There’s still time,
President Bush
Meeting in Brussels on March 5, the fifteen countries in the European Union decided to ratify the Kyoto Protocol by June 1 and advised the USA to follow suit. But George W. Bush refuses to do so. Nevertheless, there is still time for the US President to decide whether he wants his name to go down in history as the statesman who understood the challenges facing the planet, or if he will be known as a politician so closely blinkered that he could see only the problems of his own country. The leader of the world’s only super-power cannot be short-sighted.

 
 
Abandoned lands are high-value reserves
One of Brazil’s best-known conservationists, Ibsen de Gusmão Câmara stresses that Brazil has vast tracts of abandoned or underused land. Its rational use would slow the expansion of agricultural frontiers that are threatening the ultra-rich biodiversity of two biomes: Amazonia and the cerrado savannas. “It should be stressed that Amazonia is above all a great terra incognita”, he notes. He also says that it is necessary to consider the livelihood of people living in these regions, generating jobs for them that help upgrade their quality of life.
 
 
 

Brazil needs just a little nudge
The asset that makes Brazil stand out worldwide in economic terms is the scope of its potential in natural resources. Just add technology and the country became an agricultural power in less than a decade. It could also explore its development possibilities based on the creative absorption of technology and capital, both domestic and foreign. But it will be able to do so only if it takes effective steps against poverty and income concentration.
 
 
 

year3 - no.10
Januaryr/February/March 20021

 



 
 

Alternative energy sources: what has Brazil done?
Although power rationing — imposed throughout the second half of 2001 until early this year — undermined Brazil’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), it ushered in unexpected structural gains for the nation’s production chain. During 2002, its economy may pick up enough to return to 2000 levels (when the GDP rose 4.4%), but consuming 7% less electricity. A power consumption shock ran through Brazilian society as a whole.
By Minister Pedro Parente

 
 
What Brazil gained from the energy crisis
Although power rationing — imposed throughout the second half of 2001 until early this year — undermined Brazil’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), it ushered in unexpected structural gains for the nation’s production chain. During 2002, its economy may pick up enough to return to 2000 levels (when the GDP rose 4.4%), but consuming 7% less electricity. A power consumption shock ran through Brazilian society as a whole. By Minister Pedro Parente
 
 

What Copersucar is doing for Brazil that not everyone knows (but they should)
 Brazil’s leading sugar and alcohol exporter, Copersucar (Cooperativa dos Produtores de Cana, Açúcar e Álcool do Estado de São Paulo) invests US$ 30 million a year in research. It is developing biodegradable plastic and participating in the world’s largest sugar-cane genome program, jointly with the São Paulo State Research Support Foundation (Fapesp). The pollutive wastes resulting from its production system — such as lees, dregs and filter cake — are used as fertilizers, lowering costs. Additionally, the sugar and alcohol sector is one of the few agribusinesses in Center-South Brazil with all workers registered and earning an average wage of US$ 200. These and other facts are outlined by the CEO of Copersucar, Homero Arruda, in an interview with Paulo Henrique Cardoso.

 
 

Brazil, the long-haul shipping logistics component and globalization
As Brazil is located on the geographical outskirts of major markets, long-haul shipping logistics are a crucial component in achieving global competitiveness for its exports.
By Eliezer Batista

 
     
  Rio+10 Forum shapes commitment of entrepreneurs to society
The launch of the National Business Commitment Movement was one of the highspots of the Rio+10 Traveling Forum hosted by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development-Brazil (Cebds) at the headquarters of the São Paulo State Federation of Industries (Fiesp) on April 3. For instance, at this event, entrepreneurs agreed to “undertake projects/actions designed to upgrade the quality of life, of an educational, cultural and environmental nature, as well as infrastructure”. The Executive President of the Cebds, Fernando Almeida, affirms that the business sector is far better organized and prepared for Rio+10 that it was for Rio-92, when environment-related issues were still viewed somewhat askance.		  
 
 

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