"O bater de asas de uma borboleta pode provocar um furacão do outro lado do mundo"
“The flutter of a butterfly's wings can trigger a hurricane on the other side of the world”
Let’s take a closer look at the name of the shopping center, “Soul Shopping,” and consider how we might interpret the combination of these two words. On the one hand, the word “Soul” evokes something sacred. For Catholics, every human being is endowed with a soul and is destined for eternal bliss. In Spiritism (I find this interpretation more accurate), the soul is the incarnated spirit; the soul survives the body and, in each life, continues to improve until it reaches perfection. From this point on, the soul will no longer incarnate, thus gaining eternal life.
As for the interpretation of modern science, some scientists have been trying to find evidence of the existence and nature of the human soul, but there is still no scientific proof of its existence. Neuroscience and recent discoveries in quantum physics regarding the properties of matter have opened up new avenues for study and the formulation of hypotheses that, until very recently, were mere science fiction theories. Let us say that the study of the human soul focuses on the study of the mind.
As for the other word: “Shopping”—we might ask ourselves how a word that evokes the sacred (Soul) can be paired with another that has such a mundane meaning: a place where people shop, consume, and indulge in trivialities—a place where the human soul is subjected to so many temptations, in short, a place of spiritual ruin! Is this meant to be provocative?
I agree with the consumerist view, not with the view that it leads to the ruin of souls! If we think about it, consumption can be a form of solidarity. How? When we consume, we’re contributing to the economy; we’re paying wages and generating profits for companies; we’re increasing domestic consumption and contributing to the country’s growth. If there are people—or souls—who idolize money and barely eat just to save it and build a mountain of cash in the bank, those people are a disaster for the economy.
I know people are always talking about responsible and mindful consumption, but unfortunately, even responsible consumption isn’t enough to save the planet and restore its balance. You know the environmentalists’ slogan: “There is no Planet B.” So how do we strike this balance? Family incomes and livelihoods versus the environment and ecological balance!
Conclusion: If we want a healthy planet Earth, this must be achieved by reducing the population and consumption. I ask: who wants to go back to the Stone Age? Any volunteers? Don’t give me that nonsense! Because no one is willing to give up their comfort!
Nesta luta pelo planeta qualquer consumo de texteis em Portugal pode provocar um furacão nos Estados Unidos! - Efeito borboleta! Preparem-se para mudar tudo o que vocês são e foram, o planeta B está à distância de um furacão! Como banda sonora deste post escolhi, mais uma vez, uma canção dos Muse: "Butterflies and Hurricanes"!
In this fight for the planet, any purchase of textiles in Portugal could trigger a hurricane in the United States! – The butterfly effect! Get ready to change everything you are and have been—Planet B is just a hurricane away! As the soundtrack for this post, I’ve chosen, once again, a song by Muse: “Butterflies and Hurricanes”!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nG1sMfOOvUk&list=RDnG1sMfOOvUk&start_radio=1
Tradução: DeepL.com (free version)
Hoje, dia 9 de Março de 2026, o nosso Presidente da Republica, Prof. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, cessa as suas funções presidenciais, seguindo-lhe o novo Presidente eleito democraticamente, António José Seguro. Quando um Presidente cessa funções é encomendado um retrato oficial do Presidente para ser exposto na galeria dos retratos no Museu da Presidência. Cada Presidente escolhe o artista plástico para realizar essa obra.
Today, March 9, 2026, our President of the Republic, Prof. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, steps down from his presidential duties, followed by the newly democratically elected President, António José Seguro. When a President leaves office, an official portrait of the President is commissioned to be displayed in the portrait gallery at the Museum of the Presidency. Each President chooses the artist to create this work.
President Marcelo chose a painter who comes from the streets, an urban artist who started out doing graffiti and now has street art works all over the world. Initially, this artist refused the commission, I think because he felt that his urban and protest art did not fit in with this type of work. He ended up accepting without charging a penny, only that the value of the portrait be spent on works by emerging artists. This urban artist is called Vhils!
On this day of farewell, I would like to publicly praise your two terms in office, won by significant margins – the President of affection, as you became known – but I cannot do so! A President who swears to uphold and enforce the Portuguese Constitution, and who breaks that oath every day for 10 years, cannot leave with his head held high and slam the door without a serious problem of conscience. I don't know if you suffer from occasional insomnia, but there is an excellent medicine for that on TV, but it is my wish that it has no effect!
What I would really like, President Marcelo, is to have a sword, one of those from the movie Star Wars, a lightsaber, and cut you in half and then hang you upside down on the door of your law school with the inscription: OPAAC (The President Assassinated the Constitution). For a professor of law, I think in my innocence that I would never have to remind such a person of the chapter on the rights, freedoms, and guarantees of citizens, you know, Marcelo, those rules that you violated every day while you were president! You know that place? That's the one!
Como banda sonora deste post escolhi a canção dos Muse "Ruled by Secrecy". Presidente Marcelo, limpe o sangue das suas mãos porque eu nunca entenderei qualquer que seja a explicação. Qualquer. Nunca!
As the soundtrack for this post, I chose Muse's song “Ruled by Secrecy.” President Marcelo, wash the blood from your hands, because I will never understand any explanation. Any. Never!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhNDpbpyIRo&list=RDVhNDpbpyIRo&start_radio=1
Tradução: DeepL.com (free version)
Olá! Bem-vindos, meus caros amigos e leitores! Há muito tempo que quero dedicar um post à história de um grande português: Aristides de Sousa Mendes, para isso precisava de ir visitar a sua Casa Museu, em Carregal do Sal (Portugal). Mas quem foi esta personalidade tão distinta, perguntam vocês?
Hello! Welcome, my dear friends and readers! For a long time, I have wanted to dedicate a post to the story of a great Portuguese man: Aristides de Sousa Mendes. To do so, I needed to visit his House Museum in Carregal do Sal (Portugal). But who was this distinguished figure, you may ask? 
Aristides S. Mendes was a Portuguese diplomat. He was Portugal's consul in Bordeaux at the time France was invaded by the Germans during World War II. Contrary to the orders of the then Portuguese dictator, Aristides issued around 30,000 visas to Jewish refugees, allowing them to escape the horror of the Holocaust via Portugal and flee to the United States.
This act of humanity saved 30,000 lives, but this gesture of great altruism and self-sacrifice did not earn him the glory and honour that only great heroes deserve. The Portuguese dictator consigned him and his family to oblivion and poverty. He died poor and ostracised, all for daring to defy the dictator's orders. Aristides only did what his heart and conscience told him to do! He chose to be for life!
His house was in ruins, but it was rebuilt and Aristides' memory was restored, with him being considered a national hero, posthumously. The work was funded by the American grandchildren of the Jews that Aristides saved. This post was supposed to have been photographed at his House Museum, but I admit that, not because of Aristides, but because of the recent actions of the Jewish people, I refused to make that visit, perhaps at another time, when peace is consolidated between Jews and Palestinians.
Life presents us with many challenges, some of which define our entire lives, changing the path we had envisioned for ourselves. But if this sacrifice was made out of love for others and for what we believe is right in our conscience, then it is worth taking that risk, even if the price was very high. History will take care of justice!
Como banda sonora para este post, escolhi a canção de The Cranberries, "Zombie". Alerto para o facto de o video ser violento, contem imagens de várias guerras, mas dá maior ênfase a imagens do filme a Lista de Schindler. Filme este que conta a história de um homem que salvou milhares de judeus da morte, tal como Aristides Sousa Mendes. Uma reflexão sobre as principais vítimas da guerra! E, de como a vida de Aristides também merecia um filme!
As the soundtrack for this post, I chose the song ‘Zombie’ by The Cranberries. Please be aware that the video is violent and contains images from various wars, but it focuses mainly on images from the film Schindler's List. This film tells the story of a man who saved thousands of Jews from death, just like Aristides Sousa Mendes. A reflection on the main victims of war! And how Aristides' life also deserved a film!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yrBDu9EkdE&list=RD1yrBDu9EkdE&start_radio=1
Pergunto-me como foi possível que tenha acontecido de novo, ironicamente com o povo que tem a memória do genocídio no seu ADN! Rezo para que a paz seja duradoura!
I wonder how it was possible for this to happen again, ironically to a people who carry the memory of genocide in their DNA! I pray that peace will be lasting!
Olá! Bem-vindos meus caros amigos e leitores! Hoje, neste post, pretendo fazer uma reflexão sobre a "verdade"! A verdade nua e crua, a que incomoda, a que expõe. Essa verdade, verdadeira, que muitos tentam apagar. E quando quem a diz se torna incómodo, o processo é sempre o mesmo: calar e desacreditar, transformar a verdade no cliché "não aconteceu" - ou pior em mentira! Atacam os factos, mas sobretudo quem ousa pronunciá-los! Lança-se dúvidas sobre a pessoa e este é o caminho mais rápido para abafar o que aconteceu! Acho que para começar este post, esta introdução está de bom tamanho!
Hello! Welcome, my dear friends and readers! Today, in this post, I want to reflect on ‘truth’! The naked, raw truth, the one that makes people uncomfortable, the one that exposes them. That true truth that many try to erase. And when those who speak it become inconvenient, the process is always the same: silence and discredit them, transform the truth into the cliché ‘it didn't happen’ — or worse, into a lie! They attack the facts, but above all, those who dare to speak them! They cast doubt on the person, and this is the quickest way to silence what happened! I think this introduction is just the right length to start this post!
.jpg)
Continuing this reflection, little by little, attempts are made to reverse the situation. The truth becomes a lie, and the lie, repeated over and over again, becomes the truth.
So this constructed narrative overlaps with the facts and the truth. We think that this type of thing only happens in countries where there is censorship, and these mechanisms become more sophisticated with technology. Take the case of China, which uses TikTok to sideline political opponents. But I believe this also happens on other social networks, such as Facebook. And this style of censorship is already being practised in democracies where there is freedom of expression!
And there are even more cruel processes, when people accept the manipulated version: that is, the lie! Those who speak out are labelled liars, unstable, useless, attacking your self-esteem. This is to force people into silence, all done and fuelled by algorithms, fear and social media!
Another method is to turn the truth and whoever uttered it in a fabrication! This is no mere coincidence. This is a pattern seen in countries where strict control of information and disinformation stifle any truth that is uttered! But unfortunately, this is not only happening in that country!
Para terminar, a frase que inspirou este post, foi proferida pela pessoa mais injustiçada da História da Humanidade, Jesus Cristo:
"O meu reino não é deste mundo"
Ele acredita na justiça divina, acredita que numa outra dimensão, num outro mundo, a justiça será feita e foi feita efectivamente e, eu acredito nisso.
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
To conclude, the sentence that inspired this post was uttered by the most injusticed person in human history, Jesus Christ:
‘My kingdom is not of this world’
He believes in divine justice, believes that in another dimension, in another world, justice will be done and has been done, and I believe that.