The Guardian newspaper published an article today by Giles Tremlett about the families of 261 babies who disappeared in Spanish hospitals over five decades. They have presented their case to the attorney general's office in Madrid, including evidence from nurses and people who admitted illegally adopting babies.
What started as a system for taking away children from families deemed to be politically dangerous to the regime of Francisco Franco eventually became an illicit business which continued into the 1980's, a campaign group has claimed.
Read the full article here:Victims of Spanish 'stolen babies network' call for investigation | World news | guardian.co.uk
Thursday, 27 January 2011
Wednesday, 26 January 2011
Some encouraging news for owners of 'ilegal' property in Spain
Giles Paxman the British Ambassador to Spain in Madrid reports in his weblog article today that there’s some good news recently for British people faced with property purchases in Spain that have back-fired, building projects that did not meet the requirements of Spanish law, or constructors who've simply gone bankrupt and left houses unfinished.
In addition to reporting on recent court cases in different areas of Spain that have benefitted property owners he also refers to the reforms to the Criminal Code which increase the penalties for town planning crimes and prevent the perpetrators from profiting from these crimes.
His full weblog can be read here: Giles Paxman: Some encouraging property news
In addition to reporting on recent court cases in different areas of Spain that have benefitted property owners he also refers to the reforms to the Criminal Code which increase the penalties for town planning crimes and prevent the perpetrators from profiting from these crimes.
His full weblog can be read here: Giles Paxman: Some encouraging property news
Exercise improve symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome
Physical activity improves symptoms in patients with IBS and is protective against symptom deterioration, according to new research.
Read more in ScienceDaily : Exercise improve symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome
Read more in ScienceDaily : Exercise improve symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome
Monday, 17 January 2011
Louise Clarke is disgusted at some claims about her new Press Officer Job
Further to my article in December 2010 about the appointment of Louise Clarke to the position of Press Officer, for Monica Lorente the Mayor of the Orihuela, within the town hall located in the Orihuela Costa area of the municipality, 'The Leader' newspaper today publishes an article entitled A Voice for the People about her new role.
Reference is made in the article to my comments on this blog about Louise Clarke's move from 'Poacher' to 'Game Keeper' for better money. She is reported as saying that “My main concern is the welfare of the residents.” really that's not what she told me when I spoke to her about the new role. The main concern was the substantial increase she would be receiving in her income.
In the article in the 'Leader 'reference is made to the point that "Louise is disgusted at some claims that she has only been given the role to silence her and to remove a thorn in Monica Lorente’s side". Oh dear!
Reference is made in the article to my comments on this blog about Louise Clarke's move from 'Poacher' to 'Game Keeper' for better money. She is reported as saying that “My main concern is the welfare of the residents.” really that's not what she told me when I spoke to her about the new role. The main concern was the substantial increase she would be receiving in her income.
In the article in the 'Leader 'reference is made to the point that "Louise is disgusted at some claims that she has only been given the role to silence her and to remove a thorn in Monica Lorente’s side". Oh dear!
Sunday, 16 January 2011
Coffee protects against Diabetes and Blueberries can reduce High Blood Pressure
Two articles in the ScienceDaily today caught my attention, the first about drinking coffee and the second about eating blueberries.
In the first entitled 'Why coffee protects against diabetes' a report is carried that researchers have discovered a possible molecular mechanism behind coffee's protective effect against type 2 diabetes. Too many of us a morning cup of coffee is that morning elixir, may give us an early jump-start to the day, but there seems to be more as numerous studies have shown that it also may be protective against type 2 diabetes. Yet no one has really understood why.
The second entitled 'Bioactive compounds in berries can reduce high blood pressure' explains why eating blueberries can guard against high blood pressure, according to new research by the University of East Anglia (UEA) and Harvard University. High blood pressure -- or hypertension -- is one of the major cardiovascular diseases worldwide. It leads to stroke and heart disease and costs more than $300 billion each year. Around a quarter of the adult population is affected globally -- including 10 million people in the UK.
Both articles have links to other information sources so are worth a read.
In the first entitled 'Why coffee protects against diabetes' a report is carried that researchers have discovered a possible molecular mechanism behind coffee's protective effect against type 2 diabetes. Too many of us a morning cup of coffee is that morning elixir, may give us an early jump-start to the day, but there seems to be more as numerous studies have shown that it also may be protective against type 2 diabetes. Yet no one has really understood why.
The second entitled 'Bioactive compounds in berries can reduce high blood pressure' explains why eating blueberries can guard against high blood pressure, according to new research by the University of East Anglia (UEA) and Harvard University. High blood pressure -- or hypertension -- is one of the major cardiovascular diseases worldwide. It leads to stroke and heart disease and costs more than $300 billion each year. Around a quarter of the adult population is affected globally -- including 10 million people in the UK.
Both articles have links to other information sources so are worth a read.
Friday, 7 January 2011
Nigel Farage is Right: Belgium is EU Microcosm
Whilst not a supporter of Nigel Farage and UKIP if what this video says wasn't true it would be laughable........It is laughable!
Monday, 3 January 2011
Valencia Region has Second Lowest Health Budget
According to the Federation of Associations for the Defence of Public Health the Valencia region is the Autonomous Community within Spain that has the second least expenditure on health with an amount of only €1,078 per capita. Only the Baleares Island has a lower figure of €1,003.
This is on top of the lowering of the average per capita expenditure budgeted for this year by all the autonomous communities having been reduced by an average of 4.11%, giving a reduction from €1,343 per capita in 2010 to €1,288 in 2011.
The Federation belives that the health budgets of the autonomous communities are "generally inadequate" showing that lower public health standards are paying for the crisis.
Why is this important to me, because I live within the Valencia region.
More detail: La Comunidad Valenciana es la segunda autonomÃa con menor gasto sanitario por habitante | Valencia | elmundo.es
This is on top of the lowering of the average per capita expenditure budgeted for this year by all the autonomous communities having been reduced by an average of 4.11%, giving a reduction from €1,343 per capita in 2010 to €1,288 in 2011.
The Federation belives that the health budgets of the autonomous communities are "generally inadequate" showing that lower public health standards are paying for the crisis.
Why is this important to me, because I live within the Valencia region.
More detail: La Comunidad Valenciana es la segunda autonomÃa con menor gasto sanitario por habitante | Valencia | elmundo.es
Sunday, 2 January 2011
Partial Solar Eclipse early on Tuesday 4th January
A partial eclipse of the Sun will be visible in Spain and throughout other parts of Europe in the early hours of the morning of Tuesday 4th January. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby totally or partially obscuring Earth's view of the Sun.
The better view in Spain will be in the eastern part of the country as the sun rises from about 8:20 am with the optimum phase being seen at approximately 8:58 am.
Experts remind the public to take precautions when viewing the phenomenon and not to look directly at the sun without full adequate eye protection.
More detail:
The better view in Spain will be in the eastern part of the country as the sun rises from about 8:20 am with the optimum phase being seen at approximately 8:58 am.
Experts remind the public to take precautions when viewing the phenomenon and not to look directly at the sun without full adequate eye protection.
More detail:
Spain's Anti-Smoking Law Effective from Today
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| Picture by http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/ |
I'm not going to go into deep details of the new law as so much has already been written in the various forms of media as for example this from Europa Press.
Today is a great way to start the new year, and the future, for the health of the workers and customers, who don't smoke tobacco, of the bars, cafés, restaurants and other public spaces.
As a non-smoker it will be fantastic to be able to go into a premises knowing that I will not have to breath in, or leave the premises smelling of, tobacco smoke. Because of the flouting of the restrictions of the old law prior to today it has been almost impossible, without a lengthy search to find a 'smoke free' catering establishment. No more will non-smokers have to put up with the anti-social habits of smokers at a seat close by forcing other customers to endure inhaling second-hand tobacco smoke.
From today there is no excuse for owners of premises who in the past have had signs showing saying 'no fumador' who then allowed smoking to continue in the establishment so as not to upset, and lose the regular custom of smokers. If I'm in a café or restaurant, infact any public premises, and someone is smoking tobacco I will have no hesitation to remind the owner or manager responsible, about the liability under the new law.
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