His Gibraltarian owners threw him out 'a long time ago'

SPAIN / GIBRALTAR This little fellow, Toby, is chipped. His owners are Gibraltarian, but they refuse to keep him. The owners say they gave him to a friend, who doesn't want him either. Aurora López Manzano, a lone star animal rescue centre all by herself with a couple of friends, has been in touch with the people named on the chip, saying that the dog is in a very bad state and they need to pay for vet fees, etc. Another call had the daughter of the 'owners' saying the dog had been given to a Gibraltar rescue centre, so they're not paying for anything. Toby, who was rescued in Manilva, has injuries on his back, his claws are like corkscrews from neglect, and it is obvious he has been in a bad state for a long time. If there is any way you can help with vet fees, etc. Aurora would be very grateful. (Contact her via her Facebook page, linked above - she has some English but can always use Prospero if need be.)

Monsanto MUST be stopped

Received by e-mail this morning:  One mega-company is gradually taking over our global food supply, poisoning our politics and putting the planet’s food future in serious danger. To stop it we need to expose and break up Monsanto’s worldwide grip. Monsanto, the chemical giant that gave us poisons like Agent Orange and DDT, has a super-profitable racket. Step 1: Develop pesticides and genetically modified (GM) seeds designed to resist them, patent the seeds, prohibit farmers from replanting their seeds year to year, then send undercover agents out to investigate and sue farmers who don’t comply. Step 2: Spend millions lobbying government officials and contributing to political campaigns, get former Monsanto bigwigs into top government jobs, and then work with them to weaken regulations and push Monsanto goods into markets across the world.>>>

How to donate towards Carmen Infante's wheelchair

Carmen at her benefit on Friday

JIMENA Aside from the questions appearing here and on Alberto's Facebook page, we have also had a number of enquiries about how to donate towards Carmen's vertical action wheelchair. A bank account was opened this very morning at La Caixa (Number 2100-8579-01-0100025653, name of Carmen Infante Martínez). Thanks to all who enquired, and please share this article (also on Fbook) to as many people as possible.

House burgled, dog stolen!

From Jimena People on Facebook: "I know its a long shot but if anyone can help. We live in Atalaya Isdabe and this afternoon we arrived home to find our house broken into and our dog stolen. This was our house broken into not the garden. They took the usual laptop camera etc. She's a Yorkshire Terrier and 16 years old, her name is Molly, She has one eye and is almost deaf. She has a tumour on her tummy so when they realise they cant sell her I don't want to imagine what they will do . Throw her out or something far more unthinkable.Please if you hear anything let me know. She is Chipped and registered in Andalucía. Jo Sellers

Can you offer foster care for a dog or cat?

They may not all be this cute

JIMENA J.A.W.S. (Jimena Animal Welfare Society) is asking for help with taking care of a dog (occasionally a cat) for a few days -maximum 10 days- because although the society is already doing a good job, the law says that every effort must be made to find the owner, if it has one, and this means a time during which the animal can't be taken to a refuge. There is also a need for donations of cash (J.A.W.S. now has a bank account), dog food and old blankets and/or towels (which are donated to local refuge centres where our animals are taken eventually). J.A.W.S. is holding a Christmas Fayre jointly with Casa Henrietta, on Sunday, December 2, from 12 noon, about which more info will be available soon. (Contact J.A.W.S. on Facebook, or at http://jimenajaws.webs.com/.)

Idara has received her bottle tops, but we need more

JIMENA As we said back here, there was a request out for plastic bottle tops, which would help a little girl's family buy her a special wheelchair. Her name is Idara and she has received two enormous boxes full of plastic bottle tops, collected throughout the municipality. Idara lives in Algeciras, but there is another little girl, called Virginia, of a well-known Jimena family, who needs our help, too, this time for an important operation not available on the Spanish health system. So, collect your plastic tops and take them along to any of the places on the list below, telling them it's for Virginia's operation.>>>

Reader's Request: Don't throw your tops!

JIMENA We have been asked to ask you to collect your PLASTIC bottle tops, put 'em in a bag and take 'em to La Tasca (Calle San Sebastian, Jimena, by the main square). We are reliably informed that this is a genuine request that, having collected millions of them, will supply a special wheelchair for a child in Algeciras who needs one badly but whose parents can't afford what he needs. Other people, such as the firemen, are also collecting in the area. Any kind of PLASTIC bottle will do. Please help!

Reader's appeal: Can you help find this guy a home?

JIMENA (Via e-mail) "Can you help with this, lovely, loving young tom cat ? Desperate for a home. Please contact Jill and Marshall 956 641 084. Thanks, Jill and Marshall." Okay, Dear Reader, here's your chance to do an animal a lot of good...

Distinct lack of content on CampoPulse's weekend

WOT A LUVLY LOT OF ADS!!!

NOW WE'LL GET SOME CONTENT UP, SHALL WE?

(The above conversation was recorded in the lavatory at the CampoPulse offices)

(Offices? CampoPulse has offices?)

(Yes. Well, they use someone else's wi-fi...)
(Further conversation recorded in local bar - same two characters, someone else buying drinks:)
BE NICE IF WE ACTUALLY GOT PAID FOR ALL THOSE ADS.
YES, ACTUALLY. MAYBE WE COULD EAT THIS WEEK!

24 hours to save the bees!

We subscribe to Avaaz.org because they often come up with stuff that either makes us indignant (we obviously enjoy being indignant) or just plain angry about something. This is one of these latter cases, which starts with: "Quietly, globally, billions of bees are dying, threatening our crops and food. But if Bayer stops selling one group of pesticides, we could save bees from extinction." You can read more and express your own indignation by signing their petition here. You will be telling the Bayer shareholders' meeting in Germany tomorrow, how you feel about it.

JIMENA / Tesorillo The annual collection of food for children in need takes place this afternoon at 6pm on the main square in Tesorillo, together with villancicos of the season. Let's bring our contribution and our best wishes.

Collecting for unpaid municipal employees

(Photo: europasur.es)

LA LÍNEA (Agencies) A group of people have organized a collection of foodstuffs at various supermarkets and stores in the town. The idea is to collect food and any other donations for the municipal workers who are owed up to six months' wages. The group is led by Catalina Contreras, a municipal worker herself, better known as Lina at the town hall. She and several others were at Carrefour on Thursday, at Mercadona and Lidla yesterday, and plan to continue their campaign, 'for those who have nothing left, not even to eat with'. She is surprised by the wonderful response from everyone: shoppers, seing them at the entrance, buy a little extra something and put it in the cart. "We filled a whole van yesterday," said Lina, who then organizes the distribution to her fellow municipal workers. "The even give us money," she added.

This is the time of year when everyone asks for help, so why should CampoPulse be any different? If you've enjoyed our articles, or found them interesting or useful, you might want to consider making a donation. We bring you something new every day, sometimes it is news, or a reminder of something, or maybe a little piece of history. Whatever it is, it takes time, knowledge and effort to do so. Our commitment to the English-speaking community of the Campo is as strong as ever, as is our being able to serve as a bridge between our hosts and the community. But we need to pay bills, too, just like you, Dear Reader. In the past, we have said that we were looking into charging for reading this site. We are as reluctant as ever because we are aware that there are those who would be unable to do so and would have to miss out on the useful things we offer. If you are able to help, we would be most grateful if you went to the DONATE widget on the sidebar and followed instructions. Thank you.

Cati Ledesma, La Estrella stalwart, honoured in La Línea

LA LÍNEA Catalina Ledesma Mateo, a stalwart member and past president of La Estrella del Regüé, the handicapped association of Jimena, was deservedly honoured in La Línea as part of an annual programme that 'recognizes' unpaid carers, volunteers, associations of the area. Jimena Council, represented by Councillor for Equality and Social Welfare, Mª José Pro, chose Cati because of her strength in adversity, her dedication and commitment to La Estrella and because "her cheerfulness enlightens us all ..."  Grateful parents, carers all, and their charges cheered and whistled as an emotional Cati was paid tribute. They had organized it perfectly, we're told, because it was a complete surprise. Some of the comments: "She has helped us over difficult times." "Cati has the strength we ourselves sometimes need." "Now it's our turn to offer her a little of our strength." "We Love you, Cati!" PLEASE REMEMBER THAT LA ESTRELLA IS HOLDING ITS ANNUAL CHARITY CHRISTMAS FAIR ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, AT LA VICTORIA CHURCH, FROM 11 TO LATE AFTERNOON. PLEASE COME AND HELP! (What is La Estrella, and how does it work? See below)>>>

Take a pill against someone else's pain

SPAIN Médicos Sin Fronteras, the international aid organization, has had a brilliant fund raising idea. They have sent every farmacia in the country packets of pills (only chewing gum, really) to be sold at only €1. The website says, among other things, "In the First World, if something hurts, we take a pill. But ... what happens to the other world's pain, to the pain of those who don't have a pill? Isn't it great that we, who have pills for almost everything, can take one to alleviate someone else's pain?" These marvels of science (and marketing) are available exclusively at a farmacia near you.

We need your help

CampoPulse is fast becoming the English language reference site for Campo de Gibraltar. As you will see from the Feedjit facility at the bottom of the sidebar, we get visitors from all over Spain and the world - all looking up CampoPulse. And all of it without cost to you, Dear Reader. We want it to stay that way but it is a hard uphill struggle to keep going without your financial help. We still insist on PayPal because we have received a couple of donations through them thanks to our PLEASE CONSIDER: WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU MADE A DONATION? campaign, but it's perfectly okay to stop Prospero in the street and hand him some cash (well, it would be, wouldn't it? And he looks nothing like Abbe's cartoon!). We are most grateful for your support, but we need to at least be able to pay for the phone lines, never mind the enormous amount of time it takes to keep you informed. We know times are hard but they are for us, too. Please help.

LA ESTRELLA CAR BOOT SALE on Sunday

Tanya and the Ward family at Marchenilla are busy preparing for this year's La Estrella car boot sale, to which they're adding a dog show, to be held at their Finca Los Caballos, just past Marchenilla (see map on poster - click to enlarge), on Sunday, June 6th, from 9.30am to 3pm. This is the place and time to show your support for Jimena's local handicapped organization. If you want to book a stall or need any more information, please call Tanya on 627 649 320. Better hurry as there are some 17 stalls booked already! Tell all your friends about it, and/or send them the poster now (a version in Spanish is available below)! Let's make this one the best ever!

Get ready for the La Estrella car boot sale & dog show

Tanya and the Ward family at Marchenilla are busy preparing for this year's La Estrella car boot sale, to which they're adding a dog show, to be held at their Finca Los Caballos, just past Marchenilla (see map on poster - click to enlarge), on Sunday, June 6th, from 9.30am to 3pm. This is the place and time to show your support for Jimena's local handicapped organization. If you want to book a stall or need any more information, please call Tanya on 627 649 320. Tell all your friends about it, and/or send them the poster now (a version in Spanish is available below)! Let's make this one the best ever!

La Estrella Dog Show and Car Boot Sale coming up

We just got a call from Tanya at the Saturday Pony Club to say that she is planning a Dog Show and Car Boot Sale to benefit La Estrella, Jimena's handicapped association. Initially planned for Sunday, June 6th (weather permitting), this is subject to confirmation from La Estrella. A similar initiative two years ago raised a considerable amount of money for the charity - aside from giving us a fun day out. (see photo: JimenaPulse archive) Watch this space for further information - and Call Tanya on 627 649 320 if you want to book a stall. (Read more about how the expat community has helped La Estrella over the years - click here.)

Could you give a child from the Sahara a happy summer?

Among many other things, the recession means that many families are unable to offer a 'Holiday in Peace' to children from the Saharawi refugee camps of Tindouf and other places. Please see a related JP item here to find out more about these children, and send this item to your friends (click on the little envelope below). If you can help, call 617 503 328 or 600 702 252 or e-mail yustos40@hotmail.com. The programme is desperate to offer these lovely children a chance at a better life, even if only for a month or so. Please help.