Arise Portugal

A UK civic movement

Portugal needs a civic movement to permit it to arise from the ashes like the bird Phoenix.  It should be led by intellectuals, entrepreneurs, conscientious public employees and other dedicated citizens.

I do not have a name for it, but I do have a concept:  Common Sense and Civism

For Pete's sake.  Use It.  It is astonishing how far common sense and civism will get you.

It is not that difficult.  Here are a few suggestions:

1. Think Portuguese 
1. Buy Portuguese
2. When no Portuguese product available, then avoid buying new foreign products - buy second hand
3. Restore instead of buying new
4. Have holidays in Portugal
5. Eat in Portuguese restaurants
6. Watch Portuguese movies/theater/music
2. Transports
1. Use public transports
2. Bicycle or walk instead of the car
3. Energy
1. Save it - most of it is bought outside Portugal
2. Use renewable sources that make sense.  Solar water heating is obvious
4. Money smarts
1. Do not borrow for consuming
2. Do not use credit cards (money out of the country)
3. Do not invest in foreign companies
4. Invest in Portugal
5. Companies
1. Start a business - or help others starting a business
2. Make life easier for business owners (your work matters for your company and yourself)
3. Be more productive (work better not necessarily more)
4. Collaborate and be service minded.
6. Education
1. Get educated
2. Make sure your children get educated
7. Civic duties
1. Complain about and report any public sector inefficiency you meet.  Fight bureaucracy and mediocrity
2. Report tax evasion and other crimes
3. Help the needy.  Material goods or money is not the only help needed.
4. Avoid using public services you do not need
5. No littering, clean around you
6. Be polite and respectful.
7. Collaborate
8. Be positive
8. Tourism
1. Show them, this is among the safest, cleanest, prettiest, most interesting and kindest countries in the world
2. They are paying clients - give them the service they deserve.  Satisfied clients come back
3. They are visitors - guests.  Treat them the way you would like to be treated.
9. Health
1. Prevent instead of treating  
1. Seek the doctor now - do not wait until it is too late
2. Do regular check-ups
2. Lifestyle
1. Do sports (watching football does not count)
2. Eat healthy (Portuguese food - the Mediterranean diet)
3. Don't drink to excess
4. Don't smoke if you can help it
10. Children
1. Make Portugal a child friendly country

ad 1) 

This should be obvious.  Every euro spent on foreign products is money spent helping other economies.  Also the money is taken out of Portugal where it has to be generated, before being spent.

ad 1.1) 

The government should make campaigns:  Think Portugal, Buy Portuguese etc.

ad 2)
Use less foreign cars and energy.  Save time.  Save the environment.  Give the broken public transport companies some more income (their debt is yours). Get healthy.  Work on the train.  Arrive relaxed at work.

ad 3)

Most of the energy in Portugal is fossil fuel bought abroad.  Portugal is energy dependent.  It is bad for balance of trade (payments) and it pollutes. Even if AGW should happen not to concern you - it is proven that pollution is bad for all of us.

ad 4)

Be fiscally conservative.  Teach it to your children.  Show a good example.

ad 5)
We all ultimately live off business.  Unless you want to life off charity from the World Bank?

ad 6)
Portuguese are among the least (or the least!) educated in Europe

ad 7)

Be an exemplary citizen.  Lead by example.  Know your rights and duties.  Take only what you need.  (Receiving a pension while employed is probably not a need).  Help when you can.  Ask not what your country can do for you but ask what you can do for your country.

ad 8)

This is the single most promising industry in Portugal.  And does it not make you proud to know they come visit your country?  It gives you a chance to show it off!
Also tourists are guests.  Treat them as such and you may learn something and even make friends.

ad 9)

It is cheaper this way and it practically guarantees more health and happiness

ad 10)

These little people are the future of the Portuguese nation!  And we are running out of them.  Make some more and make life easier for families with children.

And finally, maybe forget a little about materialism and focus on what is really important in life.  Pure materialism does rarely bring happiness.  Not many years ago the Portuguese society had more coherence due to stronger non material values.  Family, friends, even your neighbor are more important than a larger car.

(Some neighbors are a..holes.  In that case go for the car)