It is indeed phenomenal the quantity of money that the Portuguese emigrants,  scattered all over the world, are sending to Portugal, Azores and Madeira, by DAY and by  YEAR! 

According to the statistics published by the Bank of Portugal, the Portuguese emigrants are sending to their homeland, DAILY,  more than 9,3 millions of euros or dollars! And during the ENTIRE YEAR  they are sending billions, that is, more than 3.405.871.000!

It so happens that in the year of 2001 they sent even more money, in a total of 3.736.821.000 Therefore there was  a decrease  of 9%, there is,  less 330.950.00 (in millions). 

What are the reasons why  there was a
decrease  of 330 millions of euros or dollars annually? 

(1)               First,  the Portuguese emigration is now practically  nil.

(2)               The Portuguese officials  do not pay attention  to our sons, daughters and  grandchildren. These two generations  have, each passing day,  less interest  for Portugal and Portuguese things, because they are not given information about Portugal and its fascinating aspects, in the NATIVE languages of our sons and grandchildren  of the countries  where they were born!   

  For us to enjoy  anything, or even a person,  we have first  to understand it very well! 

In the case of our sons and grandchildren it is necessary  for  the  responsible Portuguese officials  to make available in English  information  about Portugal – not in Portuguese --  in form of pamphlets, videos, about its history, culture, culinary, music, art, etc. –  to captivate  the enthusiasm of our Portuguese American youth.  Otherwise Portugal will continue to lose  every thing in the near future! 

Using  only the Portuguese language,  written or spoken, as the methods of communicating with the Portuguese American youth, it will be a loss of time and energy! 

The Jews in America use the English language to captivate the attention of their  various generations and the positive results are very evident!

During many years the Portuguese emigrants  in Brazil were  in first place concerning the amount of money sent to Portugal. Now they are in tenth place. The Portuguese emigrants in United States of America are today in third place. In first place are the emigrants in France, and in second are the ones in Switzerland.  Those in Canada are in seventh place. 

The Portuguese emigrants in the United States of America  are still sending to Portugal, Azores and Madeira, PER DAY, -- 1.060.000 --  one million and sixty thousand euros or dollars.  PER YEAR,   the Portuguese in America  are sending 388.952.000, almost  389 millions  of   dollars or  euros.

Here is  a table showing the  moneys sent to Portugal by the emigrants,  in the years of 2001 and 2002, for comparison.

When the Portuguese Agencies, or the Minister of the Foreign Affairs, of the Secretary of the Portuguese Communities organize a symposium or any form of  gathering concerning  information  about Portugal, Azores and Madeira, they should always have some  parts specially dedicated to the young Portuguese Americans and should be totally in English. Up to now they have not done so, and if they continue  with same technique  the amounts of money sent to Portugal in the future are going to diminish each passing year!…  

Another negative aspect  is that the dollar at the present  time is weaker than the euro, but I believe this will not last long.

I never expected, that in my life time, I would see the currency  used in Portugal to  be stronger than the American dollar!…  But I guess everything is possible in this world of ours… if we live long enough!  

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