Both online and in Portuguese papers, I have been writing on BEST PRACTICES in government, to avoid disasters as fires, floods, health queues, etc. For some 30 years fires in Spain and Portugal have been destroying yearly 200-400 thousand hectares of forests and fields.
Since 2004, after a bad fire in Monchique, I have been telling ways to avoid them. First in Avezinha, then in Barlavento, shortly in EXPRESSO, later in PUBLICO, NEGOCIOS, OJE, VIDA ECONOMICA.
Since 2008, published along two years, my four books told Como Sair da Crise, “How to Quit the Crisis”. Some 90 niches for each of the regions in Portugal were detailed, long before the recession hit us.
Governments all over the world pay billions to scientists to develop ways to avoid disasters and forecast recessions, but seldom use their proposals. Because there are economic and other interests, groups who win being in power, who stop necessary improvements in laws and practices.
The result is more and more ballots to NABO, N-ull, A-bstention, B-lank, O-ther (nanoparties). In countries where voting is obligatory, as in Brazil, ballots go mainly to football idols, comedians, clowns.
Fires in Portugal this year will destroy some 150 th. ha, more than ever. The cost, in lost billing by local producers and in machines and real estate, may reach €1,2billions. This was forecasted years ago; experts told how to avoid it. Top-quality tourists, who used to visit Serra da Estrela will not come for years.
Draughts in Portugal this year will be worst than ever. The cost, in less rural production may reach €1 billion, boosting imports and dropping exports. Ministers were told how to avoid them.
Floods next year will be worst than ever. A cost of €1 billion.
Old problems in the public health system this year are worst than ever. In the Algarve it improved in some services, not in emergencies. Decentralization may result after some years. Doctors, managers, other experts have been telling ministers, along 20 years, how to improve it.
Recession in Portugal next year will be worst than 2011. The cost, in much higher interest rates, unemployment, bankruptcy, lower productivity, etc may reach €6 billion. It may continue for nine years. Many economists wrote on it.
Governments all over the world are highly influenced by lobbies. Many MPs are elected with a strong support by some corporations or lobbies and are kind to them. We see in countries, as Sweden, Germany and France, the raise of extreme parties, both to the right and left. Very dangerous!
To avoid this, using mainly networking to push young electors, young female PMs have now the power in New Zealand, Finland, etc, listening to people, rather than to lobbies. In Brazil, previous center-left governments introduced CONSELHO DE DESENVOLVIMENTO ECONOMICO-SOCIAL, CDES-Social-economic Development Council, meeting ministers monthly and the President each 2nd month. Those 90 non-politicians, but engaged in their communities, as teachers, directors of local or regional associations, representing all regions and most branches of activities, participated in 13 working groups, with some few other experts. They provided ministers with proposals for new regulations, to make necessary changes. Some of those were stopped by the Congress.
Government used those science based proposals to push for structural changes, which otherwise were stopped by the lobbies.
The only cost for CDES was tickets for a few members who could not afford come to the capital, for the meetings. And also some coffee, a lunch, the time of one minister and his secretary. In the meetings, ministers told us possible political problems and we offered evidence they could use against the lobbies.
YES, WE CAN - A COUNCIL FOR BEST PRACTICES!
