Laranja, orange, portakal

The orange could be found in China around 2200 BC. In the map, in green, we can see the countries that named it after Portugal, as the Portuguese merchants were the first to introduce the orange in Europe. However, the dominant word in much of eastern and northern Europe comes from a word meaning "apple from China”

The orange left Lisbon to discover America with Christopher Columbus on his second voyage. He planted the first orange tree in the New World in 1493, in Haiti, then called Hispaniola.

The first American orange plantation was Spanish. It flourished in Florida, in St Augustine in the 16th century.

King William of Orange (1650-1702), who took his name from The House of Orange- the principality and town of Orange in south-east France, made many anti- Catholic laws, very unpopular in Ireland. As a result the people of that island declared no orange tree should ever grow on Irish soil.

Paul Cézanne. Still Life with a Curtain .1895

In the 19th century poor children dreamed of getting a precious orange for Christmas.

References:

http://www.businessinsider.com/european-maps-showing-origins-of-common-words-2013-11#ixzz2jn8YuohM

Toussaint-Samat, M. History of Food. Blackwell. 1994.

Remember, remember the fifth of November

On November 5, 1605, Guy Fawkes and a group of Catholic conspirators led by Robert Catesby were captured when trying to blow up the Parliament with barrels of gunpowder at the moment Protestant King James I was present. This event became known as The Gunpowder Plot. The fact is that since Queen Elizabeth I’s reign, Catholics had been persecuted for their beliefs. They hoped their situation would improve with King James I, but were soon very disappointed as this king introduced even more stringent laws against the Catholics, which effectively made their lives worse.

Guy Fawkes`Day is a unique British festival that commemorates that historic event. The foiling of the plot (Fawkes was taken to the Tower of London where he was tortured and executed after confessing) has been a traditional celebration in England. On the night before (known as Bonfire Night), bonfires are lit where sometimes an effigy of Guy is burned. Firework displays are also organized in many cities.

The Gunpowder Plot is so much entrenched in British culture that it is immortalized in this rhyme:

Remember, remember the fifth of November

Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason, why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, guy, t’was his intent
To blow up king and parliament.
Three score barrels were laid below
To prove old England’s overthrow.

By God’s mercy he was catch’d
With a darkened lantern and burning match.
So, holler boys, holler boys, Let the bells ring.
Holler boys, holler boys, God save the king.

And what shall we do with him?
Burn him!”

Hip hip hoorah!



Read in Portuguese: DIA de GUY FAWKES

http://languageandthecity.tumblr.com/post/34826535793/remember-remember-the-fifth-of-november-guy

Ana Mestre, designer portuguesa

As mil e uma vidas da cortiça

por Carla Amaro in
Diário de Noticias Magazine. O que é design nacional é bom

É dela o famoso Puf-Fup e a não menos conhecida Lagarta. O primeiro é um puf que não é mais do que um longo cordão de 2500 esferas de cortiça natural, com dois centímetros e meio de diâmetro cada uma. O outro é um assento, também em cortiça negra, desenhado de modo a poder ser adquirido individualmente ou em módulos e que, encaixados uns nos outros, tomam a forma de uma lagarta ou outra que se queira. Se Ana Mestre tivesse que escolher as duas peças mais icónicas da sua autoria, escolheria estas, por serem as que «melhor permitem uma interação com o utilizador, permitindo que este contribua para o design final da peça.» No caso da Lagarta, «a configuração final depende da forma como se juntam os módulos». O Puf-Fup «pode ter múltiplas formas de assento, conforme a quantidade de voltas que se der ao cordão».

Desde a sua primeira apresentação internacional com o Puf-Fup (em Londres, em 2005, na galeria Viaduct), que as peças de Ana Mestre têm percorrido o mundo, em participações como o Destination Portugal, noMoMA em Nova Iorque, ou o Ano de Portugal no Brasil, na Clark Art Center no Rio de Janeiro. São apenas alguns exemplos, entre dezenas, de exposições com a marca Corque Design, que criou em 2009.

Licenciada em design industrial e com um mestrado em energias renováveis, não é de estranhar que esta designer de 35 anos não conceba um trabalho sem ter em conta «o conceito de "design para a sustentabilidade", que pressupõe um equilíbrio entre os três pilares da sustentabilidade: ambiental, social e económica». Esse equilíbrio encontra-o na cortiça, que utiliza exclusivamente nas peças da Corque Design.

Sendo a matéria-prima que Portugal mais produz e exporta - temos a maior área de sobreiros no mundo, com 736 700 hectares-, para a designer fazia todo o sentido desenvolver produtos portugueses recorrendo a um material que existe em fartura no nosso país e que apresenta um enorme potencial para o design: «A cortiça tem características táteis muito diferentes dos outros materiais, no que toca por exemplo ao aspeto sensorial, à suavidade, leveza e textura. Além disso, é muito fácil de manusear.»

Foram as peças em cortiça que lhe deram fama e reconhecimento, mas é o trabalho de pesquisa e investigação que desenvolve antes de pegar no lápis e no papel que a distingue dos seus pares. «O design é uma resposta às necessidades das pessoas, das indústrias, das empresas, e eu, enquanto designer, faço isso. Mas vou mais atrás no processo de pesquisa, vou à procura de aspectos culturais, sociais e ambientais e tento identificar oportunidades que ainda não estão no mercado para as concretizar, envolvendo também a indústria. Em geral, os designers respondem a briefings, a solicitações do mercado. Eu também, mas não me fico por aí.»

E também não se fica pela cortiça. Além de desenvolver experiências com outros materiais, por exemplo o bioplástico para fazer acessórios, está envolvida no projeto europeu Regio-Crafts, que pretende recuperar as técnicas ancestrais e os materiais tradicionais de cariz regional na Europa, entre os quais, a madeira, as fibras naturais, os têxteis e, claro, a cortiça. «No âmbito deste projeto, que pressupõe a troca de experiências entre países europeus, desenvolvi um banco de madeira, utilizando o desperdício da produção de socas típicas holandesas.» Mais um exemplo da combinação entre as componentes ambiental, social e económica, incontornáveis no seu trabalho, a que se junta, neste caso, uma outra, mais ligada à cultura, porque «um dos objetivos do Regio-Crafts é a recuperação do património do artesanato que se está a perder na Europa, muito por causa da produção industrial.»

In Diário de Noticias O que é design nacional é bom
por Carla Amaro 

Fotografias: Corque Design  no Facebook
http://www.dn.pt/revistas/nm/interior.aspx?content_id=3511707

Muitos Parabéns, Ana Mestre!

Roman Eagle discovered in London

Archaeologists have discovered an extraordinary 65 cm tall and 55cm wide limestone Roman sculpture representing an eagle grasping a serpent in its beak. 

The team of the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) were at first hesitant to announce their discovery and its Roman origins, owing to the fact that it is in an impeccable state of preservation. In the mean while specialists have now confirmed that it is from the 1st or 2nd century AD and also that the statue is one of the very best examples surviving from Roman Britain. Its symbolism is regarded as the struggle of good (the eagle) against evil (the serpent). It is believed the statue might have adorned a rich mausoleum as the theme was common in the funerary context.

The statue was dug up at a site in the City of London which is known once to have been home to a Roman cemetery. 

It will be on display at the Museum of London for six months from 30 October 2013.

Londinium (Roman London) was founded in about AD 50 and soon became the centre of administration for the province of Britannia. The Romans built bridges over the river Thames and constructed the roads that connected Londinium with the rest of the country. The population of the city where London now stands was a mix of civilians, families, soldiers, sailors, workers and slaves. Many of them were from all parts of the Roman Empire, but the majority were native Britons. Roman London was abandoned in AD 410. 

References:

http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/explore-online/pocket-histories/what-was-life-roman-london/further-information/

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/10/30/world/europe/uk-london-roman-eagle

http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/london-wall/whats-on/galleries/roman-london/

Esclarecimento

Na disciplina de Inglês, os alunos podem utilizar e ser portadores de dicionários unilingue e/ou bilingue, conforme as orientações programáticas da respetiva disciplina. Apesar de ter aconselhado os alunos a utilizar em casa o dicionário online da macmillan http://www.macmillandictionary.com/, para melhorarem o vocabulário e aprenderem como se pronunciam algumas palavras, não costumo estimular o seu uso nos testes de inglês.
Os dicionários bilingues, que não apresentam uma contextualização, podem levar os alunos, no momento dos testes, a interpretar o significado das palavras de maneira isolada, resultando assim as suas pesquisas num trabalho desorientado com maus resultados, até em consequência da pressão do tempo. Os dicionários unilingues, por outro lado, conduzem, com muita frequência, os alunos a dispersarem-se e a ficarem preocupados, porque não entendem a explicação da palavra e, variadas vezes, pretendem até recorrer à ajuda do professor, o que não é permitido durante as provas.

Are diamonds a girl´s best friend?

“Diamonds are a girl´s best friend” is a song performed by Marilyn Monroe in the 1953 film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

Elizabeth Taylor wearing the Krupp diamond 

The Krupp Diamond, named after the Krupp family of German industrialists was a gift of her husband, Richard Burton, who bought it at an auction for $305,000 in 1968. The ring was renamed "Elizabeth Taylor Diamond" and was sold at Christie's in 2011, for $8,818,500.

Blood Diamond is a 2006 film starring Leonardo DiCaprio. It is set during the Sierra Leone Civil War in 1996–2001, and shows the atrocities of that war. The title refers to blood diamonds or conflict diamonds, which are diamonds mined in African war zones and sold to finance conflicts, and therefore profit warlords and diamond companies. As a matter of fact blood diamonds have been used to increase violent conflict and human rights abuses and have funded brutal wars in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo and Côte d’Ivoire that have resulted in the death of millions of people.

India was thought to be the only source of diamonds until the 18th century but they were discovered in South Africa in 1866.These findings sparked a rush of diamond prospectors to the region and led to the opening of the first large-scale mining operation which came to be known as the Kimberly Mine.

As long as there has been a diamond industry, diamond mining has been plagued by smuggling, worker exploitation and violence. Global Witness and Partnership Africa Canada, two non-profit groups, took the lead in exposing the problem to the public that rebel groups were seizing control of diamond mining regions and exchanging diamonds for money and weapons. The diamond industry was buying these diamonds and selling them in jewelry stores.

As a response the diamond industry came with a diamond certification scheme called the Kimberley Process(2003) which would evaluate conditions in diamond-producing countries and certify that the diamonds being exported are “conflict free.” Nevertheless, in Africa, close to a million people are artisanal diamond diggers. Almost all of them live in extreme poverty. Child labour is common and working conditions are very often dangerous and de-humanizing.

The majority of today's diamonds come from Africa (65%)

Botswana: $3.3 billion

Angola: $1.5 billion

South Africa: $1.5 billion

Democratic Republic of Congo: $0.7 billion

Namibia: $0.9 billion

Other African nations: $0.6 billion

Other countries such as Canada, Russia, and Australia also have diamonds.

Ethical diamonds are those that are mined under strict regulations imposed by the governments and cut and polished according to guidelines established by the Council for Responsible Jewellery Practices. They are fully traceable, and the larger stones are laser-inscribed.

The film Blood Diamond ends in a conference concerning blood diamonds, precisely the meeting that took place in Kimberley, South Africa in 2000 and led to the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, which sought to certify the origin of rough diamonds in order to limit the trade of conflict diamonds.

Soon after the release of the film the– World Diamond Council – launched a new web site. diamondfacts.org which claims that the diamond supply is now more than 99% conflict free.

So, as beautiful as it may be, it is best never to spoil your ring with the toil of those who may have been exploited. Be aware of where your ring comes from so that we can stop financing horrible conflicts and appreciate the beauty of diamonds!

http://www.brilliantearth.com/blood-diamond/

Happy Halloween!

Pumpkins are a traditional symbol of Halloween

Portugal – your destination 2014

The Lonely Planet has chosen Portugal as one of the best destinations for 2014, because “when times are tight we suggest you travel more, not less – but pick carefully. This is where your wallet will smile at the memories for years to come.”

"Each year the British Post Office surveys the prices in European holiday resorts. The most recent edition names Albufeira in the Algarve as the cheapest option for a summer family holiday. The Algarve in high summer may not be to everyone’s taste, but it shows that Portugal is great for the budget-conscious. There are excellent deals elsewhere too. Lisbon has wonderful coffee and sweet treats for a few euros, and you can ride cheap trams around to your heart’s content. Portugal is also, for Europeans, a superb place to surf without having to fork out the airfare to the sport’s traditional heartlands"

Lonely Planet’s best value travel destinations for 2014

Humphrey Bogart’s ‘Casablanca’ car to be sold

The 1940 Buick phaeton driven by Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca will be part of Bonham’s "What Dreams Are Made Of: A Century Movie Magic" auction in New York City on November 25.

This Buick model 81C trunk back convertible Phaeton is one of just 230 made in 1940. It currently shows 42,000 miles on the odometer. The vehicle had a mechanical restoration in the 1990s and is in drivable condition. The original interior shows evidence of water damage and there are burns in the custom-ordered broadcloth, too, but these are reportedly “period correct,” from Humphrey Bogart’s perpetual cigarette.

The car was owned by Warner Brothers until 1970 (it appeared in another Bogart classic, High Sierra) when it was sold to the first of a series of private owners. It was last sold in June 1995 for $211,500, but the Aztec Brown 1940 Buick convertible is estimated to be sold now for $450,000 to $500,000.

http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2013/10/22/heres-looking-at-you-kid-1940-buick-phaeton-from-casablanca-to-cross-the-block/#sthash.woXyA8Cv.dpuf


https://www.facebook.com/HumphreyBogartEstate?hc_location=stream

Royal Paintbox

Queen Victoria.The Children at Osborne. 1850.

Members of the British Royal family have been inspired to paint, draw and sculpt for generations. Royal Paintbox: Royal Artists Past and Present, an exhibition at Windsor Castle, from 22 June 2013 to 26 January 2014, shows examples of their handiwork from the last 350 years.

Duke of Edinburgh.The Queen  Reading in the Private Dining Room, Windsor Castle. 1965. Oil on panel

Also on display are a series of watercolours by the Prince of Wales who often paints in the open air, particularly on The Queen’s Balmoral estate in Scotland, which served as a great source of inspiration.

The Prince of Wales sometimes calls himself “Carrick”. One of his titles is Earl of Carrick. He signs some personal notes with this name.

Photo: Nadav Kander for TIME

The prints of his watercolour paintings are marketed by A.G. Carrick, a trading arm of the Prince of Wales Charitable Foundation.

Balmoral Castle. 1989.Watercolour

Beinn a Bhuird from Ballochbuie, Deeside. 1991.Watercolour

Sandringham House. 1991.Watercolour

Lochnagar from the Gelder Cottage. 2012.Watercolour

.https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/exhibitions/royal-paintbox-royal-artists-past-and-present/the-exhibition


http://world.time.com/2013/10/24/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-prince-of-wales/

68th anniversary of the United Nations

UN Headquarters from the East River

The United Nations Headquarters is located between 42nd and 48th Street on the East Side of New York. This glass-fronted building dominates the skyline of New York and is one of the most popular destinations of tourists in the city.

The signing of the charter by President Truman

On this day in 1945, the United Nations was born when the UN charter took effect after being ratified by the five permanent members of the Security Council (United States, Great Britain, France, Soviet Union and the Republic of China) and a majority of the other 46 members. 

Member States of the United Nations

http://visit.un.org/wcm/webdav/site/visitors/shared/documents/pdfs/VC%20Brochure%20C.pdf

Practice makes perfect

Idiom (n): an expression, word, or phrasethat has a figurative meaning that is separate from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made.



Can you match the expression with its meaning?

1. "The pen is mightier than the sword."

2. "When the going gets tough, the tough get going."

3. "Better late than never."

4. "A picture is worth a thousand words."

5. “The early bird catches the worm."

6. "Actions speak louder than words."

7. "Practice makes perfect."

8. “You can't judge a book by its cover."

9. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”



a. You should wake up and start work early if you want to succeed.

b. You have to practice a skill a lot to become good at it.

c. Pictures convey emotions and messages better than written or spoken explanations.

d. Things sometimes look different than they really are. A restaurant that looks old and small might have amazing food, for example.

e. Sometimes it's good to be away from the people you love, because it makes you want to see each other again.

f. Strong people don't give up when they come across challenges. They just work harder.

g. Trying to convince people with ideas and words is more effective than trying to force people to do what you want.

h. Just saying that you'll do something doesn't mean much. Actually doing it is harder and more meaningful.

i. It’s better to do something late than to give up and not do it at all.

© Clever Pants 2012

www.clever-pants.com

Key: 1-g ; 2-f; 3-i; 4-c ; 5-a ; 6-h ; 7-b; 8-d ; 9.e

The christening of Prince George

The christening of Prince George took place today at The Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, as announced before.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have asked the following people to be Godparents to Prince George:

Mr Oliver Baker (Oliver Baker attended the University of St Andrews with The Duke and Duchess)

Mrs David Jardine-Paterson (Emilia Jardine-Paterson attended Marlborough College with The Duchess)

Earl Grosvenor (Hugh) (Earl Grosvenor is the son of The Duke of Westminster)

Mr Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton (Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton served as Private Secretary to The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry from 2005-2012 and continues to serve part-time as Principal Private Secretary and Equerry)

The Hon Mrs Michael Samuel (Julia Samuel was a close friend of The Princess of Wales)

Mrs Michael Tindall (Zara Tindall is The Duke of Cambridge’s cousin)

Mr William van Cutsem (William van Cutsem is a childhood friend of The Duke of Cambridge)

Prince Charles wore the precious silk and lace gown when he was baptised at Buckingham Palace in December 1948.

Prince William himself wore the original Victoria gown when he was christened on August 4, 1982.

Prince George wore the hand made replica of the Royal Christening Robe. The original dress, created for Queen Victoria's eldest daughter Victoria, Princess Royal in 1841, was worn by more than 60 royal babies, including Prince William himself. However it is now said to be incredibly fragile. A replica by the Queen's dressmaker Angela Kelly was first worn by James, Viscount Severn, in 2008.

The Lily Font and water from the River Jordan was used during the baptism.

Following the service, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall gave a private tea in Clarence House. Guests were served slices of christening cake, which is a tier taken from The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding cake.





http://www.dukeandduchessofcambridge.org/focus2/prince-george

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2468714/Scottish-dressmaker-original-Victoria-Royal-christening-gown.html

Alligator at Florida supermarket

Employees at a supermarket in the southern U.S. state of Florida were forced to close their doors to a nearly two-meter-long alligator that had stopped in the store's entrance on Sunday morning, causing the automatic doors to open and close until they were locked.

Local police officers tried to attract the reptile away as customers gathered to watch and snap pictures.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6TA3NjP6iI

The alligator eventually made its way to nearby woods. Officers searched the area but could not find the animal.

The Everglades National Park is home to 36 threatened or protected species including the alligator, the american crocodile.

http://www.voanews.com/

The most spectacular libraries in the world

University of Coimbra Library 

The newspaper, The Telegraph, showcased a list of the most speactacular libraries in the world.

 Mafra Palace Library

Portugal features twice in the list, with Coimbra coming first and Mafra fourth!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/10382588/The-most-spectacular-libraries-in-the-world.html?frame=2705756

United Nations Stamps: Endangered Species

On 10 October 2013, the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) issued a set of 12 stamps showing endangered species. The series was launched in 1993 to highlight the need for the protection of endangered species throughout the world. For this year's Endangered Species stamps the topic is the wonder of nocturnal animals.

The US$ 1.10 stamps show the following endangered species: 

Asian tapir (Tapirus indicus) 

Mongoose lemur (Eulemur mongoz) 

Flat-headed cat (Prionailurus planiceps) 

Aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis)

The artist is Fernando J.S. Correia from Portugal, a biologist who holds a MS degree in Animal Ecology and specialized in Illustration and Scientific Communication.

The € 0.70 stamps depict the following endangered species:
Banded civet (Hemigalus derbyanus)
Pharaoh eagle-owl (Bubo ascalaphus)
Greater slow loris (Nycticebus coucang)
Long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus spp.)

The artist is Emily S. Damstra from Canada, a natural science illustrator.

The F.s. 1.40 stamps depict the following endangered species:
Ground pangolin (Smutsia temminckii)
Potto (Perodicticus potto)
Philippine tarsier (Tarsius syrichta)
Livingstone's flying fox (Pteropus livingstonii)

The artist is Sara Menon from Italy who has got an academic degree in Conservation of Cultural Heritage.

http://unstamps.un.org/unpa/en/products/Endangered_Species_2013/US_1.10/index.html

Make or do?

I have been grading tests since yesterday and realized some students still find it difficult to use the verbs make and do.

In fact these two words have very similar meanings besides the fact they are translated into Portuguese with the same word (fazer). It is often difficult to choose between them.

Do

However, we use do when we are talking about an activity without saying exactly what it is.

Do something!

I don´t know what to do.

What are you doing?

He likes doing nothing.

Do is isually the correct word when we are talking about work.

I dislike doing housework. I hate doing the cooking/ the shopping/the cleaning/ the washing up. I think I should get a maid to do all that.

Do is also used with the following expressions:

Do good/ harm/ business/ one´s best/ a favour.

Make

Make expresses the idea of creation and construction.

My mother has just made a delicious cake.

Let´s make a plan!

I always make my bed in the morning.

Make is also used with the following expressions:

Make an offer/ an arrangement / an attempt/ an effort/ an excuse/ an exception/ an impression

Make/ a mistake/ a noise/ a profit/ a speech / a suggestion/ a decision/ a claim/ a comment/ a promise/ a protest/ a start/ a success/ a change/ a point

Make love/ war/ peace/ progress

The internet provides many explanations and exercises. Try these:

Play the game

Exercises

Queen Mary´s Dolls´House

Queen Mary´s Dolls´House is probably the largest, most beautiful and most famous dolls’ house in the world. 

It is not a doll´s house in the usual meaning of the word, a children´s toy. Standing over 2 metres high, it is a replica of an aristocratic residence with salon, library, dining room, private apartments, servants’ rooms, kitchen, wine cellar, a garden and a garage full of vintage miniature limousines. Did you know that Queen Mary's Dolls' House has electricity, running water, working lifts and flushing lavatories?

It was created by the British architect, Sir Edwin Lutyens, who was responsible for public memorials to the First World War, like the Cenotaph in Whitehall, and the British embassies in Washington and New Delhi. The house was built between 1921 and 1924 and was the star at the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley in 1924, planed ”as an advertisement and celebration of the economic products of Britain and her colonies… to promote international trade and economic growth after the disruption of the war”.

The house was an idea of Princess Marie Louise, a grandchild of Queen Victoria and a childhood friend of Queen Mary, King George V´s wife who had a passion for miniature objects.

                                                 Queen Mary

The dining room with a beautiful table set for dinner 

and the library with amazing miniature books, and  the chimneypiece of white marble and lapis lazuli are the highlights of this exhibition you shouldn´t miss when you visit Windsor Castle.

Now you can explore it here.

References:

Windsor Castle Official guidebook. Royal Collection Publications, 2004

Queen Mary´s Dolls´House. Official guidebook. . Royal Collection Publications, 2006

The Paradise

I´ve been keenly watching the BBC TV show “The Paradise” (season 1, 9 episodes) based on Emile Zola´s novel Au Bonheur des Dames. The story is set in 1875 and portrays the daily lives of workers in the first English department store. It is not only quite entertaining with its contrasting characters, romantic storyline and the day to day drama of people who work closely together, but also quite interesting. Some recurrent topics include the prospect of local stores fighting to compete with a huge commercial enterprise, women in the workplace and the establishment of shopping as a modern pastime. 

If you miss those classical TV shows as “Pride and Prejudice” and “Persuasion” or enjoy modern tales as “Downton Abbey”, you will find “The Paradise” quite a delight as a period drama with intrigue and fun characters.

I could not have enough of it. When will the next season premiere? November?! Must I wait that long?

O PAIPA

Hoje, dia 16 de Outubro, comemora-se o Dia Mundial da Alimentação.

“Sistemas sustentáveis para a segurança alimentar e nutrição”, constitui o tema geral das comemorações do Dia Mundial da Alimentação, em 2013.

O “PAIPA – Projeto de Apoio à Intensificação da Produção Alimentar”, que se desenvolve na Guiné-Bissau graças à cooperação portuguesa tem presente, quer a necessidade de aumentar a produção de alimentos quer a sua variedade. Desse modo, apoia com o envolvimento direto dos habitantes locais a produção de arroz (base alimentar de toda a população guineense), utilizando processos e maquinaria moderna, como tratores, debulhadoras e descascadores. Incentiva também, com aconselhamento técnico, o desenvolvimento da horticultura (cebola, tomate, repolho, etc.), através da formação de cooperativas de mulheres.

Nas fotografias, tiradas no ano passado, vêem-se bem os jardins hortícolas de duas aldeias (tabankas) da região de Bafatá, onde o programa começou.

A produção de arroz aumentou muito significativamente, dando segurança alimentar às respetivas populações, assim como já foi possível ter excedentes resultantes da horticultura, sobretudo cebola, que permitiu a sua venda nos centros urbanos, dando um rendimento acrescido bastante importante para as mulheres agricultoras.

 Este ano o PAIPA já se estendeu para algumas zonas de Gabu, aí mais dedicado à produção das espécies de milho regionais. Sem qualquer dúvida a cooperação portuguesa através do PAIPA promove um projecto integrado e sustentável para a segurança alimentar e nutrição da Guiné-Bissau com plena participação das gentes guineenses.

World Food Day 2012

Entrevista ao nutricionista Dr Júlio de Castro Soares (2012)

https://www.facebook.com/PAIPA.DC