The great migration crisis

By Michael McCarthy, Environment EditorMonday, 21 April 2008

Many of the birds that migrate to Britain and Europe from Africa every spring, from the willow warbler to the cuckoo, are undergoing alarming declines, new research shows.

The falls in numbers are so sharp and widespread that ornithologists are waking up to a major new environmental problem – the possibility that the whole system of bird migration between Africa and Europe is running into trouble.

It is estimated that, each spring, 16 million birds of nearly 50 species pour into Britain to breed from their African winter quarters, and as many as five billion into Europe as a whole, before returning south in the autumn.

Full story at:http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/the-great-migration-crisis-812640.html

António de Spínola

O general António de Spínola, escolhido pelo Movimento dos Capitães para presidente da Junta de Salvação Nacional, assume, em 15 de Maio de 1974, as funções de Presidente da República, fazem hoje 34 anos, tendo afirmado:

" O propósito que nos anima é defender instituções democráticas estaáveis."

Independence of the Seas

O Independence of the Seas, o grande paquete de cruzeiros, tocou hoje em Lisboa, na sua viagem inaugural.

Proprietário: Royal Caribbean International

Comprimento: 339 m

Largura: 56 m

Altura: 14 andares

Tripulação: 1400

Passageiros: 3.634

Earthquake in China

Search for China quake survivors
Thousands of people are still trapped beneath ruined buildings

A massive search and rescue operation is under way in south-western China after one of the most powerful earthquakes in decades.

Troops have arrived in Wenchuan county at the epicentre, which was largely cut off by the quake - but heavy rain is hampering rescue operations.

Elsewhere in Sichuan province, frantic efforts are being made to reach thousands of people under the rubble.

The death toll is now more than 12,000, officials say, and looks set to rise.

Full story at:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7397489.stm

Volcano Chaiten in eruption

Evacuation order total Chaiten !!!!

The volcano began to erupt during the early hours of Saturday, May 2, 2008. It is evacuating their homes to the villagers Chaiten. This work is being hampered by the dense cloud of volcanic ash. Earthquakes are repeated throughout the day.

5/6/2008, 11:00 AM : An evacuation order was delivered complete and immediate few moments ago in Chaiten, after the volcano eruption that began a few days ago to resume their activities more strongly, threatening to affect the people and everybody who remained in the sector.

According to the story of the authorities in the area this morning revealed that the volcano Chaiten resumed its activity with more force and that even began to expel solid material and lava, so it became necessary to issue a mandatory evacuation order and Immediate for all people remaining in the sector, including personnel from law enforcement and security. The sirens began to sound to alert people and call them to leave the area quickly.

Full story at: Full story at: http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/1162809/Main/1162809

Global Food Crisis

Giant Food & Biotech Corporations Make Billions in Profit from Growing Global Food Crisis

Giant agribusinesses are enjoying soaring earnings and profits out of the world food crisis which is driving millions of people towards starvation, The Independent on Sunday can reveal. And speculation is helping to drive the prices of basic foodstuffs out of the reach of the hungry.

The prices of wheat, corn and rice have soared over the past year driving the world's poor - who already spend about 80 per cent of their income on food - into hunger and destitution.

Full article at:http://www.enn.com/agriculture/article/35871

Full Story: http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/mul...

Puebla battle

May 5

Four decades after Mexico's independence, General Ignacio Zaragoza's army defeated French expeditionary forces near Puebla on May 5, 1862 in the Battle of Puebla.

During the French intervention, the people of Puebla sided with the French and did not lend the needed support to the mexican troops.

This lead Ignacio Zaragoza to write a letter back to Mexico City after the defeat of the French with the help of the Tlaxcaltecans petitioning to burn the city down.

Instead, the name was changes to "Heroica Puebla de Zaragoza" as punishment against the very religious city.

Source: Wikipedia