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Friday, 31 May 2013
Anti-corporate tax avoidance measures taking shape
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| And this is just in the UK |
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is looking into what action might be taken to curtail corporate tax avoidance schemes, a subject that has been much in the media of late. Leading politicians are responding to outcries coming from commentaries about what little tax is being paid by mega-global businesses on sales of billions, by shuffling profits around the world. This despite protestations from the latter, who say that they are not breaking current law. Among new legislation or measures being studied are tweaking or eliminating double-tax agreements (DTAs) between countries that can allow for neither country taxing a corporation, so-called transfer pricing and improvements to, even>>>the obligation of, exchanging fiscal information among OECD countries, as well as bringing some of the more outrageous off-shore corporate tax facilities to heel.>>>
Energy Efficiency Certificate needed as from tomorrow: are you ready?
Over 35,000 seagulls were culled in five years
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| Illustration only |
GIBRALTAR (GibChronicle)Over 35,000 seagulls have been culled over the past five years, according to data released in the Gibraltar Parliament last week. Annual figures revealed by Environment Minister John Cortes laid bare the scale of the gull cull in Gibraltar – and the extent of the problem of rising bird numbers. Dr Cortes said the Gibraltar Government was looking at increasing the resources of the gull cull team and was looking at other methods that could be used to keep bird numbers down. One option that has been considered in the past is the introduction of predators including foxes. The figures were revealed by Environment Minister John Cortes in response to a question from Opposition MP Jaime Netto. In total between 2008 and 2012, teams from GONHS and the UK – the latter under contract to the government – culled 35,544 gulls. The numbers include adult birds and eggs destroyed before they hatch.
Thursday, 30 May 2013
A comment about the school calendar for which we're grateful
This came in on the usual comment facility below each post, and we removed it from there to put here. We publish it as Anonymous at the author's request. "As an outsider I totally understand how the production of the calendar for the schools holiday can become a cost as it is very time consuming. By the time you have spoken to all the schools, the Town Hall and anyone else who think they should have some say, the best part of the working day has gone, probably more than that. As we all appreciate the amount of great work this site does for everyone in the area, perhaps we should look at ourselves as we get so much help and assistance." Thank you.
Crafts fair in Castellar coming up
CASTELLAR The fast-moving Jimenart Arts & Crafts society is holding a crafts show on the main square in CASTELLAR NUEVO, on Sunday, June 9. Live music, and wine tasting, and other beverage tastings are going on all day .. and, of course, lots of things to admire and buy. They recently held one in the square in Jimena, which was great success.
The dark side of El Rocío: horses ridden to death
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| Pilgrimage leftovers |
EL ROCÍO (Huelva) A petition is doing the rounds, which asks the Ministry of Agriculture (and other stuff) to stop ... read what the actual petition says: "Several dozen horses die every year during El Rocío (annual 'religious' pilgrimage), from exhaustion and thirst. The numbers speak for themselves: 25 in 2008, 23 in 2009, 11 in 2012, 23 in 2013. The excuses run from 'if you give them water when you leave, they can sweat and die from a cold', to 'whoever rides them to death from exhaustion has never had anything to do with horses before'. Some of them die from having to walk for miles without a break - but at the end of the day, they all die because there is no law that obliges anyone to treat an animal as the living beings they are, and not as toys to be used until they break." (Strangely, this thing about toys is what last year's and this year's J.A.W.S. Christmas campaign will be about.) Please share this item with everyone you know.
Wednesday, 29 May 2013
Schools in Andalucía start summer holidays
ANDALUCÍA As the time approaches, we are getting more and more questions about when schools start their summer holidays - that, of course, is why we published (and took a great deal of trouble with) our School Calendar, which has been on the sidebar since the beginning of this school year. If you click on the image here, you can see for yourself. However, it is unlikely that we will be repeating the experience of creating another calendar for the 2013/2014 school year, as the (considerable) effort went entirely unappreciated (and un-donated) by all -except one - of the people who used it.
Boy is found, all is well
GIBRALTAR (GBC) The Royal Gibraltar Police has thanked everyone who helped in the search for the 12-year-old child, who went missing on Monday night, but has now been found. The child disappeared after having been sighted in La Línea on Monday night; as of this morning the Police remained concerned for his well-being. However, a spokesman confirmed early on Wednesday afternoon that the boy was found at lunchtime. (See: Police are looking for this boy - PLEASE HELP)
The history of Jimena in images - a fascinating page!
JIMENA Over the weekend somebody asked us if we'd seen a 'historical' Facebook page. We hadn't, and we forgot about it until this morning, when we looked into our Spanish colleagues over at TioJimeno. And there was a story about Jimena when it was 'reconquered by the Christians (vs. the Moors) in 1431, with illustrations of it at the time. We couldn't resist it, so we went to the page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/historiajimenaimagenes/) and have made a Friend Request; we want to go more deeply into the subject. Not that it isn't fascinating just as it is: >>>
Floating hotel recruitment day is tomorrow
GIBRALTAR (GibChronicle) Owners of the Sunborn Gibraltar floating hotel are “gearing up for a Recruitment Open Day” this Thursday May 30, where, they say, “up to 200 permanent roles are available for local candidates.”The roles the company need to fill vary in range and skill, and include overall managing director, PA to the managing director, head of human resources, head of administration, food and beverage manager, front office manager, waiting staff, housekeeping staff, shop assistants, reservation agents, bar staff, cooks, sommeliers and various maintenance and trade staff.>>>
Much ado about a great deal: torture and death in Spain
SPAIN We posted this photo of two dead greyhounds (galgos) on Facebookjust a couple of days ago as an example of what happens to these magnificent creatures when they get too old for hunting in Spain (and no doubt other countries as well): they get hung up alive until they die! Understandably, they caused much controversy, which ranged from 'I don't want/need to see the photos' to 'let's all get behind this anti movement (but don't know how)', from 'here's a petition' to 'you can't do anything about it, it's been going on for years'. Please give us your opinion -which we might or might not share but certainly respect- on comments below, or by answering the poll we will be putting up later today. (Here is but one petition - more to come, with luck: http://guestbooks.pathfinder.gr/sign/dogspetition)
Police are looking for this boy - PLEASE HELP
GIBRALTAR The Royal Gibraltar Police is increasingly concerned about the welfare of 12 year old Gibraltarian, Francis Alman, who was last seen in the area of the frontier, in La LÍnea, Spain, at about 6pm on Monday the 27th of May 2013. Francis is about 1m 46cm in height, of a thin build, has brown eyes and has brown, short straight hair. He was wearing a yellow hooded top with a large No:5 on the front, blue tracksuit bottoms with white stripes on the sides and white training shoes. Anyone with information on his whereabouts should contact the Royal Gibraltar Police Control Room on +350 20072500 as soon as possible.
This looks like a fine walk for a good cause
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| Click to enlarge |
JIMENA Just the other day, we posted an invitation to join us for a walk through and around Jimena this coming Saturday, June 1. Since then, we have had more information, which we translate herewith (luv that word, sounds so important!): Saturday, June 1; Meet at Plaza Constitución; Registration at 6pm; Start walk at 7pm; Difficulty: Low; Route: through the most representative spots of our village; In aid of La Estrella.
Tuesday, 28 May 2013
Selection of wines from the Vinoteca Collado Wine Club for June
Today's special, at your local bar
We saw this board in a bar in Jimena but it applies to just about anywhere that coffee is still €1. You get all these things and more for that small price: "Cup of coffee, glass of water, glass to cool down coffee, another sugar, paper napkin, spoon, saucer, day's newspaper, straw, toilet, psychological chat, free TV, bus timetable, 'do you know such and such a street?', 'what times does so-and-so shop open? ALL FOR €1." Yes, there's a lot more - can you think of anything else you can get for that euro? (And did you ever see How to Order a Coffee in Jimena from October 2011?)
Monday, 27 May 2013
A charity walk through Jimena, next Saturday
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| (Photo: Paqui López / TioJimeno) |
JIMENA Here is an easy and fascinating way to do some good. Next Saturday, the walkers' group, Caminete de Luna, is organizing a walk through the history and patrimony of Jimena, in and around the village. We will be gathering at the main square, Plaza de la Constitución, at 7pm on Saturday, June 1. Registration, tickets, or whatever, are only €2, which will be given entirely to the local handicapped charity La Estrella. This will be bringing together a good many people, so here's a chance to meet new friends. (Note: Anyone willing to organise a charity sponsored walk for La Estrella and/or J.A.W.S.?)
Why we haven't mentioned Drummer Lee Rigby or Woolwich until now
Unlike most of the world, we haven't seen any images of the appalling assassination that took place in Woolwich last week - and we're not likely to. We haven't mentioned the victim, Drummer Lee Rigby until now. We haven't said anything about any of it for one simple reason: WE SIMPLY REFUSE TO LET THE ('ALLEGED') MURDERERS GET THE PUBLICITY THEY SO MUCH CRAVE. This does not mean we don't care. This does not mean we in any way support the ('alleged') bastards. It means we will not fall into their trap - and we strongly believe that the world's media shouldn't either, no matter how many more sales they can get.
Sunday, 26 May 2013
Just a (virtual) giggle - it is Sunday, innit?
Customer: "Tell me, is there a spray I can buy for my computer?"
Tech Support: "Er, I beg your pardon?"
Customer: "You know, a spray -- one that I can spray the inside of my computer with."
Tech Support: "What sort of spray are we talking about here?
I thought perhaps you might have seen someone use a can of compressed air to clean out a machine and mistook it for some sort of spray...">>>
Saturday, 25 May 2013
How many languages are spoken in the world?
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| Cayapas natives, Ecuador (Photo: UNHCR) |
It is impossible to give a precise answer to the question - not even approximately. However, experts calculate that there are between 3,000 and 5,000 extant languages on the planet, of which only 600 are used by 100,000 or more people, this being the minimal number it is thought necessary to guarantee a language's medium-term survival. The languages that are at the top of the most-used list are: Mandarin Chinese (900m speakers), English (470m), Hindi (420m), Spanish (360m) and Russian (almost 300m). Studies show that the geographical distribution of language is far from equal: 32% of them are in Asia; America, North and South, holds 15%, while Europe and the Middle East, only 4%.>>>
Friday, 24 May 2013
Dog show on Sunday
SOTOGRANDE Mar y Sol Market is very much involved with Spanish Stray Dogs - or is it the other way round? Whatever, they, both, are holding a DOG SHOW ON SUNDAY MAY 26 at Mar y Sol Market, where else?. Loads of lovely dogs will be there, including Ruby and Angus. It is a very worthwhile cause, and a grand morning out. And look out for a car boot sale next weekend, too. Details about the dog show, registration for entries, price per class, judges, prizes, etc. below.>>>
More things to do tomorrow, Saturday
JIMENA La Vía, recently opened under new management (Jason & Beth), is holding a Saturday special tomorrow, May 25. Starting at 3 pm,, a FREE paella (until it lasts, according to Facebook) and then, an evening of Flamenco with Gabriel Jiménez and Manuel Cortés. Be there or be square, we're told!
Spain's ten best beers
SPAIN A recent survey among drinkers and experts revealed a list of Spain's best beers, in their opinion. Their opinion is of course highly subjective, particularly as some of them are not widely available (see a similar survey to the one reported here). However, we are sure you have your own list, Dear Reader, and it would be nice to let other Dear Readers know your ranking of locally available brews ... (The list is below.)>>>
Kontranatura is back in Jimena
JIMENA She has been here before, and was very popular - which, of course, is why Melissa has invited Esther Esparza, the well-known café-concert artiste, to perform at Casa Henrietta, TONIGHT at 9.30p.m. Her (Spanish) monologues about science (yes, there's a laugh there, too!) have people rolling in the aisles - well, they would if there were any aisles to roll in. She is accompanied by the equally well-known Álvaro Gaviria, who happens to be performing at El Ventorrillero (that's Luis's establishment just down the street from Henrietta's) tomorrow evening. (CampoPulse will not be held responsible for information about things happening this weekend in the village, there's too much of it and no coordination among various venues - but we will try to get to at least a couple of 'em.)
Thursday, 23 May 2013
Wednesday, 22 May 2013
Classical music concert this weekend
SOTOGRANDE Sponsored and organized by Sotogrande Cultural Society, the Costa del Sol Collegium Musicum and the Camerata Singers of Sotogrande are offering a great evening of Hydn's Missa Cellensis this coming Sunday, May 26 at 8.30 pm, at the Sotogrande church, Nuestra Señora de la Merced. Directed by Annemarie Phillips, a number of visiting international singers will be present: Llio Evans (Sopranos, Wales), Claire Filer (Alto, New Zealand), Ben Thapa (Tenor, UK) and Ryan Ross (Bass, USA). Entrance is free, but a donation will be requested.
