In what appears to have been an act of self immolation a 63 year old British man died at the weekend in Chirivel near Velez Rubio. According to the Albox fire-fighters who attended the scene in the town's rambla it seems that the man emptied an eight litre container of petrol over himself before setting light to himself. Residents of the town heard an explosion at about six in the evening which they at first thought could be a shot being fired or a gas bottle exploding and on seeing the flames and smoke in the area where the sound had come from calls were made to the Guardia Civil and the fire-fighting service. It was not until the fire, which had spread through bushes and undergrowth, had been put out that the emergency services discovered the charred body. Due to the state of the body identification was extremely difficult although it was eventually identified as a result of a tattoo the victim had on his back.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Almeria crime rates down
The Fiscalia Superior de Andalucia, The regional public prosecutor's office, has released figured for crime rates in Andalucia for 2007.
In Almeria last year 99,006 crimes were processed by the prosecution service, a decrease of 0.19 per cent from the year before after – a tiny drop but one that breaks the trend of the last ten years. Serious crime was down 2 per cent, with a significant decrease in drug trafficking, which the prosecution service attributes to the deterrent effect of the SIVE coastal vigilance system.
Last year there were 56 cases of murder and manslaughter, one less than in 2006 but still a figure which the prosecution service considers excessive for a population such as Almeria's. Prosecutions for assault and battery were down by 4 per cent to 19,677 last year. The only type of crime on the rise is that against property with robberies up four per cent on the year before, of which robbery with violence went up 6.5 per cent.
The prosecution service has stated that the figures are not necessarily an accurate reflection of the real situation as, despite improvements in recording crime through the use of computer technology, there is still some duplication of cases where no action is taken and there is some difference of criteria between judicial bodies for recording cases.
Car park ‘Gorilla’ arrested
In many of the larger cities in the province it is normal when looking for a parking space to be given 'help' by what are popularly known in Spain as 'gorillas', individuals who find themselves down on their luck for whatever reason and see this as a way to scrape some kind of living, usually leaving the occupants of the car in a state of confusion as to whether they are under any obligation to pay for being 'helped' and what the consequences of not paying might be.
In an unfortunate incident in Almeria last week a 57 year old man was arrested in Almeria capital, accused of assaulting a couple who had refused to give him money. The man, identified only as M.F.A. from Guardahortuna in Granada, approached the couple after they had parked in an area used as a car park in the Avenida de Madrid. After asking the woman for money and being refused the man grabbed her bag, breaking the handles; on seeing what was happening the woman's partner went to her defence and the accused hit him. The couple informed a police patrol which was passing what had happened and they went after the aggressor, arresting him after discovering him hiding in a rubbish bin. The victim was taken to Torrecardenas hospital for treatment for the injuries inflicted.
922 kilos of hashish seized off Almeria coast
As a result of investigations carried out by the EDOA (organised crime and anti-drugs group) of the Guardia Civil in Pontevedra in the north of Spain, a small motor cruiser was seized about sixty miles off the coast of Almeria and on being searched in port was discovered to be carrying 922 kilos of hashish resin carefully hidden within its hull.
The operation involved the Air and Maritime Service of the Guardia Civil in Almeria coordinated by the EDOA in Pontevedra. The boat had transferred the drugs onboard from a speedboat coming from the Moroccan coast on its way to a port in Andalucia. One arrest was made; a Dutch man, aged 22, identified only by his initials, J.O., and as well as the boat seized an off road vehicle was also confiscated.
Spain’s internet users increase by 15 per cent
The number of people using the internet in Spain has increased by 15 per cent over the last year with 16.2 million people over the age of fifteen now using the internet regularly according to a survey by Comscore, an IT research company. There are now over 240 million 'internauts' in Europe with the biggest increases in numbers being seen in Russia, with a 27 per cent increase on last year, and France, with a 21 per cent increase to 31.5 million internet users. The country where most people use the internet is Holland where 82 per cent of the population over 15 connected to the world wide web in 2007, followed by Denmark and Sweden with 77 and 76 per cent respectively. The English were those who spent most time online dedicating, on average, 28.5 hours a week to surfing the internet.
Telefonica starts charging for free service
Organisations representing consumers in Spain have criticised Telefonica, the country's largest telephone company, for introducing charges for what up to now has been a free service.
As from October 1st Telefonica's customers will see a new charge on their bills for identification of incoming call identification. This service was introduced in 2001 with the introduction of domestic telephones with integral screens and Telefonica offered call identification, with the incoming caller's number identified on the screen, as a free service but now the telecommunications giant has decided that they must charge for it due to the cost of the equipment and personnel necessary for it to function.
According to the OCU consumers' organisation the new charge is outside the law as it is illegal to charge for a service which a customer has never asked for nor has personally activated. Telefonica never notified its customers that this was an extra service and so it is understood that it is included within the standard service offered by the company. The company will charge 50 cents plus vat. for the service. Official complaints have already been made to the Instituto Nacional de Consumo in Madrid, where Telefonica's headquarters are, and to the secretary of state for telecommunications.
Telefonica customers who do not want to take advantage of this service can have it deactivated by calling 1004.
Ministry waives environmental impact study for water supply works
In what the government has said is an effort to speed up the works connecting the Carboneras desalination plant to local towns the Ministry of the Environment has waived the normal environmental impact evaluation that is a legal requirement in large scale public works. The ministry considers that the measures taken in the project guarantee its 'maximum environmental viability' according to the official state bulletin (BOE). The works in question involve the connections from the 'Carboneras-Valle del Almanzora, Fase I' pipeline, which is now complete, to the water storage deposits managed by the water company GALASA supplying Cuevas del Almanzora, Garrucha, Mojacar and Vera. These connections consist of a total of 27 kilometres of pipelines and the most sensitive area they have to pass through is the so called LIC (Lugar de Interes Comunitario – site of community interest) in the Sierra Cabrera, home to several protected species. To avoid the impact of the works there the pipes are to follow the routes of existing roads and tracks. This second phase of works, finalising the supply of drinking water from the desalination plant, is expected to be completed within twelve months.
Almeria motorway to get third lane
The government ministry has given the go ahead for plans to build a third lane in each direction on the A-7 motorway where it passes Almeria capital. The works are planned for 23 kilometres of motorway from the Viator junction at Km. 452 to the Roquetas turn-off at km. 429. This stretch of motorway has some of the heaviest traffic in the province and traffic jams are usual at rush hour or in the case of accidents or other incidents which lead to lane closures. The traffic on this road is expected to increase when the new motorway between Motril and Adra is completed – improving the connection with the province of Malaga. The tunnels to the north-west of the city were built with space for an extra lane thus avoiding the need for costly excavation work now. The new lanes are expected to cost around 55 million euros to build.
Fire interrupts Mojacar fiestas
A fire in the centre of Mojacar pueblo put a temporary stop to the town's fiesta celebrations at the weekend. The fire started at about five in the afternoon in the well known souvenir shop – 'Angelas' in the Plaza Nueva, location of the town's most popular viewpoint. The fire consumed all three floors of the building and residents of the neighbouring buildings were evacuated by fire-fighters for fear of the fire spreading. The top floor of the shop was used as a store for rugs and other textiles which made controlling the fire difficult and fire-fighters from Turre and Albox took three hours to bring it under control and clear the building of the dense smoke it provoked, the plume of which could be seen from Garrucha, Turre and Vera. The shop is owned by the ex-mayor of Mojacar Bartolome Flores.
Air conditioning will cause more than 2 million colds this summer
The Spanish Society of Lung Disorders and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR) has warned that about two million people will suffer colds, pharyngitis or bronchitic problems this summer as a result of the abrupt temperature changes provoked mainly by the incorrect use of air conditioning.
The SEPAR experts have offered some guidelines to help avoid what amount to twenty per cent of the respiratory disorders diagnosed throughout the year; wear light clothing to protect you from the cold while your body acclimatises to the temperature change, don't set air conditioning at too low a temperature – never less than 22ยบ c., avoid the dryness caused by air conditioning – keep well hydrated drinking lots of water and keep the filters in the apparatus clean – dirty filters can harbour organisms including Legionnaire's Disease and fungal spores which can cause rhinitis, asthma or pneumonia.
Vera aquarium nearing completion
The works on the new aquarium in Vera are progressing well and should be finished on schedule the town's mayor told a visiting group of provincial government officials in a recent visit to the installations. The aquarium is being built next to the plaza known as the Glorieta de Vera close to the town's Guardia Civil building. The three story building is being built on a 185 square metre site and will have twenty salt water tanks displaying a variety of Mediterranean species ranging from those we might be more accustomed to finding on restaurant menus such as dorada (bream), salmonete (red mullet) or mero (grouper) to the more spectacular sharks, rays, octopus and jellyfish. There will be a special attraction of an area where visitors will be able to touch some of those creatures which will not suffer as a result of physical contact such as starfish or crustaceans.
The aquarium is being built next to the town's Botanical Garden and the latter can be accessed from the aquarium with plans to sell tickets which permit entry into the two attractions. The works are part of the Almerian Levante Tourist Plan.
Puffin saved on Vera Playa
The Guardia Civil nature protection service - Servicio de Proteccion de la Naturaleza (SEPRONA) - was given a Puffin last week which was found on a beach in Vera in obvious distress, unable to fly due to an injured wing and with injuries to one of its eyes. It was found by a member of the public who took it to the Guardia Civil building in Garrucha which has a SEPRONA section. After being cared for overnight it was sent to the provincial threatened species recovery centre (C.R.E.A.).
The Arctic Puffin (Fratercula artica), known in Spanish as Frailecillo which literally means 'little friar' breeds on the coasts of northern Europe, the Faroe Islands and Iceland, from well within the Arctic Circle to northern France. The winter months are spent at sea far from land and they habitually venture as far south as the Mediterranean but normally stay well out to sea.
Number of mortgages given drops dramatically
The figures just released for the number of properties given mortgages in Spain in the month of June show a dramatic decrease from last year. In the month of June 69,239 mortgages were awarded, a drop of almost 38 per cent from the same period last year. The average amount lent also fell 4.5 per cent to 141,939 euros meaning the total amount of money lent out fell 40.5 per cent to 9,827 million euros.
The figures in Andalucia roughly reflect the national trend with the number of mortgages given dropping 35.6 per cent in relation to June 2007 to a total of 22,107.
Albox town hall considering formula one race track
The mayor of Albox, Jose Garcia Navarro, has made quite clear his support for a project which has come before the Albox council. The Royal Medina complex is an ambitious plan which proposes the construction of a circuit for Formula One and Formula 1000, a go-kart circuit, a Moto-cross circuit an artificial lake for water sports, multiple sports facilities, a technological park (with an emphasis on research into electric vehicles and low consumption motors), a commercial area and tourist facilities.
The mayor has said that the council wants to classify the project as being of social interest for reasons which include the employment and economic advantages it could offer at a time when the national economy is slowing considerably. The mayor added that the town hall would support any projects and private initiatives which mean investment, employment, technological development and environmental sustainability in the municipality.
Vera police to take industrial action
The local police in Vera have decided in a meeting called by the CSI-CSIF (Central Sindical independiente y de funcionarios - a national union representing public employees) to take industrial action to protest against the treatment of two of their colleagues. The two police officers in question have been suspended from their duties without pay for taking leave due to the illness which the council has claimed they have feigned. According to the police officers' union the town council is prepared to take similar measures against more than half of the municipality's officers for abandoning their duties.
The action to be taken by the police includes; weekly authorised demonstrations outside the town hall, refusing to work overtime during the town fair due to take place in two weeks time, not imposing traffic fines until given the adequate means to do so, not carrying out any individual patrols, not patrolling in cars which are not police cars, not using personal mobile phones as a substitute for the police's own communications system which was acquired by the town council and has not been working for a month and has not been repaired ( the communications system cost the council 300,000 euros).
Negotiations have been going on between the police and the council recently over the conditions of the police force's work contracts and the union believes the council's actions have been taken to pressure the police officers into signing this contract.
