Moliceiro boats
Another ‘ancient Portuguese tradition’ – the art of making Aveiro’s Moliceiro boats – has joined the list of intangible heritage that a UNESCO committee believes should be safeguarded. The decision was taken in New Delhi last weekend. The craftsmen who make these boats are almost all already in their 60s, thus this is an art in danger of extinction. Portugal already has two other bids for UNESCO protection: the art of crafting cowbells and Bisalhães pottery.
Military situation
Portugal needs 8,000 more military personnel to reach the legal target of 32,000 in the Armed Forces, Army chief General José Nunes da Fonseca has explained in interview with Público, acknowledging that the country is ‘lacking in aircraft defences’ – but then so are a number of other European nations. Much more investment is required, he said along with an effort to “reinforce in our young people the obligation to defend Portugal”.
Expensive rescue
A family of five may be rueing the day that ‘dad decided to cross a river in the jeep’: the daredevil stunt ended with the jeep stuck in the raging waters of the Ferreira river, in S. Pedro da Cova, Gondomar – requiring an expensive rescue which ended up putting even further lives at risk. Authorities are now ‘evaluating’ the incident and have said they may well end up fining ‘dad’.
Suspended surgeries
With flu cases expected to fill the country’s A&E departments – some requiring hospital stays – health minister Ana Paula Martins has said that ‘programmed surgeries’ considered ‘non-urgent’ (albeit patients will see things otherwise) will be suspended as and when deemed necessary. Appealing to all those eligible to get vaccinated, she did not explain that this year’s vaccine is not prepared for what is currently the dominant strain of flu virus.
Newspaper deliveries
VASP, Portugal’s newspaper delivery service, is threatening to stop deliveries to the interior – affecting Beja, Évora, Portalegre, Castelo Branco, Guarda, Viseu, Vila Real and Bragança – due to what it calls “a particularly demanding financial situation”. Less people are buying newspapers these days, and delivery costs have skyrocketed. VASP’s position is that it wants the government to apply a plan, already approved but not implemented, that has 30 measures in it to help the sector.
Education failings
The 2024 ‘State of Education’ report released by the National Education Council shows there are more students in schools, ‘greater diversity’ but also significant failings. “The on-time completion rates for pupils from families and/or backgrounds that are more vulnerable from a social, economic and cultural point of view, as well as for students of foreign nationality, continue to be significantly lower than those of other students, ” states the report.
Lisbon rents
Lisbon is “the European city where people find it hardest to pay rents”. The tragic reality – confirmed by the European Commission – centres on the ‘116% ratio between the average salary and the cost of rent” – meaning rents exceed the money most people earn. Rents have increased throughout Europe in recent years, but Portugal’s have skyrocketed, powered by the country’s popularity with wealthier foreigners. It is “hugely worrying”, admit experts.
Eurovision petition
In just four days more than 14,000 people signed the petition calling for Portugal to “immediately withdraw” from this year’s Eurovision Song Contest due to the participation of Israel. Portugal should join countries like Spain, Holland, Ireland and Slovenia, says the text and “refuse to whitewash the situation (…) Eurovision was created to promote peace and union among peoples post-war (…) it cannot not serve as a stage for normalising war”.
