AR YOU FEELING TOO HOT YET?

For a few moments, let’s forget about the horrendous wars dominating the news headlines and focus on climate change, which poses one of the most catastrophic dangers to human existence.

Unprecedented heat has been experienced this May in Portugal and elsewhere around the world. The Algarve, for example, has recorded highs of over 35 degrees Celsius—temperatures previously confined to July and August.

Temperatures this summer are predicted to break all records, further increasing the already extreme risks of wildfires, environmental devastation and community destruction.

The World Meteorological Organisation warned this week that global temperatures are expected to continue reaching record levels by the end of this decade, with a 70% chance that average global warming between this year and 2029 will exceed the critical 1.5 degrees set in the Paris Agreement. The hope then, as now, is to keep post-industrial temperatures below the full emergency threshold of 2.0 degrees.

This all depends on close international cooperation and radically reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It is not happening. There is talk, but still nowhere near enough action.

What is especially alarming is how little is being done by the world’s most powerful leaders. President Donald Trump—who this week described President Vladimir Putin as “crazy”—remains in denial about global warming. The United States, Russia and China are the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases.

Sky News broadcast an important report this week presenting global warming in a particularly troubling light. Russia is taking advantage of the melting North Polar ice sheet to expand its naval operations and further threaten the Western world.

When not focused on brutal wars, many other political leaders remain preoccupied with domestic issues, such as immigration, the rising cost of living, medical inadequacies and housing shortages.

But let’s not forget climate change.

Written by Len Port,

Edited by Catriona Anderson.

VULNERABILITY OF THE FORESTS

The Government Environment Fund has just announced it will invest another €21.9 million in protecting Portugal’s forests, which are so vulnerable to wildfires. This is just part of the €6.4 billion it has vowed to invest by 2050.

 

The largest amount from the new fund - more than €15 million .- will be spent on supporting fire ighting teams. This comes at a time when landowners by law must clear all low-lying vegetation that could be a fire hazard. This must be done by the last day of May. It has been extended in some areas from the last day of April.

 

It applies to land within 50 metres of homes and within 100 metres of villages. Those unable to clear their land can apply for help at their own cost from  their local council . They need to be quick, because those who do not go by the rules could receive fines of up to. €10,000 for individuals and €120,000 for businesses.

 

Other than farmed, particularly in the Algarve, has been totally covered with beautiful flowers and other plants as a result of the plentiful rains during winter and spring, but sadly, for country dwellers, butterflies and bees, much now has been wiped out because of the land clearance obligation.

 

Proportionally, Portugal has a larger area of woodland than any other country in the European Union. It occupies 35% of the country. By implementing its 2050 plan, the government, although still in a fragile mode, seeks to not only prevent future wildfire destruction, but also recover burnt land. Greater incentives to manage forests and increase the productivity of the forestry sector are envisaged.

 

The Navigator Company in Portugal, which concentrates on pulp and paper production, has forestry holdings in which it focuses on mitigating risks of wildfires and supporting fire fighter.

“Defending our woodlands against fire is one of the company’s main priorities. This is clearly demonstrated in a range of projects, which already represent investment in access of three million euros a year.

 

An unprecedentedly hot summer is forecast due to climate change. High spring temperatures are already clearly indicating the likelihood of summer extremes that will enforce the danger of wildfires.

 

The Copernicus Climate Service expects this to be one of the three hottest summers on record globally. This is despite the presence of a La Nina event that typically has a cooling effect.

 

Just a last word, especially for visitors You must be extremely careful with cigarette butts, and never have any barbecues or other reasons for lighting a fire in other than the safest places.

 

Written by Len Port

Edited by Catriona Anderson

VICTORY FOR CENTRE-RIGHT

 

The centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD), led by Luís Montenegro, won the most votes in Sunday’s parliamentary election, though not enough to form a stable government.

 

The centre-left Socialist Party (PS), led by Pedro Nuno Santos, finished second with 23%, just ahead of the far-right Chega party, led by Andre Ventura, which garnered a surprising 22.56%.

 

Chega emerged as the leading party in the Algarve and elsewhere across southern Portugal. It remains to be seen whether the Socialists will join the AD again in a coalition government, but neither of the centrist parties is likely to align with the populist right.

 

All 230 seats in the Assembly of the Republic were contested. The PS and Chega each secured 58 seats.

 

Centrist parties have dominated Portuguese politics since the 1974 revolution, which dramatically replaced the dictatorship with democracy. However, instability has been the norm for the past decade. The cost of living, housing shortages, and immigration are the main concerns among voters today. Another key issue is a lack of confidence in politicians.

 

There have been three governments in the past three years, each brought down by scandal and necessitating another snap election.

 

Prime Minister Montenegro was sworn in just over a year ago. His party formed a coalition with the PS Social Democrats and the CSD People’s Party. This was not expected to last long — and it didn’t.

 

Allegations against Prime Minister Montenegro concerning a conflict of interest involving his family’s business sparked a scandal. Montenegro denied the claims but lost a parliamentary confidence vote and was obliged to call another snap election. A previous scandal had brought down the Socialist government of António Costa.

 

These events have fuelled widespread public dissatisfaction with the ruling political class.

 

More than 10,850,000 Portuguese citizens were registered to vote in Sunday’s ballot, though a low turnout was expected.

 

Despite the fragility of recent governments, Portugal has outperformed most European countries in economic growth, run budget surpluses, and reduced its debt under both centre-left and centre-right administrations.

 

The future of major projects — such as lithium mining and the long-discussed privatisation of the TAP airline — could face further delays.

 

In foreign policy, the new government is expected to continue condemning Israel’s brutality in Gaza and Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Written by Len Port.

Edited by Catriona Anderson.

 

SNAP ELECTION EXPECTATIONS

Although somewhat overshadowed this week by the election of a new pope in Rome, Portugal’s politicians are campaigning for votes in the national election taking place on Sunday, 18 May.

There is an inevitability in the national election in that most votes will go to the two centrist parties: the centre-right AD Democratic Alliance, headed by the PSD Social Democrats, and the centre-left PS Socialists.

The centrists have dominated Portuguese politics since the 1974 revolution that replaced dictatorship with democracy.

Opinion polls currently suggest the centre-right is ahead by almost six points, about 33% to 27%. The far-right Chega Party trails at a little over 17%.

The present minority government, led by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, was sworn in just over a year ago. It formed a coalition with the PSD Social Democrats and the CDS People’s Party. This coalition was not expected to last long.

Allegations against Prime Minister Montenegro about a conflict of interest involving his family’s business sparked a scandal. Montenegro denied the allegations but lost a parliamentary confidence vote and was obliged to call a snap election. It is the third snap election in recent years because of corruption scandals. The most recent one brought down the Socialist government of António Costa.

These events have fuelled much public dissatisfaction with the political class. A total of more than 10,850,000 are registered to take part in next Sunday’s ballot, but a low turnout would not be surprising.

Criticism by the present government of Israel’s worsening war in Gaza, and its strong appeal to India and Pakistan to reduce tensions and quickly enter into a process of dialogue, may influence a number of voters next week.

The leader of the Socialists, Pedro Nuno Santos, said this week he will seek “a solution for political stability in Portugal.”

A Portuguese Gypsy community this week accused the leader of the right-wing Chega Party of being “racist”, and appealed to him to stop encouraging hatred against them. Chega’s leader, André Ventura, responded by saying, “they have to work and comply with the rules.”

POSSIBLE PORTUGUESE POPE

 

 

Cardinal Tolentino de Mendonça

There is the intriguing possibility that a Portuguese, or at least a Portuguese-speaking, cardinal will succeed Pope Francis as the global head of the Catholic Church.

 

This suggestion follows the astonishing power cut across Portugal and Spain, which prompted widespread speculation about a Russian cyber-attack, or even Armageddon—the end-of-the-world prophecy described in the Book of Revelation—that would render the election of another pope unnecessary.

 

With power fully restored, the task of electing the next pope will take place within a closed-door, private conclave in the Vatican, expected to be held between 6 and 11 May. It will comprise about 133 cardinals from around the world. Such gatherings traditionally include all cardinals under the age of 80. The sheer number of electors, and what each individual considers the most important papal objectives, makes reaching a consensus on the final decision particularly challenging.

 

Four Portuguese cardinals are in the running: Antonio Marto, Américo Aguiar, Manuel Clemente, and Tolentino de Mendonça. Of the nine other Portuguese-speaking cardinals in the conclave, seven are from Brazil, one from Cabo Verde, and one from Timor-Leste.

 

Antonio Marto, 80, is the oldest of the Portuguese electors and candidates. He was the Bishop of Viseu-Leiria-Fátima, where he presided over the 100th anniversary of the 1917 Fátima apparitions. He has been closely associated with youth and labour movements, and has emphasised matters such as protecting the environment and the Fátima Marian message of peace.

 

Américo Aguiar, 51, is the youngest of the Portuguese cardinals. Much of his early priesthood was spent in Porto. He was elevated by Pope Francis two years ago, shortly after the World Youth Day celebrations in Lisbon, which he helped organise as head of the event’s overseeing foundation.

 

Manuel Clemente, 78, became a priest at the age of 31 and has now been a cardinal for 10 years. He was Pope Francis’s first appointment when transferred from the Diocese of Porto to the Patriarchate of Lisbon. His career has been closely linked to the Scout movement, participating in retreats and camps until a few years ago. He has also been involved in various social activities, including historical research projects.

 

Tolentino de Mendonça, 59, was born in Madeira. Before becoming a cardinal, he was a university lecturer. He is also a much-published and celebrated poet, essayist, and playwright. While focusing his work as an academic theologian, he was elevated to cardinal in 2019. Pope Benedict XVI invited him to the Vatican in 2011 for appointment as a consultant to the Pontifical Council for Culture. His close association with cultural developments in the Vatican has continued over the past decade. In the last days of Pope Francis’s life, Cardinal Mendonça personally stayed by his side, offering comfort in any way he could. This may make him a strong contender.

 

This conclave, though deeply spiritual and governed by centuries of tradition, is ultimately an election—held behind closed doors by the College of Cardinals—to choose the next pope.

 

 

Written by Len Port.

Edited by Catriona Anderson.

 

FROM DICTATORSHIP TO DEMOCRACY

On this, the 51st anniversary of the revolution that dramatically turned Portugal from a dictatorship into a democracy, this is a remarkably peaceful and stable country.

The snap election that will take place 23 days from now, on 24th May, looks likely to establish a government not so very different from that formed after the coup on 25th April 1974.

Back then, the right- and left-centrist political parties struggled for control during a fairly short period of social unrest while a military junta held power.

The first free election was held exactly one year after the coup to establish a new constitution. One year later, the national election was won by the centre-left Socialist Party (PS), led by Mário Soares. Since then, the centre-left has been battling with the centre-right AD alliance, comprising the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the People’s Party (CDS-PP).

The two centrist parties are currently campaigning. There is no more than 1% between them in the prediction polls. Well behind is the third competitor, the far-right-wing Chega (“Enough”) party.

On a very important and joint-party personal level, many thanks will be given today to Celeste Caeiro, a restaurant worker who placed red carnations in the barrels of the revolutionary troops’ guns.

Meanwhile, as a relatively small and quiet country on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean in Europe, Portugal continues to express its strongest—and extremely sensible—opinions on the increasing troubles of the world, mainly the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.

 Friday, 25th April is a national holiday in Portugal.

By Len Port and Catriona Anderson.

THE PASSING OF POPE FRANCIS

Pope Francis on a visit to the Shrine of Fatima

News of the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday has been received with great sadness, grief, and mourning by the predominantly Roman Catholic population in Portugal, as elsewhere.

The “People’s Pope” was 88 years old. He had suffered a health crisis earlier this year and was then hospitalised for five weeks with double pneumonia. His life in recent years held special significance in this country.

Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro said on Monday that Francis was “an extraordinary pope who leaves a unique legacy of humanism, empathy, compassion, and a closeness to people.” Following Francis’s teachings and example, he added, would be the best way to honour his memory.

Originally from Argentina, Pope Francis never returned to his home country after his papal inauguration in Rome in 2013, but he made two special visits to Portugal. Perhaps the most notable was when he presided over the World Youth Day celebrations in Lisbon from 1st to 6th August 2023. Hundreds of thousands of young people from around the world attended in a spirit of harmony and joy.

By then, Francis had become known as the “Green Pope” for his concern for the environment. However, the Catholic Church angered many farmers by urging young people to abstain from eating meat for a year to offset global warming emissions.

Francis had difficulty weathering the widespread outrage caused by revelations of child sexual abuse by Catholic clergy during the papacy of his predecessor, Benedict XVI. In a televised interview in Portugal, Francis stated that the Catholic Church had “zero tolerance for abuse,” and that “a priest cannot remain a priest if he is an abuser.” His statements were quietly debated on the sidelines of the Lisbon youth celebrations.

It was during that week-long stay in Portugal that Pope Francis made his second visit to the Fátima Sanctuary, the first having taken place in 2017 for the centenary of the apparitions reported by three young children.

Deep sorrow is currently being felt amid the prayers beside the shrine in front of the Fátima Basilica.

Written by Len Port,

Edited by Catriona Anderson.