todays lunchtime news on TVI says that only 27 per cent of camaras have produced plans for fire prevention....i suppose the other 73 per cent have been sitting drinking bicas at their local coffee bar...doing what exactly??

of course we must not forget the time and money (650 million euros) spent on three weeks of football, with are very own new Loule stadium used for 3 matches....and these characters are VOTED INTO POWER!!!!!!!!

and people say the world has a future.........

I can see where your coming from guest (time and time again) but what would you do to correct. Turn this into a problem, not a worry and do something. Worries can never be solved by worries, they have to be turned into problems in order to solve them. From where I am, I can do little but you can. Mike

the only thing you can do is to complain and shame the local populace into action..i understand that there is anger from local people about this case of masterly inactivity.

if of course you complain as a foreigner you get told to get lost and go home
or ignored.

it is sad but very little can be done by foriegners here. having tried to get thing done by camaras it is like hitting your head against a sponge....but when i do something they are onto me like a ton of bricks and quick with it.

pity they are not quick about sorting out fire prevention...as it was said in this weeks newspapers, only now has government money arrived to help last with years fire...the only ones who have done something are local organisations and charities

the only thing you can do is to complain and shame the local populace into action.

if of course you complain as a foreigner you get told to get lost and go home
or ignored.

Well. it is Their Country.



You Chose to live there.....

The "Local Population" didn't.....they were born there.....it's Their Country


If they don't care about the fires (and it seems that they actualy start them themselves)

If they are bad drivers,

If they are willing to put up with the Red Tape and bad service...

If they want to run their country into the dirt, that is their choice.

If you want to change the country you live in, stay home and try it there.

Good point, Coop.

...but they would also not be where they are today if it were not for the foreigners, be it investors, tourists or others.

So if you love a country and dedicate yourself to help build a country with your own two hands, does a part of country not become your country too?

How many foreigners have come here to become engeneers, vets, doctors, investors, managers, tour operators, real estate agents, etc, etc, etc?
How many foreigners have dedicated themselves to charity projects, development, helping orphanages and old-age homes, etc?

Does that not give these people the right to protest about things that are obviously out of place - even if they were not born here???

Well said Gambrinus!
Although I can see where the Cowboy is coming from I believe anyone who takes up residence in another country and who work, contribute as you have listed and pays taxes,obeys the law etc--they do have a right and a say in matters and also the right of protest when they see things going wrong.
As indeed,those who take up residence here in UK do.
But of course,as you have stated in another topic, they should also register their vote.
It isnt interferance,or 'playing the foreigner',its simply being part of the community;doing ones duty if you like to make things better for all concerned.
If I ever take up residence in Algarve(which I would love to some day) ,this would be my point of view

i recall AFPOP many years ago worked out how much foreigners living here (as opposed to tourists) each year bring into the country to spend and invest ...contributing a great deal to the local economy ..i cannot recall the exact figure but it was certainly in the millions of euros.

the sad part is that such imput in terms of economic contribution is welcome as long as it doesnt encroach on "the system of beacuracy".

while i can understand the idea of voting and trying to change things, I think this would never make any difference as you are fighting an entrenched system which would only ever change if some dramatic event occured such as as massive recession..with mass unemployment.

all one can do is leave the local population to deal with any problems....whilst massive inflows of E:U still comes here there will never be any incentive to change methods and attitudes of working

Anonymous wrote:....whilst massive inflows of E:U still comes here there will never be any incentive to change methods and attitudes of working

With the expansion of the EU Portugal is going to become a paying-in member - won´t that be fun to watch

welll good..its about time countries like ireland and portugal put something back in the piggy bank..they have done very well over the years ..now its someones elses turn.

The foreigners here in the UK seem to have more say than those who were born here. That is one of the (very many) reasons I want to leave and live in Portugal. But not to go and try and have my say in Portugal or to change it at all as I like it the way it is. I want to live the Portuguese way of life as much as I am able. However, it would be nice if those foreigners living in Portugal helping the economy and contributing in many ways did have a little say in things too.

Define the "Portuguese way of life"

People I feel suit themselves when to be typically anything, whether it is British or American, Indian or Portuguese. When I am in CVO I try to fit into the local way of doing things but there is no check list to be done and I doubt that I would know how to be typically Portugusese anyway.

Incidently, can any of the Algarvians on site so to speak give me a list of what they consider to be local traits? And when they visit Lisboa do they try to fit in or do they bemoan the fact that it is " no place like home"!:lol:

The foreigners here in the UK seem to have more say than those who were born here.

Oh Dear If this is the way that things are going on this site it is time for me to head off again.

Ate Logo

[quote="CM"]Define the "Portuguese way of life" [/quote]

The beauty of the Algarve is the laid back approach to life and the appreciation of all things simple... like a sardine lunch with friends and family "al fresco". Its not about owning the next biggest thing or corporate takeovers etc etc.

Let's have solutions not problems or worries. If you're going to moan, do it to your spouse. Lets be constructive here and come up with solutions!

oh and bica, don't run away, this is a discussion and I am sure everyone welcomes your point of view

Agree with every word falcon!
Youre spot on
Bica dont go away from here..we need your imput..everyones point of view is important to the discussion.