Brazil´s Law of Internet

The Project, now in Congress, establishes the principles, rights and duties of web users.

National Congress will soon appreciate the bill on the Internet, also called Marco Civil Internet, which provides the principles, rights and duties in using the World Wide Web.

The scope of the project includes users, companies and the government as well. For two years, between 2009 and 2011, and before it was formally established as a project of law by the Ministry of Justice, the issue was discussed by civil society organizations. In the process, it received more than 2000 contributions and 100 thousand accesses by Internet.

This project reinforces the constitutional principles as free speech, privacy and secrecy of communications, human rights, and the broad right of access to the internet for everyone.

It also establishes that the person, and the person only, will be held responsible for the content posted anywhere on the net is becoming liable for any damage caused, and exempting the provider or intermediary (websites, blogs, portals and social networks) from that liability. The service provider will only respond if it breaks a prior judicial decision determining the removal of content.

Another important point concerns the storage of data, and determines that the provider must store for a year the records of users' connection (IP of the computer - and time and date of access). Such data can only be obtained by court order, and this one year term of custody of records could be extended upon demand, be it by the police authority supporting the judiciary.

Net neutrality is another fundamental point, which requires ISPs to give undifferentiated treatment to all packets of data traffic on their networks. They may not favor certain Web sites over others, while providing them, for example, a faster access (faster band).

The state also confirms its role, reducing inequalities in Internet access and encouraging the use of the network as a tool for transparency and democracy. The project, however, does not cover issues such as copyright, cybercrime, and e-commerce.

To become law, the project must be approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Hopefully it will be through and ready for the President´s approval by the end of the year.

World Buzz

EU New Member

Ireland has joined forces with the Lisbon Treaty Nations. Irish voters have strongly endorsed the decision, 16 months after their first vote rejecting it ,which had plunged EU reforms into deadlock. Around 67% voted "Yes", official referendum results showed. Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen hailed a "clear and resounding" endorsement. Political leaders across the EU have also welcomed the result.

"It was a great day for Europe", said the president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, who also urged the leaders of Poland and the Czech Republic - the only other countries yet to ratify Lisbon - to sign the treaty as soon as possible.

A new leader

-Ireland's vote to ratify the European Union's Lisbon Treaty has finally cleared the way for the creation of a powerful new president, intended to elevate the 27-nation bloc's standing on the global stage.

-But do European leaders actually want one? Ahead lies a difficult discussion about how much power and influence a new European Union president should have and whether the post should fall to a political star — like former Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain — or one of his old school technocratic rivals.

-The leaders of member countries will decide, probably this month, and their decision could determine whether the union really seeks the bigger role it says it needs, to try to match the influence of the United States and that of rising powers like China, Russia, India and Brazil.

What is ahead of us?

1 - La Vitrine Politique - The Lisbon Treaty, which aims to streamline decision-making and reform the bloc's structures, lays down a two-and-a-half-year term for a full-time president of the European Council, the body that represents member nations.

2 - Key roles and media time - The treaty, if finally ratified by the Poles and Czechs, also mandates a single new foreign affairs chief, in charge of both policy and aid money, and a new European diplomatic corps. Both new jobs would be subordinate to the leaders of member countries. The position of commission president, held by José Manuel Barroso of Portugal, continues.

Sure Thing

Those to fill the two new posts will have a considerable chance to carve out significant roles for themselves, since they will be the most prominent faces of a collective Europe. Remember, we live a quite particular moment: both financial and natural.

- The northern hemisphere tries yet to recover from a major crisis, a delicate moment. Financial policies and aid would act like a compass needle pointing out to safe waters.

- Mother nature shows its rage in south east Asia, where aid is needed and reconstruction must take place. EU has history in the area, ans help will be sent. As seen for the past months, temperature images in the Pacific indicate we are presently at a prelude of an El Niño year - predicted to be as strong as that of 1998 - while the water at the equator line in the African coast gets colder.

Apart from the financial recovery in progress ,we are in for severe, short period climate changes all over the globe due to El Niño. And the Old World must prepare for the months ahead, which will demand aid in different local areas as a wetter, cloudier winter in Northern Europe and a milder, drier winter in the Mediterranean Sea region might just repeat itself.

Add to that, the threat of the A1H1 virus...

We live changing times indeed, be it in politics, finance or nature!

Rio de Janeiro to host 2016 Olympics

Rio de Janeiro was chosen Friday as the host site of the 2016 Olympic Games, brushing aside an unprecedented personal appeal from President Obama and the first lady on behalf of their home town of Chicago, also McDonald's headquarters, whose budgets adds up to 900 million dollars for next Olympics in London. Strong lobby indeed.

The Carnaval city beat in the last round the surprise finalist Madrid. Chicago was eliminated in the first round of voting at the meeting of the IOC in Copenhagen, and Tokyo was eliminated in the second one. In awarding Olympic bids, the IOC holds rounds of voting until one city receives a majority.

Rio, first-time-ever South American city to be chosen to host the games. This victory continues a welcome trend of acknowledging the growing importance of developing countries. The World Cup next year will be hosted by South Africa and in 2014 it will be held in Brazil.

2016 represents a tremendous opportunity for Terra Brasilis. The Olympics will give Brazilians a huge shot of self-confidence and boost the country’s tourism industry and Rio’s public transportation system. It’s also an opportunity to counter the violent imagery of drug lords, gang murders and grinding poverty realistically captured in films such as “City of God” (2002) and "Tropa de Elite"(2007). Those scenes have replaced postcard images of beaches and mountains that used to seduce people around the world.

Lula must defeat Rio de Janeiro's violent crime, which residents call it the biggest cloud over their city's postcard-perfect shot. When the world’s attention is on them, Brazilians don’t take chances. During these types of events, law enforcement is shifted from the local police, who don’t exactly enjoy a reputation for moral rectitude.

Instead, Brazil’s military runs security, sporting assault weapons and tanks. If you think Rio’s drug kingpins are crazy enough to conduct business as usual under those conditions, think it again. As 2012 host city of London has to be prepared and cope with possible terrorist attacks for the its games, Rio will have to work out the drug dealing issue. For the moment, the city will take a good look at what's being done for the London games, besides the exchange of security knowledge for large events with France.

Six and a half years of hard work will show whether COI's choice was indeed the good one - or not.

Sources: Folha de São Paulo, Wikipedia, Climatempo.com.br , Aviso.oceanobs.com, associated press, new york times, le monde, newsmap, migalhas.com, the telegraph, irishnews.

On the Menu

L’entrée

This independence holiday weekend was marked as a special one for a couple of reasons.

On Saturday the greatest soccer derby in the world, Brasil x Argentina, took place in Rosario, northern Argentina. It granted the country’s presence in the South African World Cup next June. A superb performance by ‘seleção canarinho’ let Diego Maradona wordless after the game..... others say he may be jobless soon.

A 3 x 1 that confirmed this county’s supremacy in the most popular sport on earth.

The second reason was far different from the first one. France’s president Nicolas Sarkozy was in Brazil for the long weekend, to meet his peer, Lula. ‘Le président Sarkozy’ was here not only to reinforce “l’année de la France” and to celebrate Brazil’s Independence day from Portugal, the 7^th of September, but also for some lobbying. The final act of an armament deal. The largest in Brazil’s history.

Brazil is out shopping for fighter airplanes, submarines and helicopters. Apparently the French president came over to grant that his defense industry will take the order evaluated at 21 billions of reais, which makes 11,15 billion dollars, as of today’s exchange rate. It represents more than Venezuela’s and Colombia’s acquisitions together during the recent years. Two countries more militarily active than Brazil , due to their social and political situations.

The New York Times states that an American Congress study shows the USA as the greatest armament dealer, with 68,4% of 2008’s 55,2 billion dollars negotiated. A total of 37,8 billion dollars worth of closed deals throughout the world. Far behind comes Italy in second with 3,7 billions sold, then Russia in third with 3,5 billions. This gives us and idea of the market shares and figures as for the last year, to better comprehend the following paragraphs.

Le plat de Resistance

What´s on Brazil’s Lula shopping list ?

- 5 submarines (among which 1 nuclear and its fabrication technology)- deal closed

- 50 helicopters – deal closed

- 36 fighter ariplanes – letter of intentions signed

The resources for the payment of this considerable bill is Brazil´s national treasure.

The helicopter deal will only reinforce the ties of cooperation between France and Brazil, as there are two large industries in the southern hemisphere country – Eurocopter and Helibras.

As part of the aircraft purchase, it is included the possibility of technology transfer. Brazil would produce its own Rafale fighters. It would also be able to produce to sell for neighboring countries.

New element introduced during independence festivities - the purchase by the French government of 10 Embraer’s long range military transport KC-390 aircraft to be produced by in 2015.

According to the French company, Dassault, they hope to close the deal the latest in 2010. This sale alone represents between 5 and 7 billion dollars.

The boos Serge Dassault is more than happy, as this deal may save his business, in crisis, as it is good part of the French armament industry. Moreover, this fighter would come ‘nude’, which means that all the missiles and bombs will be sold separately...

According to Brazil’s defense department ‘ these new elements of technology transfer and the purchase of 10 Brazilian KC-390 military transport aircraft only added to the French proposal, demanding further analysis.’

It also states that ‘Usa’s Boeing and Sweden’s Saab may still propose their offers, which will be carefully studied’, despite the head advantage taken by France’s Dassault.

Side effects

As the military budget of Latin American countries has raised, according to Le Monde, 91% between 2003 and 2008, this deal may generate, or accelerate - as prefer some - the acquisition of military apparatus by other Latin America countries, causing a sort of regional military race, stuffing up traditional arm dealers’ pockets while putting aside local military development cooperation.

Time will tell.

Le dessert

It means the end of an era, the largest military deal in 40 years, and it was not with the USA industry! It does not represent tension between Brasilia and Washington, but a sign of Brazil’s independence concerning its military autonomy.

What for ? To show the country’s power, the only Latin American country with a global role at play. After February 2008’s Brazil – Argentina nuclear deal, this new Franco-Brazilian pact will represent a major test: either the reinforcement of local security for neighboring countries or it will show the way for Brazil’s military autonomy.

Brazil has an historical peaceful vocation, this upgrade on its defense apparatus will not represent a threat to potential enemies – if there is any - but rather a concern to protect its vast natural resources and to reinforce its global role as an emergent country.

La Cerise sur le Gâteau

These purchases are part of an axis of a major plan, which also includes stronger leadership and economical presence among BRIC countries, social developments, the role as one of the world’s major power suppliers, and preservation of natural resources.

Final goal: A seat at United Nation’s Security Council, the dream of Brazilian diplomacy.

Sources:

O Globo, BBC, Le Monde, Libération, New York Times, Ministério das Relações Exteriores – Itamaraty, Último Segundo, Deutsche Welle World, Terra magazine

Gaia feasts it!

It was nice to see people who took time off, and stepped out of this haze of economic welfare persuit that surround us - mon through fri / 9 to 5 routine - to be part of the whole, even if it is just for a short moment.
After all, we are all travelers on this great ship called earth!
We talk of the public who flocked yesterday towards important places on the planet to celebrate summer's Solstice.
These monuments, in their various forms are actual ouvres d'art à ciel ouvert, built by long ago civilizations who comprehended, respected and feasted the sun's north-most position on our skies. Places like Stonehenge, the Pyramids and la Puerta del Sol at Machu Pichu, to name a few, were destinations, yesterday, of scientists, religious sects, and sensitive people who are tunned into Gaia.

They do not let us forget about life cycles! This year, in special, the date fell on a SUN-DAY.

Nature rules on this planet, with its marvelous, intricate, yet simple patterns. And we are to follow them. Better yet, to flow with them in order to profit to the fullest, both of ourselves and the planet.
Mankind has to understand nature's hints when things go unbalanced. It is quite simple. If we take it , we must give it back. A cycle again! It is defenitely not by over exploiting the planet's natural resources as we have done for the past century that we will be able to level off.
It is time return what we have taken, in an intelligent way. Because nature takes its time to reestablish itself.

The Intelligence Factory follows some of these events regarding man's giving it back process across the globe.

In the state of Parana, Brazil, it is located the country's largest population of Araucarias (araucaria angustifolia), native pine tree from colder mid-mountain southern climate.

The local state government has made major efforts to coordinate the protection and repopulation of this species considered in danger since the middle of the twentieth century.
Through different departements involved, in the last 8 years, 5 million of these Pinheiros, as they are locally called, have beeb replanted.
Despite the time it takes to reach maturity (up to 90 years), at the age of 30 it is already at its optimal size.

The results and statistics of all this giant task of planning, distribution, acccounting and post planting control is available at the State of Parana environment institut, IAP. Tremendous job they are doing. We bow our hats.

It will take time to return what we have taken, of course. But our kids will thank us!