Efforts to reduce dependence on petroleum may set the standard for reductions in global CO2 Paulo Rebêlo email OhmyNews This year, when the Chamber of Deputies approved the decision to make the switch to biodiesel, private companies worldwide and clean-fuel advocates turned their attention to Brazil. The country's aim is to become the largest supplier of this clean fuel made from renewable resources such as vegetable oil instead of petroleum. The project is backed by a new law that states that starting now it is mandatory to add 2 percent biodiesel to fuel sold countrywide. The act is a boost...

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Plus you can buy a cheaper PC in a shop By Paulo Rebêlo in Brazil: Monday 21 February 2005, 09:18 The Inquirer, 21.fevereiro.2005 THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT is once again trying to push a cheap PC for lower income people who can't afford a reasonable computer. It appears to be politics which is holding up implementation of the scheme. The only thing in common among all the digital inclusion projects supported by the government, until now, is that none of them have worked. Some didn't even leave the desks of the bureaucrats, but did hit the Brazilian technology press with terrific reviews, as usual. Last...

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In Brazil, the bird flies freely By Paulo Rebêlo in Brazil The Inquirer, Monday 22 November 2004, 07:30 KNOWN AS Lindows in the past, Linspire wouldn’t have many problems if it was based in Brazil. For those who remember, Microsoft sued Lindows over its name alleging something like "it could puzzle users". In Brazil we have Freedows, a Linux-based operating system just like former Lindows. There are two interesting highlights, tough. It's almost completely identical to Windows XP (Lindows wasn't that similar) and it has sort of the government hand on it. Freedows is developed by Cobra Tecnologia...

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Tax problem holds up wedges By Paulo Rebêlo The Inquirer, Thursday 21 October 2004, 14:08 GOOGLE'S ADSENSE programme is a big hit. Look well and you'll notice that if everyone was kung fu fighting in the 70s, in the 21st century we're all banner fu Googling. The reason is quite simple. It works. And it doesn't pollute your website. Everyone seems to be paid reasonably quickly. Except in Brazil. For more than three months, Brazilian affiliates have been eager to get their hands on the money. The problem is that Brazil's current laws prohibit sending money, or cheques, through the post, as Google...

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Paulo Rebêlo 25 August 2004 Source: SciDev.Net [RECIFE] Inspectors from Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture have destroyed twelve specimens of marine rays that had been borrowed from an institute in Spain, alleging that they lacked the necessary paperwork to be brought into the country — and refusing to postpone their action to allow such paperwork to be prepared. Similar events have occurred in the past, leading to growing concern among Brazilian researchers that such actions will make it more difficult to borrow biological samples from foreign scientists and their institutions. The specimens...

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Paulo Rebêlo 15 July 2004 Source: SciDev.Net [RECIFE] Researchers in Brazil are attempting to create genetically modified cows whose milk could be used to produce drugs to treat blood disorders such as haemophilia, an inherited disease which results in blood not clotting properly. If successful, these would be the first transgenic animals with medical applications to have been created in Brazil. The scientists expect their first transgenic cow to be born within three years. It will carry a human gene for a protein that encourages blood clotting. This protein will then be extracted from the cow's...

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Paulo Rebêlo 25 June 2004 Source: SciDev.Net Brazil has announced a programme that is intended to make it easier to import scientific equipment and materials into the country. Called 'easy science import' (importa fácil ciência), the programme will attempt to meet demands from researchers to reduce the amount of bureaucracy that is involved in bringing scientific equipment into the country (see Red tape on imports 'is stifling Brazilian research'). Under the programme, scientists who register with the Council of Scientific and Technological Development will be able to take advantage of financial...

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Paulo Rebêlo 16 June 2004 Source: SciDev.Net Brazil has opened a DNA bank to preserve genetic material of its endangered plant life. Its goal is to help protect rare plants threatened by extinction in a country that has the world's greatest variety of plant species. The DNA bank, which is based at the Jardim Botânico (Botanical Garden) in Rio de Janeiro, employs five researchers. They plan to collect at least 1,000 plant species each year to 'deposit' in the bank. Samples of specimens will be dried out and have DNA samples extracted, after which they will be frozen and stored. Plants in several...

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Paulo Rebêlo 5 May 2004 Source: SciDev.Net Chile's government has launched a wide-ranging programme to increase the use of computers and boost the role of information technology (IT) in the country's economy. As part of the initiative, the government aims to establish fast Internet connections in all universities, and at least 80 per cent of schools, by 2006. The Digital Agenda initiative, which aims to transform Chile into a digital country by the year 2010, will seek to attract foreign investment into the country's technology sector in order to promote IT development. It also includes projects...

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Paulo Rebêlo 20 February 2004 Source: SciDev.Net [RECIFE] Brazilian scientists are campaigning to reduce the bureaucracy involved in bringing scientific equipment into the country. In a declaration to be presented shortly to the ministry of science and technology, more than 300 Brazilian researchers state that "countless scientists have been waiting for years to receive equipment. Customs policies produce a lot of bureaucracy just to obtain a few microlitres or a simple reagent". The scientists call for new customs procedures that simplify and reduce the cost of bringing equipment and reagents...

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