Orihuela Town Council meeting - 26th May 2009

At the full monthly meeting of the Orihuela Town Council (Pleno) held on Tuesday 26th May 2009 the following points which affect Orihuela Costa were discussed.

1)The Municipal Local Action Plan against the risks of accidental water pollution in Orihuela was approved unanimously.

The Plan will apply to any emergency situation of water pollution that takes place within the coastal area of orihuela and risks because of rain in the barrancos and ramblas.

The Councillor for Los Verdes, Manuel Gallud 'congratulated' the PP government for recognising amongst other things on the coast the danger of flooded roads due to the lack of planning in Cala Capitán and la Zenia.

2)The Motion presented by Los Verdes, about the reduction of various municipal taxes to persons unemployed who do not collect unemployment benefit or their benefits are below the minimum wage, or users of social welfare and large families, received the unanimous agreement of the council. The Los Verdes Councillor Manuel Culiáñez requested in his Motion discounts of up to 75% on various municipal taxes.

3) The CLR (Centro Liberal Renovador) proposed the improvement of sections of bicycle lanes in the municipality of Orihuela. Councillor, and spokesman of Los Verdes, Monserrate Guillén, reminded those present in the council meeting, that in 2008, Los Verdes presented an amendment to the General Budget of the Municipality of Orihuela about investment to build sections of bicycle lanes throughout the municipality . The PP Government accepted the proposal to improve and expand existing sections into parishes and also in the Coast. The motion was approved unanimously.

4) Questions:
Department of Public Works (PP Councillor Eva Ortiz): Request for information with regards to the homes of VPO (social housing) on the Coast, because until this time it has not been notified to the winners of the draw (or at least to some), nor to those who were included in the reserve list to confirm the situation, and already one year has passed since the allocation award took place.

Department of Infrastructure (PP Councillor Manuel Abadía): In light of the change of the contract for the recycling collection and processing of waste in this town, tell us where they (the contractor) take the recycling rubbish and what type of treatment it receives, since the new contractor has come into action.

Department of Infrastructure (PP Councillor Manuel Abadía): If we all agree that you are not attaining the 100% collection of waste, as it is reflected in the terms and conditions of the contract, why, however, has the Council authorised full 100% settlement of the Contractor's charges? Or are they not checking at all? Are you aware that at this time, the new contractor has ceased to employ 18 people who were already working for the previous business? If so, and given that there was insufficient staff already, how can you accept this fact that is detrimental to the service that the company has to give citizens and that favours the profits of the contractor?

The Councillors will give their answers in writing.

Last polls: up and better than in 2004

According to Predict 09, a European site summing up national polls, the Greens/EFA would get 42 seats out of 735, if elections had been held around 21May. The result is two seats up from the end of April, and slightly better than the score in 2004, when the Greens/EFA won 43 seats out of 785.

Parasite Risk In Anchovies Varies Depending On Origin Of Fish

ScienceDaily (May 31, 2009) — The Anisakis spp parasite can still be found in one of the most emblematic Mediterranean dishes – anchovies in vinegar. Spanish researchers have shown the parasites are present at higher levels in anchovies from the south east Atlantic coast and the north eastern Mediterranean, and urge consumers to freeze or cook the fish before eating it.

Although the European Union and Spanish regulations require restaurants to freeze fish that is eaten raw, “people still run the risk of anisakiasis infection from homemade anchovies in vinegar if they have not got into the habit of freezing the fish for at least 24 hours at -20ºC”, according to a team of scientists from the University of Granada (UGR), which has found the larvae of Anisakis spp and another similar parasite, Hysterothylacium aduncum, in anchovies from the west of the Mediterranean Sea and the east of the Atlantic Ocean.

Read the full article - ScienceDaily (May 31, 2009)

Lumley: The Green Party is the obvious choice in poll

Joanna Lumley is urging voters to shun mainstream politicians and instead back the Greens in next week's Euro elections.

Fresh from her triumph in securing immigration rights for Gurkha veterans, the actress has thrown her support behind the party for the 4 June poll. Party insiders believe Lumley's popularity will provide a huge boost to their campaign for the European Parliament.

Lumley, who so far has not shown interest in being a politician herself, said the public should make a “positive vote” for the party and has given her personal backing to Green Party leader and South-East MEP Caroline Lucas.

The actress and campaigner said: “Caroline Lucas is a tireless campaigner in the European Parliament, staunchly defending human rights and strongly promoting greater protection for animals.”

Both women have campaigned against human rights abuses in Burma and Lumley said the Green Party was “the obvious choice for real change”. “I urge you to cast a positive vote for a better future by voting Green in the European elections,” the actress said. Ms Lucas said: “I feel honoured to have her support.”

Paul Waugh - Evening Standard


It is the celebrity endorsement that all the major political parties would have loved to receive. But Joanna Lumley, who shamed ministers into granting immigration rights to Gurkha veterans, has given her backing in next week's European elections to the Greens.

Her decision is a blow for the Liberal Democrats who had been wooing the Absolutely Fabulous star during the Gurkha campaign.

But the actress – named as the female celebrity the public would most like to run the country – said the Greens were most likely to bring about real change. "I urge you to cast a positive vote for a better future by voting Green in the European elections," she added.

Nigel Morris - The Independant

Whether you are voting here in Spain or in the Uk in the European Elections it would be 'Absolutely Fabulous' if you vote for the GREEN PARTY.(In Spain vote LOS VERDES - GRUPO VERDE EUROPEO'

7 political groups in the European Parliament

Members of the European Parliament do not sit and act according to national groupings, but organise themselves into political groups. Political groups draw together political parties from across the EU which share ideological principles and political views. Parliament's rules currently specify that a political group must be composed of at least 20 members from at least one fifth of EU countries. In the outgoing Parliament there are seven political groups, (in order of size):

• EPP-ED: The European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats.
• PES: The Socialist Group in the European Parliament.
• ALDE: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe.
• UEN: Union for Europe of the Nations.
• Greens-EFA: Greens / European Free Alliance.
• GUE/NGL: European United Left/Nordic Green Party.
• IND/DEM: Independence and Democracy group.

Additionally, a number of members, not belonging to any political group, sit as independents or "non-attached"

On the 7th June in Orihuela Costa vote LOS VERDES - GRUPO VERDE EUROPEO'