It's amazing how scientists invest thousands of hours in research to help humanity and governments create a better world. These hours are paid for by the same governments which file the results and continue to do what we all know will result in tragedy.

Since 2002 many professors and experts warned about forest fires and suggested the best ways to prevent them. Nothing happened. After the tragedy of Pedrogão Grande, with 65 deaths and half a billion lost in homes, goods and treatment, etc, the Parliament in Lisbon ordered an independent commission which then recommended actions that that had been put forward in 2002.

A survey of 'European migrants and media in the Algarve' is being conducted by Málaga University in conjunction with researchers in the University of the Algarve - and they need our help.

The findings will become part of the results of a National I+D Project, led by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science. We aim to publish this on algarvedailynews when the project is completed.

"I recently heard a speech by Professor Paulo Almeida at the Estoril Political Forum; he is a friend with large international experience. Here it is, in abbreviated form," writes Jack Soifer.

Will this become a Failed State?

It may be, judging by recent facts in the last months, in the political, judicial and institutional spheres, all of them very busy with too many cases of corruption, protests, and failures.

Daesh has used, from the outset, modern weapons and techniques few people know about.

These are weapons resources that only the five largest powers have, three of them are in the EU.

Just hours before joining hundreds of thousands of pilgrims celebrating the centenary of divine visions at Fátima last weekend, Pope Francis whole-heartedly welcomed scientists attending a Vatican conference designed to bring science and religion closer together.

The Vatican had invited leading astrophysicists and cosmologists to its astronomical observatory near Rome to discuss “black holes, gravitational waves and space-time singularities”.

I’ve written earlier that the presidential elections in France would end up in a mess. I told friends that Le Pen would not win, but would get most of the votes of unhappy citizens. I was wrong. A new group almost won the elections, the NABO (Null, Abstention, Blank, Other), with 37% of electors. Macron got only 41.5%, far from the majority.

Worst results for the current so called “democracy” in France is the abstention among youngsters (30%) and young professionals up to 34y, (28%). We all know they are the ones who get onto the streets to fight for their democratic rights, those who arrange and guarantee strikes and who may, desperate, start violent protests.

Democrats Abroad Portugal (DAP) elected an accomplished and energetic new leadership team during their Annual General Meeting, April 1, in Lisbon. DAP is part of Democrats Abroad, a legal entity of the United States’ Democratic National Committee for Americans living overseas. The team is enthusiastic to increase and engage members across the country, register voters, and inform and encourage voting in critical 2017 special and 2018 elections. 

I’ve written several times that the reconstruction of the EN125 in the Algarve is totally outdated, using roundabouts recommended 35 years ago, writes Jack Soifer.

The latest technique is to use mini-radars to measure incoming traffic nearing a junction with the lights switching to green when there is a high volume from one direction.

This current EN125 reconstruction, characterised by months of inactivity, is causing more accidents than ever.