The Global Community needs to consider sanctions of Brazil to stop a tyrant President full of political hubrix and not facts.

Most of the states (click here) that contain parts of the Amazon are located in the Northern region of Brazil.

The assesssment at the link above was conducted in 2002. It is here not because of it's most recent assessment, but, to simply list the Brazilian states where the Amazon Rainforest lives.

In 2002, this region contributed 5.36 percent to Brazil's GDP. 

Today, this regino still produces only a small among of the GDP. Its demographic density is the lowest in Brazil considering all the regions of the country, with only 3.8 inhabitants per km². Most of the population is centered in urban areas. The overall population of Brazil 209.3 million and the Northern Region has a population of 17.7 million. The reason for such a small population is the climate, it is a rainforest and for most of the region there is either monsoon or nothing but a wet season. The Northern Region of Brazil is not conducive to human exploitation for profit except for whatever the trees have to offer.


The Amazon has the highest number of plant species in the world. Higher than Africa and Asia. There are 75,000 species of trees alone. The diversity of plants and animals is the most dense and diverse in the world. One in five species of birds live in the Amazon rainforest. Currently, with industries looking for more and better ways to solve medical problems there is an estimated 438,000 species of plants of economic and social (tourism) interest. And that does include those not yet studied or classified.

Amapa had the lowest deforestation rate of all the northern states and produces manganese, gold, chrome and kaolin. The other states of the Northern Region produce latex from rubber trees, açaí, woods, nuts, precious stones, cassiterite, tin (metal) and iron.


The idea of completely altering the climate of the Amazon Rainforest is a global issue. That cannot be ignored. If the people of this region want better quality of life, it is possible without damaging the rainforest anymore than it is. If I am not mistaken, some of the native tribes have never been contacted by other human beings. (click here) There is a danger in altering their climate and the habitat that supports their food chain. I hope President Bolsonaro isn't thinking of destroying these tribes. Contact from soldiers or otherwise could cause disease that would kill them. Is that what the new Brazilian President wants? Such change, if it occurs at all, comes over time, not with an invasion of machines.


18 May 2018
By Giovanni Ortolani

Brazil has no reason (click here) to further deforest the Amazon, as there is plenty of degraded land available for agribusiness growth and profit. This is the positive pragmatic message put forth in “A Pathway to Zero Deforestation in the Amazon,” a report first launched at COP23 in Bonn, Germany, last November, by the Zero Deforestation Working Group (ZDWG), a coalition of NGO analysts from Greenpeace, Instituto Centro de Vida, Imaflora, Imazon, Instituto Socioambiental, Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

The document’s aim is to illustrate workable strategies for eliminating Amazon deforestation in the short term, with environmental, economic and social benefits for all....

...The pathways document stresses an important, often ignored, reality: deforestation’s contribution to the Brazilian economy is negligible. The average area cleared per year between 2007 and 2016 (7,502 square kilometers, or 2,897 square miles) added only about R $453 million (US $141 million) annually in gross value of agricultural production (that’s production volume multiplied by the cost of products). That amount represents only 0.013 percent of the average Brazilian GDP over the 2007-16 period.

So, while Brazilian agribusiness is truly an economic juggernaut, just as the ruralists claim, the actual amount that annual deforestation in the name of agribusiness expansion adds to the economy is miniscule.

Paulo Moutinho, a senior scientist working at the science-based NGO Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM), believes deforestation is no longer necessary for Brazil’s growth. He notes the country has a surplus of 15-20 million hectares (38,610-77,220 square miles) of already deforested and degraded land that is underused or abandoned by agribusiness. “Recovering this area for agriculture, we could expand agricultural production without cutting down a single tree,” Moutinho told Mongabay....

It is the species of tree that is dangerous as well as the way they are planted.

June 19, 2018
By Paul Ames

Lisbon — Before it gained global infamy (click here) as the “road of death,” Estrada National 236-1 was a bucolic drive, winding in a succession of lazy curves through the thickly wooded hills of central Portugal.

The surrounding greenery, however, brought no joy to environmentalists who have long warned that Portugal was courting disaster through decades of planting the eucalyptus trees which line that roadside and cover much of the country....

...“The eucalyptus is more dangerous than other trees,” said João Branco, president of Quercus, an environmental campaign group.

“The leaves and the bark are very flammable, strips of bark hang off the trunks and are carried by the wind, spreading the flames,” Branco, a forestry engineer, added. “Large parts of the center and north of the country are almost completely covered by eucalyptus and it contributes to this type of fire.”...

A few weeks ago I mentioned the reports about wet fields and the inability to harvest crops that were maturing early.

October 10, 2018
By Bill Novak

Rain almost every day kept farmers out of fields (click here) in Wisconsin last week, preventing fall harvest work to move along.

The crop report from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending Oct. 7 said only 2.0 days out of 7.0 total were suitable for field work across the state, with wet soil conditions preventing farmers from getting into fields.

"Too much rain has halted all field activities," a Barron County report said. "Grain harvest has switched to corn because the soybeans are not drying down."...

Things changed a bit this week. There isn't a description of the condition of the harvest though, just percentages. I always expect that as crops remained in the field after maturity, the quality of the grains diminished. So, the percentages are increasing, but, there is no report on the quality.

November 5, 2018
By Ben Potter

...“Wet weather (click here) in the central and eastern Midwest last week slowed harvest a little, with today’s progress in line with my expectations,” says Farm Futures senior grain market analyst Bryce Knorr. “Drier weather should get combines moving again after one more storm this week.”

A state-by-state look reveals that six of the top 18 production states are at least 90% complete with the 2018 corn harvest, including Illinois (93%), Kentucky (92%), Missouri (92%), North Carolina (98%), Tennessee (96%) and Texas (90%). By now, every state has passed the halfway mark but North Dakota (49%).

This year’s soybean harvest has reached 83% complete, meantime, up from 72% a week ago. Progress is still a bit behind 2017’s pace and the five-year average, both at 89%. As with corn, six of the top 18 production states are at least 90% complete, including Illinois (92%), Louisiana (95%), Minnesota (92%), Mississippi (92%), Nebraska (90%) and South Dakota (92%). North Carolina, with current progress of 45%, is the only top production state that hasn’t yet reached the halfway point....

In 2016, (click here) co2 emissions per capita for Portugal was 4.82 metric tons. Though Portugal CO2 emissions per capita fluctuated substantially in recent years, it tended to decrease through 1997 - 2016 period ending at 4.82 metric tons in 2016.

The highest per capita for Portugal occurred in 2002 at a rate of 6.44 Tons of CO2 per capita.

Portugal 2013 as reported in 2014 (click here)

Global in 2015 (click here)

The graph to the left shows number of avalanche deaths in the USA. If one were to look at the statistics in other countries they would look similar. The reason is the snow is changing. The snows are wetter and less stable. When snow is wet rather than fluffy, it is heavier causing greater incidence of avalaches.

The CAIC (click here) staff investigate fatal avalanches in Colorado. CAIC forecasters post preliminary information within 24 hours. Once they visit the site and speak to the people involved, they publish a final Accident Report. Final Reports may take a week or more to compile, check, and publish.

November 1, 2018

Climate change (click here) has become a factor in climbers' decisions about when to venture into the Southern Alps.

While climbing in spring risks avalanches, climate change is - more frequently than in the past - presenting another obstacle for climbers who wait for summer.

Owner of Wanaka guiding company Adventure Consultants, Guy Cotter, said yesterday this is the time of the year when climbing begins to "ramp up".

"This whole November, early December period is a very popular time for climbing the big mountains here."...

Portugal's population is 10,561,614

The picture to the left is of Lisbon (click here) and one of it's many, many streets. It was one of the Rockefeller Foundations 100 Resilient Cities in 2017.

One of the oldest independent countries on earth, (click here) Portugal is known as a popular destination for migrants from many countries across the world. With near perfect weather for much of the year, has this pattern of net migration served to swell the population of Portugal in any way?

The last official census took place in Portugal in 2011 and it was confirmed at the time that 10,561,614 people were living here. A subsequent estimate was released later that same year that suggested that the Portugal population had grown very slightly to 10,576,252 and this would make the country the 84th most populous on the planet.

Based on the current UN estimates, the 2018 population of Portugal is 10.29 million.

Population Density

Portugal is a relatively small country and its population density figures are consistent with its overall size. It has a surface area of 92,090 square kilometers which converts to 35,645 square miles and makes it the 111th largest country in terms of land mass alone.

For every square mile of Portuguese territory, there is an average of 111 people here. This makes Portugal rank 95th in the world as far as population density is concerned....

The Portuguese (click here) economy advanced 0.5 percent on quarter in the three months to June of 2018, slightly higher than 0.4 percent in the previous period and confirming the preliminary estimates. Household spending was flat while a rise in inventories contributed positively to growth. GDP Growth Rate in Portugal averaged 0.41 percent from 1988 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 3.30 percent in the fourth quarter of 1990 and a record low of -2.60 percent in the first quarter of 1991....

...Year-on-year, the economy grew 2.3 percent, above 2.1 percent in the previous quarter and in line with earlier estimates. The contribution from domestic demand went up, mainly due to higher household (2.6 percent compared to 2.1 percent in Q1) and public spending (0.4 percent compared to 0.3 percent in Q1). The tourism sector continues to boost the economy: spending in national territory (3.4 percent) went up faster than spending by residents (2.6 percent). On the other hand, investment rose at a slower rate (6.4 percent compared to 7.1 percent) due to 6.6 percent drop in investment in material transportation. Net trade weighed down on growth more amid higher imports (7.9 percent compared to 5.6 percent in Q1) while exports rose at a faster pace (6.8 percent compared to 4.7 percent). 

For 2018, the Portuguese government targets growth at 2.3 percent.

Portugal's primary trading partner is the EU which is as close as the Spanish border.

Portugal’s top 10 exports accounted for 56.3% of the overall value of its global shipments.

1. Vehicles: US$6.9 billion (11.1% of total exports)
2. Electrical machinery, equipment: $5.6 billion (9%)
3. Mineral fuels including oil: $4.5 billion (7.3%)
4. Machinery including computers: $3.9 billion (6.3%)
5. Plastics, plastic articles: $3.3 billion (5.3%)
6. Knit or crochet clothing, accessories: $2.4 billion (3.9%)
7. Footwear: $2.3 billion (3.7%)
8. Furniture, bedding, lighting, signs, prefab buildings: $2.2 billion (3.5%)
9. Paper, paper items: $2.1 billion (3.4%)
10. Articles of iron or steel: $1.7 billion (2.8%)

 In 2016, Portugal had 21.2 million visitors, 12.6 million of which were foreign. (click here)

In addition to tourism, Portugal has a tenacious appetite for fish.

Updated 10-2017

Located in the westernmost (click here) part of Europe on the west coast, over the three main biogeographical regions of the Atlantic Ocean including Azores and Madeira Islands, Portugal has a coastline of 1 214 km (accounting for 1.8 % of the EU's 66 000 km coastline).

The Portuguese fisheries industry has a low contribution to the economy as a whole (0.24 percent of the GDP), but it has a large cultural and social importance, especially in some traditional fishing towns of Portugal. It is estimated that the blue economy represents 3 % of the Portuguese GDP. Portugal reported 17 536 people directly employed in the primary sector of the marine fishery industry in 2015.

Portugal has the third highest per capita fish consumption in Europe (about 53.8 kg in 2013) after Iceland and Faeroe Islands. The main fish consumed in Portugal are small pelagic fish, especially sardine and horse mackerel, but in coastal regions many other species are consumed. Portugal imports large quantities of cod (salted and dried), to satisfy its traditional dietary requirements. In 2015, imports of fish and fishery products were valued at USD 1.9 billion, with exports valued at USD 1.1 billion....

As if it wasn't already hard enough to be a bee.

October 18, 2018
By Samantha Grenrock

Gainesville - Hurricane Michael (click here) significantly impacted the beekeeping industry in the Florida Panhandle. This area is home to about 500 registered beekeepers and nearly 50,000 colonies, which amounts to more than 1.2 billion bees. These colonies are vital to Florida agriculture because the bees provide pollination services to many of the state’s crops.

Beekeepers in the Florida Panhandle are racing to save their colonies as many forage resources — blooming trees and flowers — were destroyed in the hurricane. Furthermore, many of the colonies have been destroyed, damaged or otherwise cannot be accessed due to the hurricane. 

How can you help?...

"Greater Good" Save the Honey Bees (click here)

October 23, 2018

GreaterGood.org partnered with the Florida State Beekeepers Association (click here) and the Florida State Department of Agriculture to help more than 1 billion starving bees and avoid an ecological disaster left in the wake of Hurricane Michael by donating over a quarter million pounds of sugar syrup.

A tanker containing 4,500 gallons of sugar syrup was delivered to Wewahitcha on Monday. The delivery is one of seven taking place by the Rescue Bank across the Panhandle.

This temporary alternative food source will serve up to 50,000 bee colonies to avoid them from collapsing and permanently wreaking havoc on the country’s citrus supply.

“Hurricane Michael is the strongest storm to ever hit the Florida Panhandle, and there is a true emergency for the state’s bee population that has a potentially devastating long-term impact,” said Liz Baker, executive director of GreaterGood.org. “Losing this bee population would create a major ripple effect on U.S. agriculture, and we knew we needed to act quickly to make this emergency donation happen.”

Emergency supplies of sugar syrup will keep bee colonies sustained while bee forage material regrows, which is estimated to take at least a month....

This is written in English, but, the official language of Portugal is naturally Portuguese.

Portugal is a somewhat small country, but, has very big plans. I thought their approach was most pragmatic. What also impressed me is the financial planning to fund these improvements. The funding sources and strategies are written right into the plans.

...Considerations of EIA and SEA, in the context of Climate Change: (click here)

State of play: Strategic Enviornmental Assessment (SEA)

The sentence is bold letters absolutely captures the essence of the climate crisis and it's dynamics on a country. Climate change is always occurring in this early first quarter of the 21st Century. Therefore, it is necessary to have a government that monitors, communicates with regional countries and adjusts to the needs of the people as it mitigates the GHG (GreenHouse Gas) emissions.

So few plans I have read speaks to land use, yet, it is vital to the best mitigation outcomes.

Climate Change is always considered at the screening stage and is frequently identified as a Critical Factor for Decision-Making (CFD) in the scoping phase. When considered a CFD, both mitigation and adaptation are addressed (e.g. potential GHG emissions; flood risk plans/maps in the context of different land uses) and generally recognized as a relevant tool for considering climate change at an early stage of the decision-making process. Consideration of climate change at the SEA level also reflects on projects that may result from the implementation of the plan or programme, as well as the associated EIA.

State of Play:Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)  - Ongoing transposition process of Directive 2014/52/EU

Scoping: establishing a list of project categories  (criteria definition); Both on Adaptation and Mitigation

Assessment: Definition of information to be included and scenarios to be considered in the environmental impact report and establishment of criteria for assessing climate change and for establishing adequate measures

Post-assessment: Monitoring the impacts along the lifecycle of the project (construction, operation and deactivation phases)...

Californians are not used to infernos. They are used to reasonable time to move from an area. That leisurely pace no longer exists.

November 11, 2018
1800.18z 
Unisys GOES West Satellite (click here for 12 hour loop - thank you)

There is a stationary high pressure system off California. This was once displaced by more moist air and there were even high amounts of rain and snow that created a high capacity problem at one of the dams. Well, the high pressure system is back.

It's stationary status is viewed slightly easier in the hemisphere view (click here).  In either views (again easier seen in the hemisphere view) there is an air mass immediately west of the high pressure system. It moves north, but, once it reaches Canada it suddenly swings south and delivers horrendous winds to California west of the Rocky Mountains.

With a stationary high pressure offshore, there is no immediate relief in the form of rain in the near future. (click here)

Californians have to leave their homes with whatever belongings and pets and/or livestock when they first see smoke. If there are warnings given before there is any evidence of smoke, leave then. DO NOT STAY TO TRY TO PROTECT THE HOUSE OR OUTBUILDINGS. I saw pictures of a person with a garden hose and the flames were about fifty feet away. That is not a rational thing to do.

November 11, 2018
By Matthew Bloch and Jugal K. Patel

There is an updraft of air in the right of the picture that looks like it has tornado like winds. There is a second just to the left of the first. The fires are so intense they are creating their own air movements and there is no controlling the fire. When air is this turbulent all the rules are broken and the air has it's own laws.

 LA County Sheriff's (click here) @LASDHQ 

#WoolseyFire Industry Hills Expo Center is opening stables for any horses being evacuated from the wildfires. There’s about 250 stalls available. -Office Phone: (626) 330-0324 -Address: 16200 Temple Ave, City of Industry, CA 91744 -After Hours Assistance: (626) 216-6428

Several rapidly (click here) advancing wildfires are raging through California near the Sierra Nevada foothills and the Los Angeles shoreline. The fires have killed at least 25 people since they began on Thursday and have burned nearly 200,000 acres in the state. The largest of the wildfires, called the Camp Fire, is the most destructive in California history....

The Camp Fire was started by a damaged electric power line. I wish all electric lines were underground. There are many reasons to do that. If one recalls years ago there was a major failure in New York involving New York City. It was determined a power line had sagged because of the excessive heat that day. I sincerely wish governments would recognize the Climate Crisis and do what is prudent.

November 11, 2018
By Tom Porter

PG&E has informed state regulators (click here) that it experienced an incident early Thursday on a major electrical transmission line at a remote site in Butte County just minutes before the reported start of the devastating Camp Fire.

In a brief report filed with the California Public Utilities Commission, the company said a power outage was recorded on its 115-kilovolt Caribou-Palermo line at 6:15 a.m. Thursday. Cal Fire says the blaze started at 6:29 a.m.

Driven by high winds in the Feather River Canyon, the Camp Fire raced west, destroying parts of the the communities of Paradise and Magalia. So far, 23 people are confirmed dead in the fire, which had burned a staggering 6,453 homes and 120,000 acres as of Sunday morning...

Report (click here):

Summary: On November 8, 2018, at approximately 0615 hours, PG&E experienced an outage on the Caribou-Palermo 115 kV Transmission line in Butte County. In the afternoon of November 8, PG&E observed by aerial patrol damage to a transmission tower on the Caribou-Palermo 115 kV Transmission line, approximately one mile north-east of the town of Pulga, in the area of the Camp Fire. This information is preliminary.

Portugal - 809,877 effected by flooding. The population of Portugal is a slightly over 10 million. That is eight percent of the population.

Flooded Places in Portugal and the number of people effected. (Portugal flood map - click here)

Portugal - 809,877 
Agucadoura - 4,521 
Albufeira - 15,851 
Alhandra - 7,226 
Almada - 34,008 
Angra do Heroismo - 12,045 
Armacao de Pera - 4,030 
Barreiro - 51,280 
Cacilhas - 6,494 
Camara de Lobos - 32,209 
Campanario - 3,987 
Canico - 11,996 
Castanheira do Ribatejo - 7,651 
Cova da Piedade - 19,472
 Ericeira - 7,538 
Faja de Baixo - 4,915 
Figueira da Foz - 12,050 
Funchal - 98,039 
Horta - 6,572 
Matosinhos - 28,070 
Meadela - 9,981 
Monte Estoril - 23,375 
Montijo - 30,011 
Moscavide - 11,488 
Nazare - 8,993 
Paco de Arcos - 25,974
Parede - 17,212
Peniche - 15,662
Ponta Delgada - 20,056
Ponta do Sol - 4,235
Povoa de Santa Iria - 28,901
Povoa de Varzim - 29,044
Ribeira Brava - 5,932
Ribeira Grande - 5,198
Rosto de Cao - 7,880
Sacavem - 17,718
Santa Iria da Azoia - 18,573
Setubal - 117,110
Sines - 12,791
Terrugem - 4,693
Vila Franca de Xira - 18,355
Vila Nova de Milfontes - 4,393
Vila de Porto Santo - 4,348

November 11, 2018
By Renee Duff

This is a picture of the waters when 21 people died.

Just weeks (click here) after 21 people died in flash floods near the Dead Sea, another deadly flooding event occurred in Jordan on Friday.

At least 12 people were killed after heavy rainfall triggered flash flooding in several areas of the country, including in the Madaba region and the ancient city of Petra, according to the Associated Press (AP). Two children and a diver assisting in rescue efforts are among the dead.

In Petra, more than 3,700 tourists were forced to evacuate to higher ground as the floodwaters rushed in, according to Aljazeera.

Water rushed through a dry, narrow canyon which leads to Petra's main attraction, the Treasury. The site will remain closed to visitors until Sunday....

Spain and Portugal: half a metre of rain in the next 10 days could bring..- March 8, 2018.

It's Sunday Night

Marisa Matias is the hottest political ticket in Portugal.

January 8, 2016

Presidential candidate (click here) Marisa Matias warned today that if Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is the next President of the Republic, the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution are no longer guaranteed.

Speaking to journalists at the Cais do Sodré railway station in Lisbon, the candidate backed by the Left Bloc recalled the statements made by the candidate Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa earlier this week in which he stated that the Constitution should be interpreted as accordance with the timing of its application.

"It is a warning that [Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa] makes to the Portuguese and the way he confessed that, for him, the rights enshrined in the Constitution are not guarantees," said Marisa Matias.

In the opinion of the candidate, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa's statement is an "important revelation", which shows that "with him, health, education, housing, justice, labor rights are rights that have days."

"For me they have no days and it will not be according to the winds that blow from Berlin or Brussels that they will be more constitutional rights or less," said the presidential candidate.

Doctorate in sociology from Coimbra University, Portugal, with the thesis 'Is nature sick of us? Health, environment and new forms of citizenship' (2009)
MA in sociology in the field of social studies related to science and technology, Coimbra University, Portugal (2003); graduate in sociology, Coimbra University, Portugal (1998). Areas of specialisation: environmental health, sociology of science, sociology of health, political sociology. Has published scientific articles and chapters of books and other national and international publications on the relationship between the environment and public health, science and knowledge and democracy and citizenship. Has participated as a trainer/teacher in port-graduate training programmes and courses (including masters and doctorate programmes).

Researcher at Coimbra University's Centre for Social Studies, Portugal, since 2004; research assistant at Coimbra University's Centre for Social Studies, Portugal (2000-2004); teacher of sociology and other subjects at the ITAP and Profitecla schools (2000-2001); editorial secretary at Revista Crítica de Ciências Sociais (1998-2000).

Member of the Bloco de Esquerda national directorate; member of the directorate of the Pro-Urbe Civic Association (Coimbra). National leader of the 'Citizenship and Responsibility say Yes' movement (click here), within the context of the national referendum on the legalisation of abortion in Portugal. Headed the Bloco de Esquerda list in the Coimbra municipal elections (2005).

PORTUGAL NATIONAL ANTHEM (click here for Portugal official website - thank you)

Heróis do mar, nobre povo, Nação valente, imortal, Levantai hoje de novo O esplendor de Portugal! Entre as brumas da memória, Ó Pátria, sente-se a voz Dos teus egrégios avós, Que há-de guiar-te à vitória! Heroes of the sea, noble people, Valiant and immortal nation, Raise once again today The splendor of Portugal! Among the haze of memory, Oh Fatherland, one feels the voice Of your distinguished forefathers, That shall lead you to victory! Às armas, às armas! Sobre a terra, sobre o mar, Às armas, às armas! Pela Pátria lutar! Contra os canhões, marchar, marchar To arms, to arms! Over land, over sea, To arms, to arms! For the Fatherland, fight! Against the cannons, march on, march on!

Desfralda a invicta Bandeira, À luz viva do teu céu! Brade a Europa à terra inteira: Portugal não pereceu Beija o solo teu jucundo O Oceano, a rugir d'amor, E teu braço vencedor Deu mundos novos ao Mundo! Hoist the undefeated flag, In the lively light of your sky! May Europe cry out to the whole Earth: Portugal has not perished Kiss your merry ground The ocean, roaring with love, And your victorious arm Gave new worlds to the world! Às armas, às armas! Sobre a terra, sobre o mar, Às armas, às armas! Pela Pátria lutar! Contra os canhões, marchar, marchar! To arms, to arms! Over land, over sea, To arms, to arms! For the Fatherland, fight! Against the cannons, march on, march on! Saudai o Sol que desponta Sobre um ridente porvir; Seja o eco de uma afronta O sinal do ressurgir. Raios dessa aurora forte São como beijos de mãe, Que nos guardam, nos sustêm, Contra as injúrias da sorte. Salute the Sun that rises Over a gleeful future; Let the echo of an offense Be the sign for a comeback. Rays of this strong dawn Are like a mother's kisses, That keep us, sustain us, Against the injuries of fate As armas, às armas! Sobre a terra, sobre o mar, Às armas, às armas! Pela Pátria lutar! Contra os canhões, marchar, marchar! To arms, to arms! Over land, over sea, To arms, to arms! For the Fatherland, fight! Against the cannons, march on, march on! .

How is the ceasefire enforced?

Perhaps Egypt with the UN can place a Peacekeeper Force in Gaza.

November 12, 2018
By Amos Harel, Jack Khoury, Yaniv Kubovich, Almog Ben Zikri and Noa Landau

Israeli military strikes in Gaza, October 2018.

At least six Palestinians (click here) were said killed in the southern Gaza Strip on Sunday after heavy fire was exchanged along the Israel-Gaza border, according to Palestinian sources, including a commander in Hamas' military wing.

The Israel Defense Forces Spokesperson’s Unit said the shooting occurred “during security activity by the IDF in the Gaza area.” The Palestinians also reported massive Israeli airstrikes in the area that began at the same time as the shooting.

The incident occurred at the height of efforts to achieve a long-term cease-fire in Gaza and is liable to make these efforts much harder.

The shooting began at about 9:30 P.M. Palestinian sources in Gaza said an IDF force was operating inside the Gaza Strip, east of Khan Yunis. Palestinian officials said the group of Hamas men were fired at from a passing car....

Putin is using the meeting to meet with other leaders.

November 11, 2018
By Noa Landau

Russian President Vladimir Putin (click here) spoke on Sunday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Paris, the Interfax news agency reported, citing the Kremlin.

Netanyahu took off Saturday night from Israel to join tens of world leaders at the Paris Peace Forum, hosted by French President Emmmanuel Macron.

In recent weeks, Netanyahu's bureau unsuccessfully attempted to organize a meeting between Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin during the event. According to reports from Russia, Putin declined to meet Netanyahu at the forum....

I want an explanation of Russian encroachment toward NATO borders. He needs to apologize for nearly killing everyone aboard a USA aircraft.

...Putin, (click here) who was last to arrive at the ceremony, gave Trump a brief thumbs up as he greeted them....

This is Putin being the last arrival to the ceremony. Putin is upstaging Trump by waiting to the last minute to arrive. Psychological warfare and of course Putin is better at it than Trump. Trump probably takes credit for having Putin invited. All this is so inappropriate.

He (click here) (Trump) kept leaning forward and looking to his left during the entire ceremony - as if to see if his boyfriend Putin would look his way.