Pioneer’s passion for patents

AN inventor from Torrox made national news on Saturday, March 18 for his incredible count of more than 100 patents. Eighty­two year­old Antonio Rico Vallena has taken the world by storm with his groundbreaking inventions which have primarily been purchased by Saudi Arabia and Israel.

Rico’s creations in the fields of construction and agriculture have been considered revolutionary in these industries. Among his many inventions are concrete manufacturing resources used in large­scale civil projects across the globe that have made production cheaper and cleaner. Rico has also created a new building design system to keep toilets odour­free as well as an innovative ‘firewall’ device to fight forest fires. His latest water­saving invention could mean a significant breakthrough in the world of agriculture, potentially reducing water consumption by 50 per cent. Rico explained that designing inventions comes naturally to him, “Wherever I see a problem, I take a closer look and try to find a solution, I’ve been doing this since I was 10 years old.” Undoubtedly, Rico is one of the greatest inventors in Spain, whose inventions are making a real difference across many sectors, improving the lives of many people worldwide.

THE Arts Society Nerja is continuing on its educational journey with a lecture that is sure to captivate and inspire. On Tuesday, March 28, the society is hosting a Decotta Law Lecture, about the artistic history of Santiago de Compostela, which will be delivered by Helen Sijsling. The lecture will take place in person at the Centro Cultural in Nerja, and online via Zoom, making it accessible to art enthusiasts all over the world.

The talk promises to cover the artistic history of Santiago de Compostela, a city in the northwest of Spain that is renowned for its stunning architecture and rich cultural heritage.

Sijsling’s lecture will take listeners on an ‘iconographic voyage into art and history’, exploring the many ways in which art has played a role in shaping the cultural identity of Santiago. The lecture will also cover the intriguing topic of ‘How Saint James was used by politicians’, shedding light on the complex relationship between religion, politics, and art.

The event will start at 6pm. Visitors are welcome to join for a fee of €10, which can be purchased on the night from 5pm. More information is available online: https://www.thearts societynerja.com/join.php.

AS cities across Spain cut down on car emissions, the DGT has begun issuing Environmental Quality Seal stickers to show whether vehicles are environmentally friendly. Some cities are now requiring these stickers to drive through them.

Our guide below tells you everything you need to know about the new scheme.

• What is the DGT Environmental Quality Seal?

The DGT Environmental Quality Seal is an instantly recognisable sticker that identifies the most environmentally friendly vehicles. There are two types of stickers: One for motorcycles and one for vehicles.

• What vehicles have the Environmental Quality Seal?

There are four quality seal categories based on the vehicle’s emission levels:

Zero emissions quality seal, blue. Applies to: Battery electric vehicles (BEV); Range­extended electric vehicles (REEV); Plug­in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) with a minimum range of 40 km; and fuel cell vehicles.

Eco­quality seal, green and blue. Applies to: