News, August 2010

PrayforSpain on the move

We were away during the second half of August. more >>

News from the Churches

Summer outreaches now on - i.e. Decision in Fuengirola, Costa del Sol, OM in Galicia. Jimmy Carter opens new church building. Catalonia sets rules for new church buildings. September brings Madrid a European preachers' conference, while OM ship Logos Hope will visit the Canaries. New Bible now available. This and more... Read on! more >>

August 13th, recent news round-up

Air traffic controllers agree new job conditions; coach firm Auto-Res again on strike; Formentera, in Balearics, inaugurates 14 electric 'filling stations' for cars - free for rest of year; Q2 growth (0.2%) amongst worst in Europe; UK travel firm bust affects holidaymakers in Spain - Telegraph; 2 firefighters die in Galicia; 2 struck by lightning at beaches in Valencia and Costa Brava; 11th: Air traffic controllers return to negotiations - 'no August strike'; 7 Spaniards still missing in India floods; heat continues in south, with storms in NE; 93 migrants intercepted on pateras in 24 hours, the last 7 in 'toy boat'; government plans to 'recuperate' several suspended infrastructure projects; damp squib for electric car sales - just 16 so far this year - Guardian; 9th: Catalan Statute is 4 years old, despite recent set-backs; 26 die on roads over weekend - worst this year, including British babies - BBC, mother speaks to Telegraph - year-on-year road toll is 15% down; European bank says changes in Spanish banking are incomplete; 11 held for trafficking women between Catalonia and Canaries; 75 year old kills disabled sister before committing suicide; 2 Spaniards still missing in Kashmir floods; The Economist publishes graph of which nationalities never go to church - Spain in 6th place; princess Letizia skips protocol to visit old colleagues at the press room of the Royal Yacht Club, Palma, saying she doesn't miss the old job, but is "happy with my current work". more >>

Sport headlines

European Swimming - 4 silvers in synchro. Basketball world cup prelims: Spain beat Canada. Barcelona 2010: Spain has 8 medals, 2 gold. Lorenzo consolidates MotoGP championship lead at Laguna Seca. Alonso 2nd in Hungary after win at Hockenheim. Raúl follows Guti leaving Madrid.July saw Spain's best ever month for sport. Spain win 1st World Cup. Nadal wins 2nd Wimbledon. Contador wins 3rd Tour. more >>

New abortion law goes into practice

On July 5th the new abortion law began its life. What was until now a crime, is now 'a right' in the first 14 weeks. Girls over 16 will get abortions without parental permission free on the Social Security, even though many abortions will still be undertaken in private clinics on the government's behalf. This is due to the fact that many Social Security gynaecologists are 'conscientious objectors'. However, the Constitutional Court has taken their complaints into consideration and accepted the request of the opposition Partido Popular to consider the legitimacy of the law. This has not held up its introduction. more >>

Spain celebrates 25 years' membership of the EU

12th June. Spain celebrates today 25 years since the signing of the treaty of Rome, on 12th June 1985. Felipe González, at that time president, has reminded us that joining the EU not only marked the end of the 'transition' from dictatorship to democracy, but was also the major step to reverse the isolationsim in which Spain had existed since Charles V split up his European empire in 1555. For evangelicals, the process of opening up Spain had begun earlier, but the will of Charles V effectively closed Spain to the pure gospel for 315 years. more >>

Government makes swathing cuts

8th June. The cabinet agreed on 20th May to a hefty U-turn in its strategy to deal with the recession. Under pressure of the markets and other EU governments to cut the immense 11% deficit, the cabinet took the unpleasant decision not only to slam the brakes on public works, but also to cut public employees' pay by an average of 5%. In answer, a 'general strike' of public employees took place on 8th June. more >>

News Theme, Summer in Spain and the Weather

Schools are out soon! Summer is on its way! On approximately 20th June each year, schools close for the summer. By that time it is too hot in most areas to hold classes without expensive air conditioning, so schools have traditionally closed for almost 3 months. Indeed, what remains of school in both June and September is mornings only - although nowadays more and more schools extending morning class year-round and the kids don't return after a late lunch. more >>

Summer is here, happy fiestas!

Fiesta time is round again. Through the spring, fiestas, or city/village celebration weeks, have already been a big part of life. After Easter, the cities of Andalusia begin a round of Ferias, starting with the greatest of them all in Seville. By June, most towns and villages want to join in, with festivities traditionally centred on a saint's or 'virgin's' day. 23rd April is St. George's day. At Pentecost, the village of Almonte, Huelva, draws thousands as it celebrates the Rocío Romería, a week of travelling to the sanctuary of 'the virgin' on horseback, in gypsy carts and in full Andalusian dress, all to celebrate their statue who at once represents the virgin and the Holy Spirit, also naming their virgin 'the white dove'. 24th June, for example, is St. John's night, big all over the place; 7th July San Fermin, patron saint of Pamplona and so it goes on. more >>