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Suscribe x MercoPress, en Español Montevideo, May 5th 2025 - 13:39 UTC The Brazilian Geological Survey (SGB) found that the Paraguay River was 62 centimeters below its reference level the lowest level ever measured at the Ladario post on the border with Porto Quijarro (Bolivia) thus surpassing the 61 cms recorded in 1964 The standard level is an average depth of 5 meters (m) according to the Mato Grosso do Sul Environment Institute (Imasul) which had already warned of the river's lowest historical level last Wednesday The station serves as a reference for the Brazilian Navy when analyzing conditions for navigation and defining restrictive measures The Paraguay River flows through the states of Mato Grosso from where it flows to Paraguay and Argentina Its springs are fed by waters from the Amazon According to the National Water Agency (ANA) the Paraguay Hydrographic Region occupies 4.3% of Brazilian territory covering part of the states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul which includes most of Mato Grosso's Pantanal the largest continuous wetland area on the planet the situation had been expected since February when researchers warned of the possibility of reaching a historic low in the region “This drought has been observed due to below-normal rainfall throughout the rainy season That's why we've been warning about this process that was unfolding in the basin,” researcher Marcus Suassuna said in an SGB statement the drop in the level of the Paraguay River has direct implications for the economy and the environment as well as the supply of riverside communities Experts associate this drastic reduction with climate variability and the lack of rainfall in the river basin one of the most fragile and important biomes on the planet is particularly vulnerable to these changes which affect both biodiversity and human communities.“ the recovery of levels in the Paraguay River Basin will be slow The level at Ladario should remain below par until the second half of November ”We've noticed that the river's rate of descent has slowed considerably and has been stabilized since last Monday (7) due to the first rains of the rainy season but not at a very strong rate that will contribute to rapid rises in this stretch and throughout the basin,” Suassuna pointed out The decade has been marked by insufficient rainy seasons for the recovery of reserves The SGB also found that during the rainy season that began in October 2023 an accumulated deficit of 395 (millimeters) mm of rain was recorded considering the accumulated from 2020 to 2024 equivalent to the total of one hydrological year the Paraguay River Basin recorded 3 mm of rain last week with all of the region's rivers below average levels for this time of year which stood within normal projections thanks to the regularization of flows by the operation of the Manso Hydroelectric Plant the Paraguay River reached its lowest level in the entire series of monitoring stations The study explains that the projections used indicate accumulated rainfall of 27 mm in the coming weeks leading to the beginning of the recovery of levels in Cáceres According to the National Electric System Operator (ONS) considering the estimate for Affluent Natural Energy (ENA) the Southern Region should reach 86% of the Long Term Average (MLT) This measure indicates the capacity of hydroelectric generation systems with 49% of the MLT; Southeast/Central-West The Brazilian Navy also warned about the worsening navigation conditions for the Paraguay River: “Due to the rigid drought regime observed on the Paraguay River and the consequent outcropping of sandbanks and rocks navigators should redouble their attention paying attention to the beacon and maintaining a safe speed.” The region has seen constant boat traffic since at least the 18th century establishing an important integration corridor with neighboring countries Today it is one of the six waterways whose bidding process for concession to the private sector has been established as a priority by the National Waterway Transportation Agency (ANTAQ) The project aims to speed up the transport of cargo especially agricultural and mineral production which should favor the increased exploitation of these items in the region activities that lead to increased water consumption Commenting for this story is now closed.If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page a pioneer who served in a small congregation in southern Brazil something happened that impressed Rúbia so deeply that it changed the course of her life “Sandra took me along to visit a woman with whom she was studying the Bible three girls at my workplace want to study the Bible but I told them that they’ll have to wait for their turn I know you’re booked up this year.’ I couldn’t believe my ears People who wanted to get to  know Jehovah had to be put on a waiting list I felt a deep desire to help the people in her small town Soon thereafter I left the big city where I lived and moved to the town where Sandra was pioneering.” She relates: “Within two months after moving there I was conducting 15 Bible studies and​—believe it or not—​before long visited a couple of pioneers serving in Prudentópolis The visit left a deep impression on him; in fact he was moved to reexamine his own ministry He explains: “I was coasting along in my congregation spending a few hours each month in the ministry But when I visited those pioneers and listened to the experiences they related I couldn’t help but compare their joyful disposition with my own nonchalant attitude toward the ministry When I saw how happy and excited they were I wished that my life could be as meaningful as theirs.” After that visit are you a young Witness who shares in the preaching work and attends Christian meetings but at the same time feels that the ministry has become a bit routine can you make changes in your life that will allow you to taste the joy that comes from serving where there is a greater need for Kingdom publishers the idea of giving up a comfortable lifestyle may seem daunting to you many young ones have chosen to do just that They have dared to adjust their personal goals and desires so as to serve Jehovah to a fuller extent and his goal was  to become an orchestra conductor he progressed so well in his studies that on several occasions he was invited to conduct a symphony orchestra “I felt that something was missing in my life but I knew that I wasn’t giving my all to him I told Jehovah in prayer about my feelings and I also spoke to experienced brothers in the congregation I decided to put my ministry before my music and took up the challenge of serving in an area where there was a real need for Kingdom preachers.” How did his decision work out Bruno moved to the town of Guapiara (population about 7,000) some 160 miles (260 km) from the city of São Paulo He relates: “I moved into a small house without a fridge the house came with some things I’d never had before​—a vegetable garden and an orchard!” While serving there in a small congregation once a week Bruno packed his bag with food and literature and set off on his motorcycle to preach in the rurals Many people in that area had never before heard the good news “I conducted as many as 18 Bible studies,” he relates “Seeing how these students made changes in their life gave me so much joy!” He adds: “At this point I realized that I had found what had been missing in my life​—the feeling of deep satisfaction that comes from putting Kingdom interests first I would never have enjoyed this had I pursued materialistic goals.” And how did Bruno support himself financially in Guapiara With a smile he says: “By giving guitar lessons.” He was still a maestro​—of sorts Mariana, now in her late 20’s, found herself in a situation similar to Bruno’s. She worked as a lawyer, but despite her lucrative profession, she did not feel truly satisfied. She says: “I felt as if I was ‘striving after wind.’” (Eccl. 1:17) Several brothers and sisters encouraged her to think about pioneering decided to assist a congregation in Barra do Bugres expressed their desire to serve where there was a greater need Some in the congregation would say: “You take an economic risk by moving to a small town.” “Why move There’s still a lot to do in our own congregation.” Says João Paulo: “It was hard not to let such well-intended but disheartening advice dampen our spirit.” However after serving for years in an area where there is a greater need for publishers João Paulo and Noemi are happy they stuck to their decision to expand their ministry Explains João Paulo: “As long as my wife and I have been here And when it comes to the things that really matter we have much more than we had before.” Adds Noemi: “It was worth the effort.” Making a living in small towns is a challenge How do those who have moved to remote regions manage to support themselves financially do some sewing or house painting or whatever else they can do in the way of part-time jobs And what is the consensus of those who serve where the need is greater The blessings more than compensate for the challenges Tiago: “Soon after I arrived in the new congregation There were very few publishers in town and hardly any leisure activities I knew that I had to do something to cheer myself up So I began to make an effort to get better acquainted with the brothers and sisters in the congregation​—and it worked and before long I felt very happy and much at home.” Why have many Jehovah’s Witnesses left their homeland and assist in the spiritual harvest work in Myanmar Meet some of the ministers who have extended themselves to help spread the Kingdom message throughout Madagascar’s vast territory Turkey was the focus of a special preaching campaign Many single sisters who have served abroad were initially hesitant about moving to a foreign land What have they learned from their foreign service Many are the challenges but also the rewards for those who chose to serve where more Kingdom evangelizers are needed How have Jehovah’s Witnesses who serve as “need greaters” in Oceania dealt with challenges Por um futuro em que as pessoas vivam em harmonia com a natureza Photos and graphics © WWF or used with permission. 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