Portugal Situation Report Wednesday 27th April 2022
Good morning – I start this morning with a thank you to my colleague Fernanda Gonçalves for her well researched coverage commemorating Freedom Day published on our Facebook page. The three posts provided three different aspects to the 25th April. One of these was of Celeste Caeiro, a waitress at Franjinhas restaurant, who will always be remembered as the person responsible for making this day go down in history as the day of the “Carnation Revolution”. That particular post has been shared nearly 540 times and so far has reached around 65,000 people. Thank you Fernanda.
On Sunday I was on KissFm radio with a reminder for those living in rural areas that land cleaning should be completed by 30th April. Inspections start, especially for those living in high fire risk priority areas, on 1st May. For those burning debris, as part of land cleaning, this is forecast to be a good week as far as weather is concerned. Remember to register the burn beforehand and follow the safety advice. More on land cleaning here: https://www.safecommunitiesportugal.com/find-information/fire-prevention-and-protection/land-cleaning-protection/
A few days ago the Mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, inaugurated the “Quake” – Lisbon Earthquake Centre, a space with 1,800 square meters where it is possible to experience the earthquake of 1755 in an immersive way. This is described as, “an immersive journey that combines history, science and emotion”, using simulators, video mapping and other cutting-edge technologies to transport visitors up to 1 November 1755, when the earthquake destroyed the Portuguese capital, which at the time was the fourth largest city in the world. This is designed as an educational tool and will be used by persons of all ages to including many school groups that will visit this facility.
Portugal is a high risk earthquake country and a great deal of work goes into education as far as preparedness and what action to take should an earthquake strike. From our post yesterday it appears that not everyone is aware of the risk of earthquakes here in Portugal, and more importantly being aware of action to take if a major earthquake occurs – not a question of “if” but “when”. Please study our page on this subject here: https://www.safecommunitiesportugal.com/find-information/environment-and-weather/earthquake-tsunami/
Of concern is the warning from the European Union (EU) yesterday of the danger of a new nuclear catastrophe in Ukraine due to the Russian offensive and called on Moscow to refrain from any action against Ukrainian nuclear facilities. Russian forces in Ukraine control the Zaporijia nuclear power plant, in the south of the country and the largest in Europe, which was the target of artillery fire at the beginning of the invasion of Moscow, which caused a fire and raised fears of a new nuclear catastrophe, 36 years after Chernobyl. In this plant, according to statements by the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, an “abnormal” level of radioactivity was measured today. Ukraine has 15 nuclear reactors at four working power plants, as well as waste dumps, such as the Chernobyl plant, which was deactivated after the 1986 disaster. The situation is being closely monitored
On Monday it was reported that the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) website had been hacked into and the site went off line, but has now been reinstated. Last night Jornal Económico announced that it was the target of a computer attack, with the “sending of ‘phishing’ through ’email’ addresses similar to those used by the newspaper (with the extension @jornaleconomico.pt ”. “The ’emails’ in question contain ‘links’ to ‘websites’ or malicious files, which should not be opened”, the media said in a note published today on its website.
Of more concern is however, that the Garcia de Orta Hospital, in Almada, Setúbal was the target of a computer attack on Monday night. In a statement that reached the newsrooms, the hospital activated the security protocol, having contacted the National Cybersecurity Centre (CNCS), which is monitoring the situation. This has however, affected services and the hospital says that it is possible that some surgeries will be postponed throughout the day (Tuesday).
Computer attacks on critical infrastructure such as hospitals cannot be taken likely, and hopefully there are lessons learned that can help reduce the risk of more serious attacks. Unfortunately few organisations are willing to invest sufficiently in cyber security measures needed to prevent such attacks.
Please have a Safe Day
News
More than 90 detainees and 22,170 counterfeit articles seized by the PSP
More than 90 people were arrested and 22,170 items seized between the 18th and 24th as part of the Anti-Counterfeiting Week Operation carried out at fairs, markets, commercial establishments and warehouses.
In a statement, to mark World Intellectual Property Day, which is celebrated this Tuesday, the PSP said that the inspection operation aimed at safeguarding intellectual property rights and combating counterfeiting.
During the operation, 92 people were arrested , of which 40 for counterfeiting, imitation and illegal use of a trademark; 22,170 items were seized , including clothing, footwear and accessories (bags and bags), with an estimated value of more than 360 thousand euros; and three firearms .
In the operation, markets, fairs, commercial establishments, warehouses and other spaces where counterfeit goods and/or in violation of property rights could be produced, transported, stored or sold were inspected at a national level.
At the same time, the Escola Segura police officers developed awareness-raising actions aimed at young people on the mainland and archipelagos of Madeira and the Azores.
PCP and JCP targets of new cyberattack on websites
Hackers accuse the party of not deserving April 25 and of “intoxicating the population by promoting disinformation” about the war in Ukraine.
The pages of the Portuguese Communist Party and the Portuguese Communist Youth were again down on Monday, allegedly due to a new computer attack.
According to CNN Portugal, which received a manifesto from the “hacktivists”, the party was targeted in “Operation PCP” for rejecting that Ukraine was invaded.
“They betrayed your political legacy of fighting for freedom. They tore up the anti-fascism and anti-imperialism treaty. They betrayed all those who trusted you with their vote. Denying an invasion is not politics, it is insanity. This PCP does not deserve the 25th of April!” argued the authors of the manifesto received by CNN Portugal.
The PCP had already been the target of a computer attack earlier this month due to statements considered controversial about the war in Ukraine.
“Without warning and when necessary we will neutralize PCP websites. We are everywhere, from Moscow to Quinta da Atalaia. Nothing and no one will protect you in cyberspace”, wrote the “hackers”.
To JN, a party source said he was unaware of the problem.
Road Safety Campaign – Travel without a Rush
The Republican National Guard, the National Road Safety Authority and the Public Safety Police today launched the Road Safety Campaign “Travel without a rush”.
The campaign, which runs between April 26 and May 2, 2022, aims to alert drivers to the risks of speeding.
Just a reminder that:
– “Speed is the main cause of one third of all fatal accidents”;
– “The faster we drive, the less time we have to respond, when something unexpected happens;”
– “In a 10 km journey, increasing the speed from 45 to 50 km/h allows you to gain only 1 minute and 20 seconds. Travel with no rush. “
Road accidents need not lead to fatalities and its more serious consequences can be avoided by adopting safe road behaviour.
Brussels gives the green light to the Iberian proposal on electricity prices
The governments of Portugal and Spain reached a political agreement with the European Commission for the establishment of a temporary mechanism that will make it possible to set the average price of gas at 50 euros per MWh
The European Commission this Tuesday gave the green light to Portugal and Spain’s proposal on electricity prices.
For 12 months, the average price of natural gas in the production of electricity will be set at 50 euros per megawatt-hour (MWh) in the Iberian Peninsula and, as explained by the Minister for the Environment and Climate Action, will start at 40 euros.
Duarte Cordeiro recalls that, in recent days, the value of electricity has been lower because gas has not set the price, but that from the moment this happens, high prices return. Therefore, the environment minister reinforces the importance of the agreement for the protection of consumers.
The announcement was made at a joint press conference with Minister Duarte Cordeiro and the Spanish Minister for Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera.
The ministers of Portugal and Spain met this Monday with the vice-president of the European Commission and responsible for Competition.
At the end of March, the two countries delivered a document in Brussels to discuss an extraordinary mechanism in order to “avoid the contagion effect of rising gas prices on the electricity market”.
This would be a temporary measure.
Two-thirds of respondents feel they have been targeted in a study on ‘body shaming’
Almost two-thirds (64%) of women surveyed in a study say they are or have been the target of derogatory comments or insults about their body, especially from friends, family and acquaintances.
The study’s main objectives were to understand “the percentage of Portuguese women who would have been the target of ‘body shaming’, what would be the consequences in behavioural terms and in terms of self-esteem of this behaviour”, psychologist Filipa Jardim da Silva told Lusa today. Silva.
The majority of women affected by ‘body shaming’ (68%), a form of aggression that involves criticizing or humiliating someone through negative and derogatory comments about their body or physical appearance, have a less youthful profile, aged between 35 and the 54 years.
According to the “Dove – Body Shaming” survey, which took place in January and involved a sample of 316 women over 18 years of age, 76% of the criticism or insults were practiced personally by acquaintances or friends, 56% by family members. Only 8% were practiced on social networks.
“These results take us to this generalization of how our body and our image have become a topic that often knows no borders, in which people have often lost the discernment of what is a comment that they have the legitimacy to make and a comment that has no legitimacy to make, because it enters the spectrum of the identity and individuality of the other”, underlined the psychologist.
He also highlighted the consequences that “a totally derogatory, harmful, toxic comment” can have and which are reflected in the behaviours adopted: 67% of the respondents hide their bodies through looser or darker clothes, 58% have adopted restrictive food plans and 47 % changed their cosmetic care routine.
Despite having a good side, said Filipa Jardim da Silva, “what we realize is that, deep down, the catalyst for this change comes from outside, it comes from wanting to please the other or not wanting to be the target of derogatory comments, the which turns out to be a not very healthy motivation”.
These behaviours create harmful effects in terms of self-esteem: 66% of respondents confirmed this effect and 34% assume that they have already ‘body shamed’ other women.
Ukraine
European Union warns of danger of new nuclear catastrophe in Ukraine
The European Union (EU) today warned of the danger of a new nuclear catastrophe in Ukraine due to the Russian offensive and called on Moscow to refrain from any action against Ukrainian nuclear facilities.
“Russia’s illegal and unjustified aggression in Ukraine once again puts nuclear safety on our continent at risk,” said EU diplomacy chief Josep Borrell and European Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson in a joint statement.
Russian forces in Ukraine control the Zaporijia nuclear power plant, in the south of the country and the largest in Europe, which was the target of artillery fire at the beginning of the invasion of Moscow, which caused a fire and raised fears of a new nuclear catastrophe, 36 years after Chernobyl.
In this plant, according to statements by the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, an “abnormal” level of radioactivity was measured today.
“The level of radioactivity is, I would say, abnormal”, declared Grossi, without giving any figures, guaranteeing that the agency monitors Chernobyl on a daily basis.
Ukraine has 15 nuclear reactors at four working power plants, as well as waste dumps, such as the Chernobyl plant, which was deactivated after the 1986 disaster.
A Chernobyl reactor exploded in 1986, contaminating much of Europe, but especially Ukraine, Russia and Belarus, which were part of the USSR. Known as an exclusion zone, the territory within a radius of 30 kilometres around the plant is still heavily contaminated and it is forbidden to live there permanently.
Russia launched a military offensive in Ukraine on February 24 that has killed more than 2,000 civilians, according to United Nations (UN) data, which warns that the real number is likely to be much higher.
The war has caused more than 12 million people to flee, of which more than 5.16 million have left the country, according to the latest UN figures.
A reminder that Metropolitano de Lisboa stations are closed this morning until 0930 hrs due to the partial strike of workers, which at 6:35 am registered an adhesion of about 100%”, according to Anabela Carvalheira, from the Federation of Transport and Communications Unions (Fectrans). Two further strikes are planned on 18th and 27th May so please take note of this if you are planning your journey on these days,
The other reminder concerning beach safety is unstable cliffs in some places, along some our beautiful beaches. Where there are dangers, these are clearly marked signs both at the top of cliffs as well as at the base with the beach itself. We urge people to respect the signs and not to climb over barriers in order to take that perfect selfie! It may be your last!
The mayor of Viana do Alentejo, Luís Miguel Duarte, told the Lusa agency that the organization predicts that the arrival of the pilgrimage to the Alentejo village will involve “about a thousand pilgrims” and close to “500 horses”.
The PSP detained, at Humberto Delgado Airport, a 23-year-old man who was trying to board a flight with almost 4,800 doses of cocaine hidden in a pillow.
The third point is to remain calm – speak clearly and slowly. This is easier said than done when a fire is raging towards your home! However it is a fact that in an emergency people are naturally under considerable stress and when speaking in a different language to the operator’s native tongue, sometimes with strong regional accents, effective communication is more challenging.
As announced by the National Authority for Medicines and Health Products, surgical masks type IIR, from the manufacturers Borgstena Textile Portugal, Lda, and Plasfer – Indústria e Comércio, Lda have been identified on the national market. Infarmed explains that in both cases the masks have improper CE marking, as there is no compliance with all the legal requirements applicable at European level, including the fact that the technical documentation is incomplete.
In the publication in which the minister appears with the Ukrainian ambassador to Portugal, Inna Ohnivets, in a photograph, it can be read that “Portugal’s support for the Ukrainian resistance against Russian aggression” is reaffirmed.