This is my new post about environment. This time, I talk about the fishing grounds in west African coast. Check it out on my own blog:

http://camilalmeida.wordpress.com/2012/04/10/fishing-grounds-in-african-coast/

Known for its privileged natural sources, Brazil has used them for energy generation. Water has been the main source for years and it is still nowadays. Hydroelectric dams constructed in rivers spread all over the country account for 3/4 of the electricity consumed here. This usage puts Brazil as the third largest hydroelectricity producer, after China and Canada.

Besides being an expensive investment, the construction of dams changes the ecosystem and it also depends on the frequency of the rainfall to generate energy. In 2001, the increasing consumption and the lower levels of water obligated the government to implant an energy rationing. The problem showed that the country needed to exploit alternative sources. In Rio de Janeiro, there is the Angra plant that produces nuclear energy. However, it has been in activity since the 80's but nuclear energy accounts only for 4% of Brazil's demands. The third base to generate power - Angra III - is under construction but has had problems with environmental licensees.

The Brazilian government focuses its alternatives sources on wind power and biomass. In 2009, 71 wind power plants in the country were contracted to start delivering energy beginning in July 2012. Those wind power plants are concentrated in the Northeast. There is a possibility to exploit this type of power generation along the coastline of the country.

With the instability of the weather, problems like drought and floods make that countries rush to guarantee energy to supply their production. Biomass has became 27% of the energetic matrix in Brazil. They are known as clean energy because they don't pollute. To produce biomass, sugarcane and eucalyptus are used.

Solar power is another alternative but it depends more on the population and the new buildings to use this new energy. It can be expansive to instal, but it reduces the cost of the energy later. There is a department in the government to encourage the use of those sources, but there aren't any expensive financial reductions to force this change to happen.

Last week,  I had the great opportunity to participate in the congress about environmental journalism - organized by the Brazilian Network of Environmental Journalists (RBJA in Portuguese), in Rio de Janeiro. More than 600 journalists in Brazil and about 60 speakers reunited during three days to talk about how to improve our mission a few months before Rio+20. Next year, governments from more than 150 countries will discuss rules and commitments for a sustainable development. Many people are afraid that there won't be as many agreements as we wish but this will be an opportunity to make people think about our way of life. 

One of the most important things that I heard there was that if I complain about someone's selfish attitude I should teach him/her how to do things better, in a sustainable way. So, that's what I'll try to do. And I have many examples, like wasting food, trowing things out on the street and lack of collective sense. I'll give my first step. And you?

Thousands of million of dollars used to buy weapons, kill the enemy - whoever he is - and get the power - wherever it is too. Now and again, the world watches another proof of abandon, after years - even decades - of richness from land in Africa`s countries. Again, the scene of that sad, sick and poor Africa. Habitants needing the essential to live: food and medical service. The world comes back to the stage to be shocked to understand how urgently they need help.

Food rising prices, climate change and political instability have, as a result, refugees desperate for aid, with diseases and dying people. In recently weeks, Horn of Africa has been living with food problems, what has caused million of people displaced to other countries to receive health care and food. The climate change caused drought in countries in Horn of Africa: Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda. Somalia is the country that has been suffering the most. Farms don't have grains for food, what rises the dependency from aid agencies.

But, even with the will to assist Somalians, the nation suffers with the lack of function of central government for years. Part of the country - South and Central Somalia - is controlled by al-Shabab, named as the Somali Al Qaeda linked insurgent movement, because they call the situation as a battle between the West and Islam.

Citizens have been displaces, initially to transit camps, close to border with Ethiopia, to try to get any aid before living their home country. In Ethiopia, thousands of refugees try to live with their families in other camps, wherer there's no food anymore with a rising number of refugees arriving. Mothers need to garantee at least one meal per day for them and their children. Unfortunately, some of them loses their children to starvation.

Aid agencies can’t give assistance in all areas of Somalia and not even hav an idea about the number of people that are still waiting in the country during political conflicts. Meanwhile, medication, food and water are most needed items. Recently, the UN chief Ban Ki-moon plead for member estates with money to stop this humanitarian disaster. However, only half of the amount of 1.6 billion dollars needed has been obtained.

This current scene explains the abandon of the African continent from developed countries. While the West spends in war, wastes food and water, for years, those countries from Horn of Africa must live in this extreme situation to receive more atention. Now, UN has two important responsabilities: act fast attending the urgency with necessary assistance and, later, help those countries to “reborn”, specially Somalia, to avoid future disasters like this one.

 

 

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When I wake up every morning, I have two options in front of me. I can open my eyes and see the routine waiting for me, the problems to solve in few hours, make money, keep friendships and relationships because I don't want to be alone in my life. As I do my stuff in home, go out for work and return at the end of the day, probably the stress will be my partner. Just to say that this is an unhealthy choice.

On the other hand, I can turn back time, at least in this story, "reopen" my eyes and make an effort to make today better than yesterday. And tomorrow better than today. I can see problems as challenges, if they appear in your life, that's because you can handle it. I believe in intuition only if I am in peace with myself. Maybe that's peace's voice. Actually its the real me speaking, feeling, living. Let the barriers behind and see only opportunities: to be a better person, make new friends, make new deals, improve work and studies.

Every no I hear or see can be a chance to improve myself as a person. Remove the appearance thing and start from zero, take off clothes and clothes of proud. Remember who I am, no matter the circumstances. It's a tough exercise, by the way. I think it is the most important homework we have to do since we get conscience. See good things, the way out of each situation and never forget that we are here just to learn and live. More than having things and receiving, values can't be lost.

Enjoy my team. Let's try to do this homework together.

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