During Brazil's military rule in the mid-1960s, supporters of the government came up with the phrase "What's good for the United States is good for Brazil".
The Brazilian left loathed the concept, considering it to be the symbol of the country's submissiveness to American interests. But the irony of history is that it took a left-wing Brazilian government to actually invert the principle. Now it is the US that is turning to Brazil's biofuels programme, in order to benefit from its pioneering work in ethanol and to cut own its dependence on foreign oil.
During President George W Bush's recent trip to Brazil, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on the production and research of ethanol.
US state department officials have referred to the country as being a strategic partner, and claim that their teamwork is likely to fuel a world revolution in alternative energy.
So it is little wonder that Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will, on Saturday, become the first Latin American leader received by George W Bush in the presidential residence at Camp David.
For more information click here and here and read more the articles in Newsweek website
Saturday, 31 March 2007
Flexible-fuel vehicles in Brazil
Brazil has pioneered the use of ethanol derived from sugar-cane as motor fuel.
Ethanol-driven cars have been on sale there for 25 years, but they have been enjoying a revival since flex-fuel models first appeared in March 2003.
Just 48,200 flex-fuel cars were sold in Brazil in 2003, but the total had reached 1.2 million by the end of last year and had since topped two million, the Brazilian motor manufacturers' association Anfavea said.
In Brazil, ethanol fuel is produced from sugar cane which is a more efficient source of fermentable carbohydrates than corn as well as much easier to grow and process. Brazil has the tropical climate that is required for the productive culture of sugarcane. Brazil has the largest sugar cane crop in the world, and is the largest exporter of ethanol in the world. High government sales taxes on gasoline, as well as government subsidies for ethanol, have cultivated a profitable national ethanol industry.
Since the oil crisis in the 70's, Brazil has been selling ethanol as a fuel. Car manufacturers modified gasoline engines to support ethanol characteristics (Changes are on compression ratio, amount of fuel injected, replacement of materials that would get corroded by the contact with ethanol, and an auxiliary cold-start system that injects gasoline from a small tank in the engine compartment to help starting when cold) and have been selling ethanol powered cars since then. However, flexible fuel technology started being developed only on the end of the 90's. The flexible fuel car is built with a ethanol ready engine and one fuel tank.
For more information click here , here and here and read more the articles in Wikipedia and BBC websites.
Ethanol-driven cars have been on sale there for 25 years, but they have been enjoying a revival since flex-fuel models first appeared in March 2003.
Just 48,200 flex-fuel cars were sold in Brazil in 2003, but the total had reached 1.2 million by the end of last year and had since topped two million, the Brazilian motor manufacturers' association Anfavea said.
In Brazil, ethanol fuel is produced from sugar cane which is a more efficient source of fermentable carbohydrates than corn as well as much easier to grow and process. Brazil has the tropical climate that is required for the productive culture of sugarcane. Brazil has the largest sugar cane crop in the world, and is the largest exporter of ethanol in the world. High government sales taxes on gasoline, as well as government subsidies for ethanol, have cultivated a profitable national ethanol industry.
Since the oil crisis in the 70's, Brazil has been selling ethanol as a fuel. Car manufacturers modified gasoline engines to support ethanol characteristics (Changes are on compression ratio, amount of fuel injected, replacement of materials that would get corroded by the contact with ethanol, and an auxiliary cold-start system that injects gasoline from a small tank in the engine compartment to help starting when cold) and have been selling ethanol powered cars since then. However, flexible fuel technology started being developed only on the end of the 90's. The flexible fuel car is built with a ethanol ready engine and one fuel tank.
For more information click here , here and here and read more the articles in Wikipedia and BBC websites.
Brazilian airline Gol to buy Varig
Brazilian low-cost airline Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes agreed to buy rival carrier Nova Varig for around $275 million. Brazilian budget airline Gol has said it is buying its struggling rival Varig for $275m. The deal will see Gol take on Varig's debt of about $45m, and get access to its routes to the US and Europe as well as valuable slots at Sao Paulo airport.
Once Latin America's largest flagship carrier, Varig almost collapsed under debt last year and was operating under bankruptcy protection.
Gol said the two airlines will be managed as independent companies. It will operate the acquired airline under its old Varig brand and offer differentiated services incorporating Gol's low-cost business model. Varig flights will drop first class seats and will operate only economy and business class.
For more information click here and here and read more the articles in BCC and Reuters websites.
Once Latin America's largest flagship carrier, Varig almost collapsed under debt last year and was operating under bankruptcy protection.
Gol said the two airlines will be managed as independent companies. It will operate the acquired airline under its old Varig brand and offer differentiated services incorporating Gol's low-cost business model. Varig flights will drop first class seats and will operate only economy and business class.
For more information click here and here and read more the articles in BCC and Reuters websites.
Brazil's Regulator to Allow Funds to Invest Abroad
Brazil's securities regulator will allow local investment funds to invest abroad to lock in higher yields and compensate for falling interest rates at home.
Funds that buy both stocks and fixed-income securities will be allowed to invest up to 20 percent of their assets abroad, the regulator said on its Web site. Other funds will be able to invest up to 10 percent of assets abroad.
Allowing local funds to invest abroad will require changes to the country's currency laws. The regulator and central bank are studying possible alterations, the statement said.
For more information click here and read the article in Bloomberg website
Funds that buy both stocks and fixed-income securities will be allowed to invest up to 20 percent of their assets abroad, the regulator said on its Web site. Other funds will be able to invest up to 10 percent of assets abroad.
Allowing local funds to invest abroad will require changes to the country's currency laws. The regulator and central bank are studying possible alterations, the statement said.
For more information click here and read the article in Bloomberg website
Brazil's No. 2 beef exporter gets World Bank loan
The International Finance Corporation, the private equity lender of the World Bank, on Thursday approved a $90 million loan to Brazil's second-largest beef exporter, Bertin Group.
The loan will support Bertin's program to expand and modernize its operations across the country, including in the Amazon region.
For more information click here and read the article in Business Week website
The loan will support Bertin's program to expand and modernize its operations across the country, including in the Amazon region.
For more information click here and read the article in Business Week website
Doha deal
President George W. Bush said on Saturday the United States was willing to make substantial cuts in farm subsidies to achieve a global free trade deal but those concessions could not be one-sided.
At a joint news conference at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland, Bush and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva both expressed optimism that the struggling Doha round of trade talks would lead to a deal.
"I am leaving here very satisfied," said the left-leaning Lula, whose unlikely friendship with the conservative Bush has grown closer lately.
For more information click here and read the article in Reuters website.
At a joint news conference at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland, Bush and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva both expressed optimism that the struggling Doha round of trade talks would lead to a deal.
"I am leaving here very satisfied," said the left-leaning Lula, whose unlikely friendship with the conservative Bush has grown closer lately.
For more information click here and read the article in Reuters website.
LAN to increase to daily service from Sydney to South America
LAN TO INCREASE TO DAILY SERVICE FROM SYDNEY TO SOUTH AMERICA
LAN Airlines will increase its service to daily flights between Sydney and Santiago, Chile, commencing Thursday, 20 December. The new flights are available for sale from 02 april.
The introduction of a seventh weekly service will add much-needed capacity to the Australia – South America market, which is achieving significant growth in both business and leisure bookings.
“South America continues to evolve as a major destination for business and holiday travellers, and we have been steadily building our presence in this market to accommodate the strong demand,” said Rodrigo Contreras, General Manager Australia, New Zealand and Asia for LAN.
“With the arrival of additional long haul aircraft into our fleet, we are now able to add a seventh service from Sydney to Santiago, via Auckland, New Zealand, departing Australia every Thursday morning, and following the existing schedule,” said Mr Contreras.
“As well as providing additional seats and increased choice for consumers, we are also providing increased certainty for travellers, who can now be sure that from 20 December they can fly to or from South America on any day of the week.”
LAN operates tri-class Airbus 340-300 aircraft on the Sydney - Auckland – Santiago route.
Flight LA 800 departs Sydney at 10.45am, arriving in Auckland at 3.55pm, then departing Auckland at 5.25pm, crossing the international dateline and arriving in Santiago at 12.45pm the same day.
The return service, LA 801, leaves Santiago at 11.05pm, crossing the international dateline and arriving in Auckland at 4.15am (+2 days). The flight continues from Auckland at 5.45am and arrives in Sydney at 7.20am.
LAN’s 12.45pm arrival into Santiago enables passengers from Sydney and Auckland to make same day connections to onward services throughout South and Central America, where LAN and its partners serve more than 50 destinations, while the departure time of 11.05pm from Santiago to Auckland and Sydney gives passengers a full day to connect from destinations throughout South and Central America.
LAN Airlines will increase its service to daily flights between Sydney and Santiago, Chile, commencing Thursday, 20 December. The new flights are available for sale from 02 april.
The introduction of a seventh weekly service will add much-needed capacity to the Australia – South America market, which is achieving significant growth in both business and leisure bookings.
“South America continues to evolve as a major destination for business and holiday travellers, and we have been steadily building our presence in this market to accommodate the strong demand,” said Rodrigo Contreras, General Manager Australia, New Zealand and Asia for LAN.
“With the arrival of additional long haul aircraft into our fleet, we are now able to add a seventh service from Sydney to Santiago, via Auckland, New Zealand, departing Australia every Thursday morning, and following the existing schedule,” said Mr Contreras.
“As well as providing additional seats and increased choice for consumers, we are also providing increased certainty for travellers, who can now be sure that from 20 December they can fly to or from South America on any day of the week.”
LAN operates tri-class Airbus 340-300 aircraft on the Sydney - Auckland – Santiago route.
Flight LA 800 departs Sydney at 10.45am, arriving in Auckland at 3.55pm, then departing Auckland at 5.25pm, crossing the international dateline and arriving in Santiago at 12.45pm the same day.
The return service, LA 801, leaves Santiago at 11.05pm, crossing the international dateline and arriving in Auckland at 4.15am (+2 days). The flight continues from Auckland at 5.45am and arrives in Sydney at 7.20am.
LAN’s 12.45pm arrival into Santiago enables passengers from Sydney and Auckland to make same day connections to onward services throughout South and Central America, where LAN and its partners serve more than 50 destinations, while the departure time of 11.05pm from Santiago to Auckland and Sydney gives passengers a full day to connect from destinations throughout South and Central America.
Internet access on Amazon florest
A move to provide free internet access to native Indian tribes to help protect the Amazon rainforest from illegal logging has been announced in Brazil.
Environment Minister Marina Silva said land protection was the key aim of the plan, which will provide satellite access to 150 isolated regions.
Indigenous communities were the true protectors of their areas, she said.
Brazil has struggled to protect the Amazon forest from illegal activities, including mining and ranching.
For more information click here and read the article in BBC website
Environment Minister Marina Silva said land protection was the key aim of the plan, which will provide satellite access to 150 isolated regions.
Indigenous communities were the true protectors of their areas, she said.
Brazil has struggled to protect the Amazon forest from illegal activities, including mining and ranching.
For more information click here and read the article in BBC website
Brazilan Pop Icon - MARISA MONTE
Infinito Particular Tour
Don’t miss one of Brazil’s hottest music stars for one sensational night only in the Concert Hall at Sydney Opera House.
From Rio de Janeiro, this charismatic, breathtaking vocalist performs in Australia for the very first time to wow audiences with her seductive hits including highlights from her 2006 albums Infinito Particular and Universo Ao Meu Redor.
With a career spanning two decades, Marisa Monte is renowned for her exquisite voice and her definition-defying originality. Her style and repertoire ranges from Brazilian rock to classics of jazz and blues to traditional samba; from Philip Glass to the Titãs, from Lobão to Gershwin.
Songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, her chart-topping success include collaborations with Carlinhos Brown and Arnaldo Antunes as part of Latin-Grammy award winning Brazilian supergroup Tribalistas, as well international artists such as Laurie Anderson and David Byrne (Red Hot & Rio).
The sounds, style and sensuality of Brazil come to Sydney for one night only.
TICKETS $65 - $120
Monday 21 May and Tuesday 22 May, 8pm
SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE Concert Hall
BOOK NOW
Sydney Opera House Box Office
02 9250 7777 or www.sydneyoperahouse.com/marisamonte
Don’t miss one of Brazil’s hottest music stars for one sensational night only in the Concert Hall at Sydney Opera House.
From Rio de Janeiro, this charismatic, breathtaking vocalist performs in Australia for the very first time to wow audiences with her seductive hits including highlights from her 2006 albums Infinito Particular and Universo Ao Meu Redor.
With a career spanning two decades, Marisa Monte is renowned for her exquisite voice and her definition-defying originality. Her style and repertoire ranges from Brazilian rock to classics of jazz and blues to traditional samba; from Philip Glass to the Titãs, from Lobão to Gershwin.
Songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, her chart-topping success include collaborations with Carlinhos Brown and Arnaldo Antunes as part of Latin-Grammy award winning Brazilian supergroup Tribalistas, as well international artists such as Laurie Anderson and David Byrne (Red Hot & Rio).
The sounds, style and sensuality of Brazil come to Sydney for one night only.
TICKETS $65 - $120
Monday 21 May and Tuesday 22 May, 8pm
SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE Concert Hall
BOOK NOW
Sydney Opera House Box Office
02 9250 7777 or www.sydneyoperahouse.com/marisamonte
12 th Brazilian Mining Congress - EXPOSIBRAM 2007
International Mining Exhibit
Date: September 24 to 27, 2007
In recent years, the global economy has been showing expressive levels of expansion largely propelled by the growth of countries like India and China. This situation has led to a strong demand for minerals - fundamental materials for maintaining growth - bringing about a real revolution in the mining industry.
There are clear indications that this situation should last for another decade and this reflects directly on Brazil where the geological formation has propitiated the existence of various types of mineral deposits leading to the progressive expansion of its Mining Industry.
It is within this context that events like the International Mining Exhibition, EXPOSIBRAM and the Brazilian Mining Congress, now in its 12th edition, have become increasingly important.
Whether discussing the present role of the Brazilian mining industry in today's globalized world, especially in regard to the responses being developed and the challenges arising from internal and external demands of the so-called mineral boom of the beginning of the millennium.
Or presenting and debating Brazilian experiences and those of other countries in new mining ventures; Or exhibiting equipment and services, particularly technological advances and improvements that have been obtained and bringing them all together in an international show entirely suitable for doing business.
General Information
Frequency: Bi-annual
Times: Congress - from 9 am to 6 pm; Exhibit - from 1 pm to 9 pm.
Venue: Expominas - Belo Horizonte - MG - Brazil
Key participating sectors: industry, government, services.
Target Public: mining companies, ser vice providers and public administration.
Information and stands reservations through the Executive Secretariat:
Email: etica@uaivip.com.br
Phone: (55 31) 3444-4794
Website: http://exposibram.seven.com.br/en/
Date: September 24 to 27, 2007
In recent years, the global economy has been showing expressive levels of expansion largely propelled by the growth of countries like India and China. This situation has led to a strong demand for minerals - fundamental materials for maintaining growth - bringing about a real revolution in the mining industry.
There are clear indications that this situation should last for another decade and this reflects directly on Brazil where the geological formation has propitiated the existence of various types of mineral deposits leading to the progressive expansion of its Mining Industry.
It is within this context that events like the International Mining Exhibition, EXPOSIBRAM and the Brazilian Mining Congress, now in its 12th edition, have become increasingly important.
Whether discussing the present role of the Brazilian mining industry in today's globalized world, especially in regard to the responses being developed and the challenges arising from internal and external demands of the so-called mineral boom of the beginning of the millennium.
Or presenting and debating Brazilian experiences and those of other countries in new mining ventures; Or exhibiting equipment and services, particularly technological advances and improvements that have been obtained and bringing them all together in an international show entirely suitable for doing business.
General Information
Frequency: Bi-annual
Times: Congress - from 9 am to 6 pm; Exhibit - from 1 pm to 9 pm.
Venue: Expominas - Belo Horizonte - MG - Brazil
Key participating sectors: industry, government, services.
Target Public: mining companies, ser vice providers and public administration.
Information and stands reservations through the Executive Secretariat:
Email: etica@uaivip.com.br
Phone: (55 31) 3444-4794
Website: http://exposibram.seven.com.br/en/
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