sexta-feira, dezembro 31, 2004

FELIZ 2005!

Desejos de um Feliz 2005 para os leitores do Fumaças!Agora, é tempo de pausa. Voltarei daqui a alguns dias. Até!

HAPPY NEW YEAR ! JOYEUSE ANNÉE!

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CUBA - ENVÍA PRISIONERO POLÍTICO MENSAJE POR EL FIN DE AÑO

via: CUBANETLA HABANA, 30 de diciembre (Richard Roselló / www.cubanet.org) - Camilo Pérez Villanueva, uno de los principales portavoces del boletín informativo La Patria Libre, órgano manuscrito del Comité Local del Presidio Político Cubano "Jorge Mas Canosa", creado en mayo de 1997, envió un mensaje dirigido a los compatriotas de Cuba y del exilio."Otro año se va lleno de violaciones de derechos humanos contra nuestro pueblo y contra el presidio político", señala Pérez en su mensaje, y añade: "Hemos tenido el consuelo necesario, el privilegio, el orgullo de contar con el exilio necesario. Ese que cada vez se agiganta más. Cada vez nos apoya más. A ese exilio le damos las manos, el abrazo y la gratitud eterna. De manera que los exhortamos a continuar adelante con esos dignificantes ejemplos de patriotismo".Agradece Pérez en su mensaje las muestras de solidaridad y apoyo recibidas de organizaciones en el exilio, entre ellas Plantados hasta la Libertad y la Democracia en Cuba, el Consejo por la Libertad de Cuba, el Directorio, el Puente Informativo Cuba Miami, Ned por Cuba Internacional, Mar por Cuba, el movimiento 30 de Noviembre.Finaliza Pérez Villanueva su mensaje deseando un feliz año a los prisioneros políticos y a sus familiares. "Que la paz, la libertad toquen más temprano que tarde las puertas de sus corazones. Que no cesen en su lucha que es la de todos, es la de Cuba, su pueblo y de la humanidad. Viva Cuba Libre. Libertad para el Presidio Político Cubano sin destierro".

LISBOA DESCONHECIDA

Muito em breve, uma nova rúbrica, sobre Lisboa e algumas maravilhas que são desconhecidas da maioria dos que cá moram ou trabalham!Um pequeno aperitivo, para começar...Alguém sabe onde é?LISBOA001.jpg

quinta-feira, dezembro 30, 2004

MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE

"Nothing fixes a thing so intensely in the memory as the wish to forget it." Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) French essayist.

BLOG - THE SOUTH-ESTA ASIA EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI

via: O JUMENTOUm blog criado na Ásia, relativo à catástrofe:The South-East Asia Earthquake and Tsunami The SEA-EAT blog for short. News and information about resources, aid, donations and volunteer efforts.

AMI NO SRI LANKA

Assistência Médica Internacionallogo_ami1.gifSri Lanka 30 de DezembroPartem às 2h00 três membros da equipa da AMI – uma médica, um enfermeiro e um logístico -- num avião fretado pela AMI. O voo parte da Base Aérea de Figo Maduro. No avião seguem 10 toneladas de ajuda humanitária, designadamente 1 tonelada de açúcar, 3 toneladas de arroz, leite, óleo, enlatados e outros géneros alimentares, bem como 1 tonelada de soros, medicamentos diversos, antibióticos e luvas esterilizadas. Vestuário, calçado e cobertores fazem também parte da carga enviada para o Sri Lanka. Esta operação de emergência desencadeada pela AMI conta com o precioso apoio da Caixa Geral de Depósitos, da Fundação Oriente e da Fundação Gulbenkian. Perante a pior catástrofe natural que atingiu o sudeste asiático nos últimos 40 anos, a sociedade civil portuguesa reagiu também de imediato, correspondendo ao apelo lançado pela AMI.29 de Dezembro de 2004Dois voluntários (uma médica e um enfermeiro) partem do aeroporto da Portela para Colombo.A equipa da AMI no Sri Lanka vai partir para o Sul da ilha onde, em conjunto com a Caritas local, vai prestar assistência às cidades costeiras de Galle e Kalutara, fortemente atingidas pelos sismos e maremoto que ocorreram no passado domingo.A equipa que partiu na madrugada de ontem, liderada pelo médico Fernando Nobre, já se encontra na capital do Sri Lanka, Colombo, tendo participado numa reunião com representantes do Ministério da Saúde do país. À chegada a Colombo, o presidente e o director do departamento logístico da AMI foram recebidos por um padre da Caritas local, organização com a qual a AMI vai coordenar esforços no sentido de fornecer uma ajuda rápida e eficaz à população do país. O Sri Lanka debate-se actualmente com uma vaga de 2 milhões de deslocados e com uma massa de cadáveres por enterrar. Segundo os últimos dados oficiais, existem 22 mil mortos confirmados no país. Com a maior parte das estradas cortadas, os dois elementos da AMI no terreno procederam ao aluguer de dois jeeps para transporte da equipa da organização não-governamental portuguesa para Galle e Kalutara, a cerca de 120 km a Sul de Colombo. Os restantes cinco membros da equipa são aguardados amanhã em Colombo. 28 de Dezembro de 2004No dia 28 de Dezembro de 2004 parte uma equipa da AMI em missão de ajuda às populações atingidas pelo sismo e maremoto ocorridos no dia 26 de Dezembro.Esta primeira equipa é composta pelo presidente da AMI, o médico Fernando Nobre, e o director do departamento logístico, José Luís Ribeiro Nobre. O objectivo é ultimarem os preparativos para a chegada dos restantes elementos da equipa da Assistência Médica Internacional. No terreno, os dois elementos da AMI vão procurar alojamento e um armazém para manter a ajuda humanitária que a AMI vai enviar para Colombo. Veja aqui como pode ajudar as vítimas desta catástrofe natural.

SOMÁLIA

Também este já muito sacrificado país de África sofreu os efeitos dos tsunamis:Yahoo newsU.N. Struggles to Get Aid to Somali Town Wed Dec 29, 2:01 PM ET By TOM MALITI, Associated Press Writer NAIROBI, Kenya - A fishing town in northeastern Somalia was nearly demolished by a tsunami from Indonesia's devastating earthquake, and 500 families are living in unhealthy conditions while sheltering in huts built from debris, U.N. officials said Wednesday. The United Nations (news - web sites) also raised the death toll for Somalia to 114 and said "many more people" and more than 100 fishing boats were missing from swamped villages along the Somali coast. The Horn of Africa nation was the worst hit country on Africa's east coast, where Tanzania counted 10 dead, Kenya had one drowned and Seychelles reported two fishermen missing from the huge waves generated by Sunday's quake 2,800 miles on the other side of the Indian Ocean. Alhaji Bah, an official with UNICEF (news - web sites) in Nairobi, said a U.N. team found about 80 percent of the buildings wrecked in Hafun, a town of 4,500 people about 715 miles northeast of Somalia's capital, Mogadishu. He said survivors reported 12 people killed but said an unknown number of fishermen were at sea when the waves hit and had not been heard from. "They basically have nothing," Bah said. "The water is all contaminated and there is evidence of waterborne diseases." He said UNICEF planned to truck in clean drinking water, plastic sheeting for shelter, blankets and cooking pots from Bossaso, the main port in northeastern Somalia about 200 miles away. But another U.N. official said the world body's food agency was having trouble getting 34 tons of food to Hafun because the road had been washed out. Laura Melo of the World Food Program described Hafun as a scene of total desolation. "Most of the houses in town have been destroyed. Personal belongings lay scattered around town. Boats are beached in the middle of town. Even money is strewn on the ground," she said in a statement. The United Nations' acting humanitarian coordinator for Somalia, Elballa Hagona, said it was difficult to assess the needs of Somalis, whose country has been wracked by years of civil war and tribal fighting. "Our efforts to even gauge the full extent of the damage are being hampered by the poor transport and communication networks, which also affect the delivery of emergency relief as we piece together a complete picture of the situation," she said in a statement. Melo said the United Nations planned to send a plane along Somalia's coast Thursday to make an inventory of all damaged areas. Also on Wednesday, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder called for a moratorium on debt repayments by Somalia and Indonesia, the only two nations struck by Sunday's disaster that owe substantial amounts to the Paris Club of wealthy creditor countries. Somalia's newly elected interim prime minister, Ali Mohammed Gedi, said Tuesday that his country's northeast was hit hardest by the tsunami waves. Gedi, whose transitional government and parliament are temporarily based in Nairobi because Mogadishu is still too dangerous, said he had formed a disaster committee of lawmakers and U.N. representatives to oversee relief efforts. Elsewhere in East Africa, Tanzania's government said 10 people were known dead from the ocean surge, most of them while swimming off Dar es Salaam, the country's commercial capital. Alfred Tibaigana, regional police commander, said others in a capsized boat were feared dead. On the island nation of Seychelles, two fishermen were missing and four people were hospitalized, said Alain Payette, a top official in President James Michel's office. In Kenya, one person died in Malindi, about 260 miles southeast of Nairobi, and 50 fishing boats were destroyed, police spokesman Jaspher Ombati said.

quarta-feira, dezembro 29, 2004

NATION.SC - SEYCHELLES

Os efeitos dos tsunamis em países bastante mais longe de onde se iniciou a catástrofe. Nest caso as Seychelles, que foram bastante afectadas mas apenas materialmente.Seychelles Nation.scOfficials trace tidal wave path through Seychelles - 29.12.04Sunday’s (December 26) tidal waves bent around the edges of both Mahe and Praslin to swing inland toward the southern and western areas of the islands at an even greater force than that of its original impact.seychelles.jpgEnvironment principal secretary Rolph Payet said this Tuesday December 28 when describing to reporters at the Botanical Gardens how the tidal waves originated and spread on Sunday, and why much of the coasts on Seychelles’ two biggest islands sustained severe damage.The tidal waves on Sunday resulted from an earthquake off the northern coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, which caused the sea floor to shift 10 metres upwards along a 1,000 km rift.While 10 metres may not seem like much, Mr Payet said that across such a distance an enormous amount of water was displaced, causing sea water to whip out across the ocean.And it was only ocean that stood between Sunday’s massive Indonesian earthquake and Seychelles – with no barriers to slow it down the tidal waves spanned more than 4,200 kilometres to cause havoc on Mahe and Praslin in ways few, if any, could have predicted.The waves moved rapidly from the epicentre, first through Sri Lanka where thousands were killed, then on to the Maldives just a few hours later before hitting Seychelles from the Northeast shortly after mid-day.Mr Payet said officials were still calculating the force at which the tidal wave hit the local islands, but indicated that an estimate would be released later.Officials at Tuesday’s press briefing also detailed how the tidal waves “refracted” around Mahe’s southern and western peninsulas – around Takamaka and Port Glaud, respectively.Acting director of the National Meteorological Services (NMS) Denis Chang-Seng said when the tidal waves refracted around the island, more and more water began to accumulate and rush towards West and South Mahe.He said this was why areas like Port Glaud, Grand Anse, Anse Boileau and others in the Southwest were severely affected while Anse aux Pins, situated on the east coast but lying parallel to the direction of the tidal wave, was spared from the worst of the disaster.A similar phenomenon was observed on Praslin, where the tidal wave swept inland at Grand Anse and other areas in the island’s Southwest despite the fact that it was sheltered from any direct impact the wave would have had coming from the Northeast.“The nature of a wave is determined by the coastline and any barriers there may be,” he said. He noted that large bays like Anse a la Mouche and Anse Boileau are especially vulnerable since more water is able to accumulate and gather strength.The impact of barriers, however, were more noticeable in Northeast Mahe, where it was confirmed by Mr Payet that the reclaimed islands sitting just off the coast saved much of Ma Constance, Pointe Conan and Ma Joie from major flooding.Mr Payet said this was especially important because as the wave travelled in between Mahe and Ste Anne it began to change – as the passage narrowed the wave grew higher and thus more dangerous, he explained.This is the same reason that Victoria was hit as hard as it was, Mr Payet added, noting that the ship channel into the port made for a stronger wave as it pushed through the harbour and into town.As for North Mahe – which was the first to feel the effects of the tidal wave – it is believed that the large rock formations around Glacis and Northeast Point helped to absorb much of the wave’s impact.Mr Payet said the outer islands were not as affected because unlike the inner islands, they lie beyond the continental shelf where the impact of the tidal waves were not as severe.

BAY OF BENGAL EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMIS - FAMILY NEWS NETWORK

Um site que já existia da Cruz Vermelha Internacional, para busca de familiares em crises ou conflitos, que agora é utilizado no caso do terramoto e tsunamis, para Sri Lanka, Indonésia, Tailândia e India.Bay of Bengal earthquake and tsunamisFamily News Network for persons affected by the natural disaster in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand and India. As a result of the strongest earthquake in 40 years and massive tidal waves in the Bay Bengal on December 26, 2004, tens of thousands of people in the area are dead, missing or separated from their relatives. Families all over the world have lost contact and are without news of their loved ones in the region. In an effort to bring relief to the families in terms of re-establishing family links, this web site is geared to assist all concerned persons, whether in the affected countries or elsewhere in the world, in obtaining information about their loved ones.The information available on the website may be displayed on lists in public places, or broadcasted by radio in order to be accessible to all persons with no access to internet. All information on this website is provided by relatives of persons sought or persons who register themselves, thus the ICRC cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the personal data given.FamilyLinks

Earthquake and Tsunami Situation in The Western Coast of Thailand

via: Ecletico e Grande Loja do Queijo Limiano Mais um site onde constam os hospitalizados em Phuket Thalang e Patong, bem como os falecidos nestes hospitais.dinsormai.com, clicar onde diz NAME SEARCH, dado que a maior parte dos outros links estão em tailandês.e também em:disaster (apesar de ser difícil entrar neste)

terça-feira, dezembro 28, 2004

ASIAN QUAKE - MISSING PERSONS

Mais alguns links de interesse, para quem tem conhecidos desaparecidos nesta catástrofe.A BBC, tem o seguinte:Thousands of people are still missing and millions are homeless following the Asia earthquake that has seen the death toll reach tens of thousands. Huge waves triggered by the worst earthquake in 40 years have devastated large parts of South and South East Asia. The BBC News website has received many messages from people eager to find out about the whereabouts of families and friends who live in or are visiting the region. Can you help? Or, have you lost contact with someone in the region?Missing in THAILANDMissing in SRI LANKAMissing in INDIAMissing in MALDIVES(esta informação foi obtida via Arcabuz e tem de ser dedicada a todos os imbecis convencidos de que são intelectuais que criticam quem tenta ajudar, uns de uma forma, outros de outra)Também o site da Sky News tem algo semelhante:QUAKE: YOUR MESSAGES

RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT LAUNCHES APPEAL FOR VICTIMS OF EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMIS

in: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent SocietiesRed Cross Red Crescent launches appeal for victims of the Bay of Bengal earthquake and tsunamis26 December 2004The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has launched a preliminary appeal for 7.5 million Swiss francs to assist some 500,000 people and bring immediate support to relief operations of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and other countries in the region after the strongest earthquake in 40 years caused massive tidal waves, killing at least 6,000 people, according to local authorities, and leaving more than one million displaced and homeless. The number of injured is still not known. One million Swiss francs were released earlier today from the Federation’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund.Locally, Red Cross teams in Sri Lanka and India have helped evacuate survivors, dispensed first aid and provided emergency relief materials, such as tents and blankets, as well as food. The International Federation will send medical supplies for 100,000 people into Sri Lanka, the country hardest hit by the disaster, tomorrow, from Copenhagen, Denmark. Additionally medicines to treat up to 2,000 possible cases of diarrheal disease will also be part of the shipment. “The biggest health challenges we are facing is the spread of waterborne diseases, particularly malaria and diarrhea, as well as respiratory tract infections,” explains Hakan Sandbladh, Senior Health Officer at the Federation’s Secretariat in Geneva. “We are particularly concerned about initial reports of destruction of hospitals and other health infrastructures in Sri Lanka.”A field assessment and coordination team will also be sent to Sri Lanka in the coming hours and several Emergency response units, specialized in water and sanitation, relief coordination as well as field hospitals are on standby to be sent in, according to needs. According to the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, there is relatively little damage reported so far in the coastal areas, and thankfully, no deaths or injuries, but the situation is being closely monitored. With telecommunications lines down or saturated, there is still a scarcity of information from certain countries. “Basic needs for victims of the disaster are shelter, tents, blankets, clean water, food and family utensils and mosquito nets. An important part of the operation will also be tracing lost relatives,” notes Simon Missiri, head of the Federation’s Asia Pacific Department in Geneva. “This preliminary appeal will be revised as precise needs are evaluated.”For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact: For further information, or to set up interviews (ISDN line available), please contact:Marie-Françoise Borel, Press Officer Tel: + 41 22 730 43 46 / + 41 79 416 38 81The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 181 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

APOIO ÀS VÍTIMAS DO SIMO E DO TSUNAMI

Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa APOIO ÀS VÍTIMAS DO ABALO SÍSMICO E DO TSUNAMI BANCO BPI NIB 0010 0000 137 222 70009 70Conta nº: 1-1372227000009Por razões que se prendem com distâncias, questões logísticas e temporais, a Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa decidiu, em estreita consulta com os seus órgãos internacionais e à semelhança das suas congéneres europeias, lançar um apelo de emergência em numerário em Portugal.O apelo de emergência preliminar procura assistir cerca de 500.000 pessoas por um período de 6 meses. Dos 4.852.932 Euros que o apelo pretende atingir para apoiar as vítimas do terramoto e tsunami, já foram libertados do Fundo de Emergência da Federação Internacional da Cruz Vermelha e do Crescente Vermelho 650.000 Euros.mapasismo.jpgA situaçãoO terramoto medindo cerca de 8.9 na escala de Richter assolou a área ao largo da costa ocidental do norte da ilha de Sumatra no domingo de manhã, dia 26 de Dezembro de 2004 às 7.59 horas locais, criando enormes ondas ou tsunamis (algumas com 10 metros de altura) que varreram as aldeias costeiras e estâncias turísticas ao largo da costa.De acordo com o Centro Nacional de Informação de Pesquisa Geológica e Sísmica dos Estados Unidos (United States Geological Survey National Earthquake Information Center), o epicentro do sismo foi localizado a 3.30 N, 95.78 E a uma profundidade de 10 km (ver mapa). Esta área é historicamente propensa a actividade sísmica devido à sua localização nas margens das placa tectónicas (conhecidas no Oceano Pacífico como “Círculo de Fogo”). Os relatórios iniciais indicam que o Sri Lanka, a província indonésia de Aceh, 4 estados do sul da Índia, as Maldivas, áreas costeiras da Tailândia, Malásia e Myanmar foram os mais afectados, com mais de 20 mil mortos, milhares de pessoas evacuadas ou à espera de evacuação. O número de mortos deverá aumentar à medida que mais informação chegue das avaliações conduzidas no terreno. As linhas de telefone e comunicações estão cortadas, o que limita informação detalhada. Dada a combinação do impacto de um dos mais poderosos tremores de terra em 40 anos com a natureza destrutiva de um tsunami, a Federação Internacional da Cruz Vermelha e do Crescente antecipa a necessidade imediata de responder a uma grande operação de coordenação, estando por isso a lançar um Apelo de Emergência Preliminar para apoiar e assistir actividades das cruzes vermelhas dos países afectados, com particular ênfase no Sri Lanka, Índia e Maldivas. AS NECESSIDADESBaseada nos relatórios preliminares da delegação regional, a Federação Internacional da Cruz Vermelha e do Crescente Vermelho antecipa necessidades de socorro massivas para um período aproximado de 2/3 semanas, com consideráveis necessidades de reabilitação a longo prazo. Cerca 650.000 Euros já foram libertados do Fundo de Desastres da Federação para apoiar a assistência e actividades de socorro iniciais. Estes fundos permitirão iniciar imediatamente as actividades de emergência. As cruzes vermelhas destes países afectados estão já a concentrar-se em actividades de busca e socorro e tratamento de feridos.Contactos:Departamento Internacional (Tel. 217 822 419)Gabinete de Comunicação, Imagem e Relações Públicas (Tel. 217 822 406)

UCRÂNIA

yuschenko2.gifViktor Yuschenko é o novo presidente da Ucrânia, eleito com mais de 52% dos votos.O candidato vencido afirma não aceitar os resultados e que os irá contestar em todas as instâncias possíveis. Vamos ver se a instabilidade chegou ao fim ou se será mantida...De realçar nas palavras do presidente recém-eleito a frase, "A Ucrânia já era independente há alguns anos, mas a partir de agora será livre".Uma palavra especial para a comunidade ucraniana em Portugal que deu uma prova de grande civismo ao deslocar-se de todo o país até Lisboa para votar massivamente. Estão também de parabéns!