Sol Times Newspaper issue 329 Roquetas Edition

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2012 page 15

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carboneras celebrates tHe bicentennial of tHe

constitution of 1812The year 2012 is a very special year for Spain; it is the

celebration of the bicentennial of the first Constitution of 1812. This came about in Cadiz during the siege of the French troops of Napoleon, and is commonly known as La Pepa.

The exact day of the anniversary is Monday, March 19, but Carboneras has anticipated it slightly with its own celebration!

Calvo Sotelo, former right-hand man for ex-president Adolfo Surez, collaborator and former director of La Voz de Almeria, Jose Maria Martinez de Haro, gave a lecture on this historical event entitled The Constitution of 1812, the birth of a nation.

In his speech he explained that the Constitution of 1812 is the source of the present society, based on national sovereignty, individual rights and the division of powers, and was the foundation of a new political, economic and social development. From its inception by 350 deputies in Cadiz, it had become something momentous for todays Spaniard, assuming a new concept of nation, citizen, equality, sovereignty and separation of powers. He finished by saying that The constitution that was born of Cadiz is our country: respect it and love it.

bullfigHting causes arguments for roquetasAlmeria EQUO is in total disagreement with the Municipality

of Roquetas de Mars organisation and staging of the event called Tentadero con el Fandi en la plaza de toros de Roquetas de Mar whose purpose is to introduce children to every detail of bullfighting.

EQUO Almera believes that children who attend this event should be expressly authorised by their parents. It announced it will closely follow them in case they somehow violate the rules, in which case they will call for the adoption of all possible measures, such as a call for action by the Fiscala de Menores de Almera.

A spokesperson said The event organised by the Municipality of Roquetas de Mar clearly violates the rights of minors and is against the nature of the education they should receive, which should instill values of understanding, friendship and tolerance.

This viewpoint was echoed by Las Asociaciones Alondra Dupont, Almeriya, Colectivo Antitaurino de Vcar, Ecologistas en Accin-Adra, Huella Roja, RATA, SOS Albergue de Perros Vagabundos, PROALBA, and Sociedad Protectora de Animales de Roquetas de Mar.

They collectively point out that This activity violates the rights of minors, offends the sensibilities of people and in the case of minors is even more worrying because they are more sensitive to such events, and very impressionable.

They also feel that it is in contravention of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly and the European Parliament, through Resolution A 3-0172/92, adopted in the European Charter on the Rights of the Child in Article II-84 Childrens Rights, which states that In all actions concerning children borne out by public authorities or private institutions, the childs best interests a primary consideration.

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2 SOLTIMES MARCH 2012 ...remember to say you saw it in the sOL TiMEs

www.soltimes.com SOLTIMES MARCH 2012 3

AlmerADuring the present legislature, the Direccin General de Transportes de

la Consejera de Obras Pblicas y Vivienda of Almera has raised a total of 4,583,546.76 euros in transport fines across the province.

During this period there have been a total of 10,128 infractions, of which 8,622 have resulted in a fine. The most common violations relate to a lack of tachographs, speeding, exceeding permitted driving times, ignoring compulsory rest periods, excess laden weight and lack of documentation.

The average amount of the penalty, depending on whether it is mild, severe or very severe has a range that goes from 2,001 to 4,601 euros.

AlmerAStudents of Social Work at the University of Almera (UAL) have participated

in the seminar Prostitution and Social Intervention, conducted by researcher Stephanie Acin Gonzalez, a partner of the Centro de Estudio de las Migraciones y las Relaciones Interculturales.

During the presentation, she focused on the at-risk population, noting that it is important not to get carried away by prejudice and stereotypes. She urged the students to base their interventions on research and actual knowledge of the problems, rather than on political correctness.

She said Not all citizens see prostitution in the same way; something that you yourself see as unbearable, to another person is a living. Thus intervention is more effective if you help them to solve their problems or to increase their chances of integration into the regular job market, for example.

The seminar was coordinated with the working group on prostitution and the program Health and Social Mediation with women in situations of prostitution as well as the Human Rights Association of Andalucia.

AlmAnzorA VAlley And los VelezAn Orange alert for snow in the Almanzora Valley and Los Velez has

been issued by the Agencia Estatal de Meteorologa (AEMET) for 24:00 am on Monday, March 19 and will run until 10:00 pm on Tuesday, March 20, according to data provided by the Servicio de Emergencias 112 de Andaluca.

Areas vulnerable to snowfall can expect up to 4 centimetres of snow to accumulate.

AlboxAEPA (Asociacin de Empresarios y Profesionales de Albox, Valle del

Almanzora) held its fourth Mercadillo de Saldos last weekend in the Avenida Puente in Albox.

The event was an opportunity for participants to offer high quality out-of-season articles at bargain prices.

On the Sunday here was also a dog show, and dishes of paella or migas were offered to the public for a reduced price.

AEPA Organising Committee described it as a day when the residents of nearby towns could enjoy the opportunity of a day of shopping with charm with representatives of more than 20 stores.

As usual there was a bouncy castle for the children, music and a marquee throughout the weekend.

AlmerAOfficers of the Polica Nacional have arrested five youths aged between

16 and 21, accused of committing robbery with violence and intimidation. A Security Guard was assaulted, and a person who went to his assistance was also attacked.

Last February, Group V of the Provincial Brigade of the Judicial Police of Almera began an investigation into a robbery with violence and intimidation which had been committed in the city.

The agents were tracking three youths between 18 and 21 years of age, who had robbed a clothing establishment in the Paseo de Almeria. The incident occurred last February when one of the three tried to run away with bags of clothes of a well-known brand which he had just shoplifted.

The shop alarm was operated, and the security guard challenged the youth, who continued to flee with the merchandise. He apprehended the thief, and a passer-by assisted him, taking the stolen goods from him. At this point two other youths approached them and attacked them before fleeing.

After taking witness statements and examining the shop security videos, the police were able to identify those involved and arrest them.

In another case a child had his mobile phone stolen as he was making a call in Calle Azahar. He was pushed against a shop window and his mobile phone taken. He pursued his assailant, and at that moment two plainclothes Polica Nacional officers who were passing realized what had happened, intervened and apprehended the thief and recovered the mobile phone.

In the subsequent days another youngster was also arrested for a similar offence.

AlboxAlbox Mayor, Jos Garcia Navarro, has held talks with the International

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Their home was demolished by the regional government of Andaluca in 2008

An administrative court in Almeria has rejected Helen and Len Priors claim for compensation against Vera council for the demolition of their home in 2008 as premature.

The judgement was made on the basis that a definitive decision has not been made regarding the legality of the building licence issued to construct the property due to the existence of an ongoing appeal in the High Courts of Justice of Andaluca (TSJA).

The guilt or innocence of Helen and Len Prior is not the subject of debate in the courts. They are the victims of a

planning dispute between the regional and local governments in Andaluca and they continue to live in their former garage whilst seeking damages for the loss of their home.

Helen and Len are absolutely gutted by this latest setback said a spokesperson for AUAN, an association of homeowners who support the Priors fight for justice.

There is no sense or natural justice in the way this couple are being treated. This case is a disgraceful example of how the little people are being crushed by the inadequate, highly politicised and poorly implement planning laws of Andaluca. It sends a very bad message to anyone considering investing here.

spAnish house prices return to 2004 leVelsTINSA has a new Spanish house

price report available today. You can download it from here: www.tinsa.es/n-pages/np-files/1/down/IMIE/2012/02_FICHA_IMIE_FEBRERO_2012.pdf

The accompanying TINSA press release summarises this report.

The General IMIE Index, an indicator created by Tinsa to analyse the evolution of house prices in the Spanish market, increased its year-on-year decline in February, falling by 9.5% to 1664 points, returning to the levels of 2004.

The cumulative decline from the top of the market in December 2007 increased to exactly 27.1%. The deterioration of the macroeconomic environment with

significant job losses, together with an increase in the spread on mortgage rates, are offsetting the positive effect of reinstated tax breaks on house purchases.

With regards to the performance of the different market segments, Capitals and Major Cities once again recorded the severest decline in February of 11.5%, followed by Metropolitan Areas with a fall of 10.3%, compared with the same month the year before. In both cases the decline was greater than the market average.

With a similar level to the General Index, the municipalities of the Mediterranean Coast segment declined by 9.5% year-on-year.

The Balearic and Canary Islands

were below the average with a

year-on-year fall of 8.8%, while

Other Municipalities, which

includes those not included in

other segments, declined by 6.5%,

completing the series.

In relation to the overall decline

from the peak of the market, the

Mediterranean Coast showed a

fall of 34.1% to February; followed

by Capitals and Major Cities with

29.7%, Metropolitan Areas with

28.9%, the Balearic and Canary

Islands with 24.7% and Other

Municipalities, which refers

to those not included in other

categories, with 21.5%.Article courtesy of www.kyero.com

courts reject helen And len priors clAim for

compensAtion As premAturepress releAse - AuAn - 16th mArch 2012

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No beNefit cuts or iVA hikes, sAys tAx miNisterMinister for tax affairs Cristbal Montoro has stressed

that there are no plans to increase IVA or reduce unemployment benefits.

He said cutting the spending power of the most vulnerable would be a backwards step as it would reduce consumption and cause profits to fall in businesses, thus leading to further unemployment.

Montoro hit out at those who use electoral campaigns to frighten people by claiming there would be tax hikes

and benefit cuts.He said there have never been any plans or even

discussions about increasing IVA or any other special taxes which could prejudice the weakest members of society, and denied that there were papers found in the tax ministry building hinting that this was the case.

If there were, they do not belong to the government I represent, so they must have belonged to the previous one, Montoro stated.

mAyor wAlks 400 kilometres iN

protest oVer greeN eNergy fuNdiNg cuts

A Mayor is walking from Extremadura to Madrid to protest over cuts in grants for green energy.

ngel Vadillo (PSOE) will walk 20 kilometres a day from his home town of Albuquerque (Badajoz) to the capital, stopping off in Mrida, Cceres and Plasencia on his way to the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Tourism.

Funds to help finance renewable energy projects have been cut by the central government, and this could have a profound effect on employment in the Albuquerque area, says Vadillo.

He currently has five plans on the table for huge solar panel parks to fuel public buildings.

Albuquerque presently has a high unemployment rate in the green energy sector, which Vadillo says would benefit from his projects.

He hopes to reach Madrid by just after Easter, and has been accompanied in the first leg of his journey by people from his town.

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55 security guards with false papers

arrested In an operation coordinated by the National Police,

55 security guards working for around 30 companies have been arrested in Madrid, Toledo, Cuenca and Badajoz for having false papers and forged qualifications.

An initial police statement has confirmed that the detainees, some of whom have criminal records, were all working in sensitive positions guarding explosives or acting as private bodyguards.

More information will be provided by representatives of the Union of Private Security Guards and the Civil Protection Service in a full press conference at the police headquarters in Canillas, Madrid at 11.30am today.

government threatens to raise tax on diesel vehicles The government wants to raise taxes on diesel vehicles

because they pollute more than those that run on unleaded fuel.

Proposals have been put forward to punish polluting vehicles - not just CO2 polluters but also those that emit nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulates (especially diesel) - by amending the current vehicle tax.

In principle, the autonomous regions are in agreement and town councils want to analyse the tax implications, explained the Secretary of State for the Environment, Federico Ramos, after todays environment

conference.In order to push the measure through, the air quality

laws, which in turn govern vehicle taxing regulations, will have to be reviewed. The new PP executive claims they were introduced by the previous Socialist government without proper consultation with the autonomous regions or local councils.

Ramos insisted that the tax is being proposed for environmental reasons, not merely to generate income. Its about having a more powerful fiscal instrument, he said, so that local councils force drivers to lower emissions and reduce contaminants.

Iberia pilots have called off the strikes planned for later this month and into April and May after reaching an interim agreement with management, a spokeswoman for the airline said last Tuesday.

[The pilots] have accepted the proposal to have a mediator, a spokeswoman told members of the press. There was no comment from pilots union Sepla.

An agreement was reached last Monday in a meeting attended by representatives from the Employment and Social Security Ministries.

Iberia pilots had announced a calendar of 24 one-day strikes between March 16th and May 28th

in protest at the launch of a new low-cost airline - Iberia Express - which they believe will result in the loss of thousands of jobs .

Iberia Express is due to be launched on March 25th and will cover routes in Spain and Europe.

Iberia pilots have already carried out 12 one-day strikes since the launch was announced late last year, and in February cabin crew joined their protest.

The strikes have so far have caused Iberia to cancel around 1,400 flights at a cost of 36 million euros.

The industry, energy and tourism minister, Jos Manuel Soria, said on Tuesday that the cancelation of the strikes was very positive.

I am very happy that the employees have taken this decision, he continued. And I hope that sooner or later, they reach an agreement through arbitration.

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iberiA pilots

cAll off strikes

two thirds of spaniards have neighbourhood disputes

Relations with neighbours are often delicate. When people are forced to live together, problems often arise. The most common neighbourhood disputes relate to noise and non-payment of community charges.

Specifically, two thirds of Spanish people have had a dispute with their neighbours for reasons such as noise, non-payment of community charges, or pets, among other issues.

Cleanliness, watering systems and bad smells are some of the other causes of neighbourhood disputes, but for the Spanish in particular, noise is by far and away the most common cause of conflicts between neighbours.

These latest findings in a study by CPP indicate that excessive noise is a problem specific to Spain. The same study showed that in Britain, for example, there are only half as many disputes over noise.

According to the report, many of the disputes between

neighbours remain unresolved and more than half of respondents said that they have occurred over the past year.

Legal costs are, together with damages, the biggest sources of economic loss when solving a neighborhood dispute in Spain. Only one in ten people are likely to take legal action.

The study shows that the consequences of these conflicts include having to deal with unexpected expenses and lost time, having to take legal action, having to cope with stressful arguments, and even health problems, especially in those over 65.

Another consequence of neighbourhood conflicts, which generates substantial costs, is having to move house, which 8% of people surveyed claim to have done or are thinking of doing, with young people between 26 and 35 the most willing to do so.

Many highlighted the psychological rather than economic cost of the disputes

with their neighbours, which two out of ten respondents reported having suffered. 10% of respondents said the dispute had resulted in the total breakdown of relations with their neighbour.

Region by region, Murcia had the highest number of neighbourhood disputes, with 77% of people surveyed saying they had at some time been, or were currently involved in one, followed by Madrid (72%) and Valencia (70%); whereas Navarre (40%), Galicia (51%) and Asturias (52%) were all below average.

Young people aged between 18 and 35 are the most likely to be involved in a neighbourhood conflict - 73% claim to have had disputes with their neighbours; while nearly half of those over 65 years (45%) say they have never encountered this kind of situation.

People living in flats suffer more disputes (72%) than those living in detached villas (63%) or semi-detached housing (63%).

5SOLTIMES MARCH 2012www.soltimes.com

fAllA brings leonArdo dA Vinci bAck to life As

A ten-tonne stAtue

photo By Jos manuel cencillo - www.lavanguardia.com/fotos

The huge, ten-tonne head of Leonardo da Vinci, the central figure in Na Jordanas falla statue, has already become one of the main attractions of Valencias Fallas festival this year.

This falla chapters monument, located in the historic city centre, has been made almost entirely out of wood (90%), a move back towards traditional craftmanship and away from the now common and extensive use of expanded polystyrene.

The statistics involved with the construction of Da Vincis head are mind boggling: at 23 metres high, it is as tall as a seven-storey building, and seven million staples were used to hold all the parts together.

Manuel Garca, the artist responsible for designing and creating the enormous figure, told the press today that it was the biggest, most spectacular and most difficult figure that he had ever made over the course of his

career, with one of the main problems being the need to use 35,000 kg of ballast at the base to support the figure.

In order to construct the huge replica of Da Vincis head, which is one single piece, Garca used 20 cubic metres of pine and poplar wood, and five people have been assembling wooden splints non stop for six months now, which, placed end to end would stretch for 240 km.

The members of the Na Jordana chapter, traditionally one of the most visited and photographed fallas in Valencia, are delighted with the result. Their president, Pere Borrego, referred to the artist as el maestro and explained that their statue - Leonardo da Vinci - would include references to all of the genius inventions because they are all still current and inextricably linked to what is happening socially in our country today.

drought spells trouble for firefighters

The general lack of rain and extreme dryness in much of the country is making it extrememly difficult for firefighters to bring the numerous forest fires, that have been burning since early last week, under control.

In Catalunya - where 1,506 hectares has already been razed this year - firefighters have finally managed to get the fires in the Pyrenees under control, but the fire in Truchas (Len) is still being battled.

Airborne assistance has once again been called in to try to control the fires burning in Castanesa (Huesca), which have already forced the evacuation of 14 nearby villages.

With most of the fires in the Pyrenees around Lleida under control, firefighters are now concentrating their efforts on the area around Montanuy, where the flames are proving particularly difficult to extinguish.

Residents of Ardanu, Ardanuy, Benifons, Castanesa, Denuy, Erber, Fonchanina, Llagunas, Ribera, Sei, Neril and Noales have been allowed back to their homes, and firefighters and civil protection teams are dampening the surrounding areas today in an effort to prevent the fires re-

igniting.

According to the environment department of the Catalan regional government - la Generalitat - there has never been such a disastrous start to the year in terms of forest fires.

Elsewhere, two forest fires that broke out near the towns of Vilamarn and Carballeda de Valdeorras in Galicia have been brought under control, but not before 250 hectares of land were destroyed.

And in Segovia, a 56-year-old man was arrested and charged with starting a forest fire after being caught red-handed by an officer from the Guardia Civil as he set fire to shrubland close to Trescasas.

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spain sells 3.0 Billion euros in Bonds, rates

mostly lowerSpain raised 3.0 billion euros ($3.9 billion)

Thursday at mostly lower rates in an auction of three-, four- and six-year bonds, the first since Madrid agreed a higher deficit target for 2012 with the European Union.

The treasurys borrowing costs fell for the two shorter dated bonds when compared with the previous comparable auctions but rose for the longer-dated bond, the central bank said.

Spain had hoped to raise 2.5-3.5 billion euros in the bond auctions.

Demand was high, with investors bidding for more than 12 billion euros of bonds in a market flush with cheap loans from the European Central Bank

The average yield on three-year bonds was 2.44 percent, down from 2.966 percent in the last sale on February 16.

For four-year bonds, the rate fell to 3.374 percent from 3.748 percent during the last sale held January 12.

But the average yield rose on six-year bonds

to 4.193 percent from 3.953 percent when bonds of that maturity were last auctioned on November 20, 2008.

The so-called bid-to-cover ratio for the auction -- a measure of investor demand relative to the debt available -- rose for all three sales.

It climbed to 4.96 from 4.37 for the three-year bonds, to 4.13 from 2.21 for the four-year bonds and to 2.91 from 1.74 for the six-year bonds.

The European Union agreed Monday to let Spain relax its 2012 public deficit goal to 5.3 percent of gross domestic product -- higher than the original goal of 4.4 percent but lower than the 5.8 percent Madrid was asking for.

The new deficit target obliges Spain to make an extra 5.0 billion euros of savings this year

Madrid maintained its commitment to bring the public deficit down to a European Union limit of 3.0 percent of output in 2013.

spANish euroVegAs project fAces oppositioNA new citizens group

unveiled Wednesday has vowed to fight plans by a US gaming giant to build a Las Vegas-style casino strip in Spain that promises to create over 250,000 jobs.

Las Vegas Sands, owned by US billionaire Sheldon Adelson, is in talks with Spains two biggest cities, Madrid and Barcelona, to build the complex which reportedly will have six casinos, 12 hotels, nine theatres and three golf courses.

The project -- dubbed Eurovegas -- will involve investments worth up to 18.8 billion euros ($24.5 billion) and will create 261,000 direct and indirect jobs in a nation where the jobless rate has soared to just under 23 percent since the collapse of a property bubble in 2008.

But the citizens group called Eurovegas No that was officially unveiled on Wednesday questions the job creation figures and warns the project would draw organised crime and prostitutes.

The numbers which they are selling us are not real. This is a repeat of a growth model based on excessive construction. It is not a source of sustainable jobs, said one of the organizers of the group, Ana Sanz.

Any jobs that will be created will mostly be low-skilled and the complex

will foster prostitution, added another organizer, Carlos Ruiz.

We are going to become a nation of waiters and prostitutes, he said.

Las Vegas Sands, the worlds biggest casino company by market value, is expected to announce if it will go ahead with the project -- and if so where it will be located -- in June or July.

Local officials in Barcelona and Madrid are reportedly offering tax breaks, gambling law changes and free land to lure Adelsons project.

More than half of the residents of Madrid who are out of work could find jobs if the project goes forward, the president of the regional government of Madrid, Esperanza Aguirre, said last month.

We are going to change all the rules that we must change, as long as it is in agreement with our principles.

Artur Mas, the head of the regional government of Catalonia of which Barcelona is the capital, said the project would draw quality tourism.

The projects detractors oppose the legal and financial incentives being offered to Las Vegas Sands.

It will be a free zone where laws are set by this investor, said Ruiz.

Las Vegas Sands, which

owns casinos in Las Vegas, Singapore and Macau, has demanded a ten-year moratorium on taxes applied to income from gaming and that Spains money-laundering laws be changed, he said.

The company also wants firms involved in the project be exempt from the value added tax and has asked that smoking be allowed inside the complex.

Smoking has been banned inside Spanish restaurants and bars since January 2011.

Last week Las Vegas Sands spokesman Ronald Reese told Spanish public television TVE that the talks with the different levels of government are very advanced.

I can assure you that these are not agreements which will change the (legal) structure of Madrid, Barcelona or Spain, he added.

The tourism sector, which accounts for about ten percent of Spains gross domestic product, is one of the few bright spots of the Spanish economy.

Spain -- the worlds fourth largest tourist destination behind France, the United States and China -- received 56.9 million foreign visitors in 2011, an 8.1 percent increase over the previous year.

europe to demAnd inflAtionbusting budget rise

meps will oN tuesdAy demANd AN iNflAtioN-bustiNg 42.6 millioN rise iN their owN budget, with extrA cAsh to speNd oN propAgANdA, politicAl pArties ANd A

museum of officiAl europeAN uNioN history.Bruno Waterfield, writing for

the Telegraph reported that the three per cent increase for the European Parliament will take its spending to 1.5 billion at a time of national austerity and as the EU is imposing budget cuts on eurozone countries.

If agreed during budget talks later this year, the increase means that British taxpayers will contribute 186 million an extra 5.3 million to the running of the parliament in 2013.

The EU assemblys estimates for next year will be voted through by MEPs this week as part of plans for a bigger overall EU budget for 2013, increases that are fiercely resisted by governments.

With tough decisions being taken in countries across Europe to sort out their finances, an inflation busting increase like this would be completely unacceptable, said a British diplomat.

MEPs have accused governments, led by Britain, of artificially trying to cut Brussels spending to help the EU emerge from economic crisis by ignoring real budget needs.

But confidential documents,

seen by the Daily Telegraph, disclose that, in terms of their own budget, MEPs are more preoccupied with their public image than the economy.

Despite the worst economic crisis since 1945, the parliament wants a 24 per cent increase in spending on communications and spin doctors.

Panic is growing in the parliament over looming European elections in 2014 after voter turnout fell to a record low in 2009 amid swings to Eurosceptic parties.

Martin Schulz, the parliaments president, admitted last Friday that most members of the public view MEPs as superfluous, useless human beings.

In a bid to win over a hostile public, the parliaments overall propaganda budget will rise over 20 per cent to 36.7 million.

Expenditure on audio-visual information is up 36 per cent, including 6.7 million for Europarl TV, a television channel highlighting the work of MEPs with only 830 daily

viewers.

The parliament is also pressing ahead with the creation of a controversial 70 million House of European History, celebrating the EU, at a cost of 18.9m next year.

The parliament is also seeking to increase public funding for the activities of artificial EU political parties.

Contributions for political foundations will increase by 9.8 per cent despite the parliaments own internal auditor identifying serious problems with the funding.

Under the proposals, funding for parties, such as the federalist European Peoples Party, will rise to 244 million.

Marta Andreasen, a Ukip MEP and former whistle-blowing chief accountant at the European Commission, dismissed the spending rises as unnecessary and unwarranted.

Ignoring the financial suffering of the public and increased spending on PR will do nothing to counter the valid accusation that the EU institutions live in a hugely expensive ivory tower, she said.


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Sunseed houses and structures, developing more educational activities

and students projects; we are back opening doors again to volunteers,

interns and courses.We have updated our website www.

sunseed.org.uk and our Project Pack, we invite you to have a look!!

And to come along and join us in a great 2012 wide range of activities.

COURSESApril 5 9: Practical Permaculture Course: Caring for the land, caring for people. 5 days energetic

practical permaculture supported by theory sessions and practicals. Ethicls, principles & design

April 27 28: Introduction to Solar electric systems: Theory and practice of solar electric systems: a basic introduction for anyone who wants to learn about solar electric systems, individual components and would like to develop an understanding of how they work.

April 29 May 1: Design & Installation of PV Systems: The course focuses mainly on stand-alone (off-grid) systems but can be tailored to meet individual interests, includes theory and practicals.

April 28 -29 28: Solar Oven building DIY: With easy methods and cheap materials. Use free, clean and green energy for cooking

May 11 -17: Thermal Mass Kachelofen - Masonry Stove DIY: Theoretical and practical, with design and building a high efficiency, ecologic and economic stove. And learning about the possibilities to add: an oven for cooking, back boiler for heating water, warm bench...

May 19 -20:

Natural clay plaster finishes: Natural renders with clay, sand and lime. Sustainable technique to decorate our house in a healthy and ecological way, giving a warmer look to walls, benches, stoves..

GUIDED TOURSEvery Tuesday at 15.00, meeting point at Sunseed Main House. FREE but booking required!

Visiting the project and its departments: Organic Gardens, Appropriate Technology.

Every Tuesday as well, the Pita-School has Open Doors day, with workshops, tours, coffee ceremony and jam music.... www.timbedrums.com

VACANCIES:Sunseed is looking for a new: Project Manager to start June 2012.

Deadline for applications: 20th April 2012. Drylands Management Coordinator to start ASAP. Deadline for applications 15th of April 2012.

VOLUNTEERING:We are always open to receive volunteers that want to spend some

time working, learning and living with as, as well as Students in internships or dissertations, and professionals that want to undertake research or develop new projects.

IF YOU WANT TO RECEIVE FURTHER INFORMATION FROM ANY OF THE TOPICS, PLEASE CONTACT US.

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dnA of britons could be pAssed on in eu

dAtA-shAring schemepolice could be required to hANd oVer the dNA of poteNtiAlly iNNoceNt britoNs to europeAN couNtries After the coAlitioN

Agreed to eNforce A coNtroVersiAl eu treAtyIn a press report from the Telegraph, it

appears that driver registration details from DVLA would also be passed on even though criminal justice systems vary considerably across the continent.

Under the Prum Treaty, any of the 27 EU members can ask another state to check a DNA sample against their database and pass on the results.

The Uk is joining despite concerns people could be wrongly accused of crimes overseas because the project requires a lower accuracy test for DNA matches.

Research has revealed up to two thirds of checks under the treaty could be so-called false positives, where an innocent person is wrongly identified as a match. It would leave Britons facing the prospect of extradition to face trial abroad and having to fight to prove their innocence.

The Conservatives criticised the treaty while they were in opposition and warned it increased the risk of people being subject to miscarriages of justice.

But the Government is now pushing ahead with adopting the proposals and intends to begin sharing details by 2015.

Critics last night urged ministers to think again and opt-out of the programme, which is still possible.

The Commons European Scrutiny Committee also plans to examine the latest research, which was based in Holland, as a matter of urgency.

Dominic Raab, the Tory MP, said: Britain has not suffered from being out of this pan-European data sharing regime.

But, if we opt in, with a million innocent peoples DNA on our police database and a 67 per cent error rate under the EU scheme, more and more Uk citizens risk finding themselves mistakenly dragged into criminal investigations abroad.

It is one more reason not to give up Uk democratic control over crime and policing in 2014.

Britains obligations under the treaty will increase pressure on David Cameron to pull out of the data sharing scheme in 2014, when the Uk has the option to take back control of 130 EU laws.

Under the EU arrangements, police would have to check a DNA profile against the database regardless of whether the alleged offence is even a crime in this country.

The country requesting the check will then be told whether there is a match and passed details.

In the Uk, a DNA profile can only be matched to a sample if it passes at least 10 separate checks.

Under the terms of the treaty, however, the standard is lower with just six checks required.

Research conducted in Holland found out of 81 matches with six checks, some 67 per cent were false positives.

In contrast, there was just a five per cent error rate among 259 matches where seven checks were carried out.

In 2003, Peter Hamkin, a barman from Liverpool, was wrongly arrested for the murder of Italian woman Annalisa Vincenti in Tuscany because of a false positive match.

He had never been to Italy in his life but extradition proceedings were only halted after a second DNA test established his

innocence.

Bill Cash, chairman of parliamentary European Scrutiny Committee, said: This new information is clearly relevant to the operation of these proposals and I shall be investigating the matter in addition to the other work the committee has been doing on this.

There is tsunami of proposed opt-ins (on European criminal justice matters) which is causing concern to the committee and we shall monitor this very carefully.

James Clappison, a committee member added: Ministers need to look at this and ensure that standards are at least as high on these requests as they are for DNA checks in this country, especially considering the importance courts give to DNA evidence.

The Uk has the largest DNA database in the world with more than five million profiles on it.

The Governments intention to begin sharing DNA under Prum was revealed in a letter to Mr Cashs committee last year, which has only now come to light.

James Brokenshire, the Home Office minister, said the aim was to meet the Treaty obligations on DNA and vehicle registration data later in the 2011-2015 spending period.

In 2008, when Britain signed up to Prum, Dominic Grieve, the then shadow home secretary, said: There is a real risk that a disproportionate number of innocent British citizens will be sucked into foreign criminal investigations.

He added: My fear is that Ministers have magnified the risk of British citizens becoming the victim of miscarriages of justice that take place abroad but have effectively been sanctioned by their own government at home.

A Home Office spokesman last night insisted only the details of people with previous convictions would be passed on. However, that could still result in someone with a minor conviction here being wrongly linked to a crime overseas and have their details passed on.

The spokesman said: The Uk has not yet implemented the DNA provisions of the so-called Prum Council Decisions, but we are monitoring the experiences of other European countries closely.

The only DNA records that would be shared under the new system are those relating to individuals with convictions, either in the Uk or overseas.

We are clear that only when we are satisfied that a sufficient DNA match has been identified would the Uk government release an individuals details to another EU country.

: The details of every passenger flying into the Uk from outside Europe will be sent in advance for security and immigration officials to check from this April, Damian Green will announce today.

A roll-out of advance passenger data will cover every flight arriving from outside the European Economic Area from next month, the immigration minister will say in a speech on border security in London.

Talks are also continuing to extend the e-borders system across Europe as well although concerns have been raised that it could be illegal under EU rules to gather such information.


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away day at Alboran rather than playing our regular Friday golf at Almerimar. It was a coach trip for the 29 players and 3 lunch guests that took part. The round of golf was followed by a very pleasant lunch outside the chiringuito.The results were as follows:Best man - Alan Sly - 38 ptsBest lady - Joan Edgington - 38 ptsBest front 9 - Jacqui Mays - 20 ptsBest back 9 - Marie-Anne Pettersson - 17 ptsNear pin hole 2 - Sune Jnsson - 13.90mNear pin hole 6 - Sune Jnsson - 14.30mNear pin hole 12 - Rolf Jnegrd - 12.50mNear pin hole 17 - Joan Edgington - 3.60m

You can see the full results atwww.fridaygolfsociety.es.

If you would like to take part in the friendly Friday competitions at Almerimar

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Dates for your Diary25 March 2012

Sunday Competition (CONFIRMED DATE) - Sponsored by La Plaza

APRIL 20128 April 2012 - Sunday Competition

(PROVISIONAL DATE) - Sponsored by Nautico

JUNE 201222 June 2012 -Top Banana competition at

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el ejiDo.................................The Cajamar Foundation Experimental Station

presented the results of tests concerning the pollination of zucchini.

Since 2001 trials comparing different strategies such as phytohormones/biostimulants against natural pollinators (bees and bumblebees) has obtained very satisfactory results.

Although natural pollination has been found to be successful and viable in most fruit and vegetable crops, this has not been so in the zucchini crops. The production of greenhouse zucchini is still dominated by applications of plant growth regulators or biostimulants, which involve a significant expenditure of labour and high frequency of collections as well as doubts about long-term safety.

The main conclusions derived from these tests show that the use of Phytohormones and/or biostimulants at the beginning of the cycle may be a good strategy but continued use does not improve the commercial production achieved at end of the cycle over bee or bumblebee pollinators. Therefore, the use of natural pollinators for zucchini can be a good alternative over the use of Phytohormones.

However, it is necessary to adapt the hives to optimise pollination and is essential to ensure the presence of male flowers.

el ejiDo.................................The NNGG of El Ejido organised a meeting

between young people and politicians to discuss the issues that most concern young people in these times.

Under the heading Coffee and Politics, the provincial Peoples Party spokesman, Francisco Gongora, the parliamentary candidate of Andalucia, Rosalie Espinosa, the deputy provincial, Almudena Valentin and local party secretary, Angl Escobar exchanged views with the attendees and answered question.

During the meeting, young people learnt about the main proposals of the Peoples Party youth policy. The Popular Party is expected to undertake many initiatives and improvements in their youth program, such as an urgent plan for the promotion of youth employment, a profound educational reform in Andalucia and the development of a plan that allows the young easier access to housing.

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Burglars 3 - 0 English Bars it could BE you nExt!

Further to last weeks report, another English run bar has been burgled! on Friday night, 9/10th March 2012, again in the small hours, a bar on calle sierra nevada in the urb of roquetas de Mar was broken into and robbed. that means the score so far is now: Burglars 3 - 0 English Bars, thats in the past few weeks.again, items and money were stolen and damage was

caused to the premises. an expensive laptop computer went for hike. charity collection boxes for the royal British legion and la Mojonera dogs refuge (sociedad Protectora de anilmales de roquetas de Mar) were also robbed.over the past few weeks, a good number of other premises

have also been broken into, plus a large number cycles been stolen in the urb, even when chained up. in times of recession and hardship, people will be getting very desperate. so, the watchword is be very carEFul and dont take it for granted and think that it wont happen to you.the local neighbourhood watch people were informed on

Facebook by a resident local to the area, so the word will eventually get round. holidaymakers should be more vigilant and ever watchful

for themselves and, their neighbours!the guardia civil / Policia local dont seem to be able

to stop these activities late at night, so dont leave money, valuables and laptops on premises overnight!

sPrEad thE word and BE carEFul, BEcausE it could BE

you nExt!

Hi - This is Cassidy Megan,I would like to thank everybody around the world for helping support Purple Day and people around the world with epilepsy. I also want to thank our global partners, the Epilepsy Association of Nova Scotia and The Anita Kaufmann Foundation. If none of you guys were here to help me and support Purple Day, Purple Day wouldnt have succeeded so much. So a big THANK YOU to all of you!!!I started Purple Day because when I first found out that I had epilepsy I was afraid and embarrassed of what other people would think. I also thought I was the only kid in the world with epilepsy. I wanted to have one day where everyone in the world could show support for people with epilepsy and teach people about epilepsy.

Educating people about epilepsy is so important because people need to know what to do if they see someone having a seizure and they need to know that there are different types of seizures and that they dont have to be afraid of epilepsy or the people who have it. Education also helps people with epilepsy know they arent alone.Since I started Purple Day, I feel special in a way because I am helping people around the world. I dont feel alone, scared or embarrassed anymore and I really hope other people around the world dont feel that way anymore either.I love that I have made a whole lot of friends from all around the world since starting Purple Day and I am proud of all of us, because we are helping people everywhere learn and be aware.I would really like it if you would continue to support Purple Day and help me and other people around the world learn about epilepsy. Please also let them know we arent alone. Please continue to pass the word around and spread awareness. I am so happy and excited that Purple Day has gotten so big from all of our hard work. It is so exciting to think just how big it will keep growing every year with all of us working together!Thank you again. YOU ROCK!!!Cassidy

Purple day the global day of Epilepsy awarenessPurple Day is an international grassroots effort dedicated to

increasing awareness about epilepsy worldwide. On March 26th annually, people in countries around the world are invited to wear purple and host events in support of epilepsy awareness.

Epilepsy affects over 50 million people worldwide or approximately 1 in 100 people. Thats more than multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and Parkinsons disease combined.

Purple Day was founded in 2008, by nine-year-old Cassidy Megan of Nova Scotia, Canada, with the help of the Epilepsy Association of Nova Scotia (EANS). Cassidy chose the colour purple after the international colour for epilepsy, lavender. The lavender flower is also often associated with solitude, which is representative of the feelings of isolation many people affected by epilepsy and seizure disorders often feel. Cassidys goal is for people with epilepsy everywhere to know they are not alone.

EPilEPsy Facts...There are around 40 different types of seizure and a

person may have more than one typeEpilepsy can affect anyone, at any age and from any walk

of lifeEpilepsy is a neurological condition456,000 or one in every 131 people in the Uk has

epilepsyEvery day in the Uk, 75 people are diagnosed with

epilepsy.Only 52% of people with epilepsy in the Uk are seizure-

free. It is estimated that 70% could be seizure free with the right treatment.

One in 20 people will have a single seizure at some time in their life.

Many people who develop epilepsy below the age of 20 will grow out of it in adult life.

Many people with epilepsy are still discriminated against due to ignorance about the condition.

Epilepsy is covered by the Disability Discrimination Act.Many people with epilepsy can take part in the same

activities as everyone else, with the help of simple safety measures where appropriate.

People who have been seizure free for a year can re-apply for their driving licence.


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thousAnds of ms sufferers to be offered world-first dAily pill to bAttle diseAse

Thousands of people with MS could benefit from the first pill to treat the disabling disease.

The NHS rationing body has approved the drug fingolimod which can halve relapses compared with standard interferon injections.

Experts hoped the once-a-day pill will replace injections and hospital infusions for at least 5,000 sufferers a year.

In its initial assessment, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) said the drug was not value for money despite admitting it works.

But after considering extra evidence on its effectiveness Nice decided to give the go-ahead for use on the NHS.

Dr Eli Silber, a consultant neurologist who leads the MS service for South London based at kings College Hospital, and was involved in trials, said

Weve waited a long time for an effective oral treatment to offer patients who are continuing to relapse on first line injections.

Todays decision increases treatment choice. Because it is a highly effective oral agent it may change the way MS is managed in the Uk forever.

With more active forms of MS, we have a limited window of opportunity to make a difference to patients lives - many are young people who are raising families and starting their careers.

I want to get appropriate patients onto this therapy as quickly as possible.

MS is the most common disabling neurological condition, affecting almost 100,000 Britons - 50 young people are diagnosed each week.

It involves damage to myelin, a protective sheath surrounding nerve fibres of the central nervous system which means the bodys immune system attacks itself.

Symptoms range from mild, occasional illness involving numbness, muscle weakness and eye problems to rapid and severe deterioration, resulting in serious disability.

Trial results in the New England Journal of Medicine last year showed fingolimod, also known as Gilenya, cut relapse rates and progression of the disease.

Patients treated with fingolimod had a 50 per cent cut in disabling relapses compared with commonly used injections of beta interferon.

The chances of progressing to a worse form of the disease were cut by about a third, without significant side effects.

The new drug appears to dampen the immune response that

causes nerve damage in multiple sclerosis.

The 19,000 annual cost of the drug compares with the 21,000 annual cost of hospital infusions using Tysabri, and manufacturer Novartis has devised a patient access scheme that cuts the price.

MS specialists say the drug could make overall savings for the NHS, because fewer patients would need hospital treatment costing 3,000 a time after relapse and disability is lessened.

The draft guidance from Nice means it will be funded by the NHS in England and Wales after final guidance is issued next month. The drug, made by Novartis, was rejected for NHS use by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC).

Nick Rijke, Director of Policy & Research at the MS Society, said: We are delighted; this decision signifies a major step forward in the treatment of this devastating condition.

Gilenya has been found to be highly effective in trials and taking a daily tablet will come as welcome relief from frequent, often unpleasant, injections.

Making this new treatment available will increase patient choice for thousands of people with MS across England and Wales, but were deeply disappointed by the SMCs decision in Scotland - and urge them to reconsider.

Professor Carole Longson, Director of the Health Technology Evaluation Centre at NICE said: Following new information provided during the consultation, the analyses show that for these people (with highly active MS), treatment with fingolimod will be a cost effective option for the NHS, if Novartis provides the drug at a discounted price, as proposed in its patient access scheme.

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school bAgs cAusing bAck pAinRucksacks loaded with school

books have been linked to higher levels of back pain in a study of Spanish school children.

The findings, reported in Archives of Disease in Childhood, said many pupils had excessively loaded backpacks. This was linked to higher levels of back pain in the 1,403 school children taking part in the study.

The research took place at Hospital da Costa in Burela and University Hospital Son Dureta in Palma. The reports authors said school children should not carry anything which weighs more than 10% of their body weight.

Measurements were taken from

pupils aged 12-17 from 11 schools in Northern Spain. It showed that nearly two thirds of pupils had backpacks which broke the 10% rule.

The weight of the bags was then analysed for back pain, measured as at least 15 days in a year with back pain.

The pupils were split into four groups based on the weight of their bags. Pupils in the group with the heaviest bags were 50% more likely to have reported back pain than in the group with the lightest bags.

The report said back pain was a bigger problem in school girls and

that the risk increased with age.The authors concluded: The results

obtained have strong implications.Many children transport

excessively loaded backpacks, an excess which would not be allowed for workers in employment.

Sean McDougal, from the charity Backcare, said: The average child in the Uk is carrying 15-20% of their body weight to school and back.

Children are also in the habit of carrying bags over just one shoulder.

He advises taking to school only what is needed on any given day and ensuring that backpacks are worn over both shoulders.

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girl, 3, Has new lease of life witH parameDic Dog

a girl wHo struggles to

breatHe Due to a rare illness is

being kept alive by a Dog witH a gas

tank strappeD to its back.

Alida knoblock, three, has neuroendocrine hyperplasia of infancy which means her lungs have difficulty absorbing oxygen.

She was diagnosed with the condition when she was eight months old.

And the illness, which was discovered in 2005 and affects just 800 people worldwide, means diseases pieces of the lungs filter oxygen through extra layers of cell, making it almost impossible to breathe.

Alida needs constant oxygen and Goldendoodle Mr Gibbs has been specially trained to carry her tank wherever she goes so she has more freedom of movement.

Before his arrival even a walk in the park was very difficult for Alida, from Loganville, Georgia, US, because equipment was too heavy for her to carry it herself.

Her parents struggled to

come up with a suitable solution until they saw a TV programme about service dogs.

They realised an animal trained to help the blind could be trained to help their daughter.

And now Alida and Mr Gibbs love nothing more than playing and running around together.

Alida said: Hes my best dog.

And her mum Debbie, 39, a nurse, said Alida and

Mr Gibbs were growing up together and learning all the time.

She said: Alida never complains about her condition, at the moment she does have a habit of trying to pull out her tubes, though. We have to tell her thats not a good idea.

She loves Mr Gibbs and he loves her too. Were trying to make life easier for her and shes just now starting to realise shes different, but as the bond between her and

Gibbs gets stronger, we think things will get better.

As a pair they do work well together, Mr Gibbs has the oxygen tank on his back and then Alida has his leash.

Debbie is now working with the chiLD foundation charity to raise funds to help families both in the US and the Uk with research into the new disease.

To donate to the cause, visit www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/sweetalida/nehi

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pizza wHile eating it... because just seeing images of HigH-carb fooD makes tHings taste better!Looking at pictures of

high-carb food like pizza makes things taste better, research shows.

People who looked at images of pizza or pastry reported food tasting better than people looking at pictures of watermelon or green beans.

Scientists say that vision is known to play a major role in food perception, raising expectation of taste and driving acceptance or rejection.

But the impact of different types of food on taste remained unexplored, reports journal PLoS ONE.

To test the effect, 14 volunteers were shown quick images of either high carb or low carb food, such as pizza or watermelon.

They were then given an electric taste test - a pulse which stimulates the tongue but which has a neutral flavour which is neither pleasant nor unpleasant

They were asked by researchers from the Nestle Research Centre in Switzerland to rate the taste on pleasantness and intensity.

Dr Johannes le Coutre and his team also studied

brain images involved with food enjoyment which were taken during the experiment.

They found that those who had seen the high carb pictures enjoyed the taste more than those who had seen the low carb ones.

Dr le Coutre said: The results provide evidence that high calorie food cues enhance the hedonic evaluation of subsequently presented tastes.

The study provides novel insights into cross-modal sensory interactions underlying taste and probably food evaluation and consumption.

The neuroimages also gave insights into how the brain processed taste and sight to produce food enjoyment - which may have implications for treating appetite disorders, said Dr le Coutre.

He said: Future studise will have to elucidate to what extent the brain regions shown to be involve in visual-gustatory interactions could account for regulation of appetite and food intake control in real world settings.

Tel: 950 478 320 For Her & Him

Easy Parking at: Hotel el Puntazo, Mojacar PlayaHOuRs: Mon - sat 10am-2pm

email: [email protected]

TempTaTions Galore nowwiTh eye-caTchinG

new sprinG collecTions!

Unique designs, natural fabrics in flowing forms

of cottons, linens, viscose offer versatility and casual comfort to distinct elegance for

any occasion!


A7 E15 JCT 547

MURCIA

ALMERIA

Albox

Cucador

WE ARE

HERE

La Alfoquia

COmE & VISIt US At OUR WAREHOUSE ON tHE AlBOx ROAD

tHe encloSure SpeciAliStSWe are a professional S.l. registered company that

has been trading in Spain for several years.Utinside

in Europe S.l.mobile : 677 114 576 / 695 118 960

www.insideoutineurope.com [email protected]

SCREENED ENClOSURESAll enclosures are made from high quality aluminium not to be confused with the cheaper grade of material which is out there. Also we use Phifer Screen which is the number one seller in the USA and will out last other brands by several years. Outward vision is very clear and gives protection from wind and debris. Eat and drink outside without being pestered by any wildlife. We build enclosures any size, any shape to suit any budget.

GlASS ENClOSURES For Winter and Summer Use With or Without Fly Screens Double Glazed Units Aluminium Frames Incorporating Fully Insulated Tiled-effect Roofs Polycarbonate Roofs The Best Quality For Minimum Price

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The SainSburyS SporT relief Mile

one amazing year of sport. one great way to take part.

over the Sport relief Weekend, over a million people

are expected to join in the Sainsburys Sport relief Mile.

Theyll be running, dancing, jumping, skipping and

fancy dressing their way to helping others.

The SporT relief Sock

The Sport relief Sock is back and to commemorate the

uks biggest year of sport, its sporting a special union

Jack design. Made with fairtrade cotton, the nation

can grab a pair from www.sportrelief.com

The SporT relief TShirT

Theyre made from fairtrade cotton, theyre raising

money for Sport relief and for the first time ever they

can be personalised. The public can kit themselves out

in the Sport relief T-Shirt, available from Sportsdirect.

com stores and online.

celebriTy challengeS

The bT Sport relief challenges: Sport relief superstar,

David Walliams, went to extraordinary lengths

for the bT Sport relief challenge: Walliams vs The

Thames. he swam a staggering 140 miles, raised

over 1 million and even rescued a dog!

SporT relief bringS The enTire naTion TogeTher To geT acTive, raiSe caSh anD change liveS...iTS back froMfriDay 23rD To SunDay 25Th March

hoW The Money helpS...Whatever the public do to fundraise for Sport relief, theyll help people

living unimaginably tough lives on your doorstep in the uk and across the worlds poorest countries. comic relief spends the cash raised through Sport relief to help people in dire need. at home, Sport relief cash gives comfort and help to vulnerable older people. it helps people in disadvantaged communities living with poor mental or physical health or a lack of job opportunities. and thats just the start. abroad, Sport relief cash protects and supports

children who live on the streets. it provides cost effective, life-saving healthcare and access to clean water for those who are too poor to pay for it. it does all this and so much more...

oTher challengeS...blue peters helen Skelton is venturing to the coldest and windiest place on earth as she attempts to travel 500 miles in freezing temperatures to the South pole by bike, kite and skis! The SporT relief Tellyin between all that activity, there will be plenty of opportunities for the nation to put their feet up in front of the box for some top notch Sport relief Tv on the bbc. Just some of the shows to stay in for include the night of Tv on friday 23rd March and the muchanticipated documentary about David Walliams epic Thames challenge, Walliams vs The Thames.

for More inforMaTion

go To:WWW.

SporTrelief.coM


priceD to sell

3 beds / 2 baths - size 125m2 space for pool (12m x 6m) with open views exceptional, uninterrupted views of orange and

lemon groves to front & rear situated between almanzora & arboleas, overlooking

almanzora valley 10 minutes to nearest town with all amenities only 30 minutes to coast ideal for builder to complete internals

tel: 609 199 394 / 647 379 878 / 950 064 801

DEtACHED VIllA FOR SAlE detached villa shell built up to - and including roof - 125m2 as a

completion project. secluded position, unspoilt countryside with views across orange and lemon groves to front and rear.

fully legal & escritura

Must be viewed to appreciate this golden

opportunity75,000 euros

75,000 eurosRear ViewFront View

Q: Please exPlain the situations in which a resident Qualifies for non-Payment of caPital gains tax.A . The first thing is to be able to prove to the notary the

day of the sale that you are in fact a Spanish tax resident. It is very important to realize that having what everyone calls the residencia issued by the police does not in fact prove you are a tax resident of Spain , and that if this is the only document you take to the notary to prove tax residency , the notary will consider you a non resident and you will be subject to a 3% retention.

To prove you are a tax resident your solicitor needs to request a certificate from the tax authorities, which can then be taken to the notary. If you suffer the nasty surprise of them saying that in fact you are a non resident, you will need to get this amended by proving to them that you are in fact a resident before they will issue you with the correct certificate for the notary. The best way to secure tax residency status is making a resident income tax declaration in Spain in June of every year. If you are going to sell shortly, request this certificate in advance to avoid last minute surprises.

1. The possible total or partial exemption from capital gains tax due to reinvestment (roll-over ): If you are a resident and sell one property to purchase another of the same or higher price you can claim 100% exemption from capital gains tax. To benefit you have to have been a resident for at least 3 year before the sale takes place, and you must purchase the next property within 2 years of the sale. If you are moving to a smaller property, you can claim exemption of a percentage of the capital gains tax.

2. Claim of total exemption if you are over 65 years old: If you are over 65 and sell your main home (where you must have lived for at least 3 years as a resident), you can claim 100% exemption from capital gains tax even if you do not reinvest. If the property is owned by a couple and one member is over 65 and the other is not, you are allowed to claim the exemption in respect to half the price.

If you do not qualify for any of the above exemptions the rate of tax applied to your profit is 21% for profit up to 6000 euros, 24% for profit between 6001 euros and 24000 and 27% of profit above 24001

LEGAL CORNERWITH MICHAEL DAVIES, ABOGADO/SOLICITORIf you wish us to print an article about a particular topic,

please e-mail [email protected] (we will sometimes have to alter the questions to avoid identification of the sender). In these cases the specific reply is sent by email to the sender (sometimes with more detail)

Michael Davies is a Spanish Abogado and has been practicing law in Almera since 1993. He is member of the Law societies of Almera and Madrid and has offices in Mojacar and Almeria High Street.

electricity prices set to rise in April

The Minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism, Jos Manuel Soria, has acknowledged that electricity prices would be increased on April 1st. No actual figure has been given, but industry experts are suggesting prices could rise by as much as 7%.

The Supreme Court is obliging the government to clear debt totalling over a billion euros, which it has run up with the power supply companies by previously holding tariffs down.

The government has admitted that it has an ongoing debt of 1.035bn with electricity suppliers, the countrys largest municipal debt.

At the moment the ministry is working on

a mix of lower costs and increased revenue to meet the Supreme Court order and to ensure the full cost of compliance does not fall on consumers, said Soria.

Soria admitted that the costs and revenues so far established have not been able to meet the deficit targets set by law for the electricity sector: 3 billion euros in 2011 and 1.5 billion in 2012.

The minister reiterated that the solutions necessary to bridge the current gap, caused by the fact that the income generated by the system is insufficient to cover costs, will not depend solely on consumers, and that he is working on a package for the sector as a whole

police repeatedly reconstruct alleged disappearance of crdoBa children

For over an hour and a half on the morning of 15th March, police and legal experts reconstructed the arrival of Jos Bretn, the father of the two young children who disappeared in October, at the park in Crdoba where he alleges they were taken from him. The reconstruction was repeated over and over again, with a police officer playing the part of Bretn and two children of similar ages and complexions as his missing children playing their part. Officers timed his arrival at the entrance to the park, paying specific attention to the time taken to park and get the children out of the car, to compare the results with the various different versions of the events that day that Bretn has given police.

Dozens of officers were involved in monitoring the reconstruction, which was repeated 15 times in all, with particular note being taken of Bretns claim that he couldnt open one of the car doors because of the close proximity of a road sign on the pavement, one of the reasons he has given for taking longer to park than might have been deemed necessary.

This extended reconstruction of events comes just 24 hours after the courts once again denied Jos Bretn bail and refused to lift the secrecy order on the case. Bretn is being held in custody accused of illegal detention of minors and of simulating a crime.


Whether used for travelling or at home, these wraps are a fab idea. We have loads of electrical devices requiring battery chargers these days mobile phones, cameras, and MP3s, to name but a few and these colourful gadgets stop messy wires. Plugs fit into one side of the wrap and the cable winds around the other, for a simple solution. Pack of 3.

Sometimes the only way to give salads, pasta and vegetables a really good mix is to get stuck in with your hands, but it can be a messy job. The next best things are these melamine mixing and serving hands like those seen on Nigellas cookery programme. Ergonomically shaped, they have a big palm area and fingers for lifting, mixing and serving cleanly. Dishwasher safe

Serving HandS ~ 6.01Foldaway Silicone Steamer ~ 7.20Folding flat, this silicone steamer wont

hog any cupboard space when not in use, yet is always ready to spring into action for some really healthy cooking. Small enough to fit into a kitchen drawer, silicone really lends itself to steaming its heat resistant, wont take on the flavour of your food, and is effortless to clean theres no box it doesnt tick! Dishwasher safe too.

A smarter way to serve your salads, the rubberwood tray neatly organises the porcelain dish, oil and vinegar bottles and condiment shakers. With a set of serving spoons included, we think this contemporary collection would be just as lovely for serving pasta at the table too.

pleaSe note, priceS do not include p&pall oF theSe productS are available to purchaSe on-line

For more inFormation email : [email protected]

homeStyle GadGetS

homeStyle GadGetS

No more tea slops, as the mugs stay firmly footed on the anti-slip surface.

Whatever youve got to transport, you can be sure it will arrive at its destination without incident

anti-Slip Serving tray ~ 10.80

adaptor WrapS ~ 6.60

Salad Serving Set ~ 36.09

creAtion of new spAnish compAnies on the increAseA total of 15,769 new companies were

established in Spain in the first two months of the year, which represents an increase of 12% over the same period last year, and with an invested capital of 1,370 million euros (+53%), according to a study by Informa D & B.

In February, 8,272 new companies were formed, which represented a growth of 10% over January, while the capital invested in the second month of the year increased by 66% compared to February 2010.

As for company liquidations, in the first two months of the year there were a total of 6,751, which is 14% more than in 2011, and 1,109 insolvency proceedings were recorded, which represented an increase of 11%. The number of liquidations in February exceeded 3,000, and insolvency proceedings rose to 620.

However, all regions recorded an increase in the number of new company start-ups in the first two months of the year, with the exception of Cantabria, which saw a decrease of 25%, and the Basque Country, which experienced an 11% drop.

The regions where most companies were created were Madrid, Andalusia and Catalonia, the latter leading the investment figures, with over 292 million euros.

With regards to bankruptcy proceedings, the regions which recorded most for the first two months of the year were Catalonia (251), Valencia (150) and Madrid (140), and represented almost half the national total.

As for company liquidations, almost all regions increased their numbers through February, with minimal decreases in La Rioja, Castilla y Len and Valencia, while the three regions with most proceedings were Madrid (1,318), Andalucia (958) and Valencia (824).

CONSTRUCTION SEES BIGGEST GROWTHBusiness services, along with trade and

construction were the sectors where most companies were created in January and February, with construction experiencing the greatest increase over the previous year, with growth of 68%.

By contrast, El Economista reported that the energy sector fell by 13% over the same period in 2010, while financial intermediaries accumulated most investment in the first two months of the year, with 461 million euros.

Furthermore, 50% of the annual liquidations were from the trade, real estate and construction sectors, with the latter having most in the first two months of the year with a total of 228. Article courtesy of www.kyero.com

VIllA FOR RENt CUCADOR

Nice sized villa, three bedrooms and two bathrooms, fully-fitted

kitchen with white goods, lounge with fire place

3 CORtIJOS IN VElEZ RUBIOThree cortijos in a row. Refurbished and are all furnished with fitted kitchens and open fireplaces. Large garagePRice: 150,000

FOR ALL THRee 150,000

for more information or to arrange to view a property call or email new Horizon villas, Los Carasoles. Open 9am - 2pm

Tel Office: 950 449 600 [email protected] Out of hours: 636 20 50 70 www.newhorizonvillas.com

SPECIAl OFFERSFOR SALE - 2 bed Duplex inLa Alfoquia with community pool

For Sale - 3 bed Duplex in La Alfoquia with community pool

tO RENtlOS CARASOlES

VILLA WITH LAND3 BED FULLy FURNISHED WITH

PRIVATE POOL IN 2000M2450 PCM - 609 199 394

CAll tHE OFFICE OR FOR PHONE 609 199 394OtHER GREAt RENtAl PROPERtIES AVAIlABlE!

SALe PRice: 65,000

SALe PRice: 85,000


...cAll 902 750 190 or 950 121 936 ~ emAil: [email protected]

buying, selling or renting your property...

soltimesare you reading this?over 30,000 readers every

week could see your property for sale!

tel now on 902 750 190 to put your house on this page!

Properties to Rent in Arboleas, los Carasoles &

Sol Times Newspaper issue 329 Roquetas Edition

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Transcript of Sol Times Newspaper issue 329 Roquetas Edition