quinta-feira, 31 de dezembro de 2009
terça-feira, 29 de dezembro de 2009
The little girl and the star fish / A menina e a estrela do mar
THE LITTLE GIRL AND THE STARFISH
A young girl was walking along a beach upon which thousands of starfish had been washed up during a terrible storm. When she came to each starfish, she would pick it up, and throw it back into the ocean. People watched her with amusement.
She had been doing this for some time when an old man approached her and said, “Little girl, why are you doing this? Look at this beach! You can’t save all these starfish. You can’t begin to make a difference!”
The girl seemed crushed, suddenly deflated. But after a few moments, she bent down, picked up another starfish, and hurled it as far as she could into the ocean. Then she looked up at the man and replied,
“Well, I made a difference to that one!”
The old man looked at the girl inquisitively and thought about what she had done and said. Inspired, he joined the little girl in throwing starfish back into the sea. Soon others joined, and all the starfish were saved.
A MENINA E A ESTRELA-DO-MAR
Uma menina caminhava pela praia onde milhares de estrelas -do -mar encontravam-se espalhadas devido a uma terrível tempestade que houvera. Quando esta se aproximava de uma, ela apanhava-a , e atirava-a de volta ao oceano. A s restantes pessoas olhavam para esta cena divertidas.
A menina já estava a fazer isto durante algum tempo até que um velho aproximou-se desta e disse, "Menina, porque é que estás a fazer isto ? Repara nesta praia ! Não consegues salvar todas estas estrelas-do-mar. Isso não vai fazer nenhuma diferença !"
A menina ficou com um ar infeliz por uns momentos. Mas apesar disso ela dobrou-se e apanhou uma nova estrela -do-mar correu até ao oceano e arremessou-a de volta. Depois olhou de volta para o velhote e disse,
"Bem, para aquela fez diferença !"
O velho olhou´para a menina inquisitivamente, e pensou no que ela tinha dito e feito. Inspirado juntou-se a ela e começou também a atirar estrelas-do-mar de volta para o oceano. Em breve outros juntaram-se a estes e todas as estrelas-do-mar foram salvas.
A young girl was walking along a beach upon which thousands of starfish had been washed up during a terrible storm. When she came to each starfish, she would pick it up, and throw it back into the ocean. People watched her with amusement.
She had been doing this for some time when an old man approached her and said, “Little girl, why are you doing this? Look at this beach! You can’t save all these starfish. You can’t begin to make a difference!”
The girl seemed crushed, suddenly deflated. But after a few moments, she bent down, picked up another starfish, and hurled it as far as she could into the ocean. Then she looked up at the man and replied,
“Well, I made a difference to that one!”
The old man looked at the girl inquisitively and thought about what she had done and said. Inspired, he joined the little girl in throwing starfish back into the sea. Soon others joined, and all the starfish were saved.
A MENINA E A ESTRELA-DO-MAR
Uma menina caminhava pela praia onde milhares de estrelas -do -mar encontravam-se espalhadas devido a uma terrível tempestade que houvera. Quando esta se aproximava de uma, ela apanhava-a , e atirava-a de volta ao oceano. A s restantes pessoas olhavam para esta cena divertidas.
A menina já estava a fazer isto durante algum tempo até que um velho aproximou-se desta e disse, "Menina, porque é que estás a fazer isto ? Repara nesta praia ! Não consegues salvar todas estas estrelas-do-mar. Isso não vai fazer nenhuma diferença !"
A menina ficou com um ar infeliz por uns momentos. Mas apesar disso ela dobrou-se e apanhou uma nova estrela -do-mar correu até ao oceano e arremessou-a de volta. Depois olhou de volta para o velhote e disse,
"Bem, para aquela fez diferença !"
O velho olhou´para a menina inquisitivamente, e pensou no que ela tinha dito e feito. Inspirado juntou-se a ela e começou também a atirar estrelas-do-mar de volta para o oceano. Em breve outros juntaram-se a estes e todas as estrelas-do-mar foram salvas.
segunda-feira, 28 de dezembro de 2009
domingo, 27 de dezembro de 2009
sexta-feira, 25 de dezembro de 2009
quinta-feira, 24 de dezembro de 2009
quarta-feira, 23 de dezembro de 2009
terça-feira, 22 de dezembro de 2009
domingo, 20 de dezembro de 2009
SONG -A CONTINOUS ACT.PART 9.
Nothing new to add really, except that I stumbled upon this new great name of Fado called Carminho!
I was mesmerized by her voice and I am sure that she is going to be huge!
I do believe I´m in Love :)
I was mesmerized by her voice and I am sure that she is going to be huge!
I do believe I´m in Love :)
sábado, 19 de dezembro de 2009
sexta-feira, 18 de dezembro de 2009
quinta-feira, 17 de dezembro de 2009
segunda-feira, 14 de dezembro de 2009
Iberian Lynx PART 1
More than giving speeches about nature´s conservation, I like to maintain the healthy habit of conversation about nature´s conservation.
Diego Carvalho
Iberian Lynx, will be the title of a new series of posts that will show you a bit of something that these days Is becoming seriously neglected, and that Is of true importance :The nature that surrounds us and we take for granted: especially the “Natural” environment that exists in Portugal and under a much broader perspective the Iberian Peninsula (Portugal and Spain) and that´s filled with an incredible richness(Wildlife speaking, of course!).
I hope that while presenting these posts we can touch that sensible spot that everyone owns but we´re becoming more and more detached from It , since we are living in a more industrial and artificial world we -And that Is: “Love for the natural world and It´s surroundings”.
For those of you who are following the SONG posts, rest assured that these series of posts are far from over. Therefore the name – SONG.A CONTINUOUS GIFT.
There are Four main reasons why I´ve decided to baptize these posts with the peculiar name Iberian Lynx: The first one is because The Iberian Lynx is an endangered species in the Iberian Peninsula. In fact these magnificent creatures were completely extinct in Portugal. Some will say that the continuous use (and abuse) of legal and illegal hunting is responsible for the disappearance of this particular species. Some others will point the finger at forest fires while others will say that the deforestation in order to built new cities is the main responsible. In my humble opinion that is all a big load of “crap”. Like that old saying goes: “Give me one thousand enemies, and I´ll give you one thousand excuses”. There Is only one reason why this has happened, an there´s a harsh word that sums it all up pretty well -STUPIDITY. And I don´t know about you, but I´m getting a bit tired of the “finger pointing game”, what I really want to ear since the problem as emerged and after the responsible, guilty parties are recognized and blamed is :“What can I do about it”? .
Under my limited scope of awareness that is the only way to solve eminent and urgent problems.
The second reason is that the Iberian Lynx In my humble opinion is a very beautiful animal, and It´s rareness only serves to add more beauty to this specific creature. Whenever I read something about these magnificent cats It feels, like I´m reading something about a Mystical creature like the unicorn. The ugly story of this particular fairy tale is that Unicorns are only real in the realm of Fantasy and the Iberian Lynx, is no fairy tail character. It makes me sad whenever I read a book or watch one of those nature documentaries that speak about “Endangered species”.
The third one, and since we are leaning over the subject of endangered species is the brilliant hard work that comes from the most endangered species of all and these are the “Nature conservationists”. These hard working champions are struggling worldwide to be heard and we owe them a lot .
The fourth and last but not least reason is that as I´m sure you are aware a huge number of brilliant persons have been assembling in Copenhagen to discuss the problem of “Global warming”and I truly hope that these conversations will be fruitfull for us all since we are discussing a huge problem that needs to be solved urgently . Yeah, I know. It´s December we are all close to Christmas, and who wants to ear about something so silly like global warming when you could go out shopping.
Let´s hope and pray that these group of brilliant people won´t become temporarily insane and think in the same manner!.
“We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children.”
Old Native American proverb
Diego Carvalho
Iberian Lynx, will be the title of a new series of posts that will show you a bit of something that these days Is becoming seriously neglected, and that Is of true importance :The nature that surrounds us and we take for granted: especially the “Natural” environment that exists in Portugal and under a much broader perspective the Iberian Peninsula (Portugal and Spain) and that´s filled with an incredible richness(Wildlife speaking, of course!).
I hope that while presenting these posts we can touch that sensible spot that everyone owns but we´re becoming more and more detached from It , since we are living in a more industrial and artificial world we -And that Is: “Love for the natural world and It´s surroundings”.
For those of you who are following the SONG posts, rest assured that these series of posts are far from over. Therefore the name – SONG.A CONTINUOUS GIFT.
There are Four main reasons why I´ve decided to baptize these posts with the peculiar name Iberian Lynx: The first one is because The Iberian Lynx is an endangered species in the Iberian Peninsula. In fact these magnificent creatures were completely extinct in Portugal. Some will say that the continuous use (and abuse) of legal and illegal hunting is responsible for the disappearance of this particular species. Some others will point the finger at forest fires while others will say that the deforestation in order to built new cities is the main responsible. In my humble opinion that is all a big load of “crap”. Like that old saying goes: “Give me one thousand enemies, and I´ll give you one thousand excuses”. There Is only one reason why this has happened, an there´s a harsh word that sums it all up pretty well -STUPIDITY. And I don´t know about you, but I´m getting a bit tired of the “finger pointing game”, what I really want to ear since the problem as emerged and after the responsible, guilty parties are recognized and blamed is :“What can I do about it”? .
Under my limited scope of awareness that is the only way to solve eminent and urgent problems.
The second reason is that the Iberian Lynx In my humble opinion is a very beautiful animal, and It´s rareness only serves to add more beauty to this specific creature. Whenever I read something about these magnificent cats It feels, like I´m reading something about a Mystical creature like the unicorn. The ugly story of this particular fairy tale is that Unicorns are only real in the realm of Fantasy and the Iberian Lynx, is no fairy tail character. It makes me sad whenever I read a book or watch one of those nature documentaries that speak about “Endangered species”.
The third one, and since we are leaning over the subject of endangered species is the brilliant hard work that comes from the most endangered species of all and these are the “Nature conservationists”. These hard working champions are struggling worldwide to be heard and we owe them a lot .
The fourth and last but not least reason is that as I´m sure you are aware a huge number of brilliant persons have been assembling in Copenhagen to discuss the problem of “Global warming”and I truly hope that these conversations will be fruitfull for us all since we are discussing a huge problem that needs to be solved urgently . Yeah, I know. It´s December we are all close to Christmas, and who wants to ear about something so silly like global warming when you could go out shopping.
Let´s hope and pray that these group of brilliant people won´t become temporarily insane and think in the same manner!.
“We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children.”
domingo, 13 de dezembro de 2009
sábado, 12 de dezembro de 2009
sexta-feira, 11 de dezembro de 2009
quarta-feira, 9 de dezembro de 2009
SONG -A CONTINOUS ACT.PART 8.
John Lomax, who worked for the library of congress called himself a “ballad hunter” he and his son, Alan, drove all across America and made literally thousands of recordings. They were doing one of the most important things anyone could do: they were preserving the past, before it disappeared forever.
Martin Scorcese in THE BLUES
All American music Historians, and everybody, that is interested in traditional, folk music should be grateful, to Lomax for his pursuit of songs all over the U.S.A. In the late 1930´s.
Portugal too had a great “ballad hunter” of It´s own. And with him also a debt of gratitude that words can´t express enough.
His name was Michel Giacometti and he was Corsican and from the late 1960´s to about 1980´s this great man could be seen traveling, across Portugal visiting the more rural areas always searching for those songs that only the old timers knew. If Giacometti didn´t had the courage and the entrepreneur spirit that was part of his character I´m pretty sure that a lot of the Portuguese traditional folk songs would be forever forgotten. He fell in love with Portugal especially with Alentejo where he could be seen always carrying a microphone and a tape recorder. Michel Giacometti left a legacy of incredible richness behind him just like John Lomax did, and these few words are my homage to this great man this “foreigner” that loved red wine and the simple spirit of the Alentejo song.
Alentejo -Povo que canta não pode morrer/Alentejo -A people that sings cannot die
Martin Scorcese in THE BLUES
All American music Historians, and everybody, that is interested in traditional, folk music should be grateful, to Lomax for his pursuit of songs all over the U.S.A. In the late 1930´s.
Portugal too had a great “ballad hunter” of It´s own. And with him also a debt of gratitude that words can´t express enough.
His name was Michel Giacometti and he was Corsican and from the late 1960´s to about 1980´s this great man could be seen traveling, across Portugal visiting the more rural areas always searching for those songs that only the old timers knew. If Giacometti didn´t had the courage and the entrepreneur spirit that was part of his character I´m pretty sure that a lot of the Portuguese traditional folk songs would be forever forgotten. He fell in love with Portugal especially with Alentejo where he could be seen always carrying a microphone and a tape recorder. Michel Giacometti left a legacy of incredible richness behind him just like John Lomax did, and these few words are my homage to this great man this “foreigner” that loved red wine and the simple spirit of the Alentejo song.
Alentejo -Povo que canta não pode morrer/Alentejo -A people that sings cannot die
terça-feira, 8 de dezembro de 2009
segunda-feira, 7 de dezembro de 2009
domingo, 6 de dezembro de 2009
sábado, 5 de dezembro de 2009
SONG -A CONTINOUS ACT.PART 7.
There is nothing that I hate more than the plasticity of repetition. These are necessary words because of the brief note that I am about to leave here in this post of SONG. It will have nothing to do with the continuation of the bellow mentioned Portuguese music styles (sorry about that) but I wouldn´t feel good about myself If I didn´t added a few words about something that I believe that Is so revolutionary and wonderful that words become scarce to express.
Picture this -Picture a world where the most familiar word in your vocabulary is despair. Picture a world where the only smiling, faces or better yet grinning faces are the ones of drug dealers with fists full of money and human scum of similar trades. Picture a world where kids with ages between 10 and 14 kill themselves in turf wars day in and day out like dogs pissing to mark territory. Picture a world where more than half the people you know will die of violent death. Well this world as a name -SLUM. You don´t have to go to Africa or to some other continent with an unpronounceable name because there isn´t a single place on earth where these sort of neighbourhoods don´t appear.
There isn´t really, some sort of eden because all societies that produce richness will also produce It´s inverse effect no matter how much one tries to sugar coat the situation. Now picture this -Image that very same slum, but every once in a while some little boy or girl will be offered a musical instrument. And with It the chance to learn to play It. And the cost of this will be nothing, zero, nada. Imagine that this little boy or girl will become so skillful with this musical instrument that he or she will have the chance to belong not to a gang but a musical band. And not just any musical band but a full symphony Orchestra. Imagine that this Orchestra will, travel around the world and this little boy or girl would get in touch with other cultures, languages and ways of life. Imagine windows of opportunities opening where before only despair, existed.
I know, It sounds too good to be true. But, some men (some few men) dared to make this supposed impossible dream come true. And they are José Antonio Abreu and Dudamel.
Together they are the leaders of the greatest GANG of young musicians that carry only hope, confidence, optimism and wonderful music as weapons to fight for a brighter and much happier future.
I raise my glass to all of them.
Picture this -Picture a world where the most familiar word in your vocabulary is despair. Picture a world where the only smiling, faces or better yet grinning faces are the ones of drug dealers with fists full of money and human scum of similar trades. Picture a world where kids with ages between 10 and 14 kill themselves in turf wars day in and day out like dogs pissing to mark territory. Picture a world where more than half the people you know will die of violent death. Well this world as a name -SLUM. You don´t have to go to Africa or to some other continent with an unpronounceable name because there isn´t a single place on earth where these sort of neighbourhoods don´t appear.
There isn´t really, some sort of eden because all societies that produce richness will also produce It´s inverse effect no matter how much one tries to sugar coat the situation. Now picture this -Image that very same slum, but every once in a while some little boy or girl will be offered a musical instrument. And with It the chance to learn to play It. And the cost of this will be nothing, zero, nada. Imagine that this little boy or girl will become so skillful with this musical instrument that he or she will have the chance to belong not to a gang but a musical band. And not just any musical band but a full symphony Orchestra. Imagine that this Orchestra will, travel around the world and this little boy or girl would get in touch with other cultures, languages and ways of life. Imagine windows of opportunities opening where before only despair, existed.
I know, It sounds too good to be true. But, some men (some few men) dared to make this supposed impossible dream come true. And they are José Antonio Abreu and Dudamel.
Together they are the leaders of the greatest GANG of young musicians that carry only hope, confidence, optimism and wonderful music as weapons to fight for a brighter and much happier future.
I raise my glass to all of them.
quinta-feira, 3 de dezembro de 2009
quarta-feira, 2 de dezembro de 2009
terça-feira, 1 de dezembro de 2009
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