Month: February 2011

Shock at max speed reduction

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Spain is in shock after the government, without bothering to consult anyone, announced that as from the 7th of March the max speed limit will be just 110 kph, down from 120 kph. Why? I don’t know. The media -united in decrying the measure as unnecessary and ridiculous- doesn’t know. The opposition parties don’t know. The official reason is that by making people slow down by 10kph the country will save 15% in fuel. Zapatero Continue reading Shock at max speed reduction→

Cops back at Turre fire station junction

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Locals will remember that a few months ago, some bright spark in the traffic department put up a 50 sign at the junction by the Turre fire station (just before the new bridge). This 50 limit extends for aprox 500m before going back up to 80 as you hit the bridge. You can’t see the 50 sign, as you hit it coming round the corner into Turre, so unless you know it’s there and act Continue reading Cops back at Turre fire station junction→

Turre CCTV

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Turre, a town which doesn’t believe in allowing a small thing like a 5 million euro debt (and not being able to pay small businesses their outstanding invoices) getting in the way of spending money, is happily installing CCTV throughout the town. As to whether it works, or where it goes to, these are questions that have yet to be answered.

The Guardian manipulated us, claim professors quoted in article, as letters sent to ZP

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La Voz de Almería’s defense of the province against the accusations that Almería’s agriculture is based on “modern day slavery” published recently in The Guardian continues, with another four pages dedicated to the issue. This time, the newspaper has gone and asked the professors from Almeria University quoted in the article if they agreed with the article. The professors, possibly with one eye on their tenureships, are unanimous in decrying the article. One of them, Continue reading The Guardian manipulated us, claim professors quoted in article, as letters sent to ZP→

Further rumblings from the establishment over The Guardians expose of slavery in province

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Further to yesterday’s editorial denouncing the “lies, manipulation and stupidity of The Guardian” by our local Pravda, La Voz de Almería, the newspaper continues with this theme today, dedicating most of the front page, and pages 2-6 to the issue. The Guardian, in a piece written by Felicity Lawrence (view it here), claimed that “Charities working with illegal workers during this year’s harvest claim the abuses meet the UN’s official definition of modern-day slavery across Continue reading Further rumblings from the establishment over The Guardians expose of slavery in province→

Comedy acts in Zurgena?

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Bored in Zurgena? Of course you are, there’s nothing much to do up there. So look forwards to this: Los Companeros del Teatro present at The Teatro Municipal Zurgena Two comedy one act plays “White Lies” by Richard James and “The Last Panto” by David Tristram Friday 4th March Saturday 5th March doors open 7pm – curtain up 7.30pm tickets available, for your donation of 5€ Girasol              1 Stop Pool Shop                       Sabor Restaurant Albox                   Longos Continue reading Comedy acts in Zurgena?→

The Guardian inflames province by accusing it of “modern day slavery” in the greenhouses

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The Guardian has run an inflammatory piece claiming that the produce in Almería’s greenhouses are produced by Africans working in “conditions of 16th century slavery”. Spain’s salad growers are modern-day slaves, say charities (The Guardian.co.uk). Charities working with illegal workers during this year’s harvest claim the abuses meet the UN’s official definition of modern-day slavery claims the article. Frankly, the article seems to be about spot on. This was picked up and run in Spain Continue reading The Guardian inflames province by accusing it of “modern day slavery” in the greenhouses→

Electric companies to tell tax office if empty houses are using juice

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The Tax Office (Hacienda) is requiring the electrical companies to inform them, as from Feb, of all buildings using electricity. The theory is that they can then run the numbers and identify which homes and offices are being rented out without the income being declared. If an address is marked as empty for fiscal purposes, but power is being used…. around goes an inspector and a large fine issued to the owned. Utility companies must Continue reading Electric companies to tell tax office if empty houses are using juice→

Political crisis as State and Church battle it out in Los Gallardos

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Trouble afoot and the ancient divisions of Spain are once more rearing their ugly head, as the new secular political, democratic and forwards looking youth of Spain come head to head with the ancient repressive authoritive notions of the Catholic Church. This time, in the unlikely setting of the small village of Los Gallardos. Whilst chatting of life and home with Maria, the mayor, last week, she confided -I say confided, the whole village is Continue reading Political crisis as State and Church battle it out in Los Gallardos→