November 20, 2011

Reduction of the Amazon rainforest

Reduction of the Amazon rain forest
(Essay for my course of International Protection of the Environment)
by @fonchobaggins


Overhead view of clear-cutting for slash-and-burn agriculture in the Peruvian Amazon
Location: Southeastern Peru; from Cuzco to Boca Manu
Source: Mongobay - Deforestation in the Amazon


Some trees on the street may look nice, especially when autumn or spring are going on, both for taking pictures and to have some kind of internal cheer up because there is some nature around. A trip to a rainforest may not be, necessarily, a life-changing experience but surely will give a lot of perspective to a person who still finds a couple of trees as part of a “green city” (or at least a “green street”). These trees on the street are a good source to transform carbon dioxide into oxygen thanks to the magic (rather “chemical process”) of the photosynthesis, and to appreciate this we can picture the reaction of a person breathing deeply right next to a car exhaust system or at the beach, at the top of a mountain or in the middle of a forest (excluding the chance of carbon dioxide sources being around). As part of the global carbon cycle, the presence of forests all around the world have a direct impact on (the reduction of) Global Warming, which is not just a factor of carbon emissions but also the reduction of the earth’s capacity to take emitted carbon out of the atmosphere (1). The Amazon rainforest is a massive carbon extractor from the atmosphere, representing over half of the global rainforest area. Thus, the preservation of the amazon rainforest turns into a global issue, even when the “Amazonia” is shared mainly by Brazil and Peru, both sharing over 73% of the total forest area . The reduction of the Amazon rainforest goes due to the conversion for other land uses, mainly agriculture and infrastructure; and because of degradation from fires, illegal and unsustainable logging, fuel wood harvesting, and climate change. Since 1970, over 600 000 km2 of Amazon rainforest have been destroyed. In 2001 the Amazon was approximately 5,4 million km2, which is only 87% of the Amazon’s original state.

The effects of the reduction of the amazon rainforest also involve the reduction of biodiversity, the release of greenhouse gas emissions, drought and soil erosion and negative impact on the people who depends on the rainforest to live. When forest cover is removed, wildlife is deprived of habitat and becomes more vulnerable to hunting. Considering that about 80% of the world's documented species can be found in tropical rainforests, deforestation puts at risk a majority of the Earth’s biodiversity. Deforestation causes 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Of these, carbon dioxide emissions represent up to one-third of total carbon dioxide emissions released because of human causes. As a result of deforestation, trees no longer evaporate groundwater, which can cause the local climate to be much drier, increasing soil erosion. Furthermore, millions of people rely directly on forests, through small-scale agriculture, hunting and gathering, and by harvesting forest products. The reduction of the amazon rainforest lead to severe social problems, sometimes turning into a violent conflict (2).

Now it is clear that, for the wealth of the global environment, South American governments that are part of the integral Amazonian region have to take care of it for the whole rest of nations. This feature is set on the Treaty for Amazonian Cooperation, where it specifies that the Republics of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela undertake joint actions in order to develop their respective Amazonian territories. We can see here that property is set under the State Property regime (3). Among the questions we can start setting for this perspective we have to include the role of these other nations that have no sovereignty over the territory where the Amazon rainforest is located, how to involve them into its preservation and get some profit from it, considering that “preserving the global equilibrium” is not so profitable for not-top economies. In order to so, there is the need to change the State Property regime into a Common property one, where the nations on the globe will benefit directly. Because of the need of preserving the biodiversity, the people and stop the deforestation, the Amazon rainforest cannot be either private or open property.

Even when the Treaty for Amazonian Cooperation states the role of the governments into the search of development, no formal delimitation of the Amazonia or even the Amazon basin is taking into consideration. Thus we find small farmers who own land and base their agriculture techniques on slash-and-burn and are loyal to corporations investing on crops in the area. Therefore, Private Property doesn’t assure the preservation, no matter the conditions or contract this private entity may sign; and, even when Open Property may look like an interesting option due to the complexity of controlling the area in regards of its nature and extension, the need of preservation was already set, so the Amazonia cannot be helpless against any threat.

In regards of the transaction costs, to have a positive effect on the economic performance we need low transaction costs and high incentives (4). Nevertheless, this concept seems to be intricate when approaching to each production factor. We can mention, grosso modo, the need of setting [physically] the boundary of the Amazon rainforest in order to control de access, monitoring the area and assure no illegal activities are held, the management of international funds, reallocation or alternatives for the employment for the farmers and its respective induction on this new activities, meetings to empower environmental knowledge and coordinate actions, among others. We find the transaction costs are high, so there is the need of locate or develop strong incentives in order to achieve this positive effect. But, due to the complexity and magnitude of the transaction costs, it is important to focus on the factor that has the largest influence and thus, we need to review among labor, capital and land. After all the facts reviewed at the beginning of the paper, we can see that it is the Land that turns into the most important, due to it is directly what we want, need and have to protect.

Goals that are pursuit buy the countries that share the amazon rainforest area are, regarding the social dimension: to preserve the native population on their own environment, to increase the global and local aware of the importance of the amazon and to develop institutions for Amazonia governance, considering the need of a common supranational property. Knowledge for Amazonia conservation should be a target too, so local population can avoid being manipulated by not-precise-information from community outsiders. On the economical dimension, agriculture and wood exploitation should be corrected into a sustainable model, thus both timber and soy can keep being important exports. Here there should be a special effort from the government to redistribute the income and preserve the area and its native population and biodiversity. The provision of fresh water can be assured if there are incentives for sustainable projects that may involve local labor force. Consider also, that keeping nature alive can increase the touristic flow.

Certifications for timber and soy, in exchange of the compromise of maintain 80% of the forest on its own property. Thus, consumers can prefer the products from the companies holding such certification (5), but a previous condition is to have the boundary of the amazon rainforest well set and controlled. Carbon stocks markets that allow funds flow for the preservation of the amazon rainforest are also an opportunity for privates to invest in the Amazonia preservation. Permission for R&D for the pharmaceutical market, in exchange of a percentage of their profit on the new medicines related to products found on the Amazonia (thanks to the biodiversity). Local labor force can switch from slash-and-burn agriculture into hydrological services personnel.

As it was mentioned before, the transaction costs for the sustainable management of the amazon rainforest are high, and so the incentives should be. Due to the strong opposition of the local population to let the government or any external observer, the slow rhythm of the initiatives taken, the cumulative damage that the amazon rainforest already got and the not-so-strong incentives for private companies nor governments this problem just look to keep on its track. Between 1991 and 2000, the total area of Amazon Rainforest cleared for farming and infrastructure goes between 415 000 km² and 587 000 km² and year deforestation keeps on track (6). There is the need of a massive intervention to have control over it and avoid private interest to keep destroying biodiversity, but according to the numbers there is no real or feasible solution.


References
(1) A. L. Smith, Oxford dictionary of biochemistry and molecular biology, 1997
(2) Nature.org - Rainforests facts
(3) Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization, Treaty for Amazonian Cooperation, 1978.
(4) J. Platje, Institutional change and Poland’s Economic performance since the 1970s, 2004
(5) Pita Verweij and others, Keeping the Amazon forest standing: a matter of values, 2009.
(6) Wikipedia - Deforestation of the Amazon Rainforest



Websites (i used more than this, but i think it's enough for further reading)
The Economist online, Chopping down the Amazon
The Amazon Fund, homepage
The Amazon Conservation Team, homepage
Greenpeace – Amazon
Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization, homepage
The nature conservancy, Rainforest
US Department of State, background note: Brazil
...and of course u have to check Wikipedia :p

September 1, 2011

WJS2011 - Setting up (part 3)

Setting up (part 3)




Once more the scouting world gathers again for a massive event, this time in Kristianstad - Sweden. I am lucky i can participate here, and here i'm sharing some stuff around it. You can check the previous post here. Una vez más el Escultismo mundial se junta en un Jamboree, esta vez cerca de la ciudad sueca de Kristianstad. Tengo la suerte de poder participar, y aqui publicaré algunas cosas que vayan pasando. Puedes ver el artículo anterior haciendo click aquí.

*****

We left the action in the train, in my way to Kristianstad... right before arriving to the Jamboree. I decided to travel alone since it's easier to coordinate and find accomodation too. Now, after sailing from Kobenhavn to Helsinborg and visited Lund, Ystad an Malmö... i was finally arriving to the Jamboree. I wanted to go since 2007!!! i was very nervous, i must confess. Well... we have to start stepping out of the train... lets go!


at Kristianstad Train Station

(Preliminary) Check in, of course


I was worried about getting streight to the Train Station in Kristianstad because on the form that we have to fill up i wrote that i wanted to be picked up from the Kobenhavn Airport, but since i got my Skåne Summer Card to travel all around the sothern region of Sweden (Skåne) with a flat rate... i decided to arrive to Kristianstad by myself. And after they picked us up in the train station, the next step was to Check In (but the real and almost final one), and for so... we needed to make a small queue :P


Small queue to check in.
Is it possible to notice the computers + staff we needed to reach for so?

Hum... so "Module Activities". Still, no clue about my job as IST.
IST Patrol, my ID number... first activities, ok.
(and as usual, i'll write that on my agenda to remember)


Next step: placing my tent. This is not that hard... since i'm very used to camp, the only problem is to find the square i am being sent to, but after spotting the guys in my contingent it was not that hard :P ...the hard part was to dialogue and set the camp layout for the peruvian contingent and the others contingents on the square. by the way... did the guys from Arabia Saudi got to enter the camp? they never arrived to the camp-grid, i think.



Fonchy's tent (orange +beige) on the peruvian zone of the camp-grid


WSJ 2011 Map
(not really useful... see the next post, but wait for it to come please)

WSJ 2011 - Sunset at Spring Town


So, i got pretty much what i need to start my Jamboree 2011 experience. I was very excited since it was the 1st time i got into an international Jamboree as an IST... i'm so full of energies!!! can't wait!!
(to be continued)


*****

Go check the World Organization of the Scout Movement and check for some evens, if you want...
But if you are a scout, i really really tell you: go to an international activity and enjoy it as much as you can, and you'll have the time of your life. Puedes ver la página de la Organización Mundial del Movimiento Scout y revisar algunos eventos, si quieres... pero si eres scout, te digo... y te lo digo muy bien: ve a una actividad internacional y diusfruta todo lo que puedas, pues es algo espectacular.



August 14, 2011

Hi, i'm looking for the Noisy Cafe...

All the International Service Team (IST) had to sleep at the green area, known as the Spring Town. My quest started kind of in the middle of that area, where my tent was placed. All the people i asked were wearing white scarfs... i had some hope on receiving help. Now, if u kindly follow me...





Hi, i'm looking for the Noisy Cafe, but i can't find it on the map.
Hum... are you looking for any Meeting Point?
Well, i am supossed to be at the Grid #9... just out of the Noisy Cafe.
Ah, don't worry... that's the Meeting Point #9, they changed the names.
Ok, good to know! Now, the Meeting Point #9 isn't on the map, either.
It's out of the Spring Town... you have to take the spring Road and walk... you will find it somewhere over there.
"Somewhere"... hum, very motivating. Ok, thanks! :)

Hi, i'm looking for the Noisy Cafe, but i can't find it on the map.
Hum... are you looking for any Meeting Point?
Well, i am supossed to be at the Grid #9... just out of the Noisy Cafe.
Is the Grid equal to the Meeting Point?
I have no idea... there is a map with the meeting points, where the #9 is missing since it's out of the Spring Town... and there is no Noisy Cafe either.
Don't worry, just go to the Meeting #9 and for sure you'll find the Cafe.
Great. Thanks!

Hi, i'm looking for the Noisy Cafe, but i can't find it on the map... and i've been walking around for a bit.
"Noisy Cafe"... let me see the map. (After some seconds checking) It's not here, let me check by the radio. (After some seconds checking) They have no idea. See, there is a whole area of Cafes right there, maybe you can take a walk to find out wich one is the "Noisy" one.
Sounds like a plan, thanks!

Hello. I've been looking for the Noisy Cafe walking around for one hour, but i just feel i am a bit too far away. Can you help me?
Well, at least i can try... lets go to the Information Center (since this guy had something like and "i" i thought he may work there). Let me check the map... hum... i'll contact someone on the radio, hold on please (nobody replies to him). Just one second... (and after some minutes someone starts talking). (Talkiing on the radio) Ok... no, no... Noisy Cafe... ah, ok, but it's not on the map. Ah, ok. (Now he starts talking to me again) Well, seems there is no Noisy Cafe :)
So, i am not supossed to meet my IST patrol then :(
Well, you can do that... or i can tell you where is your IST Training, because you finally have to get there, intead of trying to find this unexisting place and taking who-knows-how-long.
Hum... ok, i think that's a good idea.
So, let me check a little bit (and starts talking to the radio again). Aha... you have to be at "Quest".
Is that part of the Module Activities?
Yes! and you have to follow this road... and then, after those trees you turn left and will find people around who may help you.
Ok, thanks! I finally feel somebody actually help me. (!?)

Hi! i was sent here now because i failed finding the Noisy Cafe for my IST Introduction, i know i am supossed to arrive later, but the guy at the Information Center thought it may be better to come now... since i lost the hope of meeting my IST Patrol.
Oh, sure.. no problem. This is were you have, finally, to arrive. Welcome to Quest! Let me check who your bosses will be. Do you want anything to eat or drink?
:)



August 9, 2011

WSJ2011 - Getting to the camp site (part 2)

Getting to the camp site (part 2)




Once more the scouting world gathers again for a massive event, this time in Kristianstad - Sweden. I am lucky i can participate here, and here i'm sharing some stuff around it. You can check the previous post here. Una vez más el Escultismo mundial se junta en un Jamboree, esta vez cerca de la ciudad sueca de Kristianstad. Tengo la suerte de poder participar, y aqui publicaré algunas cosas que vayan pasando. Puedes ver el artículo anterior haciendo click aquí.


*****

Well, my Plan "A" failed... but not totally, since i did arrived to Malmö. I just didn't count on some stuff:
  • The boat ride will take me to Helsinborg instead of Malmö.
  • I needed a transportation card to get into the bus in Sweden.
  • There was nowhere to buy this card on the place i arrived to.
  • The freaking card would be so expensive.
  • Even when expensive, the card gave me a flat rate for all my transportation (train + bus).
  • Swedish bus drivers were nice.
  • I would need accomodation 1 night out of my schedule.

Regarding this last point, i was very lucky that my friend Juan from Mexico was in Lund right on those days... and that i got his phone number. He helped not to be bedless the night of the 20th of July... Dziekuje Janek!!

Janek just arrived to the Train Station to pick me up and safe me from a bedless night
2011 Lund, Sweden


So it was not that bad at all, since it was my 1st time sailing for real (and i mean beyond a 30-minutes-touristic-trip), got my card to travel to other cities by trains, take as many buses as i want... and of course, get some nice stories to publish here :P My travelling map turned into the following, not sooo far away from my plan, but real more interesting:




View F 2011 - World Jamboree, part2 in a larger map


I never did tourism right in the middle of a raining day... but since i'm so far away from home i just thought it would be pointless to remain sit and comfortable... so i took my camera and my very creepy+short raincoat and went for some good pics! ...at Malmö, Lund, Helsinborg and Ystad.


Going around with Janek (MEX) and Sebastian (POL),
thanks to our JoJo SummerCard (flat transportation expenses!!)
2011 Lund

Relaxing at the end of the day with a very expensive beer
and the most expensive half-sandwich ever
2011 Lund

Amazing piece of architecture in Malmö: The Turning Torso
2011 Malmö


The rain won't stop me to go anywhere...
2011 Ystad



Janek smiling next to the main fountain
2011 Ystad

Poor umbrella... it doesn't know what's comming on the next hours
2011 Helsinborg


Fighting the rain... but it looks i'm not winning
2011 Helsinborg

=P
2011 Helsinborg

So, after some days i thought that i didn't need to get back to Kobenhavn to get to the campsite... i can go on my own since i have my beautiful JoJo Summer Card :) ...so, i'll pack in Malmö and go by train and by myself... Jamboree, here i go!!


All packed... scout shirt + scarf on... lets go!!

(to be continued...)

*****

Go check the World Organization of the Scout Movement and check for some evens, if you want...
But if you are a scout, i really really tell you: go to an international activity and enjoy it as much as you can, and you'll have the time of your life. Puedes ver la página de la Organización Mundial del Movimiento Scout y revisar algunos eventos, si quieres... pero si eres scout, te digo... y te lo digo muy bien: ve a una actividad internacional y diusfruta todo lo que puedas, pues es algo espectacular.

  

July 22, 2011

Across Øresund Strait yo ho ho ♫


Ahoj Captain Więciorkwski!

As per our coordinations, i really appreciate that you can help me to get across the Øresund Strait in your ship. I'll communicate with you when arriving to København, kindly wait for my call. It will be my pleasure to join your crew in this small but important and decisive route. I'm looking forward for your confirmation letter.

Best regards.

Fonchobaggins




Waiting for Captain Więciorkowski at København City Hall

Meeting with Capt. Więciorkwski and Michał

Here the boat was "parked" :P

Capt. Więciorkwski checking the charts

Nice visit after breakfast

The trip to Helsinborg took around 6 hours.
I held my stomach for 5,5

Captain Więciorkowski's brave crew


I don't remember a real experience sailing... and i mean something longer than a 30-min ride on a boat in a lake or by the shore, so i think this was my first time :)  it was a nice coincidence to arrive on the same day as Damian to Copenhaguen. We met in 2009 when i went to Poland for an AIESEC Project, and now he gave me a ride to Sweden from Denmark. Even when my stomach couldn't hold it any longer... i think i succeed standing 5 and a half hours with no sea sickness :P all the crew was amazing, and it's very relaxing to be sailing, specially in a sunny day, i'm totally up for another ride on the boat! Thanks once more, Captain Więciorkowski... and your whole brave and disciplined crew!


July 17, 2011

WSJ2011 - Getting to the camp site (part 1)

Getting to the camp site (part 1)




Once more the scouting world gathers again for a massive event, this time in Kristianstad - Sweden. I am lucky i can participate here, and here i'll share some stuff of my own highlights. Una vez más el Escultismo mundial se junta en un Jamboree, esta vez cerca de la ciudad sueca de Kristianstad. Tengo la suerte de poder participar, y aqui publicaré algunas cosas que vayan pasando.

*****


After dealing with the embassies more than what i expected, i finally got my papers to take part on this great even. But, before the Jamboree starts i need to get to it... and my flight arrives to Kobenhavn - Denmark. My original plan is to meet my friend Damian there and then get to Malmö by boat, across the  Øresund Strait... then get back to Kovenhavn by bus to be picked up and taken to the Jamboree Camp Site in Kristianstad. On the map it looks more or less like this: Luego de hacer más trámites de los necesarios en las embajadas, finalmente obtuve las visas para viajar al Jamboree, pero antes que este empiece necesito llegar al lugar del campamento. Mi plan es encontrarme con mi amigo Damian en Kobenhavn y él me llevará a Malmö a través del estrecho de Øresund. Luego de algunos días tomaré un bus de regreso a Kobenhavn para que la gente del Jamboree me lleve al campamento. En el mapa es más o menos así:



Ver F 2011 - World Jamboree, part1 en un mapa más grande



My original plan is to remain all the previous days to the Jamboree in Malmö and then get back to the Copenhague Airport to be picked up by the guys of the Jamboree and get to the campsite, but lets see how that goes :P Mi plan original es permanecer los dias previos al Jamboree en la ciudad de Malmö para luego regresar a Copenhague y ser trasladado al lugar del campamento por la gente del Jamboree, pero veamos que pasa finalmente.
Jamboree... here i go! Jamboree, ya voy!!


*****

Go check the World Organization of the Scout Movement and check for some evens, if you want...
But if you are a scout, i really really tell you: go to an international activity and enjoy it as much as you can, and you'll have the time of your life. Puedes ver la página de la Organización Mundial del Movimiento Scout y revisar algunos eventos, si quieres... pero si eres scout, te digo... y te lo digo muy bien: ve a una actividad internacional y diusfruta todo lo que puedas, pues es algo espectacular.



July 6, 2011

¿Qué es educar?

Hoy me llegó un correo muy simpático al correo del trabajo. Simpático de manera especial porque mi empresa ofrece cursos de capacitación, talleres y asesoría... y todos están muy atentos al impacto que tiene la educación en el desarrollo económico y mejora de la competitividad. Lo comparto ahora deseándole un Feliz Día del Maestro a todas las personas que, por vocación, ofrecen su trabajo a esta noble causa. A mis profes de primaria (Eda, Luz Elena, Leonor, Velma, Charo, Hugo, Lucha, Dora, Juani...), a los de secundaria (Alfredo, Franklin, Roberto, Humberto, Manuel, Chabuca, Silvia, Sergio, Nora, Isabel, Jorge, José, Marcos, Pedro, Ricardo, Pablo...), de la universidad (Juan Carlos, Yuri, César, Laura, Sergio, Elsie, Fortunato, José...) y de la vida (¡mi viejo!)... ¡gracias por su tiempo y dedicación!







Educar es lo mismo
que poner un motor a una barca.
Hay que medir, pesar, equilibrar
y poner todo en marcha.

Pero para eso,
uno tiene que llevar en el alma
un poco de marino
un poco de pirata
un poco de poeta
y un kilo y medio
de paciencia concentrada.

Pero es consolador soñar,
mientras uno trabaja,
que ese barco
–ese adulto, ese joven-
irá muy lejos por el agua.

Soñar que ese navío
llevará nuestra carga de palabras
hacia puertos distantes,
hacia islas lejanas.

Soñar que cuando un día
esté durmiendo
nuestra propia barca,
en barcos nuevos
seguirá nuestra
bandera enarbolada.


(Fermín Gaínza fsc)


¡Feliz día, educadores!


May 15, 2011

Perú... in Peru, Nebraska, USA [Documentary] - with subtitles!




This video was first released only in spanish, but it got subtitles in English, so it can be understood beyond my explanation on the previous post. This is an effort made by the government to increase the tourism and to appreciate what we have in Peru. Well, if u saw the previous post and watched the video, you know what it has... but now i kindly invite you to read the subtitles and become, hopefuly, more interested in my country. Enjoy :)






♥ Perú ♥ Perú ♥ Perú ♥ Perú ♥ Perú ♥ Perú ♥ Perú ♥

May 5, 2011

Perú... in Peru, Nebraska, USA [Documentary]




I couldn't believe how amazing it was to see this video... (the one on the bottom of the post).
It's so sad it's not in English, but the idea here is that there is a peruvian contingent (from Perú the country, the one in southamerica, where i currently live, where i am from) that gets into Peru City in Nebraska, USA. (By the way... nice to see Perú is right on the heart of the USA... oh! and America is a continent, not a country)


Peru City, NE Location in United States
Source: eachtown.com


Perú, Nebraska - USA is a small place with half thousand people living theer, so (as usual) we peruvians get there to make some trouble... and the contingent shares a lot of stuff that are typical for us, the Southamerican Peruvians: food, surf, music... and even traffic. Press Play and get to see the video, even when the language may not be the one u speak or understand, i am sure u'll enjoy it :)


"every peruvian,
just because of being peruvian,
has the right to enojoy of
how wonderful being peruvian is"
(now please tell me i got the right translation!)
(¡por favor díganme que lo traduje bien!)





♥ Perú ♥ Perú ♥ Perú ♥ Perú ♥ Perú ♥ Perú ♥ Perú ♥