Portugal Situation Report Wednesday 25th May 2022.
Good morning – The annual Portugal Internal Security Report (RASI) for 2021 was published yesterday. Good news is that that crime, both general and violent and serious, recorded levels below the pre-pandemic period, in 2019.
Overall crime increased by 0.9% in 2021 compared to 2020, while violent and serious crime decreased by 6.9%, according to the Annual Internal Security Report (RASI) approved today. The bad news is that once again domestic violence features highly, with 26,520 complaints, despite having registered a reduction of 4% (-915 cases) compared to 2020. We will be preparing further analysis of the main categories shortly
After a break from face to face seminars of nearly two years due to Covid-19 restrictions, Safe Communities Portugal is pleased to announce the first of a number of planned seminars – this first one dealing with an important subject, that of domestic violence. This is being organised jointly between SCP and Associação Portuguesa de Apoio à Vítima (APAV) Algarve on 9th June at 1600 to 1800 hrs.
The focus and aim of the seminar is to create greater awareness in recognising the signs and handling of domestic violence cases across different cultures. For those who deal with migrants and/or groups where cultures, language and customs maybe very different to that in Portugal, understanding their needs as victims of domestic violence and related abuse is essential. The venue will be the lovely historic Palácio Gama Lobo, Rua de Nossa Senhora de Fátima, 8100-557, Loulé. Please see our post on Facebook.
I hope that everyone is now aware of the new fire risk rules which we have publish each day together with the risk itself. There are some significant differences, for example the prohibition on “very high” and “maximum” risk days in carrying out work using: strimmers, scrub clearing machinery and shredders, all equipment with exhausts without flame-retardant equipment, cutting equipment such as chainsaws or grinders, or the operation of mechanical methods which, in their use on natural or artificial materials, generate sparks or heat. On the other days there are no restrictions on the use of machinery. This is applicable in rural territories AND in the surroundings of built-up areas.
It is important to familiarize yourself with the new rules to avoid fines, and more hefty penalties should a fire break out arising from the use of such equipment.
We urge everyone to monitor the fire risk daily, and for those who have, will notice an increase in risk over the last week. Temperatures are above average for the time of year and in these conditions coupled with moderate winds fires can start and spread very quickly. A fire in Almodovar (just across the border with the Algarve) on Tuesday, last over 4 hours before being brought to a conclusion, but luckily was not near to a residential area. Nearly all fires are as a result of negligence and in particular the burning of scrubland (extensive burns) or cut and piled waste without following the safety guidelines.
Of some significance is that since the introduction of the restriction that prohibits extensive burning of land when the fire risk is very high or maximum, the number of fires each day has been below 50 – some would say 50 too many, but as far as we can determine this is far below normal when such burnings were allowed albeit with prior authorisation). We are monitoring this trend.
It is important that tourists are aware of the fire risk and we would remind those who are accommodating overseas guests (either AL or simply relatives from overseas) particularly those in rural areas, to remind them of the basic fire prevention rules. Safe Communities Portugal met a few days ago with the new president of AHETA, in the Algarve to explore ways to promote safety for visitors and we are developing some ideas for consideration.
On Tuesday I also met with Pedro Coelho, Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (APA) in the Algarve and discussed what more can be done to create greater awareness of cliff safety, along some of our very nice beaches. The APA website clearly shows cliffs that are unstable through erosion, and areas where landslips and rock falls could be affected. He highlighted the area between Armação de Pera and Lagoa as a high risk area, so please be aware. He undertook to raise this with APA headquarters in Lisbon, to see if more can be done through social media to bring this to people’s attention.
Lastly our condolences to the families and friends of 21 people who died, including 18 children and three adults, on Tuesday at an elementary school in the city of Uvalde, in the US state of Texas. Since 2012 there have been more than 900 incidents of shootings reported on school premises. (…) The list grows even further when we include mass attacks in places like cinemas, houses of worship. It is time to stand up to gun regulations which allows an 18 year old to buy an automatic assault rifle in the same way that he buys a cell phone.The person responsible for this shooting was just 18 years old.
With that have a Safe Day
News
Portugal must be aware of “old threats” of diseases – Director-General of Health
Lisbon, May 24, 2022 (Lusa) – The Director-General for Health (DGS) today defended the importance of the national vaccination plan, warning that Portugal may be subject to “old threats” from diseases, such as polio, which recently registered a outbreak in Mozambique.
“We all have to fight for the continuity and sustainability of the vaccination process and always be very attentive to the re-emergence of old threats”, said Graça Freitas, at the end of the conference “the contribution of vaccination to healthy aging in Portugal”, promoted by biopharmaceutical GSK with the newspaper Público.
“I found out recently – and I was very sad – that poliomyelitis has re-emerged in Mozambique”, said the director-general of Health, for whom this situation demonstrates that “there is always the possibility of importing cases and, from this introduction into the country, , foci of a disease develop” that has been eradicated in Europe.
On May 18, the African office of the World Health Organization (WHO) announced an outbreak of poliomyelitis in Mozambique, declared by the local health authorities after the disease was confirmed in a child, inside the country.
Attributed to wild poliovirus, this is the first case in Mozambique since 1992 and was identified in a child in Tete province, in the northeast, who began to experience paralysis at the end of March.
Poliomyelitis is an infectious disease without a cure that mainly affects children under five and can only be prevented with a vaccine.
The last case of poliomyelitis, with paralysis caused by wild virus, recorded in Portugal was in 1986, and the disease has been officially eliminated since 2002, through European certification granted by the WHO.
For Graça Freitas, vaccination, in addition to being a right and a duty, is also “an act of solidarity, because there are people who cannot be vaccinated due to some special condition”.
CP warns of “significant disruption” on Friday in Lisbon due to strike
CP WARNS OF SIGNIFICANT DISRUPTION ON FRIDAY 26TH MAY IN LISBON DUE TO PARTIAL STRIKE
CP has warned of the possibility of “significant disruption” in Lisbon urban train services on Friday 26TH May, between 1500 hrs and midnight, due to a partial strike, with no minimum services foreseen.
“CP – Comboios de Portugal informs that, due to a partial strike called by a trade union organization, for the period between 17.00 hrs and 21.00 hrs on May 27, 2022, there may be significant disturbances in the movement of passengers on urban trains in Lisbon, with an expected impact between 15:00 and 24:00 hrs, on the same day”, reads a note from the company.
Also according to CP, the Arbitration Court of the Economic and Social Council did not decree minimum services for this strike, convened by the Railway Union of Itinerant Commercial Review (SFRCI), demanding salary improvements.
In the note, CP “regrets the inconvenience caused to its customers”, recommending that they obtain information about traffic through the company’s website or the helpline (808 109 110, at the cost of a call to the national fixed network).
“CP will make every effort to provide the best possible service to its customers, despite the constraints arising from this situation”, is also mentioned in the statement.
Last Thursday, the SFRCI announced two partial strikes in the urban areas of Porto and Lisbon this month.
The partial strike in the urban area of Porto took place on Monday, between 05:00 and 08:30.
As a CP source told Lusa, around 70% of scheduled trains were suppressed, but the numbers were contested by the union.
Toxic chemicals in European agriculture: the “forbidden fruit” continues to fall on our plate
The use of toxic chemicals in European agriculture continues to increase rather than decrease, warns a study released this Tuesday by PAN Europe (Pesticide Action Network – a network of non-governmental organizations and institutions that works to minimize the negative effects of dangerous pesticides). .
The objective of the European Strategy “From Meadow to Fork” and the European Green Deal is to achieve a 50% reduction in the use of pesticides in agriculture by 2030, but this ambition is far from being approved and implemented. And, contrary to what is recommended, several chemicals used in pesticides, herbicides, insecticides and fungicides – which should have been replaced by now – continue to be used in the fruit and vegetables that reach supermarkets and our homes.
“This report and its conclusions contradict official statements that the use of toxic pesticides is decreasing and that the levels found are within acceptable limits” , reads the introduction to the study, which also points the finger at States- members and the European Commission for “failing to apply the regulation and protect consumers”.
Despite the European Union claiming that there was a 12% reduction in the use of the 55 chemical substances listed for substitution, a 2019 European Commission report notes that the promised “phasing out” (since 2011) has not happened. According to the PAN Europe study, instead of decreasing, the usage rate has increased by 8.8% in nine years.
Based on the analysis of more than 97 thousand samples of fresh fruit grown in Europe, and on official data from the 27 Member States, the study – “Forbidden Fruit” – reveals that, in 2019, close to a third of the fruit continued to reveal residues of at least one of the 32 worst chemicals still authorized in the European Union, which scientific studies point to as endocrine disruptors, persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic substances being associated with fertility problems or carcinogens.
These include the fungicide “Ziram” (associated with endocrine disruption); the insecticide “Pirimicarb” (suspected of carcinogenic effects), the fungicide “Metconazole” (potential effects on the human reproductive system). And PAN Europe wants to see them banned quickly and for that it is now starting a new campaign in this sense.
Among the analyzed fruit, they found that half of the cherry samples contained 152% more substances compared to the 2011 samples; a third of apples revealed 117% more; and half of pears and peaches, respectively, plus 103% and 52%.
In the field of vegetables, celery, parsley and cabbage showed less contamination, but even so, there was a 19% increase compared to 2011.
Despite being outside this “top 5”, Portugal also uses these harmful substances. PAN Europe researchers found that 85% of pear samples and 58% of apples produced in Portugal contained residues of the chemicals on the list.
“These substances should be replaced, but this is not happening in Portugal or in other countries”, emphasizes Pedro Horta, from the Zero association. The environmentalist recalls that “the European regulation imposes an approval procedure for products containing these substances that leads to the consideration of replacement alternatives, whether chemical control through less worrisome substances or practices for the prevention and/or control of health problems that the pesticide intends to solve”. However, he says, “according to the DGAV no substitution for alternatives has been made”.
The General Directorate of Food and Veterinary Medicine (DGAV) confirms this in a letter sent to Zero at the beginning of May – and to which Expresso had access – stating that “to date, it has not been possible to replace plant protection products containing CpS [substances active candidates for replacement]”. Among the reasons given by the DGAV are: “the lack of alternatives aimed at an adequate management of enemy resistance”; or the fact that “the product is important considering the minor uses for which it is authorized”.