Um outro reunion 2001 em Brasil
For those of you who are going for the 2001 Brasil summer
trip - please read below.
Jed Young e Tom Pemberton estão querendo hospedar um Reunion 2001 em Fortaleza. Mais informação como se torna disponível.
Here is the update you have been waiting for!
Jane has been at work again getting information together for a summer jaunt to Brazil.
This is what she has come up with.
Dan at Discover Brazil Tours highly recommends this place. Says it is excellent and very
affordable. I definitely would like to take advantage of being in the NE and experience
this.
According to Dan, there are few or no more flights directly to Fortaleza from the US. He
suggested I fly into Sao Paulo or Rio - and use a Brasil air pass to do the rest of my
travel. I like the idea of Rio to Salvador to Natal; then Fortaleza and finally
Manaus/Amazon. Or finishing up in Fortaleza. Click
here: Amazon Lodge Ariau Towers Travel to Manaus and Rainforest Treetop Lodge
I know some folks are going to Barulho the first weekend of August - so would come to
Brasil afterwords. Others need to be back in the US by August 13 for school/work. I
suggest we select some time around 8/5-8 for Fortaleza, with folks grouping up to take in
side trips on either side of that time. Or we schedule Fortaleza for a long weekend of
8/10. What do you think? Let's finalize Fortaleza dates - then people can begin to plan
the rest of their trips. (Dino, would you see that Chico gets this email, please? The last
email I sent him came back as undeliverable. Obrigada!) It's 2001 - time to start the
plan! Beijos, Jane
Latest update 4/30/2001
Just a quick note to pass along plans that are brewing for this summer.
Please forward to anyone you think might be interested. Anyone and everyone
are welcome to join us - for all or any part of the trip!
Some of us our departing 7/27 for Rio. We will spend a few days there and
then embark on our adventure to the north. The order and dates are yet to be
determined; those of you intending to join need to let us know ASAP what your
preferences are. The itinerary will include Salvador, Fortaleza and
Manaus/Arieu (Amazon). We will end the trip in Sao Paulo. Some of us are
returning to the US from SP on 8/13.
Dan at Discover Brazil Tours has some great deals on airfare (~$500 r/t)!
And he is able to get us Brasil Airpasses for our inter-Brasil travel for
about $350. Please let us know if you are interested! There are wonderful
things planned along the way - and incredible experiences awaiting us!
Beautiful beaches, warm ocean and giant sand dunes; rich culture and art;
irresistible rhythm, music and dance; fabulous cuisine. And a 3-day trip to
the Amazon to explore the sights and sounds of that amazing ecosystem.
Join us!
Jane Stowell Thornton
This story was taken off the internet May 18, 2001. It is a
story about the current enery crisis in Brasil. Although the government says that
the 35% reduction in night time lighting will guarantee "acceptable conditions of
safety for the population", please be aware of who you are and where you are at when
visiting this summer.
BRASILIA (Reuters) - The Brazilian government has finally taken the country's looming energy crisis seriously.
There was no doubt about that Wednesday, when Brazil's recently created task force charged with tackling the problem banned all nighttime sports and entertainment events across most of this soccer-crazed, fun-loving country in order to make people save power.
Even one of the world's most famous shows, the Carnival, all about bright lights and energy, may be effected by the indefinite ban, which goes into force on Thursday. If the crisis continues, the ban could extend through next year. Carnival falls in February or March.
On top of the draconian measures, the task force ordered a 35 percent cut in outdoor lighting, including on streets, beaches, squares and other public venues.
"People can live without watching a game of soccer at night. We are just cutting the accessories," said Eucildes Scalco, head of Itaipu power utility and member of the government's Electrical Energy Crisis Administrative Council.
"The resolution is important as it signals to people that they have to save energy," he added.
The measures will hit most of Brazil's 170 million population living in the Southeast, Northeast and Central West regions -- home to huge urban centers such as Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Recife and capital Brasilia.
The task force said the action would guarantee "acceptable conditions of safety for the population", but did not specify how this would be achieved.
With the approach of winter in most of Brazil, days are getting shorter. City dwellers in crime-ridden centers like Rio and Sao Paulo have voiced concern that reduced night lighting would spark chaos and trigger an even bigger crime wave.
"SURPRISE" CRISIS
Experts say the power crisis was sparked by the worst drought in 70 years, which left hydroelectric plants' reservoirs near-empty. That came on the back of years of poor investment and management in the sector. Brazil relies on water-powered plants for 90 percent of its power.
There is still no overall plan for rationing, which should kick in from June 1, and the government has been widely criticized for mishandling the "surprise" crisis. The task force should come up with a full plan on Friday, but more measures may materialize earlier.
Officials say there may be programmed blackouts to cut consumption by an average of 20 percent, or quotas for some groups of consumers. Surpassing quotas would mean switchoffs or sky-high electricity bills.
One energy expert said the targeting of activities so close to people's hearts, like soccer matches, to make them save power could signal that the government will try to avoid power cuts across the board and rely on power-saving at an initial stage.
Another expert, Mauricio Tomasquim of the Rio de Janeiro Federal University, praised the step, saying it would allow for a significant cut in consumption but added that power cuts were the way to go to avoid a bigger, uncontrollable, crisis.
Meanwhile, economists are giving gloomy forecasts, saying rationing would put the brakes on economic growth, spark layoffs and hit Brazil's fragile trade balance.
ING Barings was the latest to revise its Brazil forecast, cutting the 2001 growth outlook to 2.7 percent from 4.1 percent. It recommended reducing equity exposure to Brazil due to the power problems.
Related Stories
Brazil braces for alternatives to blackout chaos
(May 18 12:29 am ET)
Brazil energy crunch takes Cesp as first victim
(May 15 3:34 pm ET)
If you don't have DSL or Cable connection and can not see the above pictures, click on Fortaleza Pictures to see them. ;-)
[ Previous Page | Top of Page ]
