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Loading ...ANVISA Proposes Ban on Endosulfan, Partial Ban on Acephate
Friday, September 4th, 2009Following up on its review of 12 pesticides banned or severely restricted in other nations, Brazil’s National Sanitary Vigilance Agency (ANVISA) is proposing a ban on the use in that country of the active ingredient endosulfan in pesticides used in growing cotton, cocoa, coffee, sugarcane and soybeans. The proposal, released for public comment today, also […]
Disappearing Mangroves in Guatemala
Tuesday, July 14th, 2009I read an interesting article from Tierramérica about Guatemala’s disappearing mangroves and a discussion of probable causes and possible impacts. I’ve mentioned here before on The Temas Blog about the importance of mangroves (here, here, here, here and here) in preventing sediment runoff and filtering out contaminants before they enter the sea, stabilizing coastlines, impeding […]
BNDES Finances “Green Polyethylene” Production
Tuesday, May 12th, 2009From the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES): The BNDES approves financing of R$ 555 million for Braskem to produce sugarcane ethylene and polyethylene Ethanol Chemistry Project is the first to be supported by the Bank The BNDES approved R$ 555.6 million in financing for Braskem’s innovative project intended to produce sugarcane ethylene and polyethylene. The total […]
Peru Opens Public Consultations on Draft National Environment Policy / Peru pone en consulta pública borrador de política nacional del ambiente
Wednesday, February 18th, 2009Peru’s Environment Ministry (Minam) is circulating for public comment its proposal for a National Environment Policy. Interested parties can submit comments and suggestions through a web-based form. Minam will also be holding consultative workshops on the draft Policy in Lima and four regions. The draft Policy is clear and concise, with a set of overarching […]
HP Opens First Printer Cartridge Recycling Facility in Latin America
Monday, February 9th, 2009HP has just raised the stakes in producer responsibility for printer cartridge manufacturers operating in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). HP and Lexmark already were ahead of other manufacturers in offering cartridge recovery programs in the region. HP has now gone one step further — it just opened Latin America’s first printer recycling center […]
In 2009 6% of Uruguay’s Electricity will be from Renewable Sources
Wednesday, December 31st, 2008Synopsis in English: Uruguay’s Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining (MIEM) reports that the share of renewable sources of energy in Uruguay is growing steadily and should reach 6% during 2009, especially since the Nuevo Manantial de Rocha wind power park is joining the National Administration of Electrical Plant s and Transmissions’ (Administración Nacional de […]
Minas Seeks to Lead in Environmental Policy / Minas Pretende Ser Lider na Política Ambiental
Monday, December 29th, 2008Minas Gerais is seeking to take the lead among Brazilian states in environmental protection, and they want everyone to know it! [Look out, Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul and São Paulo!] At year-end the state environment secretary José Carlos Carvalho released a report card on mineiro environment policy achievements and plans for 2009. He particularly […]
UNEP/CARICOM: Drastic Climate Change Consequences for Insular Caribbean / PNUMA/CARICOM: drásticas consecuencias por cambio climático en el Caribe Insular
Saturday, December 27th, 2008Although this report (English only) was finished in October, it was formally unveiled at the global climate change talks in Poland in November, but did not get much media play because of all the other actions, initiatives, reports and declarations made in Poznan at the same time. But it deserves much more attention and hopefully […]
Brazil Defends Sugarcane Ethanol / Brasil defende etanol de cana-de-açúcar
Friday, November 21st, 2008From Brazil’s Nation Development Bank (BNDES): BNDES publishes book with unprecedented mapping of the ethanol sector Brazil is one of the most advanced countries in technology and productivity in all stages of the sugarcane ethanol production chain. The Brazilian experience shows that sugarcane bioethanol has become one of the most important responses to the growing […]
Biodegradable Containers Made from Sugarcane Waste
Monday, August 4th, 2008Synopsis in English: Three biotech enterprises and a university from the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais (MG) have developed a biodegradable material made from sugarcane waste (bagasse) which they believe will be shortly be available for the manufacture of packaging and containers. The three firms (Viveiro Flora Brasil, Lótus Soluções Ambientais, Floema Nutrição Vegetal) and […]