Surf enthusiasts and volunteers are mapping out hotspots of a spectacular form of surfing on Brazil’s northern coast
in a bid to both preserve the practice and help boost tourism in coastal communities
surfers would descend on the mouth of the Araguari River in Brazil’s Amapá state
the wave generated when the Atlantic tide pushes back against the river current
the wave can travel dozens of kilometers upriver
But the Araguari’s pororoca disappeared in 2014
including the construction of three hydropower dams
That triggered a hunt for similar waves in the region
stand-up paddlers and other watersport enthusiasts
have since mapped out more than 10 pororocas
Many are located in conservation units and Indigenous lands
The search is funded by their own resources and government support
“We want to organize the information and create a Pororoca Park
in partnership with the private sector and public authorities,” says Jim Davis
chair of the Amapá Sailing Association (AVAP)
“We want accessible tourism for everyone.”
Marrying tourism development with the natural phenomenon of the pororoca — from the Indigenous Tupi word for “bang,” in reference to the roar and destructive power of the wave — has already proved successful in some places. In northeastern Pará state, a pororoca festival has been held since 1997 on the Guamá River
It has been credited with helping boost the economy and infrastructure of the municipality of São Domingos do Capim
“I surfed almost every wave in the Amazon. Many are in very remote places, which are difficult to reach,” he says. “The best one today is on the Mearim River [in Maranhão]
It is like a ‘miniature of the pororoca on the Araguari,’ which used to have the best waves.” Running 930 km (580 mi)
the Mearim is the longest river in Maranhão
The proposal for establishing a Pororoca Park must be submitted to state and municipal governments in Amapá within two years. The volunteers are also hoping to get outside support, such as from Save The Waves, a global coalition that works to preserve surfing areas with exceptional waves around the world. In Brazil, only the area of Guarda do Embaú
“We are paving the way to start a great journey,” says Davis from AVAP
adding that there’s great potential for tourism on the Amazon coast
many people want to leave the coastal area due to the lack of sustainable economic options
Weak tourism boosts fishing as well as trade in fish and swim bladders by companies
Tourism in Amapá is currently focused on attractions such as the mouth of the Amazon River
waterfalls and rivers in Laranjal do Jari municipality
and the protected areas in Oiapoque municipality
Developing a new tourism industry around pororoca sites could boost the sector overall
planning director at the state tourism department
“Listing new spots with waves and the Pororoca Park project are super positive,” he says
“That will allow us to observe and surf pororocas throughout the year
the beginning of the canal could already be seen
it was virtually open and up to 40 meters [130 ft] deep
Floods in the following years consolidated its connection with the Amazon River,” Santos says
from the canal to the mouth of the Araguari
There is no way to reverse the silting anymore.”
there was an association of factors in a region where the soil’s shape is easily altered,” Santos says
“Breaking the connection with the sea changed the river’s biodiversity and harmed populations
increasing salination of water courses in the region.”
which reduced the flow of freshwater into the area
was the first person to surf the Araguari’s pororoca
Laus is still surfing the pororocas of Brazil and other countries that experience the same phenomenon
he has already surfed pororocas in places like China
— considered the birthplace of tidal bore surfing
“My project is to be the first Brazilian to surf all the global pororocas,” Laus says
“Few are in areas as preserved as the Brazilian ones.”
Fassoni‐Andrade, A. C., Fleischmann, A. S., Papa, F., Paiva, R. C., Wongchuig, S., Melack, J. M., … Pellet, V. (2021). Amazon hydrology from space: Scientific advances and future challenges. Reviews of Geophysics, 59(4). doi:10.1029/2020rg000728
This story was reported by Mongabay’s Brazil team and first published here on our Brazil site on April 19
The “fortress conservation” model is under pressure in East Africa
as protected areas become battlegrounds over history
and global efforts to halt biodiversity loss
Mongabay’s Special Issue goes beyond the region’s world-renowned safaris to examine how rural communities and governments are reckoning with conservation’s colonial origins
and trying to forge a path forward […]
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activities on preceding journals at which the article was previously under consideration are not shown (for instance submission
Science of the Total EnvironmentCitation Excerpt :The Amapá coastline is strongly influenced by sediment redistribution (Maria et al.
2017) and freshwater discharge of the Amazon River delta (Ferreira and Lacerda
which is located in the south of the state
and currents all contribute to highly dynamic processes of erosion and accretion
and salinisation in the study area (Silva dos Santos et al.
Mangrove forests in the study area comprise largely of black mangrove (Avicennia germinans and schaueriana)
red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) and white mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa) (Schaeffer-Novelli et al.
Marine Pollution BulletinCitation Excerpt :The impact of crude oil or other similar pollutants on the environment depends on specific features of these pollutants and on the influence of the affected environment (temperature
hydrodynamics plays extremely relevant role in several biogeochemical
hydrological or operational scenarios (S-1
S-3 and S-4) that influence pollutant dispersion processes (Abreu et al.
2016) and sediment transport (Santos et al.
lateral connectivity with the main rivers and lake areas on the coast (Da Cunha and Sternberg
as well as seed dispersion and genetic flow (Da Cunha et al.
It is worth highlighting that tidal influence in November (lesser rainy period) intensifies the inversion of the flow in the Amazon River (Abreu et al.
All content on this site: Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V.
today announces the opening of a third new fertilizer blending plant in Brazil
The new 27,000m2 facility at Araguari in Minas Gerais
a state in the south-eastern part of the country
is another step in the continued expansion of EuroChem’s subsidiary
a major fertilizer distribution business in Brazil
The new plant will produce up to 6,000 tonnes (KMT) of fertilizer a day
“Brazil is an important growth market for us and our new plant at Araguari marks the latest stage of our expansion in Latin America” said Petter Ostbo
“I’m delighted by the progress we are making here and we will continue to provide high quality fertilizers to our growing customer base.”
The Araguari site also has a direct rail connection from the Atlantic seaport of Vitoria
facilitating deliveries to local customers of specialty fertilizers produced by EuroChem in Europe
meeting the specific needs of Brazilian farmers
“The Araguari plant marks our entry into the south-eastern region of Brazil
a strategically important part of the country” said FTO’s CEO
“After the opening of two other major plants within the past year
our focus is now on the consolidation of these new markets
so we can continue to maintain our successful rate of growth.”
FTO sold more than 1.8 MMT of fertilizers in 2018
making it one of the biggest fertilizer providers in Brazil
FTO has six other plants located in Porto Nacional
the Group acquired a controlling interest (50%+1 share) in FTO as part of its strategy to strengthen its presence in the fast-growing Latin American fertilizer market
EuroChem also owns Emerger Fertilizantes SA
a distributor of premium and standard fertilizers in Argentina which it acquired in 2017
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Diálogo Américas
The activity was conducted as part of the partnership Brazil and the United States established in early 2019
which stands for Explosive Ordnance Disposal
is an acronym used worldwide to refer to the location
and neutralization of unexploded ordnances
The subject was at the center of an exchange between the New York National Guard (NYNG) and cadets from the Brazilian Army’s Agulhas Negras Military Academy (AMAN
as part of the Mine Action and Deactivation of Explosive Devices Internship
The activity was conducted at the Brazilian Army’s (EB
team joined EB’s Engineering Training Center as part of its group of instructors
The State Partnership Program established in March 2019
between the Brazilian Armed Forces and NYNG
Department of Defense State Partnership Program
links a state National Guard with a partner nation’s armed or public forces to build relationships and facilitate cooperation through military engagements and experience exchange
The internship started with theoretical classes
Some of the topics included treaties and international standards
pre-hospital care for victims of explosions
The NYNG instructors talked about their experiences
They demonstrated specific knowledge on the EOD field
which differs from humanitarian de-mining in that the latter is carried out in a post-conflict context to make territories safer for daily life
and procedures of combat engineer teams specialized in EOD
and explained the organization of EOD teams during international conflicts,” said Major João de Deus José Nunes Neto
lead instructor at EB’s Engineering Training Center
students faced several simulated threats and operated based on lessons learned
“The idea was for a controlled exercise in which we had to advance through a route
such as booby traps and explosives,” said Cadet Matheus Borba Silva
one of the AMAN students who participated in the internship
When the students stopped to conduct reconnaissance or device deactivation
instructors observed and provided instant evaluation
“The stories service members of the New York National Guard shared were the most interesting for me
because they spoke from experience in real operations
The group of senior engineering students in their final year at AMAN
was the second to earn an EOD operations specialization
The first group of students was formed in 2018
For more on security and defense issues around the globe
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deforestation-free soy supply chain in Brazil Published: 12 July 2022
We’re collaborating with a leading supplier to make sure the soybean oil we use at our factory in Brazil comes only from a deforestation-free supply chain
Zero deforestationWe have committed to a deforestation-free supply chain by 2023
Many of our Hellmann’s and Knorr products are made with one of the world’s most commonly used edible oils – soybean oil
Now we’re strengthening a sustainable partnership with a key soybean supplier to ensure the soybean oil we use at one of our major factories in Brazil will only ever be sourced from deforestation-free or non-converted land areas
Our factory in Brazil’s Pouso Alegre region is collaborating with supplier CJ Selecta in a move that delivers on the terms of our stringent People and Nature Policy (PDF 2.04 MB) – a set of principles which uphold our commitments to protecting natural ecosystems
The tighter supply conditions will extend traceability and transparency requirements that are already in place for direct suppliers to CJ Selecta’s factory in Araguari
so that the same governance applies to indirect suppliers too
It marks a significant step forward for our sustainable soybean supply chain ambitions
which include a commitment to being deforestation-free by 2023
and to achieve 100% sustainable sourcing of our key agricultural crops
“We are very proud of this strengthened partnership and shared ambition with our trusted partner CJ Selecta,” says Marcelo Scarcelli
who signed the agreement along with CJ Selecta CEO Guilherme Tancredi
“This initiative has the potential to scale positive impact within soy supply chains
bringing more of CJ Selecta’s indirect suppliers into the transition to sustainable soy
It also demonstrates the continuous efforts of Unilever and its brands to build sustainable solutions to help the planet while delivering options for consumers who are increasingly concerned and aware about the origin of ingredients they are bringing into their homes,” he explains
Brazil CJ Selecta CEO Guilherme Tancredi adds: “CJ Selecta believes that commitment and responsibility go hand in hand with the sustainable development of agriculture in Brazil
One of our main goals is to generate a positive impact by integrating this supply chain from the farm to the final client
This programme in partnership with Unilever should become a benchmark to the market and a milestone of our new environmental
Eliminating deforestation and conversion is not only an essential natural solution to the climate crisis
Encouraging improved farming practices can help boost the yields – and therefore incomes – of smallholder farmers and their families
We are contributing to the development of international standards which recognise farmers and suppliers for their efforts to address the big issues associated with soy production
such as vegetation loss in Brazil’s Cerrado
And we are founding members of the Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS)
the development of the RTRS standard has enabled farmers to improve their practices and gain accreditation
other agri-businesses and governments to support sustainable farming practices that improve soil health
water quality and yields by using regenerative agriculture methods
we pride ourselves on superior products and pioneering sustainability practices,” says Christina Bauer-Plank
“I’m delighted that this move brings both those important elements together in a change that’s better both for people and for the planet.”
CJ Selecta is a Brazilian producer of SPC (Soy Protein Concentrate)
These small coconut trees are going to be big news27 June 2022
We are introducing a variety of coconut tree and a tech solution for our teams that are set to improve the incomes and livelihoods of smallholder farmers by increasing the productivity of their plantations
Backing a biotech alternative to palm oil and fossil fuels16 June 2022
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With regenerative agriculture transformation and innovation requiring long-term financing, the Unilever Climate & Nature Fund, AXA Climate and Tikehau Capital are coming together to explore the idea of an investment tool that will help accelerate the shift.
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Less well-known than the Chinese river wave that the Red Bull crew loves surfing, and maybe less well known than this wave in India
is nevertheless among the world's most impressive natural phenomena
ranchers have opened canals from the river to slake their herds' thirst
while the buffaloes themselves trampled around the banks of the Araguari
The ranchers say two dams diminished the Araguari's strength
Brazilian surfers haven't seen the wave break with any sort of quality for three years now
for those who loved endless and endlessly dangerous tidal bore waves
crocs (probably both real crocodiles and the rubber shoes)
“The Pororoca in Amapá was the best in the world,” said Serginho Laus
a professional surfer who has pioneered trips to Amapá and set a record in 2003 for surfing nonstop for 6.3 miles
“Now it's a warning of how man's actions can change our rivers forever.”
Read the full story here
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Montevideo, May 6th 2025 - 06:07 UTC
Brazil has taken delivery of the first shipment of parts of Swedish Gripen F-39E fighters to be assembled at Embraer's Defesa & Segurança's facilities in Gavião Peixoto
the aircraft with serial number 6032 will be the first to be entirely assembled in the South American country
structures that were produced at the Linkoping factory in Sweden
The assembly of this aircraft is expected to be completed by the end of April
Each box containing one of the wings occupies about 40m2
and a series of special equipment is installed on both the trucks and the transport ship to ensure that these components travel safely to Brazil
and airworthy aircraft after receiving minimal maintenance and some ground checks
the Brazilian Air Force fleet is composed of five Gripen F-39E single-seat fighters
In a separate development involving Brazil's defense capabilities
the South American country's Navy reported that the OPV Araguari completed a series of joint exercises with the Namibian Navy in the Gulf of Guinea
The exercises consisted of a maneuver called Leap Frog with the Namibian Navy Patrol Vessel NS Elephant
This consists of a lateral approach on one of the sides and maintaining the relative position between the vessels
This was followed by boarding exercises on the decks of the ships
The activities contribute to the strengthening of interoperability between the two countries
in favor of maintaining stability in the South Atlantic
the Araguari participated in the multinational Grand African Nemo 2022 (GANo) drill off Guinea
The Araguari is the third of the Amazonas class
built by BAE Systems for the Brazilian Navy
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FIVB Volleyball Empowerment beneficiaries Peru earn bronze at the CSV U19 Girls’ Volleyball South American Championship
Hosts Brazil triumph as champions, Argentina settle for silver in Araguari
Brazil’s 16-year-old outside Mikaela Hestmann named MVP of the tournament
FIVB Volleyball Empowerment beneficiaries Peru celebrated the bronze medals at the CSV U19 Girls’ Volleyball South American Championship in Araguari. Hosts Brazil triumphed as continental champions after defeating Argentina in the final.
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Brazil cruised through the competition without dropping a set in four matches played. In their semifinal, they achieved a 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-19) win over Chile to advance to the gold medal showdown, where they faced Argentina, who also reached that stage of the tournament undefeated. The home side dominated the final and triumphed as continental champions after a 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-15) sweep.
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Chile, Colombia, Venezuela and Paraguay, in that order, occupied the places from fourth to seventh in the final standings.
Brazil’s 16-year-old outside hitter Mikaela Hestmann was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the championship. She also made the Dream Team in the company of setter Luana Vazquez (Brazil), opposite Paula Tomasa (Argentina), outside hitter Julia Allub (Argentina), middle blockers Lara Rodrigues (Brazil) and Fatima Villafuerte (Peru), and libero Martina Allende (Chile).
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Results and standings
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The Bailique Archipelago is located at the mouth of the Amazon
where the mighty river meets the Atlantic Ocean in the Brazilian state of Amapá
It comprises eight estuarine islands that are home to about 13,000 people
coexisting with the dynamics of the surrounding lowland forest
But the balance between these communities and the environment
where small-scale fishing and sustainable management of açaí palm are the main income sources
has been deeply shaken by progressive erosion and riverbank failure
Known locally as “fallen earth,” such destruction affects homes
and the very survival of riverine communities and the ecosystem where they have lived since the 19th century
At the heart of the problem is the Araguari River
which drains just north of the archipelago and was long famed for its tidal bore
known here as pororoca — a phenomenon in which ocean tides push back against the mouth of the river
sending water surging upstream and creating the kind of waves surfers dream of
The mouth of the Araguari had been silting up at an intense rate
and the decline in the flow rate diverted the tidal bore to a secondary river
but it was only the first in a series of events that make up one of the worst environmental disasters in the state of Amapá — and one that continues to unfurl
The basin drained by the Araguari covered one-third of the state’s land area
but has now been subsumed into the Amazon basin
A 600-meter (1,970-foot) stretch along the Araguari’s mouth
where the pororoca used to generate massive waves
in an attempt to claim ownership and expand their properties
are responsible for essentially bleeding out the flow of the Araguari to the Amazon
a researcher at the Amapá State Institute for Scientific and Technological Research (Iepa) and a professor at the Federal University of Amapá (Unifap)
They’ve grown progressively wider and deeper
to the point that they connected the Amazon and Araguari basins
which used to meet up only during the wet season
“A series of causes combining natural events and anthropic action expanded the streams,” Santos says
“Flooding caused by rising water levels in the Amazon and Araguari rivers
heavy rains intensified by La Niña” — the climate pattern that results in cooling of Pacific Ocean waters — “and countless furrows opened by buffaloes’ trampling and by local farmers themselves
“All these factors combine during the wet season
and these human interventions end up accelerating the process a lot
especially in small uneven parts of the plain where the water flow advances even more,” Santos says
is 300 meters (980 feet) wide where it meets the Araguari
and drains 70% of the water that would otherwise flow out to sea
The other 30% is drained by the Gurijuba canal
The Urucurituba drains so much of the Araguari’s water that it registers a flow rate of 8,000 cubic meters per second (2.1 million gallons a second)
This passes in front of the communities of Vila Progresso and Macedonia
where the sheer volume of water is eroding away at the ground at a rate of 10 meters (33 feet) per year
He says many members of the community have moved to the state capital
“I saw several houses leaving through the canal
Some people have rebuilt their homes more than three times,” he says
the only one that provides secondary education in the Bailique Archipelago
has seen almost half of its area destroyed by the erosion
The school had earned a reputation for its innovative educational model in which nature is the basis for teaching classroom content
Two other schools in the archipelago are also at risk of collapsing
Electricity shortages are also a major problem
we don’t even have 10 days of power a month,” Chinoá says
and the company in charge has few employees to reinstall them
we can no longer keep the fish and açaí in the fridge.”
says the flow rate of the Araguari River began to decrease in 1976
following the construction of the Coaracy Nunes dam
the first hydroelectric plant built in the Amazon
When the Ferreira Gomes dam was built in 2014
insufficient to remove the silt washed upstream by the pororoca
the coup de grâce to the Araguari came with the third dam: Cachoeira Caldeirão
Chinoá says the sea now enters the archipelago through the Marinheiro River; the water is salty when it reaches the communities to the south
“The water treatment system cannot supply the entire population and the government says it has no funds to expand it,” he says
the technical operational director of the Amapá Water and Sewage Company (Caesa)
says the company has four water treatment plants serving the four main communities of the Bailique islands
The other residents live in communities whose remoteness makes investing in clean water infrastructure there impractical: the company
would not be able to collect money from that population
“Larger investments will only be possible when researchers understand the phenomenon,” he told Mongabay
the president of the Association of the Bailique Archipelago Traditional Communities (ACTB)
disputes that the residents are a financial lost cause
He points out that the association was the first in Brazil to receive a certificate for socioenvironmental management of açaí palms
But he says he’s also concerned about the decline in fishing and the loss of land due to riverbank erosion
Some producers lost their entire açaí groves
Soil degradation has increased dramatically in the past three years.”
The geomorphological and hydrodynamic changes in this estuarine zone in northern Brazil — where river mouths close
open and move — are natural phenomena that take place over a time scale of thousands to millions of years
She cites the case of estuary upstream of the Cunani River
which stopped draining out 3,000 years ago as a result of a geological process of material accumulation
A similar situation is playing out at the mouth of the Araguari
The system is likely to collapse in less than 50 years
“The construction of three hydroelectric plants in five decades cannot be ignored,” she says
“I used to sit on the state water resources council when they were discussing the construction of the Caldeirão dam
We warned them that there should be no further intervention on the river
but I resigned when I found out that the studies used in the terms of reference ignored the coastal zone’s dynamics and its influences on sediment deposition
They went ahead with the project without considering that it was an estuary area.”
a professor of civil engineering at Unifap
says that in addition to constricting the flow of water — thus creating erosion and sedimentation — the dams don’t comply with a 2000 federal law on downstream accountability
“These projects are only concerned with the upstream area and the safety of their reservoirs where energy is generated
What happens downstream is nobody’s concern,” he says
“Watershed management should include all actors involved
There is no research because there is no monitoring
there is no transparency when disclosing data.”
Mongabay sought comment from the state utility
but did not receive a response by the time this article was published
The mismanagement of the Araguari River and the Bailique Archipelago has now come before a court
“We filed a public civil lawsuit in a federal court to know the influence of dams and buffalo ranches with no proper management on silting up the mouth of Araguari River,” says Marcelo Moreira
an environmental prosecutor for the state of Amapá
Moreira says he’s cautious about producing evidence and holding those involved accountable
citing the state’s inaction and land issues as barriers
“There is no legal framework regulating buffalo ranching,” he says
“The state environment council is trying to set rules for livestock
when we try to hold some property accountable
we find it difficult to identify its owner
since there is a lot of public land occupied.”
points to buffaloes as the biggest problem
“The biological reserve is a fully protected area — Brazil’s most restrictive type of conservation unit — but we have 18,000 buffaloes here,” she says
“They dig furrows that later widen and deepen
and all the water in the lowland field is being drained into those furrows
Wet areas used to be flooded all year round
but now they only fill during the wet season
fires have become more and more frequent and harder to control.”
the riverine communities who have lived here sustainably for more than a century are now being pushed out by the ranchers
“They use extensive cattle ranching to occupy public land,” she says
which are already suffering from the erosion of their lands due to environmental degradation
lose even more space with the increasingly close presence of big landowners.”
Banner image of the ruins of a building collapsed by riverbank erosion
This article was written in partnership with Ambiental Media
The Brazilian Navy and 32 countries from the American
and European continents participated in the 12th iteration of Obangame Express
the largest multinational maritime exercise in West and Central Africa
Nigeria hosted the January 23-February 3 exercise in its capital city of Lagos
which has the largest navy in the region and is key to security and stability in Africa
with various sea and ashore training events throughout the Gulf of Guinea and the South Atlantic Ocean
Obangame Express 2023 provided an opportunity to participating countries to coordinate actions against crimes such as piracy
and illegal fishing in waters critical to Africa’s prosperity
The exercise also aimed to enhance regional cooperation
and tactical knowledge among participating nations
as well as to promote social and foreign policy support actions
The training included exchanges on boarding techniques
simulated approach to vessels involved in illicit activities
and training with weapons on fixed and mobile targets
which participated with the Ocean Patrol Ship Araguari
under the leadership of Commander Marcio Jorge dos Santos
said in a statement that the exercise demonstrated
the country’s decisive engagement with international peace and security and with maritime security in the South Atlantic
“Brazil consolidates its military and maritime security cooperation with Angola and the other countries in the region
Brazil also reaffirms its Atlantic vocation
its commitment to the South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone (ZOPACAS) and to security in the Gulf of Guinea,” the statement said
Obangame Express is one of three regional exercises facilitated by NAVAF
which provides collaborative opportunities for U.S
and African forces and international partners to address shared transnational maritime concerns
“Exercise Obangame Express 23 provides an excellent opportunity to strengthen regional cooperation and share tactics
and procedures to deter transnational maritime security challenges,” said U.S
and economically prosperous maritime environment for Africa’s coastal nations and the global community.”
In addition to Brazil and the United States
as well as the Economic Community of West African States and Economic Community of Central African States participated in the training
is a vast area that stretches from Senegal to Angola and covers some 6,000 kilometers of coastline
and is one of the world’s most critical maritime zones
Everything from oil and gas to goods from central and southern Africa flows through this region
and freighters that navigate its waters daily
These waters are among West Africa’s most important economic assets
and therefore one of the most exploited by illicit actors
“Illicit maritime activity threatens regional development efforts
and robs our African partners of the precious resources upon which they rely on for economic growth and effective governance,” said Admiral Stuart B
“Exercise Obangame Express is an important opportunity to improve our collective capabilities
and promote stability in a vitally important part of the world.”
São Tomé and Príncipe Defense Minister Jorge Amado said the exercise would serve to increase and boost cooperation between participating countries
“It will create greater communication between the countries and peace in the region,” he said
When high tides during the spring equinox crash into slower-moving water in Brazil's rivers
a natural phenomenon called a tidal bore -- or a pororoca in Portuguese -- is formed
The resulting wave can rage for dozens of miles
spewing out mud and even dragging caimans along with it
knowing full well it could smash through their dock or turn their boat into a million wood chips
local surfers such as Serginho Laus live to ride it
"You are in a place that nobody goes: Everybody is afraid to go because the pororoca looks like a monster for the locals who live around this area
It's easy to see why surfers love it so much
Unlike ocean breaks that last maybe 30 to 40 seconds
the pororoca can be ridden for as long as the surfers can handle the intense lactic acid buildup in their legs
There's an extra incentive to stay up longer: hungry piranhas and blood-sucking candiru catfish
Laus formerly held the world record for the longest tidal bore surf
and says he once rode the pororoca nonstop for 1 hour
He forgot the GPS tracker to validate the record
The pororoca at the mouth of the Araguari River -- where Laus had been riding since the late 1990s -- disappeared
you've always been in the place that you desired to be with the best waves in the world -- and just in a moment
While other surfers went hunting for new river monsters around the world
Laus chased another pororoca in Brazil -- this time
So Laus gathered his local crew and invited Brazilian stand-up paddleboarder Ivan Moreira and his surfing dog
past punishing rains and curious villagers
to meet the monster head-on -- a new record keenly in their sights
Chirps and howls ring out as the Amazon wakes up for the night
the mighty pororoca will rage by this tranquil part of the river
José Edivalgo and Bruno Lima helm the vessel during the 15-hour trip from Macapá
Surfing the tidal bore is far more complicated than a day at the beach
at least one personal watercraft and -- most importantly -- the expertise to predict when the bore comes and where the best point of entry is
belong to local riberinhos Ruan Maciel Borges
They made the boards using the outline of a surfboard that Laus gave their cousin Athieson Almeida Farias in 2017
after seeing him ride the pororoca on a refrigerator door
Bono (named after the Brazilian cookie brand
practice the afternoon before riding the pororoca
Moreira and Bono have competed at the World Dog Surfing Championships in Huntington Beach
They also set a Guinness World Record for the longest SUP ride on a river bore by a human/dog pair when they rode together for a mile in the Brazilian state of Maranháo in 2016
They plan to set a new record in the Amazon
An early start and a long ride on the pororoca left Moreira in need of a nap
competitive surfer and black belt in karate and jiu-jitsu has been followed by a Brazilian TV crew as he surfs with Bono in places such as Hawaii
mosquito nets cover hammocks to keep out large insects at night
Three girls from the village of Igarape Grande look at the surfing expedition's boat in the rain
Rain poured down for the majority of the four-day expedition
haul the boat up to shore before the pororoca hit
the tidal bore would likely rip the boat to shreds
The boat stopped in the village of Porto Fábrica to pick up some acaí
the Brazilian superfood that's sold across Brazil and increasingly around the world
Villagers living on the banks of the Amazon River usually live in houses built on stilts due to drastic water-level changes
Moreira's feet are submerged in thick mud on the banks of the Amazon River
He's just minutes away from riding the pororoca
Moreira rides out with his stand-up paddleboard to take a shot at the pororoca
Moreira learned to surf from his father when he was 5 years old
but he taught himself stand-up paddleboarding when he started riding with his dog only seven years ago
Bono prefers to sit on the tail instead of the nose
so Moreira needs the paddle to maneuver the wave
Moreira hangs on to his board as a PWC pulls him to catch up with the pororoca after riding a major swell for about nine minutes
The calm Amazon River water is enveloped by a raging
tidal bore wave that reached as high as 6 feet
Tidal bores also roar in places such as England
Moreira and Bono stand-up paddleboard the pororoca in between locals Valdinei Farias Mendes
The young locals recognized Moreira and Bono from Brazilian public access TV
"It was cool!" Mendes said in Portuguese after bodysurfing the wave for several minutes
Uprooted trees and eroded soil at the mouth of the Amazon River are signs the pororoca ravaged through here
Laus said pieces of wood and bamboo sticking out of the wave like death traps had him "a little bit scared" for Moreira and Bono's safety
7 seconds -- enough for a new (yet to be confirmed) Guinness World Record
Laus plays with local kids after riding the pororoca
"The people that live around here start to live the feeling of the surf," Laus said
"They start to look at the sport of surfing with different eyes -- that they can do it
Laus rides back to the boat as waves bounce around the Amazon River in the tidal bore's wake
The pororoca is just a single wave -- if you miss it
Riverboats like this one leaving from Macapá serve as a fun vacation for locals
This boat was crammed with far more hammocks than the surfing expedition's and came equipped with a kitchen
cannonballs into the Amazon River off the dock in front of his house
we learn how to live with Mother Nature," Laus said
how to live simply and how to make good friends -- and how to burn your legs surfing for miles and miles."
Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a tick-borne disease caused by the organism Rickettsia rickettsii. [1] Although RMSF can be lethal, it is curable. RMSF is the most common rickettsial infection
especially in the southeastern and south-central United States.
Sophisticated microbiologic and serologic methods to distinguish infection by different members of the spotted-fever group reveal that RMSF may be more common in the tropics and subtropical regions of the Americas than previously thought.
RMSF has been described as a "wolf in sheep's clothing" and "the great imitator" of other disease processes. Because of its diverse clinical features
RMSF is often confused with other infections
The hallmark of RMSF is a petechial rash beginning on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet
See also 7 Bug Bites You Need to Know This Summer
for helpful images and information on various bug bites
The 2 principal tick vectors of RMSF in North America are Dermacentor variabilis (dog tick)
Other species also identified include Rhipicephalus sanguineus in Mexico and Central America and Amblyomma cajennense in Central and South America
and Haemaphysalis leporispalustris are uncommon vectors for human infection.
first recognized R rickettsii infection and described RMSF in 1896
The first report in the medical literature of a case in the Snake River Valley of Idaho was published in 1899
7 people died of RMSF in Bitterroot Valley
111 cases of RMSF were studied on the west side of the Bitterroot River; 69% of these cases were fatal
Based on the history of tick exposure and the season
researchers concluded that the wood tick spreads RMSF
Ricketts demonstrated tick transmission of RMSF to guinea pigs
showed that the etiologic agent was present in blood from infected humans
and demonstrated that it could be removed via filtration
Ricketts reported "minute polar staining bacilli" in freshly laid eggs of infected ticks
Wolbach published 2 papers also describing the appearance of R rickettsii using the Giemsa stain
he reported that R rickettsii is an intracellular pathogen
broad-spectrum antibiotics ̶ chloramphenicol and the tetracyclines ̶ were first shown to be effective in the treatment of RMSF
Mortality rates as high as 30% were reported for RMSF in the preantibiotic era
Although its clinical manifestations and treatment of the disease are well known
RMSF still causes significant mortality and morbidity
A significant portion of this persistent mortality is likely due to delay in diagnosis and treatment
It possesses outer-membrane protein A (OmpA) and OmpB
surface-exposed proteins with species-specific conformational epitopes
OmpB is the most abundant outer-membrane protein that shares genetic sequences and limited antigens with typhus group rickettsiae
Ticks become infected by feeding on the blood of infected animals, through fertilization, or by transovarial passage. [1] Rickettsiae are transmitted from tick to human during feeding
The tick needs to be attached to a host for 6-10 hours for rickettsiae to be released from the salivary glands
although transmission may not occur for 24 hours
this organism can infect people who remove ticks from other people or animals via contact with tick tissues and fluids
The organism spreads through the body via blood and the lymphatic system
The incubation phase of infection ranges from 3-12 days
Notable characteristics of R rickettsii include its marked tropism for endothelial cells that line blood vessels and its enhanced ability to invade throughout the body compared with other rickettsiae
The organisms attach via OmpA to the endothelial membrane
Once they invade the cell and effectively escape destruction by professional phagocytes
they replicate via binary fission in the cytosol and spread from cell to cell
propelled by polar polymerization of the host cell's actin
especially Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF)
are model examples of vasculitis with localization in endothelial cells
The major pathophysiologic effect of endothelial cell injury is increased vascular permeability
The organisms also routinely infect vascular smooth-muscle cells
The distribution of rickettsiae within the blood vessels causes vascular injury and the subsequent development of a host mononuclear-cell tissue response
Consequences of vascular injury include interstitial pneumonia
and perivascular glial nodules of the central nervous system (CNS)
Large amounts of rickettsiae in damaged cells support the concept of direct injury
The inflammation and damage to the blood vessels and capillaries activate platelets
and activate the fibrinolytic system as part of the body's homeostatic physiologic response to endothelial injury
As R rickettsii proliferates in the endothelial lining, it also causes thrombi to form. [1] In severe cases
extensive vasculitis can lead to small-vessel occlusion
Vascular necrosis and thrombosis are more common in RMSF than in typhus and may mimic collagen-vascular disease
Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a tick-borne disease primarily found in the Western Hemisphere, initially recognized in the Rocky Mountain states but now occurring throughout the United States, as well as in Central and South America. [1] The disease is most prevalent from March to September
coinciding with the active season of adult ticks
although sporadic cases can occur year-round in southern states
Children under 15 years and individuals who frequently visit tick-infested areas for work or recreation are at the highest risk for infection
RMSF is caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii
which is transmitted through hard-shelled ticks of the family Ixodidae
The American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) is the primary vector in the eastern and southern United States
whereas the Rocky Mountain wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni) serves as the main vector in the western United States
The brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) has also been identified as a source of RMSF
particularly in the southwestern United States and along the United States-Mexico border
The regions with the highest incidences include the Southeast
the western South Central region (including Oklahoma and northern Texas)
and selected areas of the Northeast (Cape Cod and Long Island)
Most cases are reported from eastern and central states. Five states (North Carolina
with Vermont and Hawaii being the exceptions
Although cases can occur during any season
most cases reported illness in May through August (CDC/1)
more than 4700 cases were reported in 46 states
infections commonly occur in the spring; in the South
This correlates during the season during which adult Dermacentor ticks are most active
A prospective study of RMSF infection in residents of a known endemic area in North Carolina suggested an annual incidence of 42 cases per 100,000 children aged 5-9 years. Asymptomatic infection may be common; in one study, 12% of children living in high-risk zones had positive serology test results, indicating past exposure to RMSF. [5]
1936 cases were reported—more than 4 times the 365 cases reported in 1998
The reasons for this increase are not known
but wide swings in the incidence of RMSF have occurred since 1920
it is likely that the actual number of cases is much higher than surveillance data suggest
RMSF has become increasingly more common in certain areas of Arizona
approximately 430 cases were reported with an associated case-fatality rate of approximately 5%
There have been no documented cases of RMSF infection outside of the Americas
a wide range of related spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsioses has been described across Europe
The true incidence of spotted fever infections internationally is not known
Whites have twice the incidence of African Americans; however
African Americans have a higher case-fatality rate
This may be due to the greater difficulty of appreciating a rash in highly pigmented individuals
The male-to-female ratio for RMSF is 1.7:1
The mortality risk is also higher in males than in females
The incidence of Rocky Mountain spotted fever is highest among adults aged 60-69 years (3.1 cases/million persons) and children aged 5-9 years (an estimated 3.3 cases/million persons)
Mortality rates in Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) vary according to the following criteria:
Delay in effective antibiotic treatment - In a 1995 study, antirickettsial therapy within the first 5 days of illness reduced the risk of mortality 5-fold compared with treatment initiation after the 5-day mark [9]
Gender - Mortality risk is higher in males
Presence of glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase deficiency
The mortality rate in untreated cases of RMSF is 20-25%. Mortality rates can be as low as 5% with proper antibiotic therapy and as high as 70% in untreated elderly individuals. Death in 5 days can be expected in fulminant cases. [3]
Complications may include the following [10, 11, 12] :
Skin necrosis and gangrene - Particularly in fingers
Blindness - The frequency of long-term ocular sequelae is low; in most cases
Hemophagocytic histiocytosis - Has been described in fatal cases of RMSF
Factors at presentation associated with development of acute renal failure (ARF) include increased bilirubin
and the presence of neurologic involvement
Age and decreased platelet count at presentation have been independently associated with the development of ARF by multivariate analysis
ARF development increases the odds ratio of dying by a factor of 17
Petri WA. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Porter RE. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. Rahway, NJ: Merck & Co Inc; Reviewed/Revised January 2024. [Full Text]
Salgo MP, Telzak EE, Currie B, et al. A focus of Rocky Mountain spotted fever within New York City. N Engl J Med. 1988 May 26. 318(21):1345-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]
Openshaw JJ, Swerdlow DL, Krebs JW, et al. Rocky mountain spotted fever in the United States, 2000-2007: interpreting contemporary increases in incidence. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2010 Jul. 83(1):174-82. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text]
Stromdahl EY, Jiang J, Vince M, Richards AL. Infrequency of Rickettsia rickettsii in Dermacentor variabilis removed from humans, with comments on the role of other human-biting ticks associated with spotted fever group Rickettsiae in the United States. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2011 Jul. 11(7):969-77. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]
Marshall GS, Stout GG, Jacobs RF, et al. Antibodies reactive to Rickettsia rickettsii among children living in the southeast and south central regions of the United States. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2003 May. 157(5):443-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]
Zavala-Castro JE, Dzul-Rosado KR, León JJ, Walker DH, Zavala-Velázquez JE. An increase in human cases of spotted fever rickettsiosis in Yucatan, Mexico, involving children. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2008 Dec. 79(6):907-10. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]
Demma LJ, Holman RC, Mikosz CA, et al. Rocky mountain spotted fever hospitalizations among American Indians. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2006 Sep. 75(3):537-41. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]
Holman RC, McQuiston JH, Haberling DL, Cheek JE. Increasing incidence of Rocky Mountain spotted fever among the American Indian population in the United States. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2009 Apr. 80(4):601-5. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]
Kirkland KB, Wilkinson WE, Sexton DJ. Therapeutic delay and mortality in cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Clin Infect Dis. 1995 May. 20(5):1118-21. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]
Archibald LK, Sexton DJ. Long-term sequelae of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Clin Infect Dis. 1995 May. 20(5):1122-5. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]
Chen LF, Sexton DJ. What's new in Rocky Mountain spotted fever?. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2008 Sep. 22(3):415-32, vii-viii. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]
Sexton DJ, Gallis HA, McRae JR, Cate TR. Letter: Possible needle-associated Rocky Mountain spotted fever. N Engl J Med. 1975 Mar 20. 292(12):645. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]
Buckingham SC, Marshall GS, Schutze GE, et al. Clinical and laboratory features, hospital course, and outcome of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in children. J Pediatr. 2007 Feb. 150(2):180-4, 184.e1. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]
Byrd RP Jr, Vasquez J, Roy TM. Respiratory manifestations of tick-borne diseases in the Southeastern United States. South Med J. 1997 Jan. 90(1):1-4. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]
Chapman AS, Bakken JS, Folk SM, et al. Diagnosis and management of tickborne rickettsial diseases: Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichioses, and anaplasmosis--United States: a practical guide for physicians and other health-care and public health professionals. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2006 Mar 31. 55:1-27. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]
Procop GW, Burchette JL Jr, Howell DN, Sexton DJ. Immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescent staining of Rickettsia rickettsii in skin biopsies. A comparative study. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 1997 Aug. 121(8):894-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]
[Guideline] CDC. Clinical and Laboratory Diagnosis for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/rocky-mountain-spotted-fever/hcp/diagnosis-testing/index.html
[Guideline] CDC. Clinical Care of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/rocky-mountain-spotted-fever/hcp/clinical-care/index.html
Markley KC, Levine AB, Chan Y. Rocky Mountain spotted fever in pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol. 1998 May. 91(5 Pt 2):860. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]
Holman RC, Paddock CD, Curns AT, Krebs JW, McQuiston JH, Childs JE. Analysis of risk factors for fatal Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever: evidence for superiority of tetracyclines for therapy. J Infect Dis. 2001 Dec 1. 184(11):1437-44. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]
Minniear TD, Buckingham SC. Managing Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2009 Nov. 7(9):1131-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]
Lochary ME, Lockhart PB, Williams WT Jr. Doxycycline and staining of permanent teeth. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1998 May. 17(5):429-31. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]
CDC. Clinical Care of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/infectious-diseases/rickettsiae-and-related-organisms/rocky-mountain-spotted-fever-rmsf
[Guideline] CDC. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever: Clinical Signs and Symptoms. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/rocky-mountain-spotted-fever/hcp/signs-symptoms/index.html
Cooper Medical School of Rowan UniversityDisclosure: Nothing to disclose
Lisa Vanchhawng Pedroza, MD Assistant Professor of Medicine, Attending Physician, Division of Infectious Diseases, Cooper University HospitalLisa Vanchhawng Pedroza, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Infectious Diseases Society of AmericaDisclosure: Nothing to disclose
MD International Emergency Medicine Fellow
Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island; Doctoring Preceptor
Allon Amitai, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians
Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Chair
MD Professor of Clinical Medicine and Pediatrics
Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans
Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
New York Medical College; President and CEO
Departments of Medicine and Infectious Diseases
St Joseph Hospital (formerly New Island Hospital)
Departments of Internal Medicine and Medical Microbiology and Immunology
Creighton University School of Medicine; Associate Professor of Medicine
University of Nebraska Medical Center; Associate Chair
Gary L Gorby, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Medical Association, American Society for Microbiology, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and New York Academy of Sciences
State University of New York Downstate Medical Center College of Medicine
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School
Rajendra Kapila, MD, MBBS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and Infectious Diseases Society of New Jersey
Nicole L Lacz, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, Phi Beta Kappa, and Sigma Xi
Byron L Lam, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Medical Association, and Phi Beta Kappa
PharmD Associate Professor of Ophthalmology
Simon K Law, MD, PharmD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Glaucoma Society, and Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians and American Medical Association
MD Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology
University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio
Jeffrey Meffert, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Texas Dermatological Society
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Hampton Roy Sr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American College of Surgeons, and Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons; Consulting Staff
and New York Eye and Ear Infirmary; Private Practice
Noah S Scheinfeld, MD, JD, FAAD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Optigenex Consulting fee Independent contractor
and Preventive Medicine and Community Health
Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, and Sigma Xi
Thomas R Lee Center for Ocular Pharmacology
Ophthalmology Residency Research Program Director
Eastern Virginia Medical School; President
DO Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine
State University of New York College of Medicine; Consulting Staff
Richard H Sinert, DO is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Norfolk General Hospital; Clinical Associate Professor
Richard H Snyder, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians
DO Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine
University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief
Director of Uveitis and Ocular Inflammatory Disease Service
Assistant Dean for Graduate Medical Education
University of Tennessee College of Medicine; Consulting Staff
Pristine Amazon rainforest and conservation areas are being rapidly opened up to dams
gold mining and soya plantations in Brazil’s least developed state
Read more: Amazon’s final frontier under threat from oil and soya
Read more: Amazon’s final frontier under threat from oil and soya
Montevideo, May 6th 2025 - 06:08 UTC
The newest ship in the Brazilian navy's fleet has left the UK on a journey of more than 16.100km to Brazil
“Araguari” which sailed from Portsmouth is the third of three Amazonas class ocean patrol vessels delivered to the Brazilian navy by BAE Systems
two 25mm guns and a helicopter flight deck
is designed to patrol Brazil’s shores as well as support humanitarian and search and rescue operations
Following the design of the Royal Navy Class River patrol vessels
besides the crew they can also carry an additional 40 people
She was built at BAE Systems’ Scotstoun shipyard and completed in Portsmouth
were delivered by BAE Systems last year and have already begun operations in Brazil
They have recently played an important role in the security operation for the visit to Brazil by Pope Francis
The three class ocean patrol vessels contract also includes the licence to build similar vessels in Brazil.
commercial director at BAE Systems Maritime
said: The success of this program is testament to the strong relationship between BAE Systems and the Brazilian navy as we worked in partnership to deliver these formidable ships
‘Araguari’ performed incredibly well through sea trials so we are immensely proud to see her sailing with her first crew”
We've welcomed more than 250 members of the Brazilian navy to the UK during this partnership and are delighted to play such an important role in growing Brazil's naval capabilities.
said: We are so proud to take part in this important project for the Brazilian navy
Being in the UK has been a very friendly experience and I hope this project is the start of a long-term relationship between BAE Systems and the Brazilian navy.”
“Araguari” will make diplomatic visits in Europe and Africa before crossing the South Atlantic to Rio de Janeiro in September
she will then proceed to her home port in the north-eastern city of Natal
we South Americans want nothing to do with you English pirates
We make exceedingly good ships that if looked after will last for years
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Egidio Moniz at his ‘Fazenda Goa’ farm in Araguari
It has enabled him to meet many and varied people
finally settling down for a coffee farm in Araguari
His earliest childhood memories are of the Robusta coffee-bean trees in his grandmother’s home
Moniz recalls the Goa-Bombay journey with his father
“It involved going by bus from our home in Curtorim to the Goa border
and taking another bus from the other side of the border all the way to Bombay.” It was
a private Catholic secondary school for boys in Byculla
“My first principal was Fr Donald Donnelly
Fr Aran and Fr Aloysius Pereira had a tremendous impact on my life.”
This Jesuit impact continues to remain embedded within the Moniz family
Egidio Moniz relocated to Pune to pursue a 4-years BSc in Agriculture
He excelled in academics in the first year
made friends with a group of Goan returnees from East Africa
and joined the youth theatre group started by Cyril Desbruslais SJ
eventually performing in a couple of plays written and directed by the Jesuit priest
Moniz completed his graduation and returned to Goa and handled extension work with the Dept of Agriculture
who had moved to Brazil a few years earlier
But I fell in love with the people of Brazil,” he reminiscences
Employed at Imperial Chemical Industries (later acquired by AstraZeneca
he moved across seven different locations in Brazil: Maringa in the State of Parana
Santo Angelo and Passo Fundo in Rio Grande de Sul
and three postings in the State of Sao Paulo: Ribeirao Preto
finally closing a long and successful career in Sao Paulo city
Moniz began to work full-time on his 32 hectares of land at Araguari in western Minas Gerais
and a production capacity of 1,500 sacks of coffee per year
India and Brazil are both tropical countries with huge climatic and crop similarities
I did some consultancy work in coffee in Karnataka
The average production of Arabica coffee among leading farmers in Karnataka is 12 sacks of coffee per hectare per year as compared to 30 sacks per hectare in Brazil
The coffee farmer in India also makes some money with intercropping of pepper and forest wood from the same coffee area
All the same a big difference with per hectare earnings,” Moniz says
Moniz is now preoccupied with what he calls the ‘Curtorim Project’
“Even though I have been in Brazil for 45 years and love this country
I would like to do something for my beautiful village
I want to encourage a love for 6 very important and crucial plants as a supplement to the daily nutrients: Drumsticks (moringa oleifera)
Acerola/Antilean cherry (malpighia emarginata)
The Agronomists Association of the State of Sao Paulo honoured Egidio Moniz with a medal for “Outstanding Agronomist in Agricultural Sustainability”
who remembers vividly how his grandmother processed paddy into rice
the threshing by two cattle that would walk around a pole separating the grain from its stalk
and the smell of the paddy that connects him to his home – Egidio Moniz has blazed a trail with Café Goa
The Café Goa brand of coffee produced at the ‘Fazenda Goa’ farm in Araguari
(The writer is an organisational strategist
a tiny monkey was rescued by Civil Protection Department officials in Araguari after it got trapped in fires that engulfed a state park in Minas Gerais
It is reported that the monkey appeared terrified and disoriented
It did not have any food and neither did it have a place to shelter
It is being held at a UFU veterinary hospital in Uberlândia
The tiny creature is seen in online footage being held by a fireman and drinking from a bottle top
A number of fires were reported in Brazil in recent days
The fires intensified as a result of the drought affecting some 60% of the country
A study by Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research shows that the number of consecutive days without any rainfall increased in Brazil in recent decades
152,383 fires were reported throughout Brazil in August
an increase of 103% when compared to August of last year
other South American countries like Argentina
Bolivia and Paraguay are having to contend with dangerous smoke clouds
WALVIS BAY – The Namibian Navy and their Brazilian counterparts took part in various military exercises over the weekend to strengthen relations between the two countries
69 enlisted men and 12 officers arrived last week on the Araguari naval ship at Walvis Bay to pay a courtesy visit before sailing to Cameroon
where they will take part in the multinational exercise ‘Obangame Express 2023’
the mission of our vessel is to execute maritime patrolling
disaster relief and humanitarian assistance
He said the stop in Namibia shows the importance of bilateral relations between the two countries
Namibia and Brazil’s mutual relationship is evident in exchange and training programmes between the two naval forces
Claucio Velaso from the Brazilian embassy said a Brazilian naval ship visit is always an important occasion
given the broader fruitful defence cooperation between countries
with historical ties of cooperation that date back to the early years of Namibia’s independence,” he added
Araguari was expected to leave the port of Walvis Bay yesterday
– edeklerk@nepc.com.na
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