Associations

A pioneering idea in São Brás de Alportel Most of the Portuguese firefighter associations are voluntary, although local people and politicians demand – and get – results of a professional nature. For this, they find themselves obliged to have a core of salaried staff, working full time. With few associates and derisory subscriptions, they depend mainly on subsidies from the municipalities, which are not always forthcoming. AFPOP, based in Portimão, is the association of foreign property owners in Portugal, set up about 25 years ago to help solve basic problems such as registering cars and houses, or paying taxes. Linda …

The Transition Movement began in 2005 in Ireland. It started in response to two of the most serious challenges that we are likely to face in the near future: the challenges of Peak Oil and Climate Change. In the past eight years the movement has spread virally around the globe. In 2012 it won the European Civil Society´s award for working towards a low carbon and socially just future. “The choice is ours,” Carlos Abafa from Monchique says. We can choose to be overwhelmed by the changes or we can start to adapt to them now by creating a locally …