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Loading ...Update: Among the World’s Top PET Recyclers
Wednesday, August 27th, 2008Who was #2 in PET recycling in 2006 (the last year for which there are comparable figures among nations)? Did you answer Brazil? In 2006 Brazil recycled 180 kilotons (Kt), representing about 51.3% of the PET sold in the country during that year. This means that Brazil recycles at double the rate that the US […]
Largest Biofuel Loan Yet by a Multilateral Bank
Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008Temas Note: This announcement is interesting to me for at least four reasons. First, as the title says, this is the largest biofuel loan package yet made by a multilateral development bank (MDB). [I doubt that record will stand, and probably will not even stand for very long.] Second, it underscores IDB’s commitment to, and […]
Improving the Urban Environment in Goiânia
Wednesday, June 4th, 2008From the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB): IDB approves US$56.7 million for urban environmental program in Brazil Funds will support better drainage and land use planning in the Macambira and Anicuns River watersheds The Inter-American Development Bank announced today the approval of a US$56.7 million loan to the Municipality of Goiânia for an urban environmental program […]
CNPq to Invest R$22 million in Biofuel Research
Sunday, November 4th, 2007Brazil's National Council on Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) has announced that it will invest R$ 22 million to stimulate research that aids improvements in the production of ethanol and biodiesel in Brazil. The resources will be tapped from CNPq's existing Sectoral Funds for Petroleum and Natural Gas (CT-Petro), Agro-business (CT-Agro) and Biotechnology (CT-Biotechnology). Two […]
Apoio de R$22.9 milhões para cooperativas de catadores
Monday, October 15th, 2007Synopsis in English: Brazilian President Lula announced on 01 October the first 24 financial lines to be awarded by the National Economic and Social Development Bank (BNDES) to cooperatives of unofficial waste sorters/ recyclers known in Brazil as catadores. The catador cooperatives are generally composed of the very poor that live off of the recyclables […]
Alcohol Consumption in Brazil IV: Drinking-Related Problems; Policy Responses
Sunday, October 14th, 2007At end-2005, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) resolved to undertake a regional effort to combat alcohol consumption under the guidance of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). As they do, they’ll likely study the efforts of Brazil to take the lead on the issue. This past spring Brazil adopted a national policy and not […]
Brazil Mulls Introducing Anti-pneumococcal Vaccine
Friday, October 12th, 2007Temas Foreword: A few months back, I did a post about the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) nations debating whether they should adopt a region-wide vaccination program against pneumococcal disease, and if so, when and which vaccine to opt for. More specifically, they debated whether it was more costly to vaccinate or not to vaccinate, […]
Alcohol Consumption in Brazil II: Binge Drinking
Thursday, October 11th, 2007Back at the end of 2005, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) resolved to undertake a regional effort to combat alcohol consumption under the guidance of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). As they do, they’ll likely study the efforts of Brazil to take the lead on the issue. This past spring Brazil adopted a […]
Toward a National Waste Exchange for Brazil
Thursday, October 4th, 2007Recently Brazil's National Confederation of Industry (CNI) pulled together a meeting in Curitiba, Paraná (PR) of officials from Brazil's existing 12 state waste exchanges operated by state industry associations. Also attending were industry representatives from Argentina, Paraguay and Portugal. The focus of discussion: a CNI proposal to link the exchanges electronically and create a de […]
The Basics II, Foundations: Is a Constitutional Provision on the Environment Necessary?
Thursday, June 28th, 2007I had in the backlog queue a “Basics” piece on the importance of setting a solid environmental governance foundation through adoption of properly crafted and targeted laws, but held off publishing it for Temas administrative reasons I will not go into here. In the meantime, however, the Dominican Republic (DR) has come forward with ideas […]