http://www.bicusa.org/en/Project.10514.aspx The latest news on the IIRSA from the Bank Information Center 10 http://www.infodev.org/images/infodev.gif http://www.bicusa.org/en/Project.10514.aspx A new evaluation of a $1.3 billion World Bank development policy loan to promote sustainability reforms at the Brazilian National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) that questions the effectiveness of DPLs due to weaknesses in existing Bank policy guiding their design and execution. The report calls for the reform of Bank DPL policy as an urgent part of the ongoing revision of World Bank safeguard policies to ensure consistent management of risk across all World Bank operations. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.12553.aspx Wed, 19 Oct 2011 19:13:50 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.12553.aspx Brazilian companies are more interested in entering the Peruvian market and its accumulated investments will likely exceed US$10 billion by 2016. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.12517.aspx Thu, 11 Aug 2011 08:29:03 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.12517.aspx Brazil, with a homicide rate of 25.3 per 100,000 inhabitants, Jamaica, with 32.4, Belize, with 32.7, Colombia, with 37.3, Venezuela, with 48, South Africa, with 49.6, and El Salvador, with 61, all ranked above Mexico, http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.12350.aspx Thu, 03 Feb 2011 19:39:05 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.12350.aspx So-called extractivism, which includes mineral and oil exploitation, has a long history in Latin America. Current exports have been nourished by extractivist activities. Extractivism has continued to play a key role in national economies. It has also occupied a place at the center of powerful struggles because of its economic, social, and environmental impacts. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11769.aspx Fri, 12 Feb 2010 13:31:34 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11769.aspx The Union of South American Nations, Unasur, leaders agreed Tuesday to provide 300 million US dollars in aid to Haiti at a summit in Ecuador which left aside regional disputes that have undermined relations since 2008. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11766.aspx Fri, 12 Feb 2010 11:19:32 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11766.aspx "The World Bank released a study that finally put the impacts of climate change, deforestation and fires together. The tipping point for the Amazon is 20 percent deforestation," and that is "a scary result," Tom Lovejoy, a member of the external review panel for the report, told Tierramérica in an interview. The study, "Assessment of the Risk of Amazon Dieback," released Jan. 22, drew on the expertise of several international research institutions, including Japan's Meteorological Research Institute, Britain's Exeter University, Brazil's Centre for Weather Forecasting and Climate Change (CPET/INPE), Germany's Potsdam Institute and Earth3000. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11756.aspx Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:46:53 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11756.aspx Brazil's Ministry of Transport, in partnership with the National Departament of Infrastructure and Transport (DNIT) will begin to implement water transport projects over the next 20 years. The projects will be supported by the World Bank Strategic Waterway Plan. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11734.aspx Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:31:09 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11734.aspx President Evo Morales’s leftist government, which has asserted greater control over some of South America’s most coveted natural gas reserves, is facing a challenge as neighboring countries move to achieve energy security by cutting their dependence on Bolivian gas supplies. New gas projects in Brazil and Argentina have come on line at a time when Mr. Morales is winning plaudits for a strong economy. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11712.aspx Sun, 10 Jan 2010 08:45:57 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11712.aspx The Plurinational Government of Bolivia has invited social movements, defenders of Mother Earth, scientists, academics, lawyers, government officials that want to work with their citizens to a World Peoples Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Nature to be held in Cochabamba, Bolivia from 20- 22 of Abril, 2010. Bolivia. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11702.aspx Sun, 03 Jan 2010 08:42:05 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11702.aspx Brazil's Amazon Fund committed first $40 million to five NGO projects to reduce deforestation. Projects focus on monitoring, environmentally-responsible land use, forest protection, and payments for avoiding deforestation. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11701.aspx Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:30:47 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11701.aspx A BBC crew traveled twelve days from Manaus to Porto Velho documenting the debate over the rehabilitation of the BR 319 Amazon Highway http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11679.aspx Sat, 05 Dec 2009 09:49:13 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11679.aspx http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11672.aspx Thu, 03 Dec 2009 10:23:08 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11672.aspx IDB President Moreno evades definitive response to observed socio-environmental threats caused by IIRSA project, Road Interconnection, Pucallpa-Cruzeiro do Sul (Peru-Brazil). http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11664.aspx Sat, 28 Nov 2009 12:00:40 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11664.aspx Frustration. That was the sentiment felt by the representatives of those impacted by BNDES-financed projects. The group of social leaders met with the institution's president, Luciano Coutinho at bank headquarters, on November 25, however the meeting did not result in the acknowledgement of any of their claims. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11662.aspx Sat, 28 Nov 2009 10:24:28 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11662.aspx The project, to be signed next December, will allow both countries to take advantage of transport via the Huallaga, Marañón and Amazon rivers. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11654.aspx Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:08:02 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11654.aspx The following video was presented to the Inter-American Comission on Human Rights in Washington, protesting the construction of mega-projects financed by the World Bank and IDB. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11631.aspx Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:19:16 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11631.aspx http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11622.aspx Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:50:03 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11622.aspx Indigenous groups from Bolivia, Brazil and Peru filed a case against their respective governments Nov. 2 in the Washington-based Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, alleging that the Initiative for the Integration of Regional Infrastructure in South America, or IIRSA, is causing collective human rights violations against their communities. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11620.aspx Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:36:50 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11620.aspx Within 90 days, all US federal agencies must submit a plan for implementation of regular, meaningful, previous consultation processes with indigenous peoples. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11617.aspx Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:05:42 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11617.aspx The Confederación Andina de Organizaciones Indígenas de Perú (CAIO), the Organización Indígena Chiquitana de Bolivia (OICH), el Centro de Estudios Aplicados a los Derechos Económicos, Sociales y Culturales de Bolivia (CEADESC), Comunidades Nativas de Pueblos Indígenas de Rondonia de Brasil and Indian Law Resource Center today denounced various IIRSA projects at the Inter-American Court for Human Rights in Washingtion DC for the violation of the right to free and prior informed consent of indigenous peoples. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11601.aspx Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:18:50 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11601.aspx http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11598.aspx Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:33:07 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11598.aspx The General Director of the National Department of Transport Infrastructure (Dnit), Luiz Antônio Pagot, requested an increase of R$ 1.2 billion in his 2010 budget solely for mitigating socio-environmental costs caused by projects carried out by the department. According to Pagot, the costs of managing social and environmental impacts have been growing among highway projects during the last few years. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11585.aspx Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:30:19 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11585.aspx With funding from the World Bank, the Brazilian Ministry of Environment is planning to expedite and integrate the environmental licensing processes now divided between Federal, State and Local authoriteis. In an effort to speed up large infrastructure with the Growth Acceleration Program (PAC), the move could lead to licensing regional of river basins. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11567.aspx Sat, 24 Oct 2009 08:23:59 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11567.aspx BNDES has invested close to $R 5 bilion in the last two years as shareholders in the largest beef shippers, including JBS Friboi and Bertin. In Bertin alone, BNDES has purchased 27% equity position. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11565.aspx Sat, 24 Oct 2009 07:55:18 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11565.aspx Education in the Context of Multiple Crises http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11564.aspx Sat, 24 Oct 2009 07:45:36 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11564.aspx http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11551.aspx Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:24:30 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11551.aspx The tribunal will hold its first hearing in Cochabamba, Bolivia today, judging the multinationals and states responsible for global warming and violating the rights of the people and Mother Nature. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11549.aspx Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:41:01 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11549.aspx The Minister of Transport and Communications granted the company concession for Section 2 of the IIRSA Centro highway, which includes the stretch between the Ricardo Palma Bridge (Lima) - La Oroya (Junín) and La Oroya - Huancayo. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11543.aspx Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:17:04 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11543.aspx At a congress in Manaus new hydroelectric and highway projects were questioned. Clergy members from the Catholic Church rmeeting in Brazil stated that the idea that indigenous peoples hinder economic development is false. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11540.aspx Mon, 12 Oct 2009 08:09:05 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11540.aspx Civil Society outlines their concerns about socio-environmental impacts of the IIRSA project "Road Interconnection: Pucallpa-Cruzeiro do Sul" and demands that the IDB promote more transparency and public consultation in the IIRSA process. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11514.aspx Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:30:58 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11514.aspx Earlier this month, Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula DaSilva flew more than 1,600 kilometres from his base in Brasilia to a remote state on the Guyanese frontier to formally commission a border river bridge with his country's English-speaking neighbour. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11499.aspx Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:04:20 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11499.aspx The extension of the Central Railroad will benefit the investment projects of five mining companies. These companies, who anticipate an increase in production, say the train will facilitate transport of these products, according to the general manager of Cormin. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11494.aspx Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:12:44 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11494.aspx In this article from Americas Quarterly, Bruce Babbit questions the economic benefits of the Interoceanic Corridor as purported by the Brazilian government, noting that the project will essentially be financed by the Peruvian government. He highlights the disastrous environmental and social impacts the project will have on the Amazon Basin, calling for a plan for climate change mitigation as ambitious as the plan for regional integration. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11490.aspx Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:21:39 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11490.aspx The bypass will reduce the volume of water in this part of the river considerably, having a large impact on the fauna and flora. There is also some concern that the forest will dry as well. Local leader José Carlos Arara says the environmental impact studies do not make clear how this project will affect the lives of Indians. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11484.aspx Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:11:20 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11484.aspx Peruvian and Brazilian authorities made progress on the design of a legal framework which would help solidify an energy integration agreement that benefits both countries and not just one, said Mining and Energy Minister Pedro Sánchez. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11474.aspx Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:00:55 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11474.aspx The National Development Bank of Brazil (BNDES) nearly quintupled its loan volume between 1997 and 2008, making it one of the largest development banks in the world. Last year, it disbursed loans in the amount of R$ 92.2 billion; as of July this year, it has already disbursed R$ 75.1 billion. Total 2009 loans could reach R$ 131 billion. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11473.aspx Wed, 16 Sep 2009 08:46:52 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11473.aspx In this month's bulletin, we examine some of the concerns about whether the Bank’s and the Brazilian government’s policies address climate change issues and the social and environmental impacts of these projects. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11454.aspx Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:27:12 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11454.aspx Considered by many to be a significant step towards protecting the Amazon forest, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva recently vetoed parts of one of the most important and controversial environmental bills in years. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11443.aspx Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:35:44 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11443.aspx Brazil's national development bank BNDES will need to be recapitalized in order to be able to keep up other investments and lending activities, after it joins in on new pre-salt oil production and the capital increase for federal energy company Petrobras. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11436.aspx Fri, 04 Sep 2009 10:29:30 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11436.aspx Congress will put to a second vote the law which would create electoral sub districts in Lima on Thursday. The law is intended to give parliamentary representation to Lima provinces. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11433.aspx Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:27:42 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11433.aspx Argentine and Chilean authorities have created a bi-national permanent committee to promote the construction of the Trasandino Central rail tunnel initiative to transport cargo between the two countries, the Chilean government reported in a release. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11424.aspx Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:39:39 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11424.aspx A significant increase in the number and value of projects approved or under analysis by BNDES for the South American region will bring a commensurate increase in the purchase of Brazlian goods and services over the next four years, says BNDES President Luciano Coutinho. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11417.aspx Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:20:09 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11417.aspx The Union of South American Nations (Unasur) will create a division to coordinate the South American infrastructure integration initiative IIRSA. A document regarding the structure of the division is expected to be signed at the next Unasur meeting to be held in Ecuadorian capital Quito on September 7. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11403.aspx Thu, 20 Aug 2009 10:31:42 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11403.aspx Critics have pointed out that the agreement to increase Paraguay's share of electricity revenues will be conditioned on protections for Brazilians living in Paraguay and contract guarantees for BNDES among other concessions. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11389.aspx Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:32:58 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11389.aspx Within the current context of a global capital increase proposal by the Inter-American Development Bank that would permit the Bank to triple its current annual lending volume, 20 civil society organizations from 10 countries demanded that the IDB not renew its mandate to participate in the Technical Coordination Committee (CCT) of IIRSA based on the inconsistency of IIRSA practices with Bank safeguard and operating policies. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11342.aspx Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:45:56 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11342.aspx The new rail development plan consists of rail connections between the east and west, and a rail corridor from the border with Brazil. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11336.aspx Mon, 20 Jul 2009 09:32:55 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11336.aspx President Garcia of Peru published a second editorial letter to the Peruvian people which discredits the clamorings of the indigenous groups whom he believes are impeding development in the country. Garcia's defense of the moral right of the "immense majority" of Peruvian that he believes are supportive of his Amazon development policy leaves little space for authentic, democratic negotiation with indigenous peoples and other opponents of development policies that are viewed as unaccountable and subsidizing unsustainable investment. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11320.aspx Sat, 11 Jul 2009 06:39:00 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11320.aspx In the midst of a blending of strategy, pragmatism and ideology, the enigmatic relationship between Brazil and Venezuela evolves through a series of complicated gambles. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11306.aspx Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:05:41 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11306.aspx Reflections about the conference on IIRSA http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11293.aspx Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:58:56 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11293.aspx In the context of a 9th Global Capital Increase request, for which the IDB is designing a new institutional strategy anchored by sustainability, equity and development goals, IIRSA has not demostrated compatibility with these goals and should be abandoned by the Bank. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11292.aspx Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:43:29 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11292.aspx An intensive short seminar in Lima, Peru (July 22nd, 23rd, 24th) to address the current situation of regional integration in Latin America, the impacts of the global crisis and the options for advancing sustainable development is being convened by CLAES (Centro Sostenibilidad Ambiental, Uruguay) and the Universidad Peruana C. Heredia http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11291.aspx Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:38:51 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11291.aspx A recent iniciative of from the Ministry of Environment in Peru will pay native groups $1.70/hectare to protect the Amazon. This project comes admist a slew of divisive confrontations between native groups and governments looking to promote development. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11242.aspx Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11242.aspx Someone should contact Neil Young and tell him to stop making albums about electric cars and start writing songs about the Amazon. While I write this in jest, the boringness of someone pulling your ear about the devastation of deforestation should still be as important as talking about topics such as the duel between San Francisco and Portland for electric car supremacy. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11240.aspx Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11240.aspx Brasilian Mega-dam EIA under review http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11223.aspx Fri, 29 May 2009 21:19:46 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11223.aspx The new plant should start operating in 2012. It should have a capacity for generation of 720 megawatts (MW) of energy. The project also counts on financial investment by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), equivalent to 1 billion reais (US$ 490 million). http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11209.aspx Mon, 25 May 2009 09:49:51 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11209.aspx The native Amazonian peoples are showing themselves to be harder and more battle ready in their demands summarized in the Ishpingo platform, which include the derogation of various legislative decrees promulgated by Peruvian President, Alan Garcia, that threaten indigenous rights in the extraction of natural resources. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11199.aspx Fri, 22 May 2009 11:39:26 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11199.aspx Lula and Garcia advance plans to expand hydroelectric integration. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11184.aspx Wed, 20 May 2009 10:14:28 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11184.aspx Amazon Indians who have been blocking roads, waterways and a state oil pipeline since April are declaring an "insurgency" against Peru's government for refusing to repeal laws that the protesters say make it easier for foreign companies to take their lands, a national Indian representative said Friday. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11178.aspx Sat, 16 May 2009 09:25:23 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11178.aspx Despite widespread cross-border problems, South America has more than its fair share of major bilateral hydro schemes. Itaipu remains one of the region’s largest hydro ventures, but what other schemes are on the cards? http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11164.aspx Sun, 10 May 2009 10:59:36 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11164.aspx http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11144.aspx Fri, 08 May 2009 13:46:44 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11144.aspx Peru is rushing to hold superficial public meetings to inform the public about plans to build the fifth largest hydroelectric dam in Latin America. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11141.aspx Thu, 07 May 2009 15:42:08 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11141.aspx Criticized by the Ministry of Environment, a streamlined licensing process should reach 40% of the roads listed in the federal program http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11113.aspx Sat, 18 Apr 2009 11:27:34 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11113.aspx The Growth Acceleration Program (PAC) became the main target of criticism in a report of the organization of the World Economic Forum and the Fundação Dom Cabral, based in Belo Horizonte. "The PAC will not speed up anything, is the rehabilitation program of growth," said the director of Fundação Dom Cabral Paulo Resende, a specialist in transport and logistics, responsible for examining the question infrastructure for Brazil in the report of the forum. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11110.aspx Sat, 18 Apr 2009 11:09:45 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11110.aspx Scientists say 4°C rise would kill 85% of the Amazon rainforest. Even modest temperature rise would see 20-40% loss within 100 years http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11103.aspx Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:12:14 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11103.aspx On the one hand, Brazil made some improvements reducing the rate of deforestation. On the other hand, IIRSA prevents the country from achieving its national environmental goals while deforestation puts the survival of the entire planet at risk. Deforestation is the cause of 20% of the world's global warming - more than the effects of all automobiles. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11101.aspx Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:00:15 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11101.aspx The Machiguengas took over Petrobras' ships in the Bajo Urubamba river http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11099.aspx Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:38:49 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11099.aspx http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11098.aspx Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:20:15 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11098.aspx http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11090.aspx Thu, 02 Apr 2009 07:13:51 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11090.aspx Brazil's environmental regulator Ibama has issued the last three preliminary licenses needed to start second-stage works on the 5.4bn-real (US$2.36bn) Transnordestina railroad initiative. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11089.aspx Thu, 02 Apr 2009 07:00:41 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11089.aspx Members of the COICA indigneous group held a meeting in Quito, Ecuador in order to discuss the role of the indigenous communities as it relates to the Amazon. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11072.aspx Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:15:42 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11072.aspx From March 30 - April 8 several experts on IIRSA will conduct a distance class about the fundamentals of IIRSA in order to capacitate community leaders. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11067.aspx Fri, 13 Mar 2009 13:38:27 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11067.aspx http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11068.aspx Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11068.aspx As world leaders focus on severe economic crisis in their homelands, an estimated 100,000 activists traveled from all over the world to attend the World Social Forum in Brazil. Led by Indigenous people from all across Latin America, over 1000 participants formed a human banner, using their bodies, to draw attention to the increasingly precarious situation of the Amazon rainforest. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11027.aspx Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11027.aspx http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11030.aspx Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11030.aspx For the 2009 World Social Forum (WSF), a group composed of various organizations is organizing a two day workshop for updates and strategy building to inform, discuss, plan and act in defense of the rights of affected populations and the environment. The organizations are working to prevent and/or mitigate any type of social and environmental negative impacts caused by the Initiative for the Integration of Regional Infrastructure in South America (IIRSA) and other harmful development strategies. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11019.aspx Tue, 03 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11019.aspx