MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

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  Philippe

  Brazil as the grrrreatest power in Latin America can let its diplomats entertain themselves with brincadeira instead of attending the OAS meeting. But what has that to do with the price of beans?
  
  Philippe

  Oct 25th, 2011 - 11:36 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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  GeoffWard2

  Don't be silly, Phillipe.
  
  There is a substantial history of politics and posturing involved in the interminable series of local, state and federal court orders, human rights claims, recourse to supra-national organisations, etc, etc. and the interminable series of appeals, presidential rulings, etc, etc.
  
  So many people want a piece of the very lucrative pie,
  
  and there is insufficient authority in the present president for her to say
  “For the best good of the country and its move towards the developed world, this world-scale clean-energy project will be built and it will start on 1 January 2012.”
  
  When the total energy cost and benefits are set against the alternatives,
  when the CO2-cost and its carbon offsets are set against the alternatives,
  when the local and regional environmental and social costs and benefits are set against the alternatives,
  this Bel Monte hydroelectric scheme is a real no-brainer.

  Oct 25th, 2011 - 12:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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• 

  Fido Dido

  ” said lawyer Andressa Calgas, director of support group Global Justice
  
  What Global justice? Andressa Calgas a lawyer, never had a real job in her life that really produced something, rather than paper and hidden talk of anti development.
  
  Philippe , you are right and you are only silly if you take bogus green lovers (Ohhh CO2 is so dangerous, I'm so concerned about the trees) serious, like mr GeoffWard.
  
  this Bel Monte hydroelectric scheme is a real no-brainer for people who are for development.

  Oct 25th, 2011 - 03:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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• 

  Forgetit87

  Fido,
  
  GeoffW. is actually arguing in favour of the dam, and this has been his position for months. Though Geoff isn't amongst this group, there are indeed eco-fascists - many of which with economic ties with Germany and other European countries - bent on making life difficult for our government.

  Oct 25th, 2011 - 07:37 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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• 

  Philippe

  It is unfortunate that a long-time OAS member, like Brazil, should decide at the 11th hour to boycott a meeting of the OAS Permanent Council. An old tradition of the good people of Itamaraty is to participate in such meetings, as they have done since times immemorial. The subject of the construction of a damned hydroelectric dam- even if it were “o mais grande do mundo”- has no place in the Council's political and juridical agenda. There are other OAS agencies dealing with environmental questions, human rights, etc.
  Obviously, Dilma, like CFK, doesn't have a clue of what the OAS is all about it.
  
  Philippe

  Oct 26th, 2011 - 03:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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  GeoffWard2

  I’m sure that Dilma has been briefed that the OAS claims to be:
  
  1. The natural forum for dialogue among the countries of the Americas and the Caribbean on political, social, educational, cultural, scientific and technological issues:
  
  2. An instrument by means of which the countries of the inter-American community can reach their common goals to:
  • strengthen peace and security on the American continent,
  • prevent and peacefully resolve disputes between members,
  • prepare a common response in the event of foreign aggression, and
  • define and implement a cooperation initiative for integrated development.
  
  Dilma is making a political statement by her declined invitation – ‘Some matters are Internal and Strategic, and I don’t appreciate you trying to strong-arm me’.

  Oct 26th, 2011 - 06:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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