighting
Portugal’s valuable lithium reserves in the north of the country and a huge
green hydrogen project in the historic coastal town of Sines in the district of
Setubal south of Lisbon. The projects
have been highly controversial and evoked environmental protests. .
This developing story will be updated.
As the conflict
between Israel and Hamas militants continues to escalate, Antonio Guterres is
condemning both sides for the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
In appealing for
peace, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and former Portuguese prime
minister has said both sides have violated international law. He described the
initial attack by Hamas on October 7 that killed 1,400 people as “appalling.” He
went on to say in an address to the UN Security Council that the Hamas attack
did not justify the “collective punishment” of Gaza civilians with increasing
bombardments by Israeli forces.
Israel has
called for Guterres’s resignation because of comments he has made about Israel’s
involvement in the Gaza crisis, but Portugal’s foreign minister, Joao Gomes
Cravinho, and many other leaders firmly stand by the secretary-general’s
neutral position.
Guterres is
deeply concerned that only a trickle of humanitarian aid in the form of food,
water and medical supplies is being allowed in to the more than two million
citizens crammed into the Gaza Strip, most of them, including children and
women, now homeless or hospitalised.
Many Gaza hospitals have had to close and United Nations aid workers in Gaza are finding it impossible to function because Israel continues to block all entry of fuel lest in gets in the hands of Hamas. Israel says Hamas has fuel and it should release it to those in need.
While the main
front-page stories in most Portuguese national newspapers lately have been on
the worsening conflict in the Middle East, the Portuguese foreign minister has stressed that the European Union must keep an eye on the war
in Ukraine lest President Vladimir Putin becomes “a winner of the crisis in
Gaza.”
This comes as
United States President Joe Biden’s administration is whole-heartedly
supporting Israel’s attempt to annihilate Hamas, which the U.S. and European
nations have branded a “terrorist” organisation. Washington has vehemently
criticised Russia for indiscriminate attacks on Ukraine, but critics say it has
expressed little about similar suffering in Gaza. As a headline in the New York Times put it: “Developing World
Sees Double Standard in West’s Actions in Gaza and Ukraine.”
The U.S. has
reportedly advised Israel to delay a Gaza invasion, yet Israeli soldiers have
already carried out limited ground incursions and there is no doubt that they
are fully prepared and determined to carry out a full-scale invasion.
Israel is
continuing to bomb and kill civilians in the south as well as the north of Gaza
after telling the northern population to move south for safety. Nowhere is now
safe and many citizens are returning to their homes in the north despite the
relentless bombing there.
Nearly half of
the population of Gaza are under the age of 18. The United Nations estimates
that about 50,000 women are pregnant. The psychological as well as physical
impact is truly dreadful.
Many countries
on both side of the conflict are warning that without restraint the violence
could quickly spiral and spread across the entire region.
Pro-Hamas Hezbollah
militants in Lebanon have been increasingly exchanging rocket fire with Israel
on Lebanon’s southern border. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has
warned that Israel will meet further attacks from Hezbollah with “unimaginable
devastation” that will “cripple” Lebanon.
Iran has warned
that more Israeli hostility will make wider Palestinian military assaults
inevitable. Netanyahu seems to be well aware of this and has said the war could
go on for months, not just weeks.
Russia entered the fray by proposing that the United
Nations Security Council adopt a motion for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.
The text did not include any mention of the Hamas. The proposal was vetoed by
Western members of the council. Vladimir Putin met with China’s Xi Jinping, but
neither condemned Hamas.
A few of the 222 hostages believed to have been taken
from Israel to Gaza by Hamas during their October 7 attack have been released.
One elderly Israeli woman said that while she was abducted on a motorbike,
beaten and “I’ve been “been through hell,” she added that she had been treated well
and given medical attention during her two weeks in captivity.
Guterres, who has appealed for the release of all
the hostages, has noted that while the abhorrent October 7 raid into Israel was
unexpected, it was but another example of the division that has long existed
between Israelis and Palestinians.
“The most recent violence does not come in a
vacuum, but grows out of a long-standing conflict, with a 50-year long
occupation and no political end in sight,” he said.
While the lead
stories in most Portuguese national newspapers lately have been on the
worsening conflict in the Middle East, the Portuguese Foreign Minister Joao
Gomes Cravinho has stressed that the European Union must keep an eye on the war
in Ukraine lest President Vladimir Putin becomes “a winner of the crisis in
Gaza.”
This comes as
United States President Joe Biden’s administration is fully supporting Israel’s
attempt to annihilate Hamas, which the U.S. and European nations have branded a
“terrorist” organisation. Russia, however, is at least vocally siding with Hamas while continuing it’s killing of civilians in Ukraine.
Washington has
vehemently criticised Russia for indiscriminate attacks on Ukraine, but critics
say it has expressed little about similar suffering in Gaza. As a headline in
the New York Times put it;
“Developing World Sees Double Standard in West’s Actions in Gaza and Ukraine.”
The U.S. has
reportedly advised Israel to delay a Gaza invasion, yet Israeli soldiers have
already carried out limited ground incursions and there is no doubt that they
are fully prepared and determined to carry out a full-scale invasion.
Israel has been
bombing and killing civilians in the south as well as the north of Gaza after telling
the northern population to go south for safety. Nowhere is now safe and many
citizens are returning to their homes in the north despite the relentless
bombing there.
Nearly half of
the population of Gaza are under the age of 18. The United Nations estimates
that about 50,000 women in Gaza’s total population of 2.3 million are pregnant.
The psychological as well as physical impact must be truly dreadful.
Many countries
on both side of the Israel – Gaza divide are warning that without restraint the
conflict could quickly spiral out of control and spread across the region.
Pro-Hamas militants
in Lebanon have started exchanging rocket attacks with Israel to the
south. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu has warned that it will meet further attacks from Lebanon with
unimaginable devastation.
Iran has warned
that more Israeli hostility will make wider Palestinian military assaults
inevitable.
Russia entered the fray by proposing that the United
Nations Security Council adopt a motion for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.
The text did not include any mention of the Hamas extremists. It was vetoed by
Western members of the council.
Vladimir Putin met with China’s Xi Jinping, but neither
condemned Hamas. They said there was no justification for Israel’s blockade of
essential supplies or planned invasion of Gaza.
During a visit to the border crossing between Egypt
and the Gaza Strip, Antonio Guterres appealed for the delivery of as much
humanitarian aid to the entrapped and homeless Gaza civilians as soon as
possible. Some truckloads have started
entering the only possible route, but it is not nearly enough. The UN says more
than 100 truckloads of the food, water, fuel and medicines Israel has been
blocking are needed daily.
Fuel is about to run out in Gaza as Israel continues to block it fearing it will get into the hands of Hamas who started this escalating conflict.
A few of the more than 200 hostages taken from
Israel to Gaza by Hamas fighters during their October 7 attack have been
released. One elderly Israeli woman said she was beaten while being abducted,
but treated well and given medical treatment during her two weeks in captivity.
The United Nations secretary-general and former
Portuguese prime minister’s calls for peace are falling on deaf ears. He has noted
that while the October 7 attack was unexpected, it was but another example of
the division that has long existed between Israelis and Palestinians.
“The most recent violence does not come in a vacuum,
but grows out of a long-standing conflict, with a 50-year long occupation and
no political end in sight,” he said.