We wake up to news of wars, fall asleep to reports of crises, and in between, we scroll through a screen that rarely gives us a reason to smile. In this scenario, talking about gratitude might seem like a luxury, or even naive. But is it really?

For psychotherapist Angela Masuzzo, the answer is clear: looking for reasons to hope is not naive; it is necessary. “Without hope, we often cannot move forward,” she states. In this conversation ahead of Thanksgiving, the psychotherapist helps us understand what happens within us when we choose to give thanks and why that choice is far from being just a pleasant feeling.

The specialist explains that our brains have a natural tendency to give more weight to what goes wrong than to what goes well. This is the so-called negativity bias, which social media and constant news consumption make even more intense. To counter this effect, she proposes something she calls “self-preservation”: knowing one’s own limits and knowing when to disconnect, without ceasing to care about the world.

Throughout the interview, Angela Masuzzo also distinguishes healthy optimism from so-called “toxic positivity”—the kind that forces us to say everything is fine when, inside, we are exhausted, anxious, or sad. For the psychotherapist, being optimistic requires courage: the courage to be honest about how we feel and, even so, to believe that there are viable paths forward.

Her simplest advice is also the hardest to follow nowadays: pause. Pause to see, hear, and notice the small things—like a conversation, a gesture of affection, or a shared meal—that we so often take for granted.

As the daughter of immigrants who left for Brazil after World War II, Angela Masuzzo knows firsthand the value of fresh starts. Because of this, she looks with special fondness upon the experience of immigrant communities, such as the Portuguese in Canada, who have learned to value every achievement because they know all too well the price paid for it.

This is a conversation that reminds us that, even on the hardest days, there is still so much to be thankful for.

Milénio Stadium: From a psychological standpoint, what happens within us when we practice gratitude? Is it merely a pleasant feeling, or does it have tangible effects on our well-being and mental health?

Angela Masuzzo: Gratitude is something that we should all cultivate in our daily lives. Practicing gratitude is often simply shifting the focus away from what we think we lack and learning to value and appreciate what we have in the present, as well as what we have already experienced in the past.

Being grateful is being able to look at life from a more positive perspective, recognizing the good things even when we are going through difficult times. Maintaining this focus can contribute to a more balanced mental health and help us live in a more optimistic, humble, and conscious way.

Gratitude also helps us accept that we won’t always have everything we desire at the exact moment we want it. Sometimes, what didn’t happen, what we don’t yet have, or even something we lost might be part of a larger process that we cannot yet comprehend.

Cultivating gratitude does not mean ignoring life’s hardships, pain, or challenges. It means learning to recognize that, even in the midst of them, there are still reasons to give thanks. It is a simple practice, but one that can transform the way we see ourselves, the people around us, and our own lives.

MS: Wars, economic crises, polarization, non-stop bad news… With so much negativity around us, is it naive to look for reasons to hope? What can help us find reasons to keep the light of hope in humanity burning?

AM: It is by no means naive to look for reasons to hope. Without hope, we often cannot move forward.

There is a lot happening in the world today. For people who are more sensitive to all these news items and events, practicing “self-preservation” can be very important.

And what does that mean? It doesn’t mean becoming indifferent individuals who don’t care about the world or what is happening. It means having the ability to assess our own limits and recognize how much we can absorb emotionally before that information begins to affect us negatively.

Limiting our constant exposure to news—whether on television, social media, artificial intelligence, or any other media outlet—can help relieve that emotional overload. We don’t need to be plugged in all the time to everything that is happening to remain conscious and engaged with the world.

Sometimes, preserving our emotional health means knowing when to stop. It means stepping away for a few hours or a few days and directing our attention toward the positive things that also exist around us.

Caring for ourselves in this way is neither selfishness nor a lack of awareness. It is a way to protect our ability to continue feeling empathy, to keep the light of hope burning, and to believe that, despite so many difficulties, there are still many good things happening in the world.

MS: We seem to have a natural tendency to focus more on what goes wrong than on what goes well. Why does this happen? And in what ways do social media and constant news consumption fuel this pessimistic view of the world?

AM: Yes, that tendency is real, and the reason why it happens is a good question. It is due to the so-called negativity bias. What does that mean? Simply that our brain has a natural inclination to give more importance to negative things than to positive ones. Our attention ends up being more directed toward a potential danger, a threat, a loss, or a conflict.

Social media and constant news consumption cause this effect to become even more intense. We are surrounded by news about the world, our country, and people that isn’t always positive, and that can reinforce a more pessimistic view of the world and even of humanity.

Often, it is human beings themselves who are involved in conflicts, wars, violence, crises, and other problems that end up being precisely the news we hear, read, and consume daily. When we are repeatedly exposed to this type of content, we can begin to get the impression that everything is worse than it actually is.

Therefore, it is important to remember that what receives the most attention in the news does not always represent reality as a whole. There are also many good things happening, people helping other people, and positive changes, but those don’t always receive the same spotlight.

MS: Can a more positive outlook truly help us live better? What is the distinction between healthy optimism and “toxic positivity,” which forces us to pretend that everything is fine?

AM: Yes, but that is a conscious and intentional decision we have to make to protect ourselves, including protecting our physical and mental health.

Practicing healthy optimism requires courage: the courage to be truthful and honest with ourselves and with what we are experiencing. When we enter the cycle of “pretending” that everything is fine, we often don’t get to experience optimism in a light and genuine way. On the contrary, we can end up in a constant state of alert, in that well-known “fight or flight response.” We are always trying to run, avoid, or protect ourselves from what we feel might hit us.

Being present and practicing honesty in a careful manner is not easy in today’s world. Many people aren’t truly interested in a real answer. The question “How are you doing?” is often already accompanied by an almost automatic response: “I’m good, thanks.” And it stops there.

But how many people are screaming inside, hidden behind that “everything’s fine”? How many are merely functioning, smiling, fulfilling their obligations, while inside they are exhausted, anxious, sad, or overwhelmed?

Perhaps that is precisely where courage comes in: the courage to be a little more honest. That doesn’t mean exposing everything to everyone, nor living life only talking about hardships. It means acknowledging what we are truly feeling, respecting our own boundaries, and allowing space for both pain and hope to exist.

Healthy optimism isn’t pretending that nothing is wrong. It is looking at reality as it is, recognizing what is difficult, and yet choosing to believe that there are possibilities, resources, people, and paths that can help us move forward. Perhaps, with a bit more honesty and less need to pretend, we can live in a lighter and more authentic way.

MS: What small daily habits or gestures can help us cultivate gratitude and a more positive mindset, both within ourselves and our families? And what advice would you give to someone going through a difficult time who feels they have nothing to be grateful for?

AM: There are people who have immense difficulty seeing the small positive things around them, and sometimes even quite significant ones.

Gratitude is a state of mind. When it doesn’t arise naturally, we can cultivate it at different moments in our lives. It is about developing the awareness that, no matter the size of the problem, difficulty, or obstacle we are facing, there is almost always an important lesson in that process. And that lesson, in itself, already deserves gratitude.

Human beings, in a way, have grown accustomed to never being completely satisfied. We are always looking for something more, something bigger, something better. And that “something more” can often be related precisely to the difficulty of recognizing and valuing what we already have in our lives.

This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t want to grow, change, achieve, or seek better things. The problem begins when we are so focused on what we don’t yet have that we stop seeing what is already present. And, often, important things pass right before our eyes without us realizing it.

My first suggestion would be: pause. Simply pause. Stop and begin to see, feel, hear, and pay attention. Pay attention to words, gestures, people, events, and small moments that pass us by unnoticed because we are always searching for “something” bigger, better, or different.

Sometimes, it’s a conversation. A gesture of affection. Someone remembering us. A text message. A moment of peace on a hard day. A meal. The opportunity to be with someone we love. Even small things that, because they are always present, we end up taking for granted.

And perhaps that is precisely where gratitude lives: not just in grand achievements, but in the ability to notice what is already happening while we are living it.

Because what happens when we don’t do that? We go on autopilot. We wake up, work, solve problems, handle our responsibilities, chase the next goal, think about what is missing, what we still want to achieve… and the day ends.

Then another day begins, and another. And, without realizing it, we can become people who simply exist, but aren’t truly living.

Cultivating gratitude is also cultivating presence. It is being able to step out, if only for a few moments, from this constant search for what is missing and look at what already exists. Because, often, the life we are waiting to live in the future is already happening right now. We just need to be able to notice it.

MS: For many immigrants, such as the Portuguese in Canada, life was built on sacrifices and fresh starts. Do you think this experience teaches people to appreciate the small things more and hold on to hope?

AM: Most certainly. I am the daughter of immigrants who went to Brazil after World War II, and I witnessed firsthand how they valued everything they achieved. I saw up close the sacrifices that were made, the effort to restart life in an unfamiliar place, far from what they knew, often out of necessity rather than mere choice.

There is something very profound in that experience. Starting over requires far more than willingness. It requires courage, perseverance, and the ability to believe that there is something better on the other side.

Everyone who prepares to immigrate needs, in some way, to cling to something stronger than themselves to keep going. It could be family, faith, a dream, an opportunity, the hope of providing a different life for their children, or simply the need to survive and build a new beginning.

Hope goes hand in hand with that perseverance and courage. Without hope, it becomes very difficult to envision a different future. And, in the end, that is precisely what every immigrant seeks: a different future.

Not necessarily a perfect future, but a future with more possibilities, more security, more dignity, or more opportunities than those left behind.

And perhaps that is why many immigrant families learn to value small victories so deeply. Because they know the price paid for them. They know that many things that seem simple or guaranteed to some were the result of immense effort, sacrifice, and courage.

Hope, in this sense, is not just waiting for something to get better. It is continuing to walk even without having all the guarantees, believing that today’s effort can make room for a different reality tomorrow.

Madalena Balça/MS

More than 800 gigabytes of Artemis II lunar science data – some of it previously unreleased – was released today, posted to NASA’s Planetary Data System. Most of the images from the mission were previously made public – although this Oct. 7 release is the official data archive with high resolution imagery and robust metadata. […]

LEVANTE | 7 ottobre, tre anni dopo: Netanyahu sapeva? Avvertimenti ignorati, Europa complice del silenzio e la legge sull’antisemitismo. Tre anni dal 7 ottobre 2023. Secondo inchieste di Haaretz, New York Times e Wall Street Journal, Netanyahu avrebbe ricevuto avvertimenti dagli Emirati e dall’Egitto prima dell’attacco. Perché nessuno ha agito? E perché Israele rifiuta ancora una commissione d’inchiesta indipendente? Bruxelles sanziona tre coloni e quattro organizzazioni, ma risparmia Ben Gvir e Smotrich. Contro il governo di Tel Aviv, nessun passo concreto. Ipocrisia o impotenza? Il ddl antisemitismo adotta la definizione IHRA: tutela necessaria o strumento per silenziare la critica a Israele? Ripartiamo dalle parole di Moni Ovadia, ospite lunedì su Casa del Sole TV. E poi: l’Accordo della Mecca tra Arabia Saudita, Turchia e Pakistan, la strategia di Erdogan, il fronte Houthi, la guerra dell’intelligenza artificiale e il declino della civiltà occidentale. Intanto in Italia inflazione al 4,2%, energia +22% e carburanti sopra i 2 euro. I libri degli ospiti: Federico De Renzi: Dialoghi sulle minoranze. Un viaggio attraverso le minoranze del mondo, Fabrizio Noli, Federico De Renzi- editore: Qulture Edizioni – anno edizione: 2014 L’India dei turchi. Una storia dimenticata del subcontinente indiano- Federico De Renzi, Simone Costanzo – editore: Il Cerchio 2025 Michele Putrino, Manuale di resistenza al potere – Uno Editori, 2019 Liberi dalla paura. Gli insegnamenti di un’antica dottrina per liberarsi dal controllo del sistema Uno Editori, 2021 Roberto Quaglia, Guerra e pace e zombi, 2025 Roberto Quaglia, Il fondamentalismo hollywoodista, 2020 Roberto Quaglia, Il mito dell’11 settembre e l’opzione dottor Stranamore, 2006 I LIBRI DI MARGHERITA FURLAN BRICS Scacco Matto (disponibile in italiano, inglese, russo) Un podcast d Margherita furlan, una produzione Casa del Sole TV Iscriviti, attiva la e sostieni l’informazione indipendente! #Levante #CasaDelSoleTV #AccordoDellaMecca #ArabiaSaudita #Turchia #Erdogan #Pakistan #Iran #Yemen #Houthi #MedioOriente #AsiaOccidentale #Russia #Propaganda #GuerraCognitiva #IntelligenzaArtificiale #DeclinoOccidente #Inflazione #CaroCarburanti #Geopolitica #Multipolarismo

L'articolo 🔴DALL’11 SETTEMBRE AL 7 OTTOBRE | LEVANTE LIVE proviene da Casa del Sole TV.

Hello, good morning, how are you? Another month… and what really matters is that we keep moving forward in good health, stumbling here and there, but following our path without harming anything or anyone. And, let’s face it, that isn’t bad at all.

We are celebrating Thanksgiving weekend, but shouldn’t we be thankful every day?

Not only for the food we put on our tables for our families day after day, but have you ever stopped to think that this very food is indeed a blessing, and that sometimes those who produce it and get it to us from its source might not even have enough to eat?

And don’t you think that those who provide us with work, which secures that food for us, should also be in our thoughts when we reflect on what we should be grateful for? We are—and I say we are because I am a sinner just like all mortals—we are, as I was saying, “ungrateful.” We complain about trivial things. For example, I find myself looking at my husband when he prepares a wonderful breakfast for me, which he does whenever he can, and then sets out the wrong cutlery—oh dear, I just can’t convince him that we have smaller forks and knives; it is what it is. But then I think to myself: well, there are also those who have no forks, no cutlery at all, nor any food, and so that fleeting moment of “ingratitude” washes away with the ocean wave that had brought it in.

I am grateful for my health, despite a few hurdles. I am grateful for my daughters, for my husband, and for 4 or 5 true FRIENDS, already including Ross, who never fails me in anything.

I am grateful to belong to two countries that, for now, still live in peace, for the roof that protects me and my loved ones, and for everything I have, whether much or little. I am grateful that I don’t care for ostentation or vanity, for being humble and knowing how to appreciate those who lend a hand when we falter or lend us an umbrella on a rainy day. I am also grateful for being humble—something that, along with gratitude, is slowly being lost these days.

I wish you all a Thanksgiving weekend filled with peace, abundance, love, and good health. Do not forget, however, a neighbor or family member who might not have anything to put on the table. Remember, Kindness begets Kindness.

It is what it is, and it’s always worth what it’s worth.

See you soon,

Cristina DaCosta/MS

Hear from the Artemis II crew about impact flashes — bursts of light caused by pieces of space debris hitting the ground — that they saw while they were on the other side of the Moon, during a planned loss of comms. Here’s what it was like at two key points in the story: when […]

Earth’s Moon is a historical landmark – a celestial body continually peppered with robotic landers shot from our home planet as well as being an in-your-face world dotted with human footprints planted there by a dozen visiting moonwalkers from 1969 to 1972. A recent gathering in Italy of the International Scientific Committee on Aerospace Heritage […]

Treasury Secy Scott Bessent clearly endeavors to be the second Pete Hegseth of Trump World, albeit via packing heat in the form of economic missiles rather than the kinetic kind. In fact, however, his ballyhooed Operation Economic Outcast actually amounts to the greatest windmill tilting operations since Don Quixote himself. So let’s cut to the […]

Riserve americane al minimo dal 1982, Cina che blocca l’export di carburanti, raffinerie russe in fiamme, Hormuz a scartamento ridotto: non è una crisi, è la somma di quattro crisi. E l’Europa le subisce tutte senza governarne nessuna. A Levante questa sera, martedì 6 ottobre, Margherita Furlan dialoga con Demostenes Floros, responsabile dell’area Energia del CER, sulla nuova geografia del potere energetico e su che cosa significa per l’Italia, nel giorno in cui torna l’accisa piena sul gasolio e il tetto ai prezzi resta affidato a Eni. Hormuz, l’OPEC+ senza Emirati e i 5 milioni di barili al giorno che mancano all’appello Washington svuota la Riserva strategica e minaccia di fermare il gasolio: l’Europa apre le scorte Pechino chiude l’export di carburanti e si tiene le cisterne La guerra delle raffinerie tra Kiev e Mosca e il conto che arriva alla pompa Gas e GNL: il Qatar ferito, l’Europa dipendente dagli Stati Uniti, l’inverno alle porte Eni, Mattei e lo Stato assente: tetto ai prezzi, dividendo straordinario, extraprofitti LIBRI DELL’OSPITE Crisi o transizione energetica? Come il conflitto in Ucraina cambia la strategia europea per la sostenibilità (con Stefano Fantacone), 2022 Guerra e pace dell’energia. La strategia per il gas naturale dell’Italia tra Federazione Russa e NATO, Diarkos, 2020 SOSTIENI CASA DEL SOLE TV Casa del Sole TV è un progetto di giornalismo indipendente autofinanziato. Per donazioni: IBAN: IT63P0326822300052392596590 Intestato a: La Casa del Sole Edizioni Causale: Donazione Casa del Sole TV Membership YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CasadelSoleT… Analista Multipolare €5/mese Inviato della Verità €15/mese Architetto del Futuro €25/mese I LIBRI DI MARGHERITA FURLAN BRICS Scacco Matto (disponibile in italiano, inglese, russo) SEGUI CASA DEL SOLE TV YouTube: @CasadelSoleTVChannel #Levante #CasadelSoleTV #MargheritaFurlan #Geopolitica #Multipolarismo #DemostenesFloros #Energia #Eni #Hormuz #Gasolio #Petrolio

L'articolo 🔴 IL MONDO A SECCO | LEVANTE LIVE proviene da Casa del Sole TV.

La finanza è colpevole: la guerra si combatte sui ponti di Kiev e si paga con il debito di Roma. A Levante, lunedì 5 ottobre 2026, alla vigilia del terzo anniversario del 7 ottobre, Margherita Furlan dialoga con Moni Ovadia, Francesco Dall’Aglio e Alessandro Volpi. Tre forme della forza che riducono la persona a cosa: la legge che vuole fissare i confini del dicibile, le armi che paralizzano una capitale senza abbatterne i ponti, il denaro che finanzia il riarmo mentre il debito costa ogni mese di più. AFFRONTIAMO INSIEME Il ddl antisemitismo alla Camera, la definizione IHRA, l’appello di Liliana Segre e il dissenso dentro la memoria Tre anni dal 7 ottobre: Gaza in una tregua che continua a uccidere e Milano che discute il gemellaggio con Tel Aviv Perché Mosca non abbatte i ponti sul Dnepr ma ne colpisce i cavi, e che cosa cambia per la logistica ucraina lungo la E40 Merz a Kiev tra le sirene, l’avviso russo ai diplomatici e la nuova soglia dello scontro Treasury oltre il 5,3%, Francia ai massimi dal 2002, spread fino a 131 punti: come il debito americano contagia l’Europa Interessi verso 117 miliardi l’anno, manovra e spese militari: chi paga e chi incassa «La terza guerra mondiale sarà quella della povertà sociale»: il nuovo libro di Alessandro Volpi GLI OSPITI Moni Ovadia, attore, scrittore, uomo di teatro Francesco Dall’Aglio, storico e analista militare Alessandro Volpi, Università di Pisa, autore di «La finanza è colpevole» LIBRI DEGLI OSPITI Alessandro Volpi, La finanza è colpevole Alessandro Volpi, La guerra della finanza. Trump e la fine del capitalismo globale, Laterza, 2025 Alessandro Volpi, I padroni del mondo, Laterza, 2024 SOSTIENI CASA DEL SOLE TV Casa del Sole TV è un progetto di giornalismo indipendente autofinanziato. Per donazioni: IBAN: IT63P0326822300052392596590 Intestato a: La Casa del Sole Edizioni Causale: Donazione Casa del Sole TV Membership YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CasadelSoleT… Analista Multipolare €5/mese Inviato della Verità €15/mese Architetto del Futuro €25/mese I LIBRI DI MARGHERITA FURLAN BRICS Scacco Matto (disponibile in italiano, inglese, russo) SEGUI CASA DEL SOLE TV YouTube: @CasadelSoleTVChannel #Levante #CasadelSoleTV #MargheritaFurlan #Geopolitica #Multipolarismo #LaFinanzaÈColpevole #AlessandroVolpi #MoniOvadia #FrancescoDallAglio #Kiev #Ucraina #Spread #DebitoPubblico #Riarmo #DdlAntisemitismo #7ottobre

L'articolo 🔴Kiev senza ponti Roma senza soldi | LEVANTE LIVE proviene da Casa del Sole TV.

Could Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon be pushing the United States to a “Sputnik Moment” – the Cold War ‘heebie-jeebies’ stirred up when the former Soviet Union lofted Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to circle Earth in 1957? Blake Burman, host of NewsNation’s “The Hill” broadcast aired on September 25, sat down with NASA Administrator Jared […]

Margherita Furlan. Il prezzo della decadenza. Guarda la puntata intera: https://www.youtube.com/live/ouQzao-1gSU CASA DEL SOLE TV — Informazione libera e indipendente Il nostro lavoro è possibile solo grazie al vostro sostegno. Casa del Sole TV non ha editori forti né finanziamenti pubblici: siamo sostenuti da voi, il nostro pubblico. Se credi nel valore di un’informazione che non tace, aiutaci a continuare. Dona tramite bonifico bancario: IBAN: IT63P0326822300052392596590 Intestato a: LA CASA DEL SOLE EDIZIONI Causale: Donazione Casa del Sole TV Dona tramite PayPal: paypal.me/casadelsoletv Sostegno ricorrente: casadelsole.tv/sostienici Anche un piccolo contributo fa la differenza. Grazie di cuore!

L'articolo 🔴CHI PAGA SIAMO NOI proviene da Casa del Sole TV.

Dal 2008 in poi le banche centrali hanno inondato il mondo di liquidità: salvataggi bancari, acquisti di titoli, debito pubblico finanziato a tassi vicini allo zero. Oggi lo scenario si rovescia. L’inflazione italiana sale al 4,2 per cento, trascinata da un’energia che costa il 22 per cento in più di un anno fa. Il gasolio supera i 2,30 euro al litro, il petrolio oscilla attorno ai 100 dollari sotto il peso della crisi di Hormuz, e la BCE risponde alzando i tassi per la seconda volta quest’anno. Mentre l’Occidente stringe il credito, i BRICS e il Sud globale accumulano oro e costruiscono canali di pagamento che aggirano il dollaro. Fino a quando potrà reggere un sistema fondato sulla creazione illimitata di moneta? E chi pagherà il conto quando la macchina si fermerà? Dalla politica monetaria ai ricordi di chi ha visto da dentro lo smantellamento della programmazione economica italiana. Ne parliamo con Nino Galloni, economista post-keynesiano, collaboratore di Federico Caffè, già funzionario del Ministero del Bilancio e della Programmazione economica e direttore generale al Ministero del Lavoro. Intervista a cura di Jeff Hoffman Affrontiamo insieme: Banche centrali e creazione di moneta: quanto può durare ancora? La BCE alza i tassi contro un’inflazione da energia: medicina giusta o errore? Carburanti, bollette e inflazione: chi incassa mentre noi paghiamo Dollaro, oro e debito americano: il tramonto di una valuta di riserva BRICS e Sud globale: l’architettura del mondo multipolare Federico Caffè, il maestro scomparso, e il prezzo della coerenza La chiusura del Ministero del Bilancio: quando l’Italia ha smesso di programmare La Carta di Roma, le tesi del 2008 e il confronto con Washington Italia ed Europa: esiste una via d’uscita dalla subalternità? I LIBRI DI NINO GALLONI Il superamento del capitalismo. Il mondo post-angloamericano. Oltre l’economia della moneta a debito, Arianna Editrice, 2025 (postfazione di Roberta Lasi) Economia quantistica, irrazionalità e coscienza, Byoblu, 2022 La rivolta delle coscienze. Siamo troppi, inutili e dannosi?, Byoblu, 2022 Il grande mutuo. Le ragioni profonde della prossima crisi finanziaria, Editori Riuniti, 2007 La moneta copernicana (con Marco Della Luna), Nexus Edizioni, 2008 La Sicilia protagonista della rivoluzione sovranista costituzionale, Edizioni Arianna LE INTERVISTE PRECEDENTI Crisi energetica, che ne sarà del fu Belpaese?    • Nino Galloni: crisi energetica, che ne sar…   Statonote e spazi di sovranità    • Statonote e spazi di sovranità   Dedollarizzazione controllata    • NINO GALLONI DEDOLLARIZZAZIONE CONTROLLATA   SOSTIENI CASA DEL SOLE TV Casa del Sole TV è un progetto di giornalismo indipendente autofinanziato. Nessun editore, nessun partito. Per donazioni: IBAN: IT63P0326822300052392596590 Intestato a: La Casa del Sole Edizioni Causale: Donazione Casa del Sole TV Membership YouTube:    / @casadelsoletvchannel   Analista Multipolare €5/mese Inviato della Verità €15/mese Architetto del Futuro €25/mese I LIBRI DI MARGHERITA FURLAN BRICS Scacco Matto (disponibile in italiano, inglese, russo) Iscrivetevi al canale e attivate la campanella: è grazie a voi che siamo qui ogni sera. #NinoGalloni #FedericoCaffè #BancheCentrali #BCE #Inflazione #SovranitàMonetaria #Dollaro #Dedollarizzazione #Oro #BRICS #SudGlobale #CrisiEnergetica #Carburanti #MinisteroDelBilancio #Italia #Europa #CasadelSoleTV #JeffHoffman #MargheritaFurlan #Multipolarismo

L'articolo 🔴 NINO GALLONI: LA FINE DEL SISTEMA INFINITO DELLA CREAZIONE DELLA MONETA proviene da Casa del Sole TV.

Un volo da Dubai a Tel Aviv, una colluttazione in cabina, un atterraggio d’emergenza in Arabia Saudita. Il movente è ancora ignoto, ma la cornice è arrivata subito: attacco jihadista, nuovo 11 settembre sventato, eroi a bordo. Come si costruisce un racconto prima dei fatti, e a chi serve? “Gli USA giurano di sconfiggere chiunque sia il nemico contro cui siamo in guerra”, titolò la rivista satirica The Onion all’indomani dell’11 settembre. L’attacco al giornalismo fu senza precedenti. Asfaltate le organizzazioni sindacali, rovesciate come calzini le associazioni di giornalisti. Ne parliamo con Stefano Re, criminologo, saggista ed esperto di metacomunicazione, e con Roberto Quaglia, scrittore di fantascienza e saggista. Due sguardi complementari: chi studia come un messaggio comunica il modo in cui deve essere letto, e chi da venticinque anni smonta i miti fondativi della propaganda occidentale. Affrontiamo insieme: Metacomunicazione dell’emergenza: parole, immagini e tempi con cui si fissa una cornice L’11 settembre come unità di misura di ogni minaccia, venticinque anni dopo Il dirottamento come genere cinematografico: eroi, cattivi e lieto fine già scritti Falsa bandiera: i casi documentati della storia e il confine con il sospetto automatico Realtà ritoccata: fotografie ufficiali, video virali, immagini sintetiche Profilo criminologico: attentato pianificato, gesto suicida o ancora nessuna delle due cose Lo stesso volo raccontato da Tel Aviv e dai media arabi I LIBRI DEGLI OSPITI Stefano Re LaScienzah. Quando la scienza si trasforma in fanatismo religioso, Arianna Editrice, 2025 Mindfucking. Dai manuali segreti della CIA al marketing, le tecniche di condizionamento mentale, Arianna Editrice, 2024 (edizione ampliata) Roberto Quaglia Guerra e pace e zombi. Democrazia totalitaria contro mondo multipolare, Youcanprint, 2025 Hollywoodism. The Invisible Ideology, Youcanprint, 2025 Il fondamentalismo hollywoodista. Viaggio in Iran alla scoperta dell’invisibile ideologia dell’Occidente, Youcanprint, 2020 Il mito dell’11 settembre. I versetti satanici della democrazia occidentale, Youcanprint, 2020 SOSTIENI CASA DEL SOLE TV Casa del Sole TV è un progetto di giornalismo indipendente autofinanziato. Nessun editore, nessun partito. Per donazioni: IBAN: IT63P0326822300052392596590 Intestato a: La Casa del Sole Edizioni Causale: Donazione Casa del Sole TV Membership YouTube:    / @casadelsoletvchannel   Analista Multipolare €5/mese Inviato della Verità €15/mese Architetto del Futuro €25/mese I LIBRI DI MARGHERITA FURLAN BRICS Scacco Matto (disponibile in italiano, inglese, russo) Iscrivetevi al canale e attivate la campanella: è grazie a voi che siamo qui ogni sera. #StefanoRe #RobertoQuaglia #Flydubai #11Settembre #FalsaBandiera #FalseFlag #Netanyahu #Metacomunicazione #Propaganda #GuerraCognitiva #Narrazioni #Mindfucking #Hollywoodismo #CasaDelSoleTV #Multipolarismo

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Il prezzo alla pompa è l’ultimo anello di una catena che l’Italia non governa più: greggio dal Golfo in guerra, gasolio da raffinerie passate in mani straniere o dall’India, prezzo fissato da una quotazione privata. E oggi Washington chiede all’Europa di svuotare le scorte di diesel, minacciando di bloccare le proprie esportazioni. A Levante, venerdì 2 ottobre, Margherita Furlan, fondatrice di Casa del Sole TV, e Vincenzo Maddaloni, giornalista e già corrispondente da Mosca e Varsavia, partono dal distributore per allargare lo sguardo al mondo multipolare. Conduce Jeff Hoffman. Affrontiamo insieme: L’ultimatum americano sul gasolio e perché colpisce soprattutto Germania e Francia Raffinerie: dalla ventina di impianti degli anni Novanta alle dieci di oggi, metà della capacità in mani estere Il Platts CIF Med, cioè chi fa davvero il prezzo, e le accise mobili dal 6 ottobre BRICS, unanimità a geometrie variabili: pagamenti, cavi, calcolo, minerali dopo il vertice di Nuova Delhi Il Valdai di Putin e il cuneo fra America ed Europa I 100 miliardi di Draghi per l’intelligenza artificiale: a chi andranno i calcolatori? Il ddl sull’antisemitismo e la frattura nel Pd GLI ARTICOLI DI CUI PARLIAMO Margherita Furlan, «BRICS, unanimità a geometrie variabili», La Fionda, 15 settembre 2026 Margherita Furlan, «Raffinerie, l’Italia decida di essere un Paese», La Fionda, 19 settembre 2026 I LIBRI DEGLI OSPITI Vincenzo Maddaloni, «Voglia di rivoluzione. Storia e storie di un desiderio inappagato», Nexus Edizioni, 2024 Vincenzo Maddaloni con Modini, «L’atomica degli ayatollah», Nutrimenti, 2006 Margherita Furlan, «BRICS Scacco Matto» (italiano, inglese, russo),2025 SOSTIENI CASA DEL SOLE TV Casa del Sole TV è un progetto di giornalismo indipendente autofinanziato. Per donazioni: IBAN: IT63P0326822300052392596590 Intestato a: La Casa del Sole Edizioni Causale: Donazione Casa del Sole TV Membership YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CasadelSoleT… — Analista Multipolare €5/mese — Inviato della Verità €15/mese — Architetto del Futuro €25/mese SEGUI CASA DEL SOLE TV YouTube: @CasadelSoleTVChannel #Levante #CasadelSoleTV #MargheritaFurlan #Geopolitica #Multipolarismo #VincenzoMaddaloni #Gasolio #Carburanti #BRICS #Raffinerie #Valdai #SovranitàEnergetica

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On September 30, SK Hynix’s American depositary shares closed at US$184.15 on the Nasdaq. Earlier that day in Seoul, one ordinary share closed at 1,776,000 won, about $1,308.80. Ten ADSs represent one Seoul share, so each ADS’s slice was worth about $130.88. Comparing those two closing prices gives the ADSs a 40.7% premium. The markets […]

The post Why Americans pay 41% more for SK Hynix shares than Koreans appeared first on Asia Times.

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Back on May 20, 2023, an asteroid plowed into Earth’s atmosphere over northwest Queensland, Australia. It produced 1 of the 20 most energetic bolide events reported by NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) since 1988. It also was the most energetic fireball observed over Australia since satellite reporting began in 1988. The Queensland superbolide […]

 

In 2019, the First Portuguese Canadian Cultural Centre, the oldest Portuguese club in Ontario, came close to closing its doors. The math simply didn’t add up, and the board had the courage to state it publicly: without help, the First would not survive. Leading that difficult decision were Aurianne Fazendeiro and Carina Paradela, who had joined the board shortly before. What followed was a pandemic, painful cuts, and a long process of financial reorganization. Seven years later, the First celebrates 70 years in a stable financial position, with a Senior Daycare Centre at the heart of its mission, the Portuguese school still open, and a clear dream: owning their own home. Today, Aurianne serves as General Director and Carina as Director of Operations at the First, and both truly champion the future of this institution, which they consider their second home. In this conversation with Milénio, they look back at the storm, speak about the present, and appeal to the community so that, together, they can build the next 70 years.

Milénio Stadium: A few years ago, the First Portuguese was close to closing its doors. How did you realize the gravity of the situation, and what led you to say “we are not going to let this happen”?

Aurianne Fazendeiro: When we joined the board in October 2018, we were new to managing an organization of the First’s scale, and initially, we believed the financial situation was more stable than it actually was. Shortly after, we began to realize that expenses outweighed revenues and that there were insufficient funds to continue operating in that manner. In 2019, after seriously analyzing the situation, we reached the point of announcing to the community that without immediate help, the First would have to close. It was a very difficult decision, but we didn’t want to hide reality. We had to tell people clearly: this is the situation, and we need help to keep going.

Carina Paradela: And it’s important to clarify that we aren’t talking about a lack of hard work or dedication from previous boards. For many years, the First was managed essentially by volunteers—people who gave their time and did the best they could to keep this institution alive. We have immense respect for that. What we realized was that an organization of this size required more permanent, structured financial and operational management. At the time we announced we might have to close, a financial solution to resolve the issue didn’t emerge. However, a community organization offered to store the First’s assets while we decided what to do, and we are deeply grateful for that. And, curiously, about six months later, the pandemic hit.

MS: What were the hardest moments of that period? Was there ever a time you thought it wouldn’t be possible to save the club?

AF: Without a doubt. When we announced that we might close, we were genuinely preparing for that possibility. It wasn’t a threat; it was a financial reality. Then the pandemic arrived, and initially, everything became even more uncertain. We had to shut down activities and significantly reduce services and staff. But in a way, the pandemic ultimately gave us time to reorganize house. We gradually resumed activities and were able to benefit from some government support programs, particularly rent-related subsidies.

CP: And that was when we began making a huge turnaround. It wasn’t something that happened overnight. It was a process of reorganization, cutting back where necessary, gaining better control over expenses, and understanding exactly what we could sustain.

AF: Financial management became an absolute priority.

MS: Which decisions were decisive in turning things around? And who stood by your side: members, volunteers, the community, sponsors?

CP: The most important change was undoubtedly the way we began managing the organization’s finances. Aurianne played a fundamental role in that financial reorganization. We started tracking revenues and expenses much more rigorously and making decisions based on what the institution could truly afford.

AF: We also learned to work with what we have, rather than taking on commitments we couldn’t sustain. After the pandemic, we managed to secure support streams that are vital to the First’s survival today, notably through OLG Charitable Gaming and Second Harvest, which allows us to significantly reduce food costs for our Senior Daycare Centre. But we want to be honest: when we were on the brink of closure, there wasn’t a grand community campaign that saved us; the recovery was primarily the result of our internal reorganization and the opportunities that arose during and after the pandemic.

MS: How is the First Portuguese doing today? What has changed in how the club is managed and in its relationship with members and the community?

AF: Today, the First is in a much more stable financial position. We have a small team, but we have a wonderful executive board that gave us the opportunity to remain connected to the institution in a different capacity. Today, we are employees of the First, which allows us to dedicate our daily work to the organization, maintenance, and operation of the house.

CP: The division of responsibilities is also much clearer. Day-to-day management is on us; major decisions and governance rest with the board. This allows us to do what we do best: be here every day, oversee the programs, resolve issues, talk to members, and ensure everything runs smoothly.

MS: Which activities are bringing the most people to the club today? Are the Portuguese school, senior care, and summer camps still the heart of the house?

CP: Today, our main focus is the Senior Daycare Centre. As a registered charitable organization, we want the social care aspect to be truly at the core of what we do. We have many Portuguese seniors who need companionship, activities, and often simply a place where they can speak Portuguese and be around others. The centre is a vital part of the mission we want to keep building.

AF: The Portuguese school is another source of great pride for us. It’s a tradition dating back virtually to the First’s earliest years that we are delighted to preserve. It’s a direct link to our history and to passing down the language and culture to new generations. And the Summer Camp plays a very important role as well: besides serving community families and children, it generates revenue that allows us to continue funding the First’s overall mission.

MS: Aurianne and Carina, you lead an institution with 70 years of history. Does the responsibility of being at the helm of Ontario’s oldest Portuguese club weigh on your day-to-day lives?

AF: The history weighs on us. And it weighs quite heavily. Not just because it’s 70 years of history, but because we are talking about an institution that helped build the Portuguese community in Canada and spans several generations.

CP: And there is another aspect of that responsibility that, unfortunately, we feel too. The name and history of an institution this old come with things that happened before we were part of the First—some even before I was born. And at times, we feel that this influences the support or responses we receive when seeking help. We cannot change the past. We can only do our work, every single day, and build what we want the future of the First to be.

AF: But despite that weight, the First has been a true blessing for us. It’s a home that entered our lives and brought us friendships, people, experiences, and an even stronger connection to our Portuguese heritage.

CP: It is our second home. And we are eternally grateful for that.

MS: How would you like to see the First Portuguese 10 years from now?

CP: We want to see the First with a home of its own. That is our ultimate goal. And that is what we work for every single day. We already have some money set aside specifically for that purpose, and little by little, we continue to grow that fund.

AF: Our dream is to achieve it in less than ten years. Maybe in five. But that will also depend on the community. If there are people and businesses willing to help, we can get there much faster. We want a place of our own, where we can secure the future of the Senior Centre and offer our seniors a better, more stable home tailored to their needs.

MS: On this milestone anniversary, what message do you leave for the community and for those who helped keep the club standing?

CP: Our message is, above all, one of gratitude to everyone who continues to believe in the First and support us. But it is also an appeal. Please help us build a home where our seniors can continue to have a dignified place to be, where our children can learn Portuguese, and where future generations can maintain a connection to our culture.

AF: We are deeply grateful to those who support us, who believe in us, and who keep walking through this door. And our door is open to everyone who wants the best for the First. We cannot change the past. But we can decide what we want to build for the next 70 years. And that is what we want to do: look forward.

Madalena Balça/MS

 

When the Saturnia docked in Halifax in 1953, it brought aboard the first Portuguese immigrants to arrive legally in Canada. They were mostly men, alone, with contracts to work in agriculture and on the railways. Three years later, in 1956, some of those pioneers founded the First Portuguese Canadian Club in Toronto, the city’s first Portuguese club. For decades, it was there that newcomers found friends, jobs, housing, and a piece of Portugal where their language was spoken.

Seventy years later, the community has transformed. It has grown, moved to other areas of the city or even other municipalities in the Greater Toronto Area or Ontario, and now has children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren born in Canada. Throughout its 70 years of existence, the First went through periods of glory, crises, and moved locations more than once. But its doors remain open.

To understand the role the club played in building the Portuguese community, promoting its culture, and teaching the language, and to ponder what the future holds for it, we spoke with Prof. José Carlos Teixeira, a researcher who has spent decades studying the Portuguese presence in Canada and knows the Greater Toronto Area community like few others. It is a conversation about memory, identity, and the transformations of Luso-Canadians who formed what sociologists call an «institutionally complete» community.

Milénio Stadium: The First Portuguese Canadian Club was born in 1956, just three years after the arrival of the Saturnia in Halifax with the first legal Portuguese immigrants. What led those pioneers, newly arrived and still with so little, to feel the need to create a club so early on? What role did the First play during those initial years of adaptation to a new country?

José Carlos Teixeira: To understand the First, one must place it in its historical context. We, the Portuguese community, are a relatively young group in Canada. In the 1950s, only a few thousand Portuguese arrived (around 17,000), mostly men with employment contracts for agriculture and railway construction, and the majority settled in Ontario. In 1956, the First Portuguese was born in Toronto. That same year, the Portuguese Association of Canada was established in Montreal. Throughout the 1950s, these were the only two Portuguese associations in the entire country, and we are fortunate to still have them with us.

In Toronto, the first Portuguese people settled in the Kensington Market and Alexandra Park area—a working-class neighborhood that had previously been home to Jewish, Italian, Polish, and Ukrainian immigrants. It was close to jobs in the downtown core and had that market, which was then known as the Jewish market. In the 1950s, the men rented rooms; in the 1960s, families began to arrive and rent entire houses. That was the embryo of the Portuguese community. It is no coincidence that the first Portuguese business was a restaurant on Nassau Street, owned by Mr. Sousa, a pioneer who arrived in 1953, whom I had the good fortune to interview more than once and whose conversations I still religiously keep on old cassette tapes. People talk a lot about Augusta, but it was on Nassau Street that the Portuguese community’s very first commercial establishment actually appeared. And it was in that same context, in a Toronto that was already multicultural, that the first headquarters of the First Portuguese Canadian Club also appeared on Nassau Street (Nassau and Lippincott).

What was its role? Beyond being a gathering place, it was a spot where people felt at home. Portuguese was spoken, it smelled of Portuguese culture and our food, and there were cultural activities, sports, and language instruction. People went there because their friends and relatives were there. And we often forget another component: it was at the First that people obtained references to rent a house or an apartment, and it was there that they found work. How many people met someone at the First and, through Portuguese bosses, secured a job! With its multiple activities and services, the First helped many of our people, especially from the first generation, integrate into the host society without having to abandon their roots.

MS: Over these seven decades, how has the First Portuguese contributed to organizing and bringing cohesion to the Portuguese community in Toronto? And how did the club follow the community’s own evolving geography—from the Kensington area and Little Portugal to the relocation of so many families to the suburbs?

JCT: In the 1950s, 60s, 70s, and into the early 80s, the First was the anchor of the community. I would even say, in good English, that «the First was the heart and soul of the Portuguese community». For a long time, there were very few Portuguese clubs besides the First. Let’s look at the timeline: in the 1960s, Casa da Madeira (1963) and Casa do Benfica (1968) emerged; in the 1970s, only a few more were founded, such as Amor da Pátria (1971), Asas do Atlântico (1973), the Portuguese Cultural Centre of Mississauga (1974), and Associação Cultural do Minho (1977). Therefore, between the 1950s and the late 1970s, there were only 7 clubs and associations. It was only from the 1980s onward that we witnessed significant growth in the community organizational movement, with the creation of 10 more clubs/associations. In other words, over the years, we built what sociologists call an «institutionally complete» community. In downtown Toronto, in our Little Portugal, we built an ethnic neighborhood and an economic enclave with a strong, highly visible identity—featuring sociocultural and religious associations, businesses, and media outlets. And the First appeared at the key moment, during the embryonic stage of that construction.

There is another aspect we cannot forget: the standing that the First had with different levels of government. It was a mandatory stop for Canadian politicians during election campaigns and beyond, who went there to present themselves to the community, as well as for Portuguese dignitaries. Politicians respected the First.

Then came a natural transition phase that affected all organizations and the community itself. With the drastic decline in immigration, the First felt the impact deeply. There were leadership and financial crises, which led to the sale of the building where it had established itself in the meantime (at 722 College Street). And here I must open a parenthesis: I admire the vision of Manuel DaCosta, who purchased that magnificent building in the heart of the community. In doing so, he preserved part of our memory, our history, and our presence in Toronto. Today, that complex—which includes, beyond the former First building, Camões Square, the Portuguese Canadian Walk of Fame, and the magnificent Guardian Angel statue—continues to serve as a community anchor.

Meanwhile, the First had to navigate new paths, following the immigrant corridor along Rogers Road and Dufferin, where many Portuguese families had relocated. Today, it is located on Caledonia Road. Over the past four decades, we have witnessed pronounced residential mobility and suburbanization. Our communities transitioned from a degree of isolation to residential, social, and cultural integration. The First had to adapt to this new reality.

MS: Among the many activities that made history at this club—folklore, soccer, events, music, gastronomy…—we must talk about the First’s Portuguese school, which for generations was the place where many children and grandchildren of immigrants learned the language of their parents and grandparents. How important was this work in preserving Luso-Canadian identity?

JCT: We must highlight the pioneering and extraordinary work of the First’s school. I followed its progress for over two decades and had good friends there. If the First was the community anchor for decades, its school was an obligatory reference point. It played an extraordinary role among younger generations in teaching Portuguese, the native language of their parents and grandparents.

I know many young people who went through the First’s school and have gone very far in life. When I speak with them, they acknowledge the importance of having learned Portuguese. Knowledge takes up no space, and Portuguese is one of the most spoken languages in the world. I have no doubt that the First’s school played a crucial role in preserving our language, our culture, and our Luso-Canadian identity. A great deal is owed to it, as a pioneer in this field.

MS: On that note, what challenges does Portuguese language instruction face today in a community where new generations were born and raised in Canada?

JCT: I leave the pedagogical details to those working in education, but the numbers help illustrate the problem. According to the 2021 Census, fewer and fewer people of Portuguese origin declare Portuguese as their mother tongue. That is a fact. In Ontario, the situation is better, and in Toronto—the great heart of the community, where the pulse of our language and culture can still be felt—it is even more favorable. The few Portuguese immigrants who continue to arrive in Canada still come primarily to Toronto, which rejuvenates the clubs, associations, and Portuguese language schools. Concerns over the survival of the language apply more to other provinces and cities, where in the short term—say, ten years—the numbers will be even more concerning.

Today, about half of the Portuguese population in Canada was born here, and we are moving toward the fourth generation. With intercultural marriages, many of these young people no longer speak Portuguese, or speak very little. As their education levels rise—and statistics show clear socioeconomic mobility among the younger generations—it is natural that assimilation increases as well. Many Portuguese people feel that, in Canada, their culture is in transition. But separating them from their native culture and language would strip them of their identity.

We need more studies on the second, third, and soon, fourth generations. What do we know about them? What is their relationship with their parents’ language and culture? As in all ethnic groups, there are youth who reject their roots and others who rediscover them later on. I have seen this a lot, especially among the young people I interact with at the university: they take an interest in Portugal, their parents’ homeland, follow soccer because of Ronaldo, listen to Portuguese music, and travel there. There is a noticeable revival, a rediscovery of their roots.

MS: Many Portuguese clubs and associations today face aging memberships, difficulty in attracting younger people, and the community’s dispersion across Greater Toronto. At 70 years old, what future do you see for the First Portuguese?

JCT: I am not a pessimist, but I cannot ignore reality either. We have only been in Canada for seven decades. The first generation came to stay, and the Portuguese cultural heritage appears well-adapted and integrated into the host society. However, it is not guaranteed that the second and third generations will follow the path of their parents and grandparents, nor that they will be able to preserve the culture and traditions.

Cultural duality—or even cultural conflict—is perhaps the best way to define Luso-Canadian youth, whether of mainland, Azorean, or Madeiran descent. While for some their ethnic identity is a source of enrichment, for others it can be a source of conflict that leads them to reject their heritage. Whether they will be able to reconcile these two parts of themselves in the future remains an open question.

It is in this context that I view the First. The First had a massive historical role, but today, like all clubs and associations, it must adapt to new realities, new needs, and the sociocultural preferences of younger generations who were born in Canada and often do not speak Portuguese.

Madalena Balça/MS

 

For decades, it was in the classrooms of the Portuguese school at the First Portuguese Canadian Cultural Centre that thousands of children of immigrants learned to read, write, and feel the language of their parents and grandparents. At its peak, it had nearly 800 students, followed the official Portuguese curriculum, and awarded diplomas recognized by the Consulate. More than just a school, it was a gathering place for families and one of the pillars of Luso-Canadian identity in Toronto. It was and still is. Today, with fewer students and classes held only on Saturdays, it continues to carry out the same mission: keeping the Portuguese language alive for future generations.

Few people know this history as well as Celina de Melo. She arrived from Terceira Island in 1971 and, for 49 years, taught Portuguese to successive generations of Luso-Canadians. In the year the First celebrates its 70th anniversary, Professor Celina recalls the packed classrooms, the celebrations, the theater plays, and the trips to Portugal with her students, while leaving a heartfelt plea to families: don’t let the language die.

Milénio Stadium: How did you start teaching at the First Portuguese’s Portuguese school?

Celina de Melo: I arrived here in 1971 from Terceira, and I didn’t even know there were Portuguese classes. They told me there was a school office on Nassau Street. I went there, met with Professor Ferreira, and he immediately told me: «I want Celina to start working at the First.» Since I was already a teacher, they gave me a class right away at Ryerson School, at Dundas and Bathurst, near Augusta. I was there for a long time, then we moved to College Street. Later on, I also applied to the Canadian public school system, where I taught for many years, from kindergarten to grade 8. But I never left the First’s school.

MS: What do you remember about those early days in Canada?

CM: I missed the children I had left behind in the Azores deeply. But coming to Canada was a stroke of luck, a blessing that entered my life. I was doing what I truly loved. Professor Ferreira, who is no longer with us, was very fond of me and we worked very closely together. I always loved what I did, and even today, I would still love to be teaching.

MS: How many years did you teach here?

CM: From 1971 until 2020. That’s 49 years! Besides teaching, I visited all the schools, collected tuition fees, spoke with students and parents, and handled enrollments. We reached nearly 800 students, from kindergarten to 9th grade, and later up to 11th grade. We rented classrooms in Canadian schools. Classes ran from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM, but in the winter, it was already dark by five-thirty. So I suggested to the board that we shift the schedule to five to seven so the children could go home earlier, and that’s what we did.

MS: The students spent their days in Canadian schools and then went to learn Portuguese at the end of the day. Did they go willingly, or because their parents forced them?

CM: They went willingly! The teachers were all young and knew how to welcome the kids. There was always a half-hour snack break; we would talk, laugh, put on celebrations and plays. Teaching Portuguese isn’t just about teaching reading and writing. It’s about teaching how to share, how to live alongside others. I always told our teachers: «We are an extension of the family.» And parents, back then, adored the Portuguese school. The truth is, even today, I go grocery shopping or anywhere else and someone comes up to me: «Dona Celina, you were my teacher!» Sometimes they come with two or three children of their own. Some I recognize, others I don’t. It gives me goosebumps. It’s a profound inner pride we feel when we realize that, as teachers, we left good memories with someone.

MS: What was taught besides the language?

CM: Our culture, and beyond that… daily life, how to carry oneself, how to behave. And then there were the trips. Once, during a celebration, the President was here, and I, a bit nervously, said I wished some of these local-born students, who had never been to Portugal, could get to know the country. The following year, I took 27 students to mainland Portugal, from Porto to Lisbon, with everything paid for by the Portuguese Government. It wasn’t just good; it was wonderful! Later, since I’m from the Azores, I spoke with the Regional Government, and over the next two years, we went to Terceira, Pico, and Faial with 23 students. The parents would drop them off at the airport and say: «Dona Celina, my child is in your hands.» It was a huge responsibility. I would only go to bed when everyone else was asleep. But they were so well-behaved, absolute angels.

MS: Do you think the school helped shape the Luso-Canadian identity of those generations?

CM: Yes, without a doubt. Many students were born here and didn’t know Portugal. The school gave them that. And it was serious education: we followed the curriculum from Portugal, the school became officially recognized, inspectors came to see how we operated, and at the end of the year, students took an exam at the Consulate and received an official diploma.

MS: What advice would you give to those teaching today, when many children are already third- or fourth-generation born in Canada?

CM: Now it’s harder. The school operates only on Saturdays, with two or three classes. Unfortunately, Portuguese was removed from the public schools (integrated language program). It was only half an hour a day—little, but better than nothing. Today, grandparents still speak Portuguese with their grandchildren, but it’s different. In the past, we had meetings, events, and we could see that the school mattered to the Portuguese community. At the end of the day, parents thought: «Let’s put the kids in Portuguese classes, it’s one more language!» Sometimes I feel a bit sad. I no longer run the school, but I offer my ideas: why not open classes during the week as well? We need to support parents. It’s tiring, but when you love the profession, you make the sacrifice. I used to teach all day long and, on Wednesdays, I still had a class of nearly 30 adults. I was crazy! But you know what I’ll tell you… my Portuguese school stays with me until I die.

MS: On this 70th anniversary of the First, what message would you like to leave for former students and families?

CM: To my former students, I ask with all my love: do not let your children lose the language you learned. The more languages we know, the better. Sometimes it takes a small sacrifice to pay for school, but it’s worth it. Education and learning are deeply important for living in this huge country and in this world, where life is becoming increasingly difficult.

Madalena Balça/MS