Friday 29 June 2007
Spain vs India
I just love this. We are always reminded that driving in Spain is like taking your life in your hands. Well recently with the new points licence apparently driving has become a lot safer despite the police being rather zealous in their approach to the new law. Deaths, accidents and cautions are all down and apparently speeding is drastically down.
However even without the new laws driving in Spain will never be like driving in India and that is the positive news story for today. Enjoy the video.
Inspiration and Favourite Places
My life in Spain is differentiated into two different parts. Firstly, the wet North and Asturias, one of the most beautiful areas in the World (In my very humble opinion). Then down to the Mediterranean lifestyle of Valencia, a fantastic place to live and work. The landscapes are different, the people are different and the lifestyles are different.
However there are also other places in Spain that are special to me and here I have included some photos of the most impressive places I have been to in Spain, for whatever reason, nostalgia, wow factor or simply put pure beauty.
Have a good look. If you have any questions about any of the places or would like to know where they are then get in touch with me on devanio66@gmail.com
However there are also other places in Spain that are special to me and here I have included some photos of the most impressive places I have been to in Spain, for whatever reason, nostalgia, wow factor or simply put pure beauty.
Have a good look. If you have any questions about any of the places or would like to know where they are then get in touch with me on devanio66@gmail.com
Tuesday 26 June 2007
Spain's National Anthem to Get Words
Thanks to the Washington Post for this story, an oldie but goody. This story has been going around the place for some time now but it has just been picked up by the Americans. So here it is in all its glory. For a more irreverant view on the story go to the following link.
The picture is of a confused looking Spanish national Team in the 98 World Cup humming and making it up as they go along. If you have any suggestions (And they must include the words "Going home in the quarters" I think) then send them into Marca.
ARTICLE
Spaniards never have to worry about forgetting the words to their national anthem. It has none.
Now, however, the country has embarked on trying to come up with lyrics _ a task that some see as leading to a perilous fight.
The wordless anthem has often caused consternation among onlookers from other nations at international events such as soccer matches and Olympics because all Spaniards can do is hum along to its tune.
"It gives me a very odd feeling that people should sing 'La, la, la,' or 'Chunda, chunda, chunda,'" said Alejandro Blanco, president of Spain's Olympic Committee. "Spain is a country with cheerful people who sing at any opportunity, so why shouldn't they be able to sing the words of a national anthem?"
Staunchly Catholic Spain has for centuries intoned religious rites such as the "Angelus devotion" instead of rallying round an anthem, although one existed mainly for use at military occasions.
Paradoxically, during the 1939-75 military dictatorship of Gen. Francisco Franco, the national anthem was rarely heard and it has only re-emerged with a return to democracy in 1977.
Franco's iron grip on government and the destructive civil war that preceded it have left a nation that is divided not just along traditional regional lines _ based on the ancient kingdoms that united centuries ago to form modern Spain _ but also politically.
"I doubt very much anyone will be able to come up with words that everyone will be happy with," said Jose Guzman, a 42-year-old businessman.
Although the idea of setting words to the national anthem was first voiced by the Association of Victims of Terrorism, a group linked to the conservative opposition Popular Party, Blanco said the current initiative is free of politics.
"The politically independent Spanish Olympic Committee put forward the idea," said Blanco, who added that many sectors of society have responded with enthusiasm.
Some observers think trying to find words most people will have no qualms about intoning at public functions is going to be a near-impossible task.
"Look, Spain has so many languages, what are they going to do, set each stanza in a different tongue?" said Juan Suarez, presenter of musical radio show "La Ciudad Invisible" _ "The Invisible City" _ on national station Radio 3.
Spaniards speak at least five regional languages _ not including dialects _ and share the distinction of having no words to their anthem with a handful of countries, including Bosnia-Herzegovina, whose anthem was written in 1985, and tiny San Marino, whose tune was penned in 1894.
The competition to write words to the anthem is open to anyone, said Blanco, who expected the first 300 suggested lyrics from sports daily Marca on Wednesday.
Blanco said his committee expected more than 5,000 suggested lyrics to the anthem by September, when the candidates are to be assessed by parliament.
"The final choice will be left to lawmakers in government," said Blanco, who said he was convinced the outcome would unite rather than divide the country.
The picture is of a confused looking Spanish national Team in the 98 World Cup humming and making it up as they go along. If you have any suggestions (And they must include the words "Going home in the quarters" I think) then send them into Marca.
ARTICLE
Spaniards never have to worry about forgetting the words to their national anthem. It has none.
Now, however, the country has embarked on trying to come up with lyrics _ a task that some see as leading to a perilous fight.
The wordless anthem has often caused consternation among onlookers from other nations at international events such as soccer matches and Olympics because all Spaniards can do is hum along to its tune.
"It gives me a very odd feeling that people should sing 'La, la, la,' or 'Chunda, chunda, chunda,'" said Alejandro Blanco, president of Spain's Olympic Committee. "Spain is a country with cheerful people who sing at any opportunity, so why shouldn't they be able to sing the words of a national anthem?"
Staunchly Catholic Spain has for centuries intoned religious rites such as the "Angelus devotion" instead of rallying round an anthem, although one existed mainly for use at military occasions.
Paradoxically, during the 1939-75 military dictatorship of Gen. Francisco Franco, the national anthem was rarely heard and it has only re-emerged with a return to democracy in 1977.
Franco's iron grip on government and the destructive civil war that preceded it have left a nation that is divided not just along traditional regional lines _ based on the ancient kingdoms that united centuries ago to form modern Spain _ but also politically.
"I doubt very much anyone will be able to come up with words that everyone will be happy with," said Jose Guzman, a 42-year-old businessman.
Although the idea of setting words to the national anthem was first voiced by the Association of Victims of Terrorism, a group linked to the conservative opposition Popular Party, Blanco said the current initiative is free of politics.
"The politically independent Spanish Olympic Committee put forward the idea," said Blanco, who added that many sectors of society have responded with enthusiasm.
Some observers think trying to find words most people will have no qualms about intoning at public functions is going to be a near-impossible task.
"Look, Spain has so many languages, what are they going to do, set each stanza in a different tongue?" said Juan Suarez, presenter of musical radio show "La Ciudad Invisible" _ "The Invisible City" _ on national station Radio 3.
Spaniards speak at least five regional languages _ not including dialects _ and share the distinction of having no words to their anthem with a handful of countries, including Bosnia-Herzegovina, whose anthem was written in 1985, and tiny San Marino, whose tune was penned in 1894.
The competition to write words to the anthem is open to anyone, said Blanco, who expected the first 300 suggested lyrics from sports daily Marca on Wednesday.
Blanco said his committee expected more than 5,000 suggested lyrics to the anthem by September, when the candidates are to be assessed by parliament.
"The final choice will be left to lawmakers in government," said Blanco, who said he was convinced the outcome would unite rather than divide the country.
Monday 25 June 2007
Solar Tower
Spain is starting to lead the world as it really should on Solar Energy production. Just look at this new project in Sanlucar, Andalucia.
ARTICLE
http://www.positivenews.org.uk
A dramatic new feature dominates the landscape in the arid south of Iberia. Europe’s very first, commercially-run, solar energy plant was recently opened in the Spanish town of Sanlúcar la Mayor, Seville. Surrounded by an area as big as 300 football fields covered in mirrors, a cylindrical, 115 metre high solar tower showcases the latest technology.
624 huge mirrors called ‘heliostats’ circle the structure from the ground and automatically track the sun as it moves from east to west. Each 120 square metre mirror reflects the sun’s rays, beaming them back to converge on a receiver at the top of the tower. Intense temperatures of up to 250 degrees centigrade generate steam, which is blasted into turbines to produce electricity for up to 6,000 homes – all without emitting a single whiff of greenhouse gas!
Over the next six years, another 300 megawatt solar platform will be built on the Sanlúcar site, producing power to light up some 180,000 homes, enough for a city the size of Seville. The wider project is expected to prevent annual emissions of at least 600,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
The BBC science correspondent, David Shukman, reported being amazed by the spectacle. “From a distance, I couldn’t believe the strange structure ahead of me was actually real,” he says. “A concrete tower, 40 storeys high, stood bathed in intense white light – a bizarre image in the depths of the Andalusian country-side. The tower looked like it was being hosed with giant sprays of water or was somehow being squirted with jets of pale gas. I had trouble working it out.”
With the most available sunshine of any European country, Spain is leading the way in developing solar energy with projects happening across the country.
Solar panels are now compulsory on all new and renovated buildings as part of the Spanish government’s efforts to meet its 12 per cent objective of energy from renewables by 2010. Another solar power plant is to be built near Granada later on this year, and a gigantic 750 megawatt solar tower near the capital, Madrid, is in the planning stages.
Positive News is a great website promoting just that, positive news. It will help you to cheer up so go there regularly.
ARTICLE
http://www.positivenews.org.uk
A dramatic new feature dominates the landscape in the arid south of Iberia. Europe’s very first, commercially-run, solar energy plant was recently opened in the Spanish town of Sanlúcar la Mayor, Seville. Surrounded by an area as big as 300 football fields covered in mirrors, a cylindrical, 115 metre high solar tower showcases the latest technology.
624 huge mirrors called ‘heliostats’ circle the structure from the ground and automatically track the sun as it moves from east to west. Each 120 square metre mirror reflects the sun’s rays, beaming them back to converge on a receiver at the top of the tower. Intense temperatures of up to 250 degrees centigrade generate steam, which is blasted into turbines to produce electricity for up to 6,000 homes – all without emitting a single whiff of greenhouse gas!
Over the next six years, another 300 megawatt solar platform will be built on the Sanlúcar site, producing power to light up some 180,000 homes, enough for a city the size of Seville. The wider project is expected to prevent annual emissions of at least 600,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
The BBC science correspondent, David Shukman, reported being amazed by the spectacle. “From a distance, I couldn’t believe the strange structure ahead of me was actually real,” he says. “A concrete tower, 40 storeys high, stood bathed in intense white light – a bizarre image in the depths of the Andalusian country-side. The tower looked like it was being hosed with giant sprays of water or was somehow being squirted with jets of pale gas. I had trouble working it out.”
With the most available sunshine of any European country, Spain is leading the way in developing solar energy with projects happening across the country.
Solar panels are now compulsory on all new and renovated buildings as part of the Spanish government’s efforts to meet its 12 per cent objective of energy from renewables by 2010. Another solar power plant is to be built near Granada later on this year, and a gigantic 750 megawatt solar tower near the capital, Madrid, is in the planning stages.
Positive News is a great website promoting just that, positive news. It will help you to cheer up so go there regularly.
Everybody Likes Dolphins
Eveyone likes dolphins don't they! Anyway it seems the Spanish are getting on this particular bandwagon with this extremely positive news story.
ARTICLE
(Taken from http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/529214)
Scientists from Earthwatch, the global environmental organization, are celebrating this week after the International Maritime Organization (IMO) agreed to divert shipping lanes off the southern coast of Spain in order to avoid important bottlenose dolphin foraging grounds.
When passing through the Alboran Sea, merchant ships and fisherman will now be required to travel 20 miles further south off the coast of Almeria. This diversion will reduce acoustic and water pollution in the area and should help to mitigate the impact of accidental oil spills on coastal habitats and tourist beaches.
“This is very positive news for the bottlenose dolphin,” says Earthwatch scientist Ricardo Sagarminaga van Buiten. “Cargo ships, often carrying dangerous substances, regularly pass through the Alboran Sea’s primary dolphin feeding grounds.”
He continues, “Bottlenose dolphins have suffered a sharp decline in the Mediterranean over the last decade, so diverting the shipping route should give the species an opportunity to recover.” *
The Alboran Sea is a gateway between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean. It provides an essential migratory corridor for a large variety of marine species and attracts an abundance of fish. This high productivity makes it one of Europe’s most valuable feeding sites for dolphins and sea turtles. However, almost 30 percent of the world’s maritime traffic currently passes through these waters.
Together with maritime experts from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Earthwatch scientists made recommendations to the Spanish Merchant Navy and IMO, following five years of research in the area for the European Commission LIFE Nature project.*
Since 2002, they have spent more than 700 days at sea, surveying 10,000 miles in order to develop conservation management plans for marine protected areas. In this time, over 500 international Earthwatch volunteers have given up their time to support them.
This long-term research project confirms that throughout the Mediterranean the bottlenose dolphin population is fragmented; their migratory activities have decreased and local populations are genetically isolated. The Almeria dolphin population is currently the only healthy one in the Mediterranean; dolphin groups average 30 individuals here, compared to 2 to 5 individuals in other regions.
Conserving this site and providing safe access between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean basin is therefore crucial for the survival of the species.
ARTICLE
(Taken from http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/529214)
Scientists from Earthwatch, the global environmental organization, are celebrating this week after the International Maritime Organization (IMO) agreed to divert shipping lanes off the southern coast of Spain in order to avoid important bottlenose dolphin foraging grounds.
When passing through the Alboran Sea, merchant ships and fisherman will now be required to travel 20 miles further south off the coast of Almeria. This diversion will reduce acoustic and water pollution in the area and should help to mitigate the impact of accidental oil spills on coastal habitats and tourist beaches.
“This is very positive news for the bottlenose dolphin,” says Earthwatch scientist Ricardo Sagarminaga van Buiten. “Cargo ships, often carrying dangerous substances, regularly pass through the Alboran Sea’s primary dolphin feeding grounds.”
He continues, “Bottlenose dolphins have suffered a sharp decline in the Mediterranean over the last decade, so diverting the shipping route should give the species an opportunity to recover.” *
The Alboran Sea is a gateway between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean. It provides an essential migratory corridor for a large variety of marine species and attracts an abundance of fish. This high productivity makes it one of Europe’s most valuable feeding sites for dolphins and sea turtles. However, almost 30 percent of the world’s maritime traffic currently passes through these waters.
Together with maritime experts from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Earthwatch scientists made recommendations to the Spanish Merchant Navy and IMO, following five years of research in the area for the European Commission LIFE Nature project.*
Since 2002, they have spent more than 700 days at sea, surveying 10,000 miles in order to develop conservation management plans for marine protected areas. In this time, over 500 international Earthwatch volunteers have given up their time to support them.
This long-term research project confirms that throughout the Mediterranean the bottlenose dolphin population is fragmented; their migratory activities have decreased and local populations are genetically isolated. The Almeria dolphin population is currently the only healthy one in the Mediterranean; dolphin groups average 30 individuals here, compared to 2 to 5 individuals in other regions.
Conserving this site and providing safe access between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean basin is therefore crucial for the survival of the species.
Spanish Lynx Stops Motorway Building
Here is a great story which would definitiely not have happened a few years ago here. As people become more aware of the environment we may well get more of these stories. (On a side note compare this with one of my favourite "Only in Spain stories" which you can see after the article.)
ARTICLE
(Thanks to Earth Times for the story)
The Spanish Environment Ministry has decided to stop the construction of a 300-kilometre motorway to save the Iberian lynx, the world's most threatened feline species. The motorway would link Toledo with Cordoba, passing through two nature parks containing two of the country's three most important lynx populations, the daily El Pais reported.
"It does not make sense to spend millions in a programme to raise lynxes in captivity... if a motorway then divides the most important lynx areas," ecologist Miguel Angel Hernandez said.
The construction of the motorway has already started, though that stretch will also form part of another motorway.
The Environment Ministry delayed its announcement until after the May 27 local elections for fear of protests from the regional authorities.
Environment Minister Cristina Narbona has blocked nearly half a dozen large infrastructure projects for environmental reasons, according to El Pais.
There are only about 100 Iberian lynxes left. The cat, also known as the Spanish lynx, has distinctive, leopard-like spots on its yellowish coat.
ONLY IN SPAIN
A few years back, 1991-2, the AVE fast train link from Madrid to Seville was inaugurated (AVE means bird so bear that in mind). It went through several important ecological sites of special scientific interest but the government made a special play as to how the line hadn't ruined any natural habitats and all precautions had been taken to make sure that natural laws were not affected. One of the protected areas was for a rare type of Vulture. One day a deer was knocked down on the track and became carrion for the vultures. The next train came along at over 200kmph and sent eight of the vultures to meet their maker thus reducing the wild population by 66% at a stroke. Four were left. Hopefully they didn't spot a bit of carrion on the line as a result of the incident!
ARTICLE
(Thanks to Earth Times for the story)
The Spanish Environment Ministry has decided to stop the construction of a 300-kilometre motorway to save the Iberian lynx, the world's most threatened feline species. The motorway would link Toledo with Cordoba, passing through two nature parks containing two of the country's three most important lynx populations, the daily El Pais reported.
"It does not make sense to spend millions in a programme to raise lynxes in captivity... if a motorway then divides the most important lynx areas," ecologist Miguel Angel Hernandez said.
The construction of the motorway has already started, though that stretch will also form part of another motorway.
The Environment Ministry delayed its announcement until after the May 27 local elections for fear of protests from the regional authorities.
Environment Minister Cristina Narbona has blocked nearly half a dozen large infrastructure projects for environmental reasons, according to El Pais.
There are only about 100 Iberian lynxes left. The cat, also known as the Spanish lynx, has distinctive, leopard-like spots on its yellowish coat.
ONLY IN SPAIN
A few years back, 1991-2, the AVE fast train link from Madrid to Seville was inaugurated (AVE means bird so bear that in mind). It went through several important ecological sites of special scientific interest but the government made a special play as to how the line hadn't ruined any natural habitats and all precautions had been taken to make sure that natural laws were not affected. One of the protected areas was for a rare type of Vulture. One day a deer was knocked down on the track and became carrion for the vultures. The next train came along at over 200kmph and sent eight of the vultures to meet their maker thus reducing the wild population by 66% at a stroke. Four were left. Hopefully they didn't spot a bit of carrion on the line as a result of the incident!
Sunday 24 June 2007
What is Positive Sp(a)in?
This site is a response to all of the negativity in the media about living in Spain and Spanish property and lifestyles. Prices have risen amazingly in Spain over the last six or seven years both of property and lifestyle but in the end it is still a great place to live with fantastic people, remarkable natural wonders, superb cultural offerings and just the best modern architecture where imagination runs wild.
Just take a look at the pictures and compare with the staid offerings in other parts of the World. You have images of the City of Arts and Sciences here in Valencia, the Guggenheim in Bilbao, a Market in Barcelona and a hotel roof in Alava. These buildings act as emblems for the areas where they stand and create tourism. And just to show that Spain is starting to think at the micro level aswell as the Macro have a look at the article reprinted below, taken from Reuters the standards mentioned are now in place.
ARTICLE.
Solar panels are now compulsory on all new and renovated buildings in Spain as part of the country’s efforts to bring its building rules up to date and curb growing demand for energy, ministers said on Monday.
Until now Spain’s building standards have dated from the 1970s and have done little in seeking to improve energy efficiency.
“We have to make up the time we have lost,” Environment Minister Cristina Narbona said, inaugurating a seminar on the new technical building code.
The code will come into force fully next March but the energy saving element was implemented on Sept. 29.
This means new homes have to be equipped with solar panels to provide between 30 and 70 percent of their hot water, depending on where the building is located and on its expected water usage.
New non-residential buildings, such as shopping centers and hospitals, now have to have photovoltaic panels to generate a proportion of their electricity.
Solar power has not yet taken off in Spain, largely because subsidies have been directed at wind energy, and it provided a negligible amount of the country’s electricity in 2005.
Other measures in the new building code enforce the use of better insulation, improve the maintenance of heating and cooling systems and increase the use of natural light.
“The new standards will bring energy savings of 30 to 40 percent for each building and a reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from energy consumption of 40 to 55 percent,” the Environment and Housing Ministries said in a joint statement.
The Housing Ministry is trying to rein in the amount of new building, although it is Spain’s local and regional governments that are responsible for planning permission.
“In the last decade we have built the equivalent of a quarter of all the urban area that existed until then,” Housing Minister Maria Antonio Trujillo told the seminar.
The building standards code should limit the damage of continued new construction and is the most significant legal change for the sector in the last 30 years, she said.
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