Methodology
This is the process we follow to choose, verify and classify every case published. We wrote this page because anyone who trusts a source of information has the right to know how it is built.
A case enters the map when it meets three conditions: there is public documentation about it, whether press, official consultation portals, or statements from identifiable organisations or communities; there is a specific organisation, collective or community involved; and the situation is under way or had relevant developments recently. We do not include rumours or claims without a verifiable source.
Every case is verified before publication, with sources you can follow back to the origin. We cross independent press coverage with statements from the organisations and communities involved and, whenever it exists, with the official process: consultation, petition, injunction. The sources for each case are listed on its page, under press coverage.
Five categories, assigned according to the concrete action available at the time of verification.
There is an open petition to sign or a close deadline, for example a scheduled eviction.
An official public consultation is open, anyone may take part, and submissions formally enter the process.
The case is being argued in court.
A favourable decision was made: licence refused, project stopped. Watchfulness continues.
No action is available right now, but we keep following the situation.
About the date
Each case shows the date we last verified the information. That is the date of our check, not necessarily the date of the latest development in the process.
Let us be direct. The public information available on most of these cases comes mainly from those contesting the projects: communities, associations and organised collectives. Whenever the developer or the responsible authority has a public position, we try to include it or link it in the sources. Where that is still missing in a specific case, it is a gap we acknowledge, not an editorial choice, and we fix it case by case.
Voluntary work and own funds, with no advertising.
Found an error, a missing source, a case we should include or information out of date? Write to geral@ulmeiro.org. We correct it as fast as we can and, when the correction matters, we update the verification date of the case.