What are the participatory budgets? (with video)

There are more and more municipalities with participatory budgets, and this is a great news for the connection of the constituents to the activity local Executive, but also to promote areas of society which are not priority of local power, such as culture and environment.

Is this the example of participatory budget Lisbon, the first to be implemented by a European capital in 2008. "The OP de Lisboa distinguishes itself from other experience (...) because it is a truly deliberative process, giving effective decision-making to citizens to submit proposals for their city and vote for the projects they consider priorities ", can be read on the website of the initiative. Unfortunately, often the money delay himself.

This year, the participatory budget Lisbon will distribute €2,4 million for 13 projects â€" seven of them are directly linked with sustainable development. One of those who sat out for the third consecutive year, was the project "Give wings to the Heritage", conceived by SPEA (Portuguese society for the study of birds) to rehabilitate the Palacete da Quinta das Conchas. With 2,357 votes, the project was the third most votes among those who cost € 150,000 and € 500,000, becoming once more to be accomplished.

According to Luis Costa, executive director of the SPEA, the aim is to rehabilitate the historic mansion and makes it an environmental centre devoted to birds. "As association dedicated to bird conservation, we hope to contribute and help make educational programs and an environmental education center to show the birds and nature [that surround the Villa]," explained the charge to green economy.

In 2008, only a thousand people voted in the projects. Last year, that number grew to 37,000 â€" insufficient, however, to reach the number of participatory budgeting of Cascais, which this year led the vote of 41,005 citizens.

Currently there are 57 Portuguese authorities (municipalities and Parish Councils) with participatory budgets, involving about €14 million. Since the country began to take the first steps in this model of participatory democracy, in 2002, the citizens decided the fate of €54 million, through a hundred OP, according to the public.

Foto: Yiannis Chatzitheodorou/Creative Commons

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U.s. will help countries threatened by climate change with €2,4 billion

Barack Obama recently announced that the United States intends to provide up to €2,4 billion to help countries that are being affected by climate change. The funds will enable these Nations to adapt to the new conditions of life, as well as to invest in clean energy.

However, the White House won't provide the money at zero cost. So that the amount is released, Barack Obama indicated that other G20 countries must have a similar attitude and provide amounts, even if in smaller values, referred to Inhabitat.

Although the action may seem generous and well-meaning, the approach chosen is to throw money to the problem, instead of taking effective action against climate change. Still, the money will allow the poor countries to invest in clean energy and adapt to more extreme conditions.

Foto: Barack Obama/Creative Commons

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Dubai offers Prize in gold who swap car for public transport

The road to sustainable mobility is coming to countries where, until recently, it was impossible to be: the transport authority of Dubai's chance to win generous prizes inhabitants if they leave the car in the garage and use public transport.

Second minus one Car, the authority will give away 4 kg of gold to celebrate the Day of public transport, which marks the day on November 1. The idea is to convince people to leave their cars at home. The prizes will be distributed via lottery.

The aim is to "avoid dependence on private vehicles and use public transportation," says Al Yousuf Ali, responsible for Roads and transport authority of Dubai.

This is another measure to reduce the traffic and car use in the city, once in Dubai there are an average of 2.3 cars per household and only 13% of citizens use public transport.

Besides the gold, there are prizes worth € 214,000 ($ 680,000) and a basketball tournament, with first prize valued at approximately € 2,100 ($ 6,600) and the presence of basketball player Kareem Abdul Jabbar, who will dispute a match in a bus terminal, according to the BBC.

To enable itself to win the prizes, all stakeholders must have a ticket to Dubai transport.

Foto: Metro do Dubai/KINKISHARYO/Creative Commons

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6 tips to start running and avoid injury

The race is fashionable and attracts an increasing number of fans every day. Much of the success of the race due to the fact that it can be practiced at any time, without being subject to the timetables imposed by the gym, and practicality, since it simply slip into sneakers and run. However, we must take into account a series of advice for that training is not harmful to the body.

To practice this sport in the best possible way, the Spanish site ABC shares a series of tips and tricks to get the most during your workout, avoiding injuries.

Read all about races and runners in our aggregator brother, my well-being.

1. Paciência

Running is a very aggressive mode due to contact with the ground. The first few times it's normal that I don't feel comfortable running. There needs to be a period of adjustment that could last about a month.

2. Advance progressively

A Council that is intended to people who are sedentary. Ideally start by racing with interim walk, I mean, take a minute and walking three.

3. control weight

Combine the practice of physical exercise with a balanced diet will help you lose weight in a short time. In the case of a person who has never raced and overweight, it is recommended to do elliptical or static bike before you start running.

4. choose the material

Running is one of the cheapest sports there is. The equipment should include breathable t-shirt and shorts and, above all, some good sneakers. Ideally, ask for advice in a specialty store, once the footwear must adapt to the weight and trodden on every person. There are three types of stomp:

-Pronadora (When you are with the inside)

-Neutral (When with the central part).

-Supinators (When you are with the outside of the foot).

5. strengthen the muscles

The ideal is to combine the race with gym exercise to strengthen muscles and consult the physiotherapist to relax the muscles if you have trained a lot.

6. Adapt the technique

Each person has a different way of running. It is necessary to adapt the technique to the characteristics of each race.

Photo: Adrià Ariste Santacreu/Creative Commons

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The danger of the storm drains for men and animals

There's a lot to know about the danger of the storm drains, or sewer holes, for the safety of the people, especially the young and children. However, they represent quite a bit more than that: also the animals, big or small, can quietly falling in these urban traps.

In the case of donkey Nile, who found himself stuck in a sewer hole of Pratteln, Switzerland, the just saved by firefighters. The donkey-nicknamed Shrek by firefighters due to similarities â€" left the zoo where she was for years but, distracted, not avoided falling into the hole.

Bruno Scheinder, a citizen of Pratteln, saw the ass trying to get out of the hole-it was impossible to do it alone â€" and called the authorities.

According to police, Nile wasn't hurt and was always conscience-the donkey of 13 years he's recovering from shock in the local zoo.

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Excess salt in the soil destroy terrains the size of Manhattan every week

A new study of the United Nations (UN) reveals that the excess salt in the soil, destroyed over the past 20 years, about 20% of all global irrigated land â€" an area equivalent to the size of France. This corresponds to the average daily destruction of 2,000 acres of irrigated plantations in arid or semi-arid areas spread across 75 countries over the last two decades.

In 2050, the world population is expected to reach 10 billion people and, as such, human civilization cannot afford to lose agricultural land fertile and arable. The amount of land destroyed by excess salt increased from 45 million hectares in 1990 to 62 million at present.

The destruction of land by salt happens in areas where rainfall is too low to generate a regular flow of rainwater through the soil and where irrigation is practised without a natural or artificial drainage system. The salt then begins to accumulate in the soil, even if irrigation is done with the cooler water as possible, and as the water evaporates, the salt particles are piling up in the grounds. Additionally, the crops selectively filter the salt water through its root system, further concentrating the load of salt in the soil, referred to Inhabitat.

The study, "Economics of salt-induced land degradation and restoration" was published in Natural Resources Forum. Additionally, the document reveals the extensive costs of salinisation, including €21,9 billion in agricultural losses per year.

Foto: BITS_flux/Creative Commons

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The most beautiful train stations in the world

There's something particularly beautiful, enigmatic and even nostalgic train stations. They resemble the departure and arrival, and that connects us, invariably, to our most intimate emotions.

Maybe that's why we all like lists of the most beautiful stations in the world. And they appear to an incredible pace, sponsored by newspapers and media from around the world.

This time the list was developed by the Daily Mail and puts the Eastern Station, in Lisbon, in the ranking of the most beautiful in the world.

The British newspaper says we love train stations because, for the most part, they are made and practices. That's why the station of Santiago Calatrava and other few, around the globe, are viewed with awe and admiration.

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1. Gare do Oriente, Lisboa (Portugal)

2. Chhatrapati Shivaji, Bombay (India)

3. Kings Cross, London (England)

4. St. Pancras, London (England)

5. Liege-Guillemins, Liège (Belgium)

6. Antwerpen-Centraal Station, Antwerp (Belgium)

7. Royal Botanic Gardens, Madrid (Spain)

8. Gare de Strasbourg, Strasbourg (France)

9. KL Sentral, Kuala Lumpur (Malásia)

10. Grand Central Terminal, New York (USA)

11. CFM Station, Maputo (Mozambique)

12. Kanazawa Station, Kanazawa (Japan)

13. Southern Cross, Melbourne (Australia)

14.Hundertwasser-Bahnhof, Huelzen (Alemanha)

15. World Trade Centre Transport Hub, New York (USA)



Photo: Feliciano Guimaraes/Creative Commons

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