Carnival is Getting Closer….
The Carnival Season is Getting Wilder
and the cities in Brazil are getting right into the Carnival Spirit. The Samba Schools in Rio have already opened their doors and every weekend they throw a huge party to raise money for their Schools. If dancing, rather watching beautiful girls dance the Samba and partying to drum pounding beats sounds like your kinda fun then you’ve gotta get prepared for Carnival 2009 in Brazil
Heavy Rains Kill 50 in Southern Brazil
Heavy Rains Plague Brazil
Rio de Janeiro: At least 50 people have been killed in continuous heavy rain ravaging the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina for the past one week, with authorities saying the toll could reach much higher, EFE reported Tuesday.
More than 22,000 people have been forced to leave their homes due to the floods and landslides caused by unusual rain in the state, attributed to climatic crisis by experts, over the past two months. Some 1.5 million people have been affected by the storm, the department said.
Four cities in the state were cut off from the rest of the countries due to the landslides, which blocked traffic on at least 18 highways. The worst hit towns are Ilhota, with 14 dead, and Blumenau, with 13.
Governor Luiz Henrique da Silveira declared a state of emergency Saturday, saying the situation was “a climatic crisis that requires everyone to come together.”
Civil defence official Marcio Luiz Alves said most of the deaths were caused by landslides, and many areas affected by landslides were still cut off from the rest of the country.
“We are using sniffer dogs, but the number of victims is likely to increase as we gain access to those places,” he said.
Rescue teams were using helicopters and motor boats to reach the isolated areas, and the Brazilian air force is using two transport planes to airlift supplies
Sponsorship of Indy Racing League by Brazil’s Export Development Agency
A decision by Brazil’s trade promotion agency, APEX-Brasil, to sponsor the top ethanol-powered auto racing category, the Indy Racing League (IRL), contributes to consolidate ethanol as a global commodity and is in the spirit of a Memorandum of Understandi.
According to the president of the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA), Marcos Sawaya Jank, the deal strengthens a natural partnership between Brazil and the United States, the world’s top producers and consumers of ethanol. Together, the two countries account for more than 75% of global ethanol production. “This will help ethanol to attain global energy commodity status as well as fulfill its vital objectives: to help provide energy security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” he added.
A letter of intention was signed today between APEX-Brasil and the IRL on the opening day of the First International Brazil-Biofuels Exhibition held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Sao Paulo. UNICA was notified in late October that negotiations between APEX-Brasil and the IRL were underway, and that the overall objective for APEX-Brasil is to utilize the Indy Car racing season to promote a variety of Brazilian products in the three countries where the league holds its races: the United States, Canada and Japan.
APEX-Brasil has requested that UNICA consult its 116 member companies to identify those interested in supplying their own ethanol, or purchasing ethanol from feedstocks other than sugarcane, to fuel the Indy races. Regardless of the feedstock used in its production — corn, sugarcane, or various cellulosic materials in the future — the final molecular composition is the same. The end result is a clean, renewable biofuel that reduces dependence on fossil fuels and combats one of the major causes of climate change. In times of widespread energy, financial and environmental dilemmas, UNICA believes the use by the IRL of ethanol sourced from different agro feedstocks symbolizes the dream of greater energy integration involving countries throughout the Americas, an idea with the potential to spread to the entire planet.
“The involvement of APEX-Brasil is a natural next step, since several Brazilian pilots already compete in the IRL. We’re anxious to contribute so that Indy continues to showcase all of the benefits of ethanol use instead of fossil fuels.
Other Articles by PR Newswire
Capital Raising & Synesis Life Acquisition
Eurofighter Test Fleet Surpasses 6,000 Flying Hours
Kerry Properties Limited Press Statement — In Response To Market Rumours
Indian Investments Growing in the CEE Region
Frost & Sullivan Recognises Cosucra’s Superior Brand Leadership
more >> This involoves teamwork, and both the United States and Brazil, as major producers and users of ethanol, have the duty to remain ahead of the pack in the global race for alternative energy sources,” concluded Jank.
About UNICA
The Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) represents the top producers of sugar and ethanol in the country’s South-Central region, especially the state of São Paulo, which accounts for about 50% of the country’s sugarcane harvest and 60% of total ethanol production. UNICA develops position papers, statistics and specific research in support of Brazil’s sugar, ethanol and bioelectricity sectors. In 2007, Brazil produced an estimated 490 million metric tons of sugarcane, which yielded 30.5 million tons of sugar and 22.3 billion liters of ethanol.
Dunga leaves out Ronaldinho for Portugal friendly soccer game
AC Milan’s Ronaldinho was once again left out of the Brazil squad as coach Dunga on Monday named his 22-man squad for a friendly with Portugal on November 19.
Despite some excellent performances in Serie A from Ronaldinho the coach opted for a strikeforce which includes Manchester City sensation Robinho, saying: “Ronaldinho needs more training and more rhythm.”
Squad:
Keepers: Julio Cesar (Inter Milan/ITA), Doni (AS Roma/ITA)
Defender: Maicon (Inter Milan/ITA), Daniel Alves (FC Barcelona/ESP), Lucio (Bayern Munich/GER), Miranda (Sao Paulo), Thiago Silva (Fluminense), Luizao (Benfica/POR), Kleber (Santos), Marcelo (Real Madrid/ESP)
Midfielders: Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos/GRE), Josue (VfL Wolfsburg/GER), Anderson (Manchester United/ENG), Elano (Manchester City/ENG), Kaka (AC Milan/ITA), Mancini (Inter Milan/ITA), Diego (Werder Bremen/GER), Alex (Internacional)
Attackers: Luis Fabiano (Sevilla/ESP), Alexandre Pato (AC Milan/ITA), Adriano (Inter Milan/ITA), Robinho (Manchester City/ENG)
