Portuguese American Journal

Portuguese American Journal

Featured Stories
1976-2026 | Azores celebrate 50 Years of Constitutional Autonomy Book | Bag of Kisses | By Melanie Pereira April 25th |  “Dia da Liberdade” celebrated nationwide and across the diaspora Community | Justice Department moves to revoke citizenship for naturalized immigrants Honor | Writer João Pedro Vala recipient of the PEN/O. Henry Award
 

1976-2026 | Azores celebrate 50 Years of Constitutional Autonomy – Azores 

The Autonomous Region of the Azores is preparing for a historic year of celebrations in 2026 to mark the 50th anniversary of its Constitutional Autonomy. This milestone underscores five decades of self-governance, regional identity, and transatlantic connection.  The commemorations will culminate on September 8, 2026, marking the formal implementation of autonomy under the Constitution of […]

Book | Bag of Kisses | By Melanie Pereira – Editor’s Note

For a little girl whose daddy is a fisherman in the #1 fishing port in the world, goodbyes are never easy. But before he leaves for sea, her parents share a special secret―a magical bag of kisses that keeps their love close, no matter how far the waves carry him. As the days pass and […]

April 25th |  “Dia da Liberdade” celebrated nationwide and across the diaspora – Portugal

The Portuguese nation commemorates today the 52nd anniversary of the Carnation Revolution transition to democracy, with a nationwide program of official ceremonies, public demonstrations, and cultural events. The celebrations expanded abroad, connecting the country to its global diaspora, particularly in the United States. At the center of the national commemorations will be the traditional formal […]

Community | Justice Department moves to revoke citizenship for naturalized immigrants – Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Department of Justice is moving to accelerate efforts to revoke the citizenship of certain naturalized Americans, targeting cases where individuals are suspected of having obtained citizenship through fraud or misrepresentation. Citizenship is considered one of the most secure legal statuses in the United States. Therefore, the overall impact of such measures is likely […]

Honor | Writer João Pedro Vala recipient of the PEN/O. Henry Award – New York, NY

Portuguese writer João Pedro Vala has been awarded a prestigious PEN/O. Henry Award for his short story “Inês,” a recognition widely regarded as one of the highest honors in English-language short fiction. The first Portuguese author to receive that distinction, his short story ‘Inês’ was selected for inclusion in the PEN/O. Henry Prize Stories anthology. […]

Book: ‘The Tenth Island’ by Diana Marcum – Editor’s Note

04 August 2018

From a Pulitzer Prize–winning writer comes an exuberant memoir of personal loss and longing, and finding connection on the remote Azorean Islands of the Atlantic Ocean. Reporter Diana Marcum is in crisis. A long-buried personal sadness is enfolding her—and her career is stalled—when she stumbles upon an unusual group of immigrants living in rural California. […]

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Posted in Arts&Culture, Azores, Books, Community, Featured, Heritage, People, Travel

Weather Alert! Portugal bracing for four days of record breaking heatwave

30 July 2018

According to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), starting on Wednesday, Portugal mainland will be hit by a four day long heatwave, with temperatures reaching 113 Fahrenheit or higher across the country. The above average temperatures are expected to have an impact on public health and fire propagation. The IPMA declared “code […]

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Posted in Featured, Heritage, Organizations, People, Portugal

Community: Cecilia Fatima finalist at the SSEP Conference- Smithsonian Institution

20 July 2018

Portuguese American Cecilia Fatima Louro Perez, was recently honored to speak at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum as a Finalist of the Student Spaceflight Experiment Program (SSEP). The SSEP is an international program organized by the National Center for Earth and Space Science exploration (NCESSE) in which students submit experiment proposals to be […]

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Posted in Awards, Community, Featured, Organizations, People, Portugal, World

Got Plastic? Marine pollution and the perils of microplastic – By Len Port

20 July 2018

While there is no doubt about the vast scale of the plastic pollution problem, it is far from clear how places like the Algarve, mainland Portugal, are going to cope with the crisis. Marine plastic pollution, particularly microplastic material, is a serious but as yet not fully understood threat to nature and to human health. […]

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Posted in Azores, Featured, Organizations, People, Portugal, World

Parliament: Portuguese lawmakers approve gender change bill – Portugal

14 July 2018

The Portuguese parliament has approved a law allowing gender change and name change from the age of 16 without a medical report stating “identity disruption” or considering transgender identity as “an abnormal pathology or mental situation.” A previous law (2011) required transgender citizens to have a medical diagnosis that established ‘gender dysphonia’ when biological sex […]

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Posted in Featured, Organizations, People, Politics, Portugal, World

Sports: Red Bull Cliff Diving competition returns to São Miguel – Azores

13 July 2018

For the seventh consecutive year, 16 world class cliff divers from 17 countries gathered in São Miguel, Azores, to participate in the third stop of the 2018 International Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. The competition includes 28 athletes men and women from 17 countries. This stop of the extreme sports event is being held July […]

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Posted in Azores, Featured, Organizations, People, São Miguel, Sports, World