Mar y Sol Saturday Market

Cristóbal Castilla

El Paseo

La Viña de Liñán

La Tasca

Changing faces on public television: a look at impartiality in Spanish public broadcasting

Ana Pastor, removed

'Impartiality doesn't exist because no human can be devoid of feeling' Anonymous

MADRID Loosely modelled on the BBC, as are so many broadcasting services all over the world, Spanish radio and television holds one very major difference (as do so many others, too): politics is a large part of its internal machinations. Radio y Televisión de España (RTVE) is a public company; that is, it is owned by the public - in other words, by the taxpayer. In Spain, however, it has always been the playground of the party in power. Freedom of the press and objectivity are one thing, this is another.>>>SOON YOU WILL BE UNABLE TO READ THE REST OF AN ITEM SUCH AS THIS UNLESS YOU HAVE SUBSCRIBED. Subscription information wil be available soon.>>>

Exploding Food Myth 7. Wholemeal foods help reduce weight

(Photo: BBC - Good Food)

No foodstuff of any kind, in and of itself, can reduce weight by themselves. Wholemeal flour and cereal have almost the same amount of calories as their non-wholemeal, refined counterparts. The difference is in the fibre and minerals they contain - which is why they are recommended in a healthy diet. The fibre has a 'filling' effect, which stops us from eating more quantity of other foods in a meal, and which is evidently where the 'thinning' effect is. Fibre also helps in minimizing constipation, another 'thinning' effect, and a healthy habit at that. (See Exploding Food Myth 6)

J.A.W.S. will be jawing soon

Dylan,
J.A.W.S. first project

JIMENA (by Alberto Bullrich) After the summer hiatus and debilitating  heat, the newly semi-created animal protection society, Jimena Animal Welfare Society, will be holding its first 'Board' meeting. There will no doubt be questions about who elected the Board. The answer is: nobody, because we don't yet have a membership. However, basic work needs to be done and there are several items on the agenda that will be discussed. One of them is to set up a Facebook page and/or a website so that people can be informed about our activities and, hopefully, progress. Another is the creation of an official association, which, thanks to Spanish bureaucracy, can take some time but doesn't preclude activity or events. The meeting is planned for mid September and will consist of only three or four people. Look for a full report right here. (Oh. and some great news about that kitten, alias Sheit.)

Bird watching summer volunteer programme cancelled after Junta withdraws part of its support

Data collected serves to measure climate change

TARIFA (Agencies) The Migres Foundation, a non profit organization, is dedicated to the observation, ringing, cataloguing and counting of bird migration across the Straits of Gibraltar. It counted heavily on volunteers to perform most of the field work, many of whom stayed at a youth hostel owned by the Junta. The hostel provided board and keep but the Junta has withdrawn the grant that made this possible. Nevertheless, experts and volunteers have been able to maintain two of the foundation's four observation points, an important fact that has allowed them to keep watching the thousands of birds that cross from Europe between June and September to winter in Africa. Sources at Migres>>>PLEASE BE AWARE THAT YOU WILL SOON BE UNABLE TO READ THE REST OF ITEMS SUCH AS THIS UNLESS YOU HAVE SUBSCRIBED. Subscription information will be available soon.>>>

Rajoy creates 'Homeland Security' department amidst crisis

No Freedom of Information Law in Spain

SPAIN In imitation of the US's Department of Homeland Security, and stealthily hidden among the flurry of items on the excruciating European financial crisis as well as a 'quiet' summer holiday period, Premier Mariano Rajoy has started the procedures to create a Department of National Security, according to Royal Decree of January 13 and published not long ago in the official state bulletin (B.O.E., Boletín Oficial del Estado). The bulletin says (translated), "Under the organic and functional dependence of the Adjunct Director of the Cabinet" (the approximate equivalent of the US's National Security Advisor or Director),"  the Department of National Security "is the agency that will give the Presidency permanent advice and technical support in matters of National Security." We offer an insight into the way it might function:>>>PLEASE BE AWARE THAT YOU WILL SOON BE UNABLE TO FINISH READING ITEMS SUCH AS THIS OTHER THAN BY SUBSCRIPTION. Subscription information will be available in the near future.>>>

School calendar for 2012 / 2013

ANDALUCÍA As we promised, here is next school year's calendar. Well, not here, here, except as an illustration, but in a printable version HERE. You can print it, cut it out, drag it through the mud, whatever - aren't we good? PLEASE BE AWARE THAT NEXT YEAR'S SCHOOL CALENDAR (2013/2014) WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE BY SUBSCRIPTION. Subscription information will be available soon.

Locksmith - Security

Óptica Regueira

Einstein on crisis, allegedly

Albert Einstein
(allegedly)

We came across this (alleged) quote from Albert Einstein (allegedly), below. We don't know if it's a true quote or not, and can't find it in the enormous Oxford Quotations book we have gathering dust on the shelf, nor anywhere supposedly (allegedly?) quoting the genius. But it makes sense - especially the bit that says that things won't change if we keep doing the same thing. Another (alleged) quote from Einstein says (allegedly), 'A definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result' - which is rapidly leading us to something you have been seeing for a while and should take note of:>>>

Union Jack Removals

School holidays: having your cake and eating it

ANDALUCÍA On Monday we will be offering the complete school holiday schedule for the 2012-13 year that starts on Monday September 10 for Primary, and Monday 17 for Secondary. As we are preparing that right now, we are seeing at least two cases where long weekends (the infamous puentes, or 'bridges') have been carefully crafted to favour the teachers, not the students or their parents - hence the headline. Long-time readers will know that one of the many bees in Prospero's bonnet (wossat buzzing??) has to do with the disastrous education offered in Andalucía, so he's at it again (Watch this space!) However, a report on the BBC's Today programme had a piece the other day that said that children who receive support at home (more on this at another time) are more likely to succeed. What it didn't say was what happens to kids who get support at home but none at school. 'Hmm,' says Prosp.

Too many cars? No parking? Depends on where you live

Illustration only

Prov. of CÁDIZ / Campo de Gibraltar We all want to park outside our front door. In some places we can, in others, parking is a nightmare: the tricky balance between the number of cars in any given location and the number of parking spaces is one of the most difficult, as any town planning expert or councillor will tell you. In any case, the Economy Annual 2012, published by La Caixa, has come up with some interesting figures on the subject regarding the 124,573 cars registered in the Campo in 2011.>>>PLEASE BE AWARE THAT SOON YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO READ THE REST OF THIS ITEM UNLESS YOU SUBSCRIBE. Subscription information will be available soon.>>>

You saw it here first - you hope!

SPAIN All of a sudden, your computer screen goes blank and is taken over by a warning from the Ministerio del Interior, with the badge of the Policía Nacional looming large - lately the Guardia Civil looms, too. You are accused of 'illegal activity', in your Internet surfing, e-mail and even in the files you thought were safe from prying eyes. You are told that, according to 'the laws of Spain' your computer has been blocked and for further information your IP address shows up, too (Wossat? Internal Protocol address). (Smell a rat yet?) Further down you are further charged with what looks like a maniac'a s**t list: paedophilia, zoophilia, child abuse, "video files have been found containing child pornography, violence" and more such niceties. Oh, and if that's not enough they mention that "your e-mails have contained spam with overtones of terrorism." (More than one rat here, right?) To unblock it, PLEASE BE AWARE THAT IN THE NEAR FUTURE YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO READ THE REST OF ITEMS SUCH AS THIS UNLESS YOU HAVE SUBSCRIBED. Subscription information will be available soon. (Oh, alright then, go on)>>>

Party, party, party! All day Saturday

It all starts here ...

JIMENA The youth association Mirador Joven has organized a series of events for this coming Saturday, August 25 at the 'Caseta de la Juventud' (youth marquee that ain't no marquee but a bunch of columns). A host of colourful posters came our way, too many to illustrate this item (see JimenaPulse). But here goes the programme: At 12 noon is the Water Party (Fiesta del Agua); at 6pm the Kiddies Party (Fiesta Infantil); at 10pm Flamenco with Antonio de Palmones and Manuel Cortés; and at half past midnight, the Burn Party (Fiesta Burn - a brand of 'energy' drink, we wrinklies understand). See you somewhere - maybe...

Mar y Sol Saturday Market

Spain rejects fishing summons 'validity'

Fishing in whose waters?

Fisherman told to decide on his court appearance

MADRID (Agencies) Francisco Gómez Elías received a court summons on Tuesday, handed to him on the water by the RGP, as we reported here. He handed the matter over to the president of his fishing fraternity, who in turn sought advice from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. The ministry issued a statement that says>>>PLEASE BE AWARE THAT IN THE NEAR FUTURE YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO READ THE COMPLETE ITEM UNLESS YOU HAVE SUBSCRIBED. Subscription information will be available soon.>>>

Petrol and diesel up again

A litre of petrol rockets to record highs

SPAIN The price of a litre of petrol went up by 2% this week, an accumulative increase of 9% since the first week in July. For the first time ever, a litre of normal petrol costs an average €1.47. Diesel went up too, of course, by 2.5% this, at an average pump price of €1.395. Diesel is used by close to 80% of vehicles in Spain. And, naturally, the price goes up as holidaymakers are heading home from the seaside, which the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) calculates at>>>PLEASE BE AWARE THAT YOU WILL SOON BE UNABLE TO READ THE REST OF THIS ITEM UNLESS YOU HAVE SUBSCRIBED. Subscription information will be available soon>>>

Cristóbal Castilla

El Paseo

200 rescues in area beaches on Tuesday, less today

Waves at Conil, danger below

Due to heavy backwash and waves · Red flags still up today

Prov. of CÁDIZ The weather has been playing havoc with bathers at local beaches. Heavy seas, particularly the dangerous, invisible undercurrents and large waves, have caused almost 200 rescues along the coastline of the province of Cádiz, especially at Conil, Vejer and Chiclana. One member of the rescue team at Conil said on Tuesday, "There was a rescue call every five minutes" - a slight exaggeration but he was tired. The only beaches that did not register any significant such activity were>>>

New help for the unemployed

Benefit rises to €450 - with stricter rules

SPAIN The government of Mariano Rajoy had been under pressure for some time to keep the €400 benefit for the unemployed, which was due to run out at the end of this month. So the Minister for Unemployment and Social Security, Fátima Báñez announced yesterday that a new such benefit, called Prepara, would come into effect immediately. This would extend the previous benefit, but would be for €450 instead. However, the three objectives set out in a press release (improve protection for those who really need it, reinforce the requirements for those who benefit so that it is easier for them to access employment, and increase cooperation with regional authorities to improve the plan's efficiency) are widely believed to be leading to much more stringent regulations as to who receives the benefit. Thus, as a whole, the benefit will be given to those who have no income at all, above 75% of the minimum monthly wage - €641.40 in 2012. Those who have previously received the benefit may also apply if their circumstances have not changed.

Band in concert

JIMENA A concert by the municipal band is scheduled for tomorrow, Friday at the Llano de la Victoria at 9.30pm. The band has been playing for many years, musicians and directors coming and going, as often happens. Having taken part in the last International Music Festival and every municipal event since then, they have achieved a good degree of  proficiency and, more importantly, they encourage youngsters to take up an instrument. They are well worth our support.

Hangover, yes, but when?

Local holidays published late

JIMENA (Source: a friend who pointed it out) This announcement appeared in the official provincial bulletin (BOP) on August 20, as you can see. It specifies the two local holiday dates available to the municipality. One of them, in June, has been and gone (darned if we can remember taking a day off!). The other is on Monday, September 3, which is the Monday after the end of the Novena celebrations in Estación. Hangover Monday, but a different Monday than usual.  (Prospero note: we will probably get chastised for calling this a Hangover Monday because a Novena, after all, is a religious thing involving much prayer...)

Spanish skipper charged on four counts

Receiving summons at sea
(Photo: chronicle.gi)

GIBRALTAR Tensions are getting higher in the dispute over fishing rights in the waters surrounding the Rock. The skipper of the Divina Providencia, Francisco Gómez, received was handed documents on Tuesday requiring him to appear at the courts in Gibraltar on September 21, as he was fishing for sardines in the disputed waters. But as they were in English, he was not clear about what he is being charged with. Speculation among the fishing fraternity is that if he does not present himself, he will be arrested after the court date, which would create a precedent regarding jurisdiction.  Another two boats were out fishing at the same time in the same area but they did not receive any court summons, according to sources.

La Viña de Liñán

Fire razes 75 hectares in Grazalema yesterday

High temperatures cause smoke inhalation problems

GAZALEMA Flames swept through 75 hectares of the Sierra de Grazalema Nature Park, mostly in the municipalities of Cortes de la Frontera and Jimera de Líbar. Temperatures of 40 degrees C or more made control difficult as well as four injuries among the firefighters from INFOCA. These were for smoke inhalation on a day without even breeze in that area. One of the men had to be rescued from the fron line by his team mates, and later taken to hospital, where was treated with oxygen. The mayors of both places thought the fire was the result of arson.

La Tasca

VAT (IVA) up on September 1, school supplies included

Advice: shop now, before the date

SPAIN Back to school this year is going to be a lot more expensiveÑ families will be spending between €140 and €340 just on school supplies. Add clothes, shoes, uniforms, etc and the total can be over €700. The numbers are almost double those of last year. But now is the time to buy all those school materials (e.g. notebooks, pens, pencils, plasicine, ruler, rubbers, etc. etc.) because IVA on them goes up from the 'super-reduced' rate of 4% to the full 21%. This does not affect text books, which are still at 4%. Many schools have an exchange system in operation, as do some parents organizations. ITEMS SUCH AS THIS WILL SOON BE SUBJECT TO SUBSCRIPTION. Subscription information will be available soon.

Spanish property market at bottom of the pit

Illustration only

Media reporting 'state of collapse' · Cádiz sales at historic low

MADRID The property market balloon in Spain is more than punctured. If you read the national media, paper and online, the language will offer a picture of Daliesque collapse, with deflated balloons hanging from the skeletons of unfinished buildings instead of clocks from tree branches. The latest report from the National Statistics Institute (INE) on the subject, for June 2012, shows historic minimums: only 681 property sales took place that month, 585 of them urban. In June 2011, there were 800 such sales and loud warnings were issued. The figures offer a year on year downturn of 15%. Agents and government bodies confirm that neither rentals nor sales are working,  and estate agents are clinging to the precipice by the fingernails.>>>

Valderrama is no longer the venue for the Masters, says PGA

Venue 'to be confirmed' · Junta withdraws backing

SAN ROQUE / Sotogrande The Masters is due to be played in October, but it looks like it will not be held at Valderrama, the much-vaunted 'best course on the continent'. The Masters is the last of the European PGA Tour. To use a generous euphemism, the PGA website lists the tournament venue as TBA (to be announced) at this late date. It also offers the news that it will be played in Spain. Indications are that the €3m prize money are the problem. And that, say reliable sources, is because the Junta de Andalucía (last year the tournament was called the Andalucía Masters, and before that, the Volvo Masters) has re->>>

PGOU, what does it mean to you?

'A very complex, specialised thing' says expert

JIMENA Many cities, towns and villages in Spain, though probably more so in Andalucía, are in the midst of renovating, updating, their General Urban Ordinance Plan (PGOU in its Spanish acronym), which is the plan that affects the municipality in its urban development, and whose current version dates back to 1984, although there is a so-called 'modification' that is being applied by the planning office in the town hall.

Yihadists are indignant about terrorist arrests

Spanish speaking islamists insult National Police on Facebook

LA LÍNEA (Agencies) Spanish speaking Islamists, or Yihadists, have been bombarding Facebook with insults and threats aimed at the Policía Nacional and the successful operation that caught three alleged terrorists planning an attack on the Puerta de Europa shopping centre in Algeciras. One online news site says that most of the 'comments' on Facebook say that the three are 'free of all guilt' and deny the existence of Al-Qaeda. The operation happened during the holy month of Ramadan, for which comments included such niceties as that the three are 'victims of the bastard police, who are no more than a herd of hyenas', that the Spanish police are holding  'an offensive against Muslims'. The media comes into its share of abuse because it 's carrying out 'media persecution'. Some more: 'Christians to Rome', 'This is Al-Andalus' (a Muslim heritage in Andalucía claimed by Osama Bin Laden), and 'Yihad first, and the cause for Allah.

Imperial eagle numbers on the increase in province

From two pairs last year to five at present

CADIZ province (Agencies) There are some 81 areas in Andalucía with stable pairs of Iberian Imperial eagles (Aquila adalberti). That's ten more than last year, according to ornithological reports. The rise in numbers was observed last spring, when nest building and other reproductive behaviour was also seen. The Imperial population in the province of Cádiz became an incipient reproduction nucleus when the two pairs watched in 2011 grew to five. Among them are>>>

Financial Times says Spanish government will use the crisis to cut back regional authorities

Regions are in deep debt thanks mainly to costs of health, education and social services

MADRID In an article last Thursday, the Financial Times said that the government of Mariano Rajoy wants to take advantage of the financial crisis as a "pragmatic decision" and for "political coverage" to make the national autonomous regions system, which in the FT's opinion the governing PP "detests ideologically." The online edition of the prestigious newspaper says that Rajoy is determined not only to>>>

Exploding Food Myth 6. 'Light' foods will help keep off the weight

A 'light' product should contain a minimum of 30% of the energetic values than the product of reference (i.e. 'light' ham vs. ham). The lower caloric indicator is obtained by reducing or substituting one or more of the components of the product of reference. It is a mistake to believe that all products marked 'light' are low in calories as they will be only up to 30% less so. It's a tiresome mathematical game that we don't have time for in the supermarket - which the producers count on and therefore use clever advertising.  And 'creative' advertising is  much more creative than we think - so don't believe all the "white background, blue-lettering, airy-fairy flowing gowns in a commercial for 'light' food," says a recently retired ad man. Incidentally, 'light' refreshments have very few calories - especially those that do not supposedly contain sugar - but all our, and everyone's, research says that water is always the best and healthiest refreshment. (See Exploding Food Myth 5)

Letter from Cajasol / laCaixa

A branch office in Jimena

MADRID / ANDALUCÍA As we announced here, the takeover of Cajasol by La Caixa -now officialy CaixaBank- is proceeding apace. All clients of Cajasol and La Caixa will have received a letter last week with the new letterhead that says that the process of integration will be completed in December. It is now possible to access money through your debit card, at no cost, at over 10,000 La Caixa cash machines throughout the country. Further information reveals that in December, when the operational process is completed, accounts, deposits and loans will change numbers, but no changes are forecast for direct debit or standing orders, receipts or payments; clients will not have to do anything about them, they will happen automatically. All operations will be available at over 6,500 branches, and more than 35,000 people 'willing to listen', as the letter says. It goes on to add that, while these people are available at the bank's offices, more details are available online at www.laCaixa.es/Cajasol (Unavailable in English) PLEASE BE AWARE THAT ITEMS SUCH AS THIS WILL BE SUBJECT TO SUBSCRIPTION IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

Locksmith - Security

Óptica Regueira

Border queues cause illegal parking in La Línea

Parking in the park - a no-no
(Photo: europasur.es)

Local Police removed or fined 42 cars last week

LA LÍNEA The usual summer queues to enter Gibraltar, plus expensive parking on the Rock, mean that many drivers find it easier to park on the Spanish side and walk in. However, many of them do not relise that they are not allowed to park anywhere near the border other than in the 'blue zones', and ceratinly not on the grass (or dust?) of the Reina Sofía Park. So the Local Police are calling drivers to be responsible about where they park. Just last week they fined a total of 42 cars, and took away five of them. The park is a Green Zone according to local regulations, where vehicular traffic of any kind is strictly forbidden. At the beginning of last week the local newspaper Europa Sur published an article calling attention to many cars and caravans parked on grassland just the other side of the road adjacent to the border, which may have motivated the move by La Línea Council.

British couple arrested for growing marihuana in their patio

(Photo: europasur.es)

LA LÍNEA / Alcaidesa (Agencies) Units of the National Police arrested a British couple last week when they discovered that J.M.L.V., male and 25, and L.M.F.M., female and 24, were growing commercial quantities of cannabis sativa plants in the courtyard of their home at Alcaidesa, with the intention of preparing and selling it. The home contained a room prepared specifically for drying the plants, with halogen lamps, dryers and other equipment. The police became aware of these activities at the end of June and spent several weeks in watching the home and the area, following vehicles and people entering and leaving the area, and other such activities 'despite the difficulties inherent in this kind of operation, with perpetrators setting ever improved security equipment', according to a statement. Once the plants were cut down, they weighed almost 25 kilos, with a street value calculated at €104,600.

Wait a minute!

It's not easy to believe at first. This is not a real airport, nor is it recorded with tilt shift effect. It's a model of the world's biggest airport, Hamburg, and is located at Knuffingen in Germany. To build the model cost no less than €3.5m, took six years and takes up over 150 square meters. You can see over 40 planes in action every day, in 360 operations, including virtual take offs and landings. There are some 4,500 vehicles of all kinds, looking very real. See for yourself.

'Gratiferia', a happy idea in times of financial stress

(Photo: europasur.es)

No money changes hands

TARIFA Last weekend, a group of 20 volunteers set out a market that is a reminder that 'one man's rubbish is another man's gold'. The Alameda square was the setting for an idea that was probably first muted by prehistoric man, but became popular in the early part of this century in Buenos Aires, Argentina, when the corralito was in force (banks closed to prevent a run on them, and no cash was available for many weeks). It is also common practice in many parts of the world, but not in Spain. Governments don't like it because no taxes are involved. Called Gratiferia (gratis, free, merged with feria -- feria can also mean a market), the idea was simple: take what you like, for free.>>>

Al-Qaeda terrorists' life among us

Part of Los Junquillos

Two settled in one of San Roque's most depressed section

LA LÍNEA The three alleged members of Al-Qaeda arrested recently, lived in La Línea and San Roque. Some of their neighbours report that the two Chechnyans had been visiting the home of the Turkish man who was working in Gibraltar for about the last ten months. The house is located at number 38 on Virgen de Loreto street, in the Los Junquillos section, in a zone locally known as Las Palomeras. The approximately ten meters of frontage was occupied by him and his Moroccan wife, but it is surrounded by a high wall that

Union Jack Removals

Moroccan Gibraltarians concerned about community's ties to terrorism

Illustration only

Resentment against police among youth reported

GIBRALTAR (Agencies) The Moroccan business community is worried that the youth of their community are reading radical jihadist websites, according to a recent media items on the Rock. The Imam of the Line Wall mosque, Abdoul Samade , is leading an initiative to integrate Gibraltar-born Moroccans into the wider community following concerns about some resentment among younger citizens towards authority and the police.  The religious leader adds that he is trying to impart that to today’s youth. He says young Moroccans are resentful of the Gibraltar Government and the Royal Gibraltar Police, and believes their views are distorted.>>>

Ministry publishes full list of 417 medicines it will no longer finance

Savings of €450 million

MADRID (Europa Press) Today's BOE (Boletín Oficial del Estado, Official State Bulletin) today publishes the complete, exact list of the 417 medicines it will no longer finance after September 1. Sources at the Ministry of Health say that it will save €450m. Well known brands such as 'Almax', 'Pectox', 'Hemorrane', 'Fortasec', 'Acetil Cisteína' o 'Mucosan' will have to be paid for in full by the consumer. According to the Ministry, these medications will be replaced by other, more up-to-date ones,  and in many cases by generics that contain the same specifications as the brands they replace, but are much cheaper to purchase (see example below). These measures are not at all unusual in the Spanish health system and happen every ten to fifteen years or so, but cause much concern among patients who are used to taking their 'usual' medicines. Primary health care personnel, including doctors, have been carrying out in-surgery explanations to their worried patients for some time.>>>