Amidst student protestors and members of the Landless Worker's Movement waving signs reading, "Out, Bush!" and colorful banners depicting a Bush, pseudo-Hitler illustration, negotiations were made and hands were shaken in the sugar-cane fields of Brazil.
It was only 2 weeks ago that President George W. Bush made his presence known in the country, as well as several other Latin American nations (excluding any affiliated with his number one fan, Hugo Chavez). Ethanol, a newly emerging, popular alternative fuel source was on his top agenda as he met with President Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva, Laura in tow.
In a CNN article taken from the Associated Press, "Bush arrives in Brazil amid protests," it states, "Bush arrived in South America's largest city in the evening on a mission intended to promote democracy, increased trade and cooperation on alternative fuels. Riot police fired tear gas and beat some protesters with batons after more than 6,000 people held a largely peaceful march through the financial district. And in the southern city of Porto Alegre, more than 500 people yelled, "Get out, imperialist!" as they burned an effigy of Bush outside a Citigroup Inc. bank branch."
Many in the Landless Worker's Movement feel their land will be exploited for the rich and corporate profit, yet again. Ethanol is a hot, new commodity everyone is tapping into this market. "Going green" can be used by even the most money-hungry, power-driven to portray their concern for the Third World, but can we at least leave the word "democracy" out of it? We all know that whenever a new land is invaded or people are pushed aside, it's always to promote democracy.
Bush even went so far as to respond to his warm welcome with a so-called appreciation for being able to visit a part of the world where people are able to express their opinions and have the freedom of speech. CNN says, White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said Bush "enjoys traveling to thriving democracies where freedom of speech and expression are the law of the land." If only this rosy expression were a little more believable. Now, come on...we all know the man didn't travel to the Global South for a lesson in democracy. New Orleans was quite a democracy if I remember correctly...those folk simply wanted their voices heard.
Bush and the Brazilian president discussed ways to increase WTO influence, which include reduced tariffs on sugar-cane imports into the United States. Many Brazilian people fear Bush's Latin American visit may end up capitalizing on their natural resources, while they are left with none of the money and a destructed environment due to increased ethanol production.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
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5 comments:
First let me say you’re an excellent writer, even tough I found the piece laced with a bit too much emotion (I realize it’s a blog and not a news piece). I was drawn to your piece because I’m a sugarcane farmer and I try to keep informed about my crop. Though your piece was captivating, more than ¾ of the piece was a description of a character and an event and very little was written about ethanol. We all get it, you either hate President Bush or you don’t. In less than 2 years the United States will have a new President and what will matter are the policies that are adopted. For example; why is it significant that the two largest producing nations of sugarcane meet, how will it effect the world economy, for that matter- how will it effect your local corner gas station in Florida.
Again, I think you have great talent and I hope you keep perfecting it because in the end information leads to a good decision.
I truly appreciate your honesty, constructive criticism and compliments. I know this piece I wrote was a bit of a political rant, but I just get so heated over current events these days, especially with the war going on. I have a new fascination with grassroots organizations fighting for what they believe in, so this post was a little more attuned to that than ethanol itself. However, that being said, I will be posting continuous updates on several alternative energy sources, including ethanol, so I invite you to continue reading and commenting, thanks again.
*Kelly*
Kelly. I appreciate the fact that your reflections on the President's trip to Brazil attempted to isolate the net positives as opposed to merely delve into a political de-construction. There is without doubt serious merit in our country beginning a massive undertaking to transition our agricultural infrastructure into a new energy economy. World Trade issues aside, if we are able to use American ingenuity and prioritize funding for research in cellulosic ethanol technologies there will be opportunities for the American Farmer, American industry and global producers of bio-fuel crops. Saif Ishoof
Saif, I respect your opinion because you are entitled to it. I do agree that cellulosic ethanol technologies can be great for America and definitley have the potential to make a change in our current environmental trends, as well as open up some new jobs for American workers.
That being said, where does Bush going to Brazil do our nation's ethanol production any good? Could he be wishing to outsource production that *wait* has the potential to *help* American farmers and agriculture?
And I'm sorry, but WTO policies cannot be brushed aside and simply accepted because that is what the world has been doing and look how many have been hurt and thrown into poverty because of the fact?
*Kelly*
Hey check out my Blog at http://floridaethanol.blogspot.com/
-Saif Ishoof
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