Rathlin Island and Robert the Bruce

Did you ever hear the story about a tiny spider, an exiled king and the remote island in County Antrim that personified the proverb: if at first you don’t succeed, try and try again? No? Well, listen up

Robert the Bruce's one-time refuge: Rathlin Island

A king in exile

First things first: we have to introduce you to a 13th century Scottish king called Robert the Bruce. You may have spotted a version of his persona in Mel Gibson’s Braveheart in 1995. Hollywood’s version wasn’t altogether the most accurate portrayal of the real man, but his legacy is remembered not just by the Scottish, but also by Ulster-Scots people in Northern Ireland. 

Our tale takes place on Rathlin Island (the most northern point of Northern Ireland) off the coast of County Antrim. This remote island is dotted with intriguing shipwrecks and is also a haven for seabirds. Ferries travel there regularly from Ballycastle and should a bed and a pint be required, you won't be short of accommodation and a pub or two. 

Back to the story…

In its entirety, the story is complex, dramatic and includes daggers drawn, a Scottish army at loggerheads with its English neighbours, and the exiled King Robert fighting for his country’s freedom.

To fit his complete tale into one short story would be impossible. No, what we want to do is tell you the tale of a place named Rathlin Island, an exiled King Robert, and a very, very determined spider. 

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  The harbour at Rathlin Island

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  St Thomas' Parish Church on Rathlin Island

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  Ruins on Rathlin Island

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Fight or flight

The year was 1306AD. After suffering a defeat and in exile, King Robert of Scotland was pondering his next move in a cave on the picturesque Rathlin Island. He had received yet more upsetting news from his sources in Scotland. His wife was being held in captivity, his brother had been executed and the Scottish village of Kildrummy had been taken by his enemies.

This was bad. His thoughts turned to his options. He could take himself and his brothers to the Holy Land or courageously attempt to restore freedom to his beloved homeland, knowing in his heart that the former would be both criminal and cowardly. But did he have it in him to continue?

Glancing upwards to the roof of the cave, he spied a tiny spider hanging on a thread trying to swing to a nearby rock so it could fix the line and create a web. Six times the spider tried and six times he failed to reach the beam. But he didn’t give up.

Robert the Bruce had tried to free Scotland from the English and their allies six times, and six times had failed. The spider’s determination was not lost on him. 

Seventh time’s a charm

If the spider makes it to the rock on the seventh attempt, decided Robert, he would continue his fortunes in Scotland. If he fails, the Holy Land beckoned.

As he made this resolution, the spider – maybe sensing the moment, maybe completely oblivious – swung with all its might and reached the other side to fix his web. The deal was sealed and a return to Scotland followed.

Legendary beliefs

Not only was this determined spider’s valiant efforts a major influence on Scottish history – and by default, our Ulster-Scots heritage – it also protected spiders from those who heard the tale in the centuries that followed. On no account would people kill a spider because it had inspired a king and shown the power of perseverance.

So if at first, you don’t succeed, try and try again…or at least next time you see a spider, remember Robert, remember Rathlin and remember how many lives it changed over 700 years ago.

A Muralha de Adriano

Este Local Património Mundial era o limite do Império romano quando este atingiu o seu apogeu no século II.

Faz parte do é conhecido como “os Limites de Roma”, que se estendiam ao longo de 5.000 km deste a costa atlântica do norte da Grã-Bretanha,  através da Europa até ao Mar Negro e dali até ao Mar Vermelho e atravessando o norte de África até à costa atlântica.

Construída pelo Imperador romano Adriano em AD122, foram precisos 6 anos para os seus soldados edificarem esta muralha, que tinha 80 milhas romanas (cerca de 117 km), na fronteira do que são agora a Inglaterra e a Escócia. Concebida para “separar os romanos dos bárbaros”, tornou-se na fronteira mais a norte do seu império.

Um dos sítios históricos mais populares, ao longo da Muralha de Adriano é Forte Housesteads (Vercovicium) o mais bem conservado e imponente dos fortes romanos ao longo da muralha. Vercovicium era um forte ocupando cerca de dois hectares, abrigando 800 pessoas e é também o único exemplo na Grã-Bretanha de um hospital romano. O Património Inglês considera a muralha como “o mais importante monumento construído pelos romanos na Grã-Bretanha”. Há muitos outros fortes, templos e vestígios de arquitectura romana ao longo da Muralha de Adriano, a maioria dos quais surpreendentemente bem conservados.

Euro touches a nine-year low against US dollar

The euro slid to a nine-year low against the dollar as investors predicted the European Central Bank (ECB) may act to stimulate the economy.

The euro fell by 1.2% against the dollar to $1.1864, marking its weakest level since March 2006, before recovering slightly to $1.19370.

The drop follows ECB president Mario Draghi's comments indicating the bank could soon start quantitative easing.

Greek political turmoil also weighed on the currency.

Although the ECB has already cut interest rates to a record low level, and also bought some bonds issued by private companies, a full-scale programme of quantitative easing QE has not yet been launched.

But on Friday, Mr Draghi hinted in a newspaper interview that the bank might soon start a policy of QE by buying government bonds, thus copying its counterparts in the UK and US.

The purpose would be to inject cash into the banking system, stimulate the economy and push prices higher.

Speaking in an interview with the German newspaper Handelsblatt, Mr Draghi said: "We are making technical preparations to alter the size, pace and composition of our measures in early 2015."

Greek turmoil

Political turmoil in Greece also weighed on the euro, with fears that the general election on 25 January, could see the anti-austerity, left-wing Syriza party take control of the country.

The possibility has sparked fears about whether Greece will stick to the terms of its international bailout and stay in the eurozone.

On Saturday, Germany's Der Spiegel magazine said the German government believes the eurozone would be able to cope with a Greek "exit" from the euro, if the Syriza party wins the Greek election.

Reacting to Der Spiegel's report, a spokesman for German Chancellor Merkel said there was no change in German policy and the government expects Greece to fulfil its obligations under the EU, ECB and IMF bailout.

French president Francois Hollande also commented, saying it was now "up to the Greeks" to decide whether to remain a part of the single currency.

"Europe cannot continue to be identified by austerity," he added, suggesting that the eurozone needs to focus more on growth than reducing its deficit.

Analysts said the euro was likely to remain volatile for the next few weeks.

"The market is readying itself for action from the ECB. The first meeting of the year takes place on 22nd January, so the euro is likely to remain in focus and see heightened volatility as we approach that date, which is also a few days before the Greek General Election," said FxPro senior analyst Angus Campbell.

More this story find here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-30678218

Businessman in fresh bid to open legal sex shop in Belfast

Miss Behavin sex shop in Belfast

BY REBECCA BLACK – 30 DECEMBER 2014

A Belfast businessman is planning a fresh bid to open the city's first legal sex shop - in the Boucher Road area.

Brian Hope has withdrawn his application with Belfast City Council for an outlet at Gresham Street in the city centre.

Now it can be revealed he has been viewing alternative locations around Boucher Road.

There has only been one licence granted for a sex shop in Northern Ireland.

That was given by Newtownabbey Borough Council in 2007 for premises in Central Park industrial estate in Mallusk.

Mr Hope applied earlier this year to open Belfast's first licensed sex shop at 2-8 Gresham Street.

A second businessman, Steven Robinson of D2D Trading Ltd, later applied to open a separate sex shop called Mystique at 27 Gresham Street.

But the licensing committee heard earlier this month that both had withdrawn the applications.

The move follows a vote by the council in November to stand by its decision in 2003 to not allow any licensed sex shops on Gresham Street.

The reasons given at the time were that the street was located within the city's primary retail core, and that it was home to a licensed premises, a butcher's and a children's clothing shop.

Another objection made earlier this year was that the street was included in renovation initiatives.

The licensing committee heard from business owners opposed to the sex shop licences.

Mr F MacElhatton, speaking for the Smithfield and Union organisation, said a petition against sex shops had been signed by 862 traders and customers. During a meeting of the licensing committee on December 17, councillors were told that both Mr Hope and Mr Robinson had withdrawn their applications.

However, an official advised the committee that Mr Hope was likely to apply again in the new year for a different location and was viewing premises at Boucher Road, amongst others.

The committee also heard that officials were continuing to monitor all (unlicensed) sex shops that had been the subject of enforcement action in recent months.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph earlier this year, Mr Hope said he had been trading on Gresham Street for almost 20 years, but said he wanted to be able to operate legitimately in an effort to clean up the industry.

He claimed he had financial backers in England that would allow him to open a three-storey business and employ five staff.

Mr Hope currently trades as Gresham Books, selling erotic DVDs, magazines and accessories.

The building has two upstairs floors, which are currently empty.

A previous application for a sex shop in Belfast - submitted by a different businessman - prompted a legal row that reached all the way to the House of Lords, as Belfast City Council battled to defend its decision to refuse the outlet a licence.

In 2003 the council refused a licence for sex shop Miss Behavin' and announced a total ban on sex shops in the Gresham Street area, saying it felt the city centre street, which is close to churches and family shops, was an "unacceptable" location.

The shop owner appealed this and the Court of Appeal ruled against the council.

However, in 2007 five law lords overturned that judgment.

Brazil sees "surprising" 

deforestation drop in Amazon

Brazil said deforestation in the Amazon rainforest has dropped by 18% in the past year.

Environment Minister Izabella Teixeira said the fall, for the year ending July 2014, meant deforestation was at its second lowest level in 25 years.

But campaigners say alternative monitoring shows an increase for a second year running.

In 2012 the government eased restrictions on landowners, weakening legal protection for the rainforest.

Ms Teixeira said 4,848 square kilometres (1,872 square miles) of rainforest were destroyed between August 2013 and July 2014.

The figure was down from 5,891 kilometres (2,275 square miles) during the same period a year earlier.

But a spokesman for the World Wide Fund for Nature said alternative satellite monitoring systems, not used by the government, in fact suggested an increase in the rate of forest destruction for a second year running.

Illegal logging is one of the key causes of deforestation along with cattle ranching and soya planting.

Many wetlands in the Amazon are disappearing due to the impact of cattle ranching and deforestation

A non-government group, Imazon, which uses satellite pictures to measure deforestation warned last week of a 467% rise in October from the same month a year earlier.

But Ms Teixeira said the official estimate was the most accurate: "Anything else is speculation. We have been working hard to end deforestation."

She presented the figures just days before the Lima Climate Change Conference, which opens on Monday.

More on This Story : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-30221461

Brazil markets its African culture

Brazil markets its African culture
By Gary Duffy 
BBC News, Salvador

Few places better represent the influence of Africa on Brazilian culture than the streets of Salvador in the state of Bahia. 

Bahia's African heritage on parade

And throughout November, when the community celebrates Black Consciousness, both the spirit of Africa and the traditional exuberance of Brazil have been on display.
The vast majority of people in Bahia are Brazilians of African descent, the legacy of a time when more than 40% of slaves brought to the New World were taken to Brazil.
Brazil abolished slavery in 1888, the last country in the Americas to do so.
The African influence is everywhere - in music, the dance, food and religion - sometimes preserved in a way that is no longer even true in Africa.
It includes Capoeira, a martial art passed down directly from slaves, and Candomble, an African-inspired religion.
That cultural heritage is now drawing African-American visitors from the US to Brazil.

'Familiar but different'
Among those watching the parade for Black Consciousness day in Salvador was Ky Adderley from Philadelphia.

These US tourists say they found Brazil fascinating

"I have been very impressed thus far, just being here for 24 hours, just seeing how close everyone feels to their African heritage," he said.
His girlfriend Natasha Jane agreed: "Just in the place we are staying there is African art all over, and just travelling from place to place you see the culture everywhere, in the art, in the people, in the sound, in the food," she said.

Groups working in Brazil to promote understanding say Brazil offers African-Americans a unique opportunity.
Paul Johnson, executive director of Partners of America, says such cultural issues are discussed more openly in Brazil than in the US.

The black American population have a lot to teach us  Domingos Leonelli Brazilian tourism official

"I think all Brazilians whether they are black or not black acknowledge the contribution that African-Brazilians have made to the general culture.
"I think that is done to a lesser extent in the United States. There is more talk about samba and where it has come from, about Capoeira and where it has come from, about the food, the songs, about how much the national popular culture has adopted African-Brazilian culture."

Simone Manigo-Truell Dos Santos of Levantamos, which promotes Afro-Brazilian-American co-operation, says Brazil blends the idea of being an American whose origins are from Africa.
"People are still able to hold on to their African heritage, their African ties, unlike what we experience in the United States.
"So when you get here and get off the plane and hear the music, the drums, the food is from Africa, a lot of the religion is from Africa, it really all of a sudden makes you feel at home in a way you thought wasn't possible outside of Africa."
Tourist officials in Bahia are now targeting the African-American market, and they hope it will help Brazil as well as the visitors.
"The black north American population, and American society have developed much more financially than our black population here," Bahia Tourism Secretary Domingos Leonelli said. "In this way they have a lot to teach us. A black middle class has developed in the United States, a black business class, and a black political power, and that is still a long way off in Brazil."

Limited opportunities

Brazil was once held up by academics as a "racial democracy" but in recent years there has been a more heated debate in the country about the issue of race, equality and discrimination.
The use of quotas as a means to address lack of access by black students to universities has proved particularly controversial.

BRAZIL'S SLAVERY LEGACY 40% of slaves in New World were sent to Brazil Brazil was last country in Americas to abolish slavery, in 1888 Black Brazilians still lag behind whites on most indicators

Most economic indicators show that black Brazilians are the poorest section of society, and the sprawling favelas or shanty towns that are found all around Salvador are just one indication of this.
As well as having the poorest jobs and housing, they also fare badly in terms of health and access to education, while black faces are rarely seen in the corridors of power in either business or politics.
A recent study showed that black residents of the state of Sao Paulo earn 44% less than their white counterparts, and that unemployment among backs is 18.1% compared with 13.2% for whites.
However the current government does at least have some black ministers, and a ministry to promote racial integration.

Brazilians of African descent have a cultural heritage that has much to offer to visitors from around the world, but as a community they still face many challenges in the years ahead, if they are to improve their position within their own society. 

Brazil's capoeira gains UN cultural heritage status

26 November 2014 Last updated at 20:41

The movements of capoeira require great bodily dexterity

Continue reading the main story

Capoeira - a Brazilian martial art form combining dance - has been given a special protected status by Unesco, the UN's cultural arm.

A Unesco representative said defining capoeira as "intangible cultural heritage" would help Brazil preserve the tradition.

Capoeira was originally created by African slaves to keep their fighting skills alive, disguising it a dance.

It is performed by two players who dance on their hands and feet.

Capoeira was born in the 17th Century and is usually performed in a circle of players and musicians

A combination of martial art, dance and sport, capoeira is performed to percussion and chanting.

It requires great physical strength and flexibility and is regarded as being of immense acrobatic beauty.

"It is one of the most important symbols of Brazilian identity and is present throughout our national territory as well as being practiced in more than 160 countries," the Brazilian culture ministry said in a statement.

Brazil now has five cultural art forms which have been given Unesco cultural heritage status.

They include several dance and music forms, indigenous rituals and art.

More on This Story  here :  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-30219941