• drought.... now animals are suffering

Posted: **Thu Jan 20, 2005 6:18 pm**

portuguese news says that this is worst drought in 20 years....beja should have 80 mm in jan..they have received 1...faro should get 75 mm received 0...now apparently farm animals are starting to die as a result in alentejo

no doubt there will be plently of grazing opportunites for live stock on our 30 lush algarve golf courses

Posted: **Thu Jan 20, 2005 10:04 pm**

Give it a rest. This topic is like a bad penny. Maybe if all the golfers stopped coming the locals would die of poverty

Posted: **Thu Jan 20, 2005 10:42 pm**

I really wonder about this.......I was in Beja last week and see no signs of this ...Farm wells still had water in them...I looked.....and horses were left tied in the midle of fields as always they are...water shortages or not........without water....I never understand many local farmers as they dont seem to care too much .....anyway my point is I have read these reports but not sure animals are really dying..yet...........As for Golf connection......well we might see water rationing yet and it will be interesting just how the government handles this.........I think the Algarve really needs the Golfers....for what else is there to bring in the much needed Dosh through the winter.......and the local population would have a much harder time without them........Fact...........and do the local population give a dam about a few Horses...No ....not at all.............so I guess thats the situation.....Money wins...

Posted: **Thu Jan 20, 2005 11:36 pm**

Im not being into the pros and cons of Golf courses again but....on my 2 week new year hol I heard many locals..mainly Portuguese ..express their concern at lack of rainfall...and if there isnt sufficient over the next couple months it would be a big worry for the hot summer months ahead.
No doubt they also had the memory of the previous 2 summers bad fires and shortage of water for the Bombeiros..
Lets hope there is much needed 'chuva' soon!
Ellie

Posted: **Fri Jan 21, 2005 9:15 am**

In defence of the local courses I can say, that some clients of mine played the Pestana courses last week and reported them to be in very bad shape, very dry with brown patches - possibly a sign that they do care about conservation and are not about to go blasting the course with gallons of a resource that is becoming increasingly scarce.

Posted: **Fri Jan 21, 2005 12:34 pm**

Here in NW UK we had 20mm of rain fall within 1 hour yesterday. Its been a terrible month, floods, mini tornado ripping off roof slates, wrecking greenhouses, strong gales and endless rain nearly every day - suppose we mustn't grumble though

Posted: **Fri Jan 21, 2005 1:50 pm**

At least I know why they call it the grim North now

It never rains here !!! ha ha

Posted: **Fri Jan 21, 2005 2:22 pm**

The Lake District is really beautiful in the summer though Gary and Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding is to die for - think Madonna gets it delivered too?

Posted: **Fri Jan 21, 2005 3:18 pm**

I have to agree been there a couple of times and it is a beautiful part of the country. If I remember stayed in Penrith and took day trips to the lakes.

Never tried the sticky toffee pudding but if its good enoughg for Madonna then I must give it a go..

Just joking about the grim North, my Mum lives in Denby Dale

Posted: **Fri Jan 21, 2005 4:00 pm**

the information came from portuguese tv news...one hopes they are right..as for thinking golf courses bringing in cash....they can pay a milllion euros a round...it stlll will not make it rain.

as ellie pointed out ...its frightening to think what summer fire devestation will bring...

as for golf courses. no doubt they will allow the animals to graze...saves o fuel for grasscutting machines..plus where the animals do their doodles will supply natural fertilizer for the courses..as environmentaly friendly places they really will be doing a service to the community

Posted: **Sat Jan 22, 2005 1:27 pm**

Well you seem to have cracked it guest....let the herds graze there..problem solved

But in all seriousness...looks as tho its turning into a grave problem..especially for those in the Alentejo region.....
I have it from a friend in Portimao(and she may add to this topic if she gets time)..who was raised in Beja area....daughter of a farming man..
that the situation is very bad...live stock dying and farmers livelyhoods in jeopardy..
Not one of us animal..human..plant..can survive without water...precious rain..that we in UK/North Europe always moan about...
parts of the African continent have not seen rain for 8 years..and we see the devastating results on all life there...
I hope you get that much needed 'chuva' soon Guest....

..ellie