As a country renound for its huge black economy and corruption why doesn't this surprise me!
Spain finds that film piracy is a hard habit to break | World news | The Guardian
Wednesday, 31 March 2010
February 2010 - Euro area unemployment rate at 10.0%
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in February 2010 for the Euro Area was 10%, compared with 9.9% in January. It was 8.8% in February 2009. For the Euro Area this is the highest rate since August 1998
The unemployment rate for the European Union as a whole was 9.6% in February 2010, compared with 9.5% in January4. It was 8.3% in February 2009. For the EU27 counntries this is the highest since the start of the series in January 2000.
The figures published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, estimates that 23.019 million men and women in the EU27, of whom 15.749 million were in the euro area, were unemployed in February 2010. Compared with January 2010, the number of persons unemployed increased by 131 000 in the EU27 and by 61 000 in the euro area. Compared with February 2009, unemployment went up by 3.139 million in the EU27 and by 1.844 million in the euro area.
Among the Member States, the second highest rates is in Spain (19.0%), only piped by Latvia (21.7%). The lowest unemployment rates were recorded in the Netherlands (4.0%) and Austria (5.0%).
Compared with a year ago, all Member States recorded an increase in their unemployment rate.
In February 2010, the youth unemployment rate (under-25s) was 20.0% in the Euro Area and 20.6% in the EU as a whole. For both zones it was 18.4% in February 2009. The highest rate was in Latvia (41.3% in the fourth quarter of 2009) with Spain (40.7%) again in second place.
The unemployment rate for the European Union as a whole was 9.6% in February 2010, compared with 9.5% in January4. It was 8.3% in February 2009. For the EU27 counntries this is the highest since the start of the series in January 2000.
The figures published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, estimates that 23.019 million men and women in the EU27, of whom 15.749 million were in the euro area, were unemployed in February 2010. Compared with January 2010, the number of persons unemployed increased by 131 000 in the EU27 and by 61 000 in the euro area. Compared with February 2009, unemployment went up by 3.139 million in the EU27 and by 1.844 million in the euro area.
Among the Member States, the second highest rates is in Spain (19.0%), only piped by Latvia (21.7%). The lowest unemployment rates were recorded in the Netherlands (4.0%) and Austria (5.0%).
Compared with a year ago, all Member States recorded an increase in their unemployment rate.
In February 2010, the youth unemployment rate (under-25s) was 20.0% in the Euro Area and 20.6% in the EU as a whole. For both zones it was 18.4% in February 2009. The highest rate was in Latvia (41.3% in the fourth quarter of 2009) with Spain (40.7%) again in second place.
Tuesday, 30 March 2010
'Sort out Spanish property problems or suspend EU funding'
Labour MEP Michael Cashman, has hit out at the Spanish government on Tuesday 23rd March over its failure to support people, including many British citizens, who are facing the prospect of their homes being demolished.
He has been pushing for Spain's national government to step in to solve the disagreement over local planning laws but, with the authorities failing to respond, he is calling for EU funding to the affected region to be suspended.
Read more: 'Sort out Spanish property problems or suspend EU funding'
He has been pushing for Spain's national government to step in to solve the disagreement over local planning laws but, with the authorities failing to respond, he is calling for EU funding to the affected region to be suspended.
Read more: 'Sort out Spanish property problems or suspend EU funding'
Labservative General Election Manifesto
Irrespective of which party your support is with this should appeal to your sense of humour.
Monday, 29 March 2010
Longterm UK Expats right to vote in UK
Two interesting articles about the entitlement of UK Expats, who have been absent from their homeland for more than 15 years, to vote in UK General elections, on the Majorcan Pearls weblog.
The first entitled Judicial review of the expat right to vote outlines the case being put forward by James Preston for his right to vote in the UK.
The second Mr Clegg tells expats they can't have the vote comments on the written response fom Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats, to James Preston in which NC says; "that his party supports existing legislation preventing British expats from voting back home after residing overseas for more than 15 years". Reference is made to the fact that Mr Clegg's Spanish wife, Miriam González Durántez, can continue to vote in Spanish elections.
The first entitled Judicial review of the expat right to vote outlines the case being put forward by James Preston for his right to vote in the UK.
The second Mr Clegg tells expats they can't have the vote comments on the written response fom Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats, to James Preston in which NC says; "that his party supports existing legislation preventing British expats from voting back home after residing overseas for more than 15 years". Reference is made to the fact that Mr Clegg's Spanish wife, Miriam González Durántez, can continue to vote in Spanish elections.
Friday, 26 March 2010
Only 120 out of 28,000 Residents attend 'Save Cala Mosca' Protest
Having posed the question What value does CLARO's 'Save Cala Mosca' petition have Now? I went to Orihuela to see for myself what support there would be by those that signed the petition, and/or residents of Orihuela Costa where the Cala Mosca area of land is situated.
In their press release announcing the presentation of the petition the leaders of CLARO said:
The presentation of the Petition will provide an occasion to underline opposition to this project and to show determination to Save Cala Mosca. CLARO are inviting all those who share their objetives to join with the party in an authorised and peaceful protest on Friday 26th March.
Having asked the question, 'What value does CLARO's 'Save Cala Mosca' petition have Now?' in my article and suggesting the answer 'To the residents and to CLARO the answer has to be NONE !' I found no justification for changing my point of view as a result of the presentation and protest in Orihuela.
Let me say that I commend those residents of Orihuela Costa and supporters of CLARO for their loyalty to the party by attending on the day. I suspect that a great many, as was pointed out to me in conversations on the day, did not believe that Cala Mosca will be saved by the petition but were there to support the party.
Whilst I believe that the attendance figure given by CLARO, on their Facebook page,
The presentation of the Petition to Save Cala Mosca was attended by approximately 120 people today.is a little optimistic, it would not seem to support the party's claims of,
We are convinced that this campaign will be widely supported. We believe this is a cause which will attract massive support.It would seem that of those 7000 persons reported as signing the petition only 17 people out of each 1000 (1.71%) believed it was worth attending on the day. Based on the generally quoted figure of 28,000 residents in Orihuela Costa only 4 people in each 1000 (0.43%) thought it was worth attending to give their support.
Surely this must give the executive committee of the CLARO party some cause for a rethink on their policy of the continuation of the 'Save Cala Mosca' campaign.
The great majority of the residents have spoken by their lack of support at this late date for the campaign. I would suggest that they (residents) realize the battle has been lost and have moved on.
It is time I believe for CLARO to close the book on this matter and move on. There is plenty of work for the party to direct their efforts to in other areas that affect the environment and the lives of the residents of Orihuela Costa.
edited 27.03.2010
Inflammation research opens route to better pain relief
Research at the University of Leeds could pave the way to a new generation of painkillers by providing a new theory of how inflammation causes pain.
Inflammation research opens route to better pain relief
Inflammation research opens route to better pain relief
Spain's economic woes: The mañana syndrome
An interesting article in The Economist which argues that the Spanish government is not doing enough to tackle its country's economic problems.
Spain's economic woes: The mañana syndrome | The Economist
Spain's economic woes: The mañana syndrome | The Economist
Friday, 19 March 2010
What value does CLARO's 'Save Cala Mosca' petition have Now?
Having reported the recent announcement by the CLARO party that its 'Save Cala Mosca' petition is to finally be presented to the Town Hall on the 26th March 2010 it raises some questions.
What value, if any, does the petition have now?
In a Press Release dated 1st December 2008 CLARO announced with great gusto the launch on the 3rd December 2008 of its campaign
In a further Press Release dated 3rd June 2009 CLARO said:-
The petition was started at the beginning of December 2008 with great bravado and a sense of urgency. However it will be the end of March 2010 before the petition is presented to the Town Council.
Presentation of the petition has been delayed for 16 months!
If the leaders of CLARO believed so strongly in December 2008 and June 2009 that it was imperative to 'Save Cala Mosca' and that their petition is so important in obtaining that objective it leads to the question:-
Why have they waited until now to act with it?
What is the petition supposed to achieve at this late date?
In respect of a direct influence on the Orihuela local, Alicante provincial and Valencia regional governments to return Cala Mosca to an environmental 'gem'
The leaders of CLARO logically, and with hands on hearts, must also realize this. That I believe is the reality of the situation or am I wrong?.
This leads me to the next question.
Why is the petition only now being presented?
An answer to this could be as simple as because the current political scene in Orihuela Costa (CLARO's only area of existence) is very quiet at the moment. There aren't any 'hot chestnut' issues from the PP controlled council that CLARO can comment on, to gain kudos to its advantage. Perhaps they (CLARO) think now is the time to try to create a situation by raising the phoenix.
Two alternative answers could be;
why not, its better late than never;
we've collected the signatures and better be seen to be doing something with them as promised.
Is there an alternative objective behind the CLARO 'Save Cala Mosca' campaign? Or to ask it another way; Why is CLARO continuing with a strategy that has no, or at best a minuscule possibility to be charitable, of success?
A cynical conclusion that could be reached is that taking into consideration the long history of the Cala Mosca saga since 1990 it is purely a political campaign for the benefit and survival of CLARO. It's intention was and is to tap into the general concern of the residents about the destruction of the environment to gain details of possible supporters and ultimately votes. CLARO said in the press release to launch the campaign
The real intention of capitalising on this mood could be for one reason only, for the advantage of CLARO in the 2011 local elections. Perhaps they should change their quote to 'Saving Cala Mosca could save CLARO'.
By the presentation of the petition at this late date, hope (false I believe) is being given that Cala Mosca could still be saved, in order to promote the impression of CLARO as the possible saviour. When reality shows that the petition as a weapon against the PP government is an illusion and has failed, that the aspirations of the signatories have been shattered, and that the development continues, the leaders of CLARO will look to promote themselves as the victims and PP as the villains. The environment is the only real victim.
The leaders of CLARO should be wary as their petition may be a double edged saviour's sword which they could regret ever drawing.
There can be no doubt in any residents mind that the PP have failed the people of Orihuela Costa over this plot of land but so could CLARO be seen to have done, by generating and perpetuating false hope of a successful outcome for Cala Mosca. Wasting residents time with further pointless demonstrations for unrealistic, un-achievable, goals.
Failure of the petition to 'Save Cala Mosca' could signal the potential failure of CLARO in the 2011 local elections, it could be the scythe of the Grim Reaper.
Beware and tread carefully CLARO - the electorate is no fool. Be honest with the residents, admit that the time for the 'Save Cala Mosca' campaign has passed a long time ago.
There may well be a need for a local independant party in Orihuela Costa to challenge the establishment , so to the leaders of CLARO I would say - Forget 'Save Cala Mosca' it's a battle and a war you cannot win, you're too late. Move on to new areas of concern for the residents of Orihuela Costa so you still have the potential for a valid presence and the success you seek in the May 2011 local elections.
What value does CLARO's 'Save Cala Mosca' petition have Now? To the residents and to CLARO the answer has to be NONE !
What value, if any, does the petition have now?
In a Press Release dated 1st December 2008 CLARO announced with great gusto the launch on the 3rd December 2008 of its campaign
"to collect thousands of signatures to Save Cala Mosca.
We are convinced that this campaign will be widely supported by all those interested in protecting the environment and preventing the destruction of the last remaining green area on Orihuela Costa by the planned building of 1,500 new homes. We believe that now is the time to halt this project.
The open, unspoilt, view of Cala Mosca, is our last green area.
It must be saved and become a natural park which would provide a fantastic attraction to those living and visiting Orihuela Costa and those who might decide to buy property and live here in the future.
We believe this is a cause which will attract massive support".
In a further Press Release dated 3rd June 2009 CLARO said:-
"Approval of the plan to build 1,700 new houses and flats on the last remaining green area of Orihuela Costa is one of the biggest and most unforgivable acts of ECO- DESTRUCTION committed by the Popular Party. It is universally opposed by the residents of Orihuela Costa who have demonstrated against the plan in Orihuela and in Orihuela Costa before the 2007 local elections and who are supporting a massive protest petition organised by C.L.A.R.O which has collected more than 5,000 signatures.
C.L.A.R.O’s PROTEST PETITION WILL CONTINUE. The residents of Orihuela Costa want to preserve this major feature of the local environment which should become a natural park.
Saving Cala Mosca could save Orihuela Costa".
The petition was started at the beginning of December 2008 with great bravado and a sense of urgency. However it will be the end of March 2010 before the petition is presented to the Town Council.
Presentation of the petition has been delayed for 16 months!
If the leaders of CLARO believed so strongly in December 2008 and June 2009 that it was imperative to 'Save Cala Mosca' and that their petition is so important in obtaining that objective it leads to the question:-
Why have they waited until now to act with it?
What is the petition supposed to achieve at this late date?
In respect of a direct influence on the Orihuela local, Alicante provincial and Valencia regional governments to return Cala Mosca to an environmental 'gem'
"last remaining green area on Orihuela Costa"it will achieve nothing.
The leaders of CLARO logically, and with hands on hearts, must also realize this. That I believe is the reality of the situation or am I wrong?.
This leads me to the next question.
Why is the petition only now being presented?
An answer to this could be as simple as because the current political scene in Orihuela Costa (CLARO's only area of existence) is very quiet at the moment. There aren't any 'hot chestnut' issues from the PP controlled council that CLARO can comment on, to gain kudos to its advantage. Perhaps they (CLARO) think now is the time to try to create a situation by raising the phoenix.
Two alternative answers could be;
why not, its better late than never;
we've collected the signatures and better be seen to be doing something with them as promised.
Is there an alternative objective behind the CLARO 'Save Cala Mosca' campaign? Or to ask it another way; Why is CLARO continuing with a strategy that has no, or at best a minuscule possibility to be charitable, of success?
A cynical conclusion that could be reached is that taking into consideration the long history of the Cala Mosca saga since 1990 it is purely a political campaign for the benefit and survival of CLARO. It's intention was and is to tap into the general concern of the residents about the destruction of the environment to gain details of possible supporters and ultimately votes. CLARO said in the press release to launch the campaign
"We are convinced that this campaign will be widely supported by all those interested in protecting the environment and preventing the destruction of the last remaining green area on Orihuela Costa".
The real intention of capitalising on this mood could be for one reason only, for the advantage of CLARO in the 2011 local elections. Perhaps they should change their quote to 'Saving Cala Mosca could save CLARO'.
By the presentation of the petition at this late date, hope (false I believe) is being given that Cala Mosca could still be saved, in order to promote the impression of CLARO as the possible saviour. When reality shows that the petition as a weapon against the PP government is an illusion and has failed, that the aspirations of the signatories have been shattered, and that the development continues, the leaders of CLARO will look to promote themselves as the victims and PP as the villains. The environment is the only real victim.
The leaders of CLARO should be wary as their petition may be a double edged saviour's sword which they could regret ever drawing.
There can be no doubt in any residents mind that the PP have failed the people of Orihuela Costa over this plot of land but so could CLARO be seen to have done, by generating and perpetuating false hope of a successful outcome for Cala Mosca. Wasting residents time with further pointless demonstrations for unrealistic, un-achievable, goals.
Failure of the petition to 'Save Cala Mosca' could signal the potential failure of CLARO in the 2011 local elections, it could be the scythe of the Grim Reaper.
Beware and tread carefully CLARO - the electorate is no fool. Be honest with the residents, admit that the time for the 'Save Cala Mosca' campaign has passed a long time ago.
There may well be a need for a local independant party in Orihuela Costa to challenge the establishment , so to the leaders of CLARO I would say - Forget 'Save Cala Mosca' it's a battle and a war you cannot win, you're too late. Move on to new areas of concern for the residents of Orihuela Costa so you still have the potential for a valid presence and the success you seek in the May 2011 local elections.
What value does CLARO's 'Save Cala Mosca' petition have Now? To the residents and to CLARO the answer has to be NONE !
Wednesday, 17 March 2010
CLARO to present 'Save Cala Mosca' petition to Town Hall
(Photo CLARO)
The CLARO party of Orihuela Costa has announced that the Petition to Save Cala Mosca, signed by over 7,000 people, will be formally presented in the Orihuela Town Hall on Friday, 26 March.
The party believes that by putting their signatures to this Petition, over 7,000 people expressed their opposition to the building of 1,700 new flats and houses on this last piece of green land on Orihuela Costa. This they believe demonstrates a massive rejection of this environmentally destructive project. Instead of another big concrete urbanisation, Orihuela Costa needs a major natural park where people can walk and relax and children can play safely.
They gone on to say that the present economic crisis and the collapse of sales of property, show how vital it is to change the development model of Orihuela Costa. that current residents and future buyers of property do not want a concrete jungle to spread relentlessly to cover the whole of the coast. What is needed is areas of natural beauty not only for residents and those living nearby to enjoy but also to persuade purchasers of the desirability of buying property here, thereby stopping the collapse of property values and helping the revival of the local economy.
The presentation of the Petition will provide an occasion to underline opposition to this project and to show determination to Save Cala Mosca. CLARO are inviting all those who share their objetives to join with the party in an authorised and peaceful protest on Friday 26th March.
Free transport will be available to Orihuela and back from Playa Flamenca. Buses will leave the (temporarily closed) Asturias Restaurant on the N332 next to the local Carrefour at 8.30 a.m. and should be back by 12.30 p.m. If anyone wishes to attend the protest and presentation of the petition, and would like to reserve seats on the buses, they should confirm by e-mail (info@claro-orihuela.eu) or telephone the C.L.A.R.O. Office on 966 284 912 or 661 333 593, open Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. They would like to have a final list of those who wish to travel by coach by Wednesday 24 March.
For those attending who are making their own transport arrangements the meeting will be in front of the Orihuela Town Hall, Plaza Arneva at 10 a.m.
CLARO point out that the presentation of the petition and demonstrating to the local government the strength of opposition to this project will not be the only means deployed to Save Cala Mosca. The Petition will also be sent to the European Parliament, to the regional government in Valencia and to the Spanish Ministry of the Environment in Madrid. All possible legal means of stopping this project will also be pursued.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)