Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker A firefighter works in an area of the Pantanal affected by forest fire A firefighter refreshes himself with water while fighting a fire in an area of the Pantanal affected by forest fire A plane drops water during firefighting in an area of the Pantanal affected by forest fire 2024 shows an area of the Pantanal hit by forest fire Firefighters work in an area of the Pantanal affected by forest fire Andre Cabette Fabio Kalunga firefighters from the Prevfogo brigade hold leaf blowers at the Pantanal wetland in Corumbá Thomson Reuters Foundation/Henrique Kawaminami The Kalunga people have mastered wildfires in the Cerrado for generations Now they fight blazes from the Amazon to the Pantanal In the world’s largest tropical wetland a group of Kalunga firefighters dig a firebreak line between the forest and the flames as they battle a wildfire spreading over the region The firefighters are descendants of enslaved Africans that first set up Brazil's "quilombo" settlements three centuries ago Brazil has suffered from a historic drought this year as South America increasingly struggles with the impact of climate change. The country had its largest burnt area of land in over a decade in the first nine months of 2024, according to government data as the drought exacerbated human-started fires The Kalunga are recognised for their firefighting techniques and Brazil's Ministry of Environment has been recruiting them since 2013 to work in the federal fire brigade Prevfogo during the dry season "We open this line to enclose the fire … so that it doesn't spread further," said Kalunga squad leader Roberto Francisco Maia A firefighter from the Prevfogo brigade hoses down wildfires at the Pantanal wetland Kalunga squad leader Roberto Francisco Maia from the Prevfogo brigade in the Pantanal wetland in Corumbá A Kalunga firefighter from the Prevfogo brigade uses a leaf blower to form a firebreak at the Pantanal wetland in Corumbá The firefighters are hired for six months every year and are paid between 1,412 reais ($253.06) and 5,280 reais a month some dig the clean line while others blow leaves and cut branches using traditional methods that have been successful preserving their native This has become an increasingly common sight in the Pantanal, which has lost about 81% of its water surface since 1985 according to data released in June by MapBiomas - a collaboration between universities Kalunga firefighters have been deployed in several regions of Brazil and are beginning to work internationally having been sent to Bolivia this year and Canada in 2023 said Prevfogo chief of operations Charles Pereira Pinto They have ample experience preventing fires in their own quilombo territory in Goiás state and are routinely called to train environmental officers Indigenous communities and others around the country researchers and firefighters from different regions have said Brazil's Indigenous people and natives from quilombo settlements make up about 70% of the country's 3,662 federal firefighters But it can be challenging to work on the firefighting frontline of a country still learning how to deal with drier and more flammable conditions At a recent meeting in Prevfogo's headquarters in the Corumbá municipality meteorologist Naiane Araújo Silva projected a map of the Pantanal -- it was covered in red "In red you have the areas with humidity below 30% and temperature over 30ºC," she told the Prevfogo officers adding that these conditions were conducive to the spread of fires This type of dangerous combination has become more common in South America making the Kalunga community's firefighting knowledge particularly valuable director of science at the IPAM environmental institute who is a descendant of the Kalunga community says their firefighting knowledge runs deep They have long used flames in the rainy season when fire is less likely to spin out of control They have also traditionally burned river springs -- or set "prescribed fires" -- as a preventative measure to avoid future fire hazards Pereira Pinto said authorities started to realise that these so-called "prescribed fires" once frowned upon by environmental officers were essential to keep the Cerrado land protected from the risk of bigger fires in future "You couldn't just discard traditional knowledge," he said the Prevfogo's deputy coordinator in Corumbá said the fact that Kalunga firefighters were deployed more frequently across the country reflected their success in their home region The Kalunga only have the time to "be sent to other places because they have already made a lot of progress in protecting their own territory," she said But firefighters complain that the amount of time that they are deployed by the ministry has become inadequate because the fire season is becoming less predictable While they are only hired for six months of the year the fire season has been lasting longer in recent years -- starting earlier and ending later than expected "Fire isn't something that happens only for six months anymore Kalunga firefighters say they should be hired for the whole year to allow them to execute more prescribed fires and adapt to the varied areas they are sent to As Kalunga firefighters get deployed across the country another challenge is that they are having to work in new environments Trees in their native Cerrado region are more fire resistant than those in the Amazon and in the Pantanal "The difficulty for us here (in the Pantanal) is that we don't know the terrain that well," said Maia they must cut burning trees down with chainsaws to prevent them from falling across firebreaks and spreading flames to still unburned areas Another difference is that abundant dead leaves and branches in the Pantanal and the Amazon form a thick This makes it more difficult for firefighters to extinguish flames completely in this environment "In our land you are able to put the fire out directly but here you have to use firebreaks," said Kalunga firefighter Guilherme Pereira Rodrigues referring to the practice of digging out the organic layer until reaching the mineral ground to prevent flames from spreading under the surface some carcará birds glide low as they search for prey amid the crackling sound of burning trees Firefighters have just spent an hour battling flames in an area of trees and squad leader Maia climbs on top of the Prevfogo water truck to have a better look and make sure the blazes are out (Reporting by Andre Cabette Fabio; Editing by Jack Graham and Ana Nicolaci da Costa.) Context is powered by the Thomson Reuters Foundation Newsroom Our Standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles From Greek holiday islands to Canada's temperate forests wildfires are intensifying as climate change fuels rising temperatures These links open on reuters.com By providing your email, you agree to our Privacy Policy What does a Donald Trump presidency mean for LGBTQ+ rights? Indigenous forest peoples can finally control nature finance Inside Trump's $6mn deportee deal with El Salvador mega-prison Half London councils found using Chinese surveillance tech Portable internet helps Asia's scam centres bypass blackouts How is Bangladesh preparing farmers for increasingly salty soil? Context is a media platform created by the Thomson Reuters Foundation. We provide news and analysis that contextualises how critical issues and events affect ordinary people, society and the environment. Find out more. The Workforce Disclosure Initiative is an investor-backed project to improve the quantity & quality of corporate workforce data via an annual survey & engagement process Trust Conference is the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s flagship annual event taking place in the heart of London each year TrustLaw is the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s global pro bono service facilitating free legal assistance to NGOs and social enterprises around the world “We had signs that this year would be very difficult because of the drought that there was a high chance of seeing fires again like in 2020 but we expected this to happen around August because that’s [usually] the driest period,” said Grasiela Porfirio a biologist with the NGO Instituto Homem Pantaneiro (IHP) based in Corumbá so we didn’t have a flood pulse in the Pantanal and we’re going through this now Fires have taken on huge proportions since late May,” Porfirio told Mongabay by phone Data from Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE) show that fire alerts have increased by more than 2,100% compared with last year by far a record for the month before it’s even over (records go back to 1998) Although the overall number of fires so far this year is similar to that four years ago, the blazes have destroyed an area more than twice as large as of 23 June: 627,000 hectares (1.5 million acres), compared to 258,225 hectares (638,088 acres) in 2020, according to the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro’s LASA satellite system. Home to an extraordinary diversity of wildlife, the Pantanal is a complex mosaic of savannas, grasslands and forests that has always coexisted with fire — some natural, most human-made, traditionally used by local communities for subsistence farming or ranching. But experts say a changing climate and increased human activity have started altering the biome making it more vulnerable to potentially uncontrollable blazes The Pantanal’s low-lying floodplains usually swell with water during the rainy months and then dry out when the waters start to recede in May-June But successive years of low flooding levels — the last big flood was in 2018 — have left usually submerged vegetation parched In May, Brazil’s National Water Agency declared a situation of “critical hydric scarcity” in the Paraguay River Basin The rivers that irrigate the Pantanal all originate in the upper basin which is under stress from hydroelectric dams and the clearing of forests and savannas for pastures and crops “We used to have a Pantanal that would burn around the edges, in areas that were truly drier, because it was a more humid environment,” said Eduardo Rosa, coordinator of Pantanal mapping for MapBiomas, a mapping platform tracking deforestation we have a Pantanal that is catching fire around the Paraguay River” in areas not adapted to flames The grassland areas around the Paraguay River highly flammable organic matter that would normally be waterlogged at this time of year “It’s much harder to control the fire in a region with lots of biomass,” Geraldo Damasceno a biologist and fire expert at the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul People on the ground say this year’s blazes are in areas that are particularly difficult to access The clearing of vegetation for large-scale agriculture is also a growing problem in the wetlands. The Pantanal lost more than 49,600 hectares (122,600 acres) of native vegetation last year, according to MapBiomas a 59% increase in deforestation from the previous year Unlike for other biomes in Brazil, there’s no federal legislation specifically protecting the Pantanal. Earlier this month, the Supreme Federal Court found that Congress was failing to meet its constitutional duty by not having passed such a law and gave it 18 months to draft and approve such legislation both Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul have approved such legislation in the last two years bans new plantations of exotic species like sugarcane and establishes limits for the clearing of forest and Cerrado vegetation on rural properties “We’re going through a climate crisis,” she said noting that Cemaden’s warnings no longer apply to just a handful of municipalities including these fires we’re going through now The biome’s 66 community and private brigades are also better prepared and integrated with government forces the federal environmental protection agency was hindering its capacity to effectively combat blazes across the country Many say they worry the government response is insufficient a group of 30 local civil society organizations urged the governors of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul to request international aid via the European Union’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre “It is the government’s responsibility to not just increase to the maximum its capacity to confront the fire season and its developments but also to recognize its operational limitations,” they wrote in the letter seen by Mongabay “We need to make the most of all the [help] we can get,” said Gomes whose organization is one of the signatories He said he believes it’s the response from different actors now that will determine whether the Pantanal sees another disaster on the scale of the 2020 catastrophe But with no sign of respite in the coming months from the hot “Last year was the worst November for fires in the historical series Now we have the worst June in history,” Gomes said “So we ask ourselves how things will pan out from June to September when things tend to get worse; and how we can prepare for the future.” Banner image: Fires are tearing through the Pantanal their spread quickened by accumulated biomass Image courtesy of Gustavo Figueirôa/SOS Pantanal FEEDBACK: Use this form to send a message to the author of this post 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 […] (ANS – Campo Grande) – The third week of the Extraordinary Visitation by the Regional Councillor for America South Cone to the St Alphonsus Liguori Province of Campo Grande Brazil (BCG) involved several visits to the Salesian communities in Corumbá and the Indápolis district The activities included meetings with religious as well as celebrations and moments of integration which strengthened the Salesian evangelising mission a city on the border with Bolivia and known as the "Capital of the Pantanal" Corumbá is located along the Paraguay River Fr Romero participated in various events and meetings with Salesians and lay people he began the visit with a prayer together with the religious community underlining the importance of meeting and listening to the Salesians and the laity The first commitment was a meeting with the teachers at the "Santa Teresa" Institute during which challenges and objectives for the educational work of the Salesian work were discussed Fr Romero met with the Pastoral Council of Mary Help of Christians Shrine with whom he spoke about evangelisation and the missionary activities carried out in the centre He also met with members of the Salesian Family in Corumbá including Salesian Cooperators and Past Pupils and reiterated the role of the Salesian charism in the Church and in society the Regional Councillor presided at Mass in the St John Bosco parish during which he celebrated the Rite of consigning the Bible to the children studying catechism he spoke with the faithful and celebrated another Mass at the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians he imparted the blessing of the animals in honour of St Francis of Assisi interacting with the community in attendance where he spoke to the students during the usual moment of the Salesian "Good morning" He then visited the facilities of the "Cidade Dom Bosco" and the "Dom Bosco" State School accompanied by Fr Jair Marques de Araújo and there he surveyed the school's facilities and identified the urgent needs for renovation Then he was shown the "Criança Feliz" Project and spoke with collaborators about the social activities of the project the Regional Councillor met with the local religious community to leave his indications and his impressions on the progress of missionary activities The visit ended with a Mass attended by representatives of different sectors of the Salesian presence in Corumbá Fr Romero arrived in the district of Indápolis Indápolis is a small rural community whose economy is based on agriculture especially the cultivation of soybeans and corn The local Salesian community runs the "Dom Bosco" institute The Regional Councillor visited the institute and met the young prenovices telling them about the importance of Salesian formation concelebrated by the Salesians in the community he brought together parishioners and members of the Parish Pastoral Council for a discussion on pastoral activities and local challenges On the same day the Regional Councillor met with the members of the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA) and the Salesian Cooperators (ASC) strengthening the joint work of the Salesian Family The visit to Indápolis ended on Thursday 10 October with a final meeting with the religious community during which the Councillor presented his observations on the activities carried out and discussed the next steps for the strengthening of the Salesian mission in the region This third week of the Extraordinary Visitation highlighted specific features of the Pantanal and the interior of Mato Grosso do Sul underlining the commitment of the Salesian Congregation for education evangelisation and youth ministry in diverse contexts ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007 This site also uses third-party cookies to improve user experience and for statistical purposes By scrolling through this page or by clicking on any of its elements Jun 26 (EFE).- Actions to control the fires in the Brazilian Pantanal intensified Thursday in the biome where authorities are also carrying out investigations to identify the perpetrators after it was learned that the fires were caused by human action which Brazil shares with Bolivia and Paraguay which in June already surpassed any historical record for the period The fires have been concentrated in the southwest of the Pantanal the flames have left a gray and gloomy scene in the region A few animals have been seen alive or burned in affected areas Government support continued to reach the area Thursday 40 brigade members of the National Force joined the more than 250 who are already operating in the region and who will remain active for the next two months a jaguar nicknamed Miranda was rescued with second-degree burns on her paws at a farm in the municipality of the same name in Mato Grosso do Sul Fleeing from the fires devastating the Pantanal the animal crossed burning areas and stepped on still-hot ashes After 43 days of intense treatment in Campo Grande the Miranda jaguar was released in the region where it was rescued but it is not known whether it will have food and shelter because the area where it lived was one of the regions that suffered most from fires in the state but where?” asked veterinarian Jordana Toqueto during the jaguar’s treatment The veterinarian treats wild animals at the Ayty Veterinary Hospital located within the Mato Grosso do Sul government’s Wild Animal Rehabilitation Center Will there be a place with a guaranteed food supply for the other animals we are rehabilitating The veterinary hospital takes in animals rescued from trafficking It works on treating and rehabilitating the species until they are ready for release back into the wild the hospital had received 23 animals rescued from burned areas in the Pantanal 14 had died due to injuries and complications caused by the fire around 85% of the fires occur on private land as controlled burns are prohibited in the Pantanal during the dry season the area burned between January 1 and September 25 reached 1.4 million hectares according to data from the Environmental Satellite Applications Laboratory of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro 13% of the biome has already been consumed by fire this year The early onset of the fire season has drawn the attention of authorities 19 producers and agribusiness companies have been investigated by the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Mato Grosso do Sul on suspicion of causing illegal fires in Corumbá located on Brazil’s border with Bolivia is the second most affected by fire in Brazil this year with 4,500 fire outbreaks recorded between January 1 and September 8 a coordinator of the National Center for the Prevention and Combat of Forest Fires of the Brazil’s environmental agency Ibama in Mato Grosso do Sul explains that through satellite image analysis and forensic investigations at the ignition sites the agency can identify those responsible for the destruction because they will be held accountable,” he adds From January to September, Ibama issued USD 21,3 million in fines related to destroying areas in the Pantanal. Fourteen farmers and one company were fined for their involvement in a fire that destroyed an area equivalent to 18,000 football fields, as reported by Repórter Brasil. Among the producers held accountable is Armando Pereira Ferreira he was fined USD 1,95 million by Ibama due to a fire that started at Fazenda Nossa Senhora de Fátima one of his properties in the southern Pantanal of Mato Grosso do Sul The fine was the second largest imposed on a farmer during the current fire season in the biome The fire spread beyond the farm’s boundaries obtained by the report through the Freedom of Information Act This area is equivalent to the size of the city of Paris an environmental analyst at Ibama who followed the case explains that 80% of the burned area was composed of carandá palm trees “It is very common here in the region for areas that were once covered by carandá palm groves to now be pastures,” he notes responsibility falls on the person managing the farmer’s estate The legal representative of Armando Ferreira’s estate according to legal proceedings consulted by Repórter Brasil The producer also left behind four children Among the family’s properties is Fazenda Vó Pilar which is currently managed by Ana Maria Ferreira The farm supplies cattle to JBS’s facility in the municipality of Nova Andradina Information from a document that registers the movement of livestock called the Animal Transit Guides accessed by Repórter Brasil shows cattle deliveries to the slaughterhouse in September one week after the fire at Fazenda Nossa Senhora de Fátima The quality of the animals raised by Ana Maria Ferreira at another property was highlighted in a statement by a buyer from Friboi producing “high-quality meat” with traceability and certification for “the most demanding international market standards,” such as the United States that Fazenda Nossa Senhora de Fátima has already been inherited by her children and no longer belongs to her or producer Armando Ferreira The rancher also mentioned that the property is leased and that she believes the Ibama fine should be directed to the lessee the fine and embargo were still in Armando Ferreira’s name JBS said that Fazenda Nossa Senhora de Fátima has never been a direct supplier to the company and that the property “is 503 km away from Fazenda Mimosa and 543 km from Vó Pilar which are suppliers to JBS and comply with all the requirements of the Company’s raw material procurement policy.” The meatpacking company also stated that “it received information from the representatives of Armando Pereira Ferreira’s estate that in the last two years there has been no movement of animals from Nossa Senhora de Fátima to the other two farms.” When questioned by the report JBS did not clarify what mechanisms it has to identify and monitor the environmental compliance of its indirect suppliers was rescued from an area destroyed by fire a tourist destination for fishing and wildlife observation With the fires that swept through the region part of the animal’s habitat was turned to ashes almost a month after her rescue and with her lungs compromised by smoke Antã suffered cardiac arrest and did not survive and stags are very impactful because their hooves are burned and you can see the exposed bones,” explains Fabiane Gonçalves de Souza coordinator of rescue and wildlife rescue operations for Ibama in the southern Pantanal of Mato Grosso do Sul The Pantanal is home to at least 1,200 identified species – 264 species of fish Some species are included in the List of Threatened Species of Brazilian Fauna A study published in the scientific journal Nature estimated that 17 million vertebrate animals were killed in the fires that occurred in the biome in 2020 “That averages 2 to 3 animals killed per hectare in the Pantanal It’s a frightening number,” summarizes Walfrido Moraes Tomas a wildlife researcher at Embrapa Pantanal and the coordinator of the study and termites are completely incinerated in the fires or die inside their burrows “They play an important role in the ecosystem it affects everyone and begins to disrupt the entire ecological chain and we don’t know the full impact,” explains the Embrapa Pantanal researcher The fires in the Pantanal are being intensified by the climate crisis According to the Brazilian Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change Brazil has experienced the worst drought in 75 years regional causes also contribute to the spread of the fires and silting of rivers in the Pantanal highlands affect the distribution of water in the biome’s plains human activity is responsible for starting the fires “It’s someone striking a match to start a fire making a misguided decision,” he points out “All of these factors are interacting in synergy to create this event which is a catastrophic fire,” Tomas concludes The reporting of this story was supported by Brighter Green’s Animals and Biodiversity Reporting Fund.This text was edited on October 8 2024 at 10:28 am to correct information in the intertitle “Farm fined for fire” the headline stated that the property fined is a JBS supplier Sua contribuição permite que a gente continue revelando o que muita gente faz de tudo para esconder Receba as investigações daagência de jornalismo daRepórter Brasil no seu e-mail. JORNALISMO Diretos Humanos Mundo do Trabalho Povos Tradicionais Questão Agrária Socioambiental Trabalho Escravo English Especiais PESQUISA Impacto Sobre O que fazemos Parcerias Biblioteca English PODCASTS Cova medida Esperança Jornadas Trabalheira VÍDEOS Reportagens Documentários Outros SOBRE NÓSQuem somos Equipe Transparência Prêmios Contato Diretos Humanos Mundo do Trabalho Povos Tradicionais Questão Agrária Socioambiental Trabalho Escravo English Especiais Impacto Sobre O que fazemos Parcerias Biblioteca English EDUCAÇÃO PODCASTS Cova medida Esperança Jornadas Trabalheira Reportagens Documentários Outros Quem somos Equipe Transparência Prêmios Contato Receba as investigações da agência dejornalismo da Repórter Brasil no seu e-mail. Desenvolvido por Studio Cubo e Design por Paula Carvalho Home Impacto Sobre O que fazemos Parcerias Biblioteca English Home Cova medida Esperança Jornadas Trabalheira Home Reportagens Documentários Outros APOIE Receba o conteúdo da Repórter Brasil direto na sua caixa de email dois fazendeiros foram multados em R$ 100 milhões por incêndios em Corumbá - CPA-CBMMS / Mairinco de Pauda The data comes from the Monitor do Fogo platform a partnership between Mapbiomas and the Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM fires consumed an area the size of the state of Roraima between January and December this year representing a 150% increase compared to 2023 In addition to the fires, the two municipalities share another statistic. They are home to the country's largest cattle herds there are more than 2.5 million head of cattle considering its population of 65,000 residents. The use of fire is common in agricultural practices Ipam's Science Director and coordinator of Mapbiomas Fogo “And the use of fire as a farming practice in a very dry year means that the potential for this fire to get out of control is huge That's what happened,” she says. In September, agents from the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Resources (IBAMA, in Portuguese) fined two farmers accused of setting fire to an area of approximately 333,000 hectares in Corumbá The burned area is twice the size of the city of São Paulo and the fine was US$8,8 million for Ademir Aparecido de Jesus and the same for Luiz Gustavo Battaglin Maciel. the Federal Police launched Operation Arraial São João to investigate the occurrence of human-caused wildfires in the municipality data revealed that the burned area is a repeated target of this type of environmental crime and land grabbing with fraudulent claims to government agencies according to the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change the municipality that lost the most surface water in 2023 these regions have become more flammable. Alencar points out that human action fuels a cycle of droughts and fires “The fire started with human action and spread but because of a condition brought about by the climate.” Drought is aggravated by fires and deforestation. All original content produced and editorially authored by Brasil de Fato may be reproduced provided it is not altered and proper credit is given All original content produced and editorially authored by Brasil de Fato may be reproduced Volunteer firefighter members of the Alto Pantanal Brigade works to extinguish a fire rising in the Pantanal in Corumba Climate change makes wildfires in the Pantanal - between Brazil Bolivia and Paraguay - more likely and worse RIO DE JANEIRO - More than 1.3 million hectares of natural vegetation have burned in South America's Pantanal this year already, with images of incinerated jaguars The burnt area amounts to nearly 9% of the Pantanal according to data released last week by the Laboratory for Environmental Satellite Applications from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. The peak of this year's fire season is yet to come, with environmentalists fearful that 2024 might see record levels of destruction, only four years after the last record season, which killed half the area's jaguar population Volunteer firefighter members of the Alto Pantanal Brigade are seen on a tractor as they work to extinguish a fire rising in the Pantanal A fisherman sails through the Paraguay River as smoke rises into the air from the fire in the Pantanal Spanning 179,300 square km (44.3 million acres) - about the size of Uruguay - the Pantanal is formed by a mosaic of wetland and other ecosystems including forests most of which are located within Brazil (78%) followed by Bolivia (18%) and Paraguay (4%). Although most of the Pantanal is covered by private farms, with cattle ranching its main economic activity, part of the territory is still controlled by Indigenous and other traditional riverside populations It is a biodiversity hot spot, with many of its species also found in other South American biomes, such as the Amazon forest and the Cerrado tropical savannah With more than 600 different species of birds, more than 100 species of mammals and 170 species of reptiles, the Pantanal is known for its abundance of wildlife, making it a common ecotourism destination However, much of its fauna is on the red list of threatened species compiled by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, including the giant anteater Brazil's National Institute for Space Research detected 4,756 fire episodes in the Pantanal in the first seven months of this year Although the Pantanal's dry season typically occurs from July to October, this year's fires started to gain strength as early as May Bolivia has also registered a record number of fires for the same period while Paraguay had its fourth highest record Up until now, figures are even worse than those from 2020's historical fires, when about a third of the Pantanal's area suffered blazes, killing an estimated 17 million vertebrates Peak fires are expected in the coming months The Pantanal has been warming at a faster pace than the global average with a 2ºC increase in its average temperature since the 1980s In addition to global warming, this year's extreme drought has been made more intense by the El Niño climate pattern, climatologists say, but the Pantanal has been losing water for years, without a major flood since 2018 According to data released in June by MapBiomas, a collaboration between Brazilian universities, nonprofits and tech firms, the Pantanal has lost about 81% of its surface water since 1985 told reporters the biome had previously experienced extreme dryness in the 20th century but said now less than 40% of its river springs were protected by natural vegetation Only 4.7% of Brazil's Pantanal is protected by reserves with environmentalists warning that grain farming is expanding Although fires are a part of Pantanal's natural cycles, with many of its plants resistant to low intensity flames, only about 5% of the fires are thought to have natural causes Most of the fires are started by farmers to renovate pastures or finish converting natural areas into farmland after the trees have been felled This year's fires are concentrated in Corumbá municipality in Brazil, which also has the highest deforestation rates in the Pantanal. exacerbating the global warming process and driving ever more fires and carbon release Authorities in Brazil have banned the use of fires in the Pantanal until the end of this year army and police officers equipped with aircraft and boats Brazil's government also pays Indigenous people to carry out controlled fires to head off bigger blazes much of the that activity had to be put on hold as vegetation became dangerously dry earlier than usual (Reporting by Andre Cabette Fabio; Editing by Jon Hemming.) Deported: The Iraq War veterans denied the right to live in the US No trees, no birds, no shade: A sit-in for Dhaka's last parks Inside Trump's $6mn deportee deal with El Salvador mega-prison This Indigenous fund in Brazil wants to take over nature finance Britain's foreign aid: Where does the money go? who joined Nat Geo’s photo community just this year The long-exposure image of Salto Corumbá a breathtaking waterfall located near the geographic center of Brazil represents the first-ever member-submitted cover in National Geographic history “This looks like a magical place and it works perfectly in a vertical composition,” commented Traveler editor in chief Maggie Zackowitz “especially with the three tiny figures in the foreground to lend a sense of scale.” Lima’s winning photograph was one of more than 34,000 entries submitted to a Your Shot assignment calling on members to share photos of their “best place” to correspond with Traveler‘s flagship feature Brasília to find out why he thinks Salto Corumbá is the “best of the world,” get the scoop on his favorite places to visit in his native Brazil and see if he had any advice for other aspiring photographers out there who dream of seeing their work on the pages of a National Geographic magazine Lima’s winning image graces the cover of National Geographic Traveler’s year-end issue National Geographic Your Shot)Victor Lima: Salto Corumbá is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike found 120 kilometers (75 miles) west of Brasília It’s a magical thing to get so close to a waterfall this tall (approximately 225 feet) and swim at its feet Though surrounded by forest, Salto Corumbá has everything a visitor might want, including restaurants, bars, seven waterfalls (all accessible), cave rivers, horse and hiking trails, water slides, swimming pools, a children’s water park, and opportunities for outdoor adventure sports like abseiling it is already a UNESCO World Heritage site The city has an intense night life and cultural and natural resources in abundance Located in the central plateau region of Brazil Brasília also affords easy access to several destinations worth visiting Photographer Victor Lima (Photograph courtesy Victor Lima)I bought my first camera in November 2014 when I took a trip with my fiancée to Spain and began to study photography [in earnest] only in January The best tips I can give to anyone interested in pursuing photography are: [and that’s] because it was my first great photograph Being selected to host major competitions like the World Cup and the Olympics is wonderful for any country Brazil has a fantastic potential for tourism but it also has serious infrastructure problems Being in the spotlight has pushed the government to make large investments in the country’s infrastructure which have helped Brazil’s major cities become better equipped to welcome tourists Leslie Trew Magraw is editor/producer for the Intelligent Travel blog network at National Geographic. Connect with her on Twitter and Instagram @leslietrew Want National Geographic to highlight your photograph? Join our Your Shot community and participate in upcoming hashtag challenges for a chance to appear in Traveler magazine and on Intelligent Travel. history and civilization","lg":"https://assets-cdn.nationalgeographic.com/natgeo/static/default.NG.logo.dark.jpg","pblshr":"National Geographic","abt":"Photography","sclDsc":"This long-exposure image of Salto Corumbá a breathtaking waterfall located near the geographic center of Brazil represents the first-ever member-submitted magazine cover in National Geographic history Victor Lima’s winning photograph was one of more than 34,000 entries to a Your Shot assignment calling on members to submit photos of their “best place” to correspond with Traveler’s flagship “Best of the World” feature Here’s a look at the stunning winning image who is based in"," "]},{"type":"p","content":[{"type":"a","content":["Brasília"],"attrs":{"style":{"font-weight":"bold"},"href":"http://www.lonelyplanet.com/brazil/the-central-west/brasilia","target":"_blank"}}]},{"type":"p","content":[" so"," ","special?"]}]},{"type":"inline","content":{"name":"Image","props":{"link":{},"caption":{"title":"","credit":"","source":"","text":"Lima’s winning image graces the cover of National Geographic Traveler’s year-end issue National Geographic Your Shot)","lines":3,"showMoreText":"Read More","showLess":false},"image":{"id":"","showCopyright":"Please be respectful of copyright Unauthorized use is prohibited.","alt":"This waterfall is located in the State of Goias found 120 kilometers (75 miles) west of"," ","Brasília It’s a magical thing to get so close"," ","to a waterfall this tall"," ","(approximately 225 feet)"," ","and swim at its"," ","feet."]},{"type":"p","content":["Though surrounded by forest Salto Corumbá has everything a visitor might want,"," ","including restaurants and opportunities for outdoor adventure sports like ",{"type":"a","content":["abseiling"],"attrs":{"href":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abseiling","target":"_blank"}}," and rafting."]},{"type":"h2","content":["Most foreigners that travel to Brazil go to ",{"type":"a","content":["Rio de Janeiro"],"attrs":{"href":"http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/city-guides/rio-de-janeiro-brazil/","target":"_blank"}}," or the rain forests of the northeast Why do you think travelers should visit Brasília and the highlands that surround it?"]},{"type":"p","content":["Brasília"," ","is a city ahead of its"," ","time The city"," ","has an intense night life and cultural and natural resources in abundance and lakes."]},{"type":"p","content":["Located in"," ","the central plateau region of Brazil Brasília also affords easy access to"," ","several destinations worth visiting a"," ","national park that protects a vital swath of the biodiverse"," ",{"type":"a","content":["Cerrado"],"attrs":{"href":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerrado","target":"_blank"}},"—Brazil’s vast tropical savanna—and is yet another of"," ","the country’s UNESCO World Heritage sites."]}]},{"type":"p","content":[]},{"type":"h2","content":["I understand you’ve only been studying photography for about a year Do you have any advice for aspiring photographers out there?"]},{"type":"inline","content":{"name":"Image","props":{"link":{},"caption":{"title":"","credit":"","source":"","text":"Photographer Victor Lima (Photograph courtesy Victor Lima)","lines":3,"showMoreText":"Read More","showLess":false},"image":{"id":"","showCopyright":"Please be respectful of copyright and began to study photography [in earnest] only in January."]},{"type":"p","content":["The best tips I can give to anyone interested in pursuing photography are:"]},{"type":"p","content":[]},{"type":"ul","content":[{"type":"li","content":["Study hard about light and composition and try to make your photo speak for itself without"," ","relying on captions or subtitles."]},{"type":"li","content":["The last thing you should worry about is having"," ","professional-grade equipment Focus on learning"," ","photographic techniques before investing in gear."]},{"type":"li","content":["Photography is about being in the right place at the right time [and that’s] because it was my first ",{"type":"i","content":["great"]}," photograph."]},{"type":"h2","content":["Brazil hosted the World Cup in 2014 and will be the host country for the 2016 Summer Olympics Has the attention been good for your country How has it changed?"]},{"type":"p","content":["Being selected to host major competitions like the World Cup and the Olympics is wonderful for any country but it also has serious infrastructure problems."," ","Being in the spotlight has pushed the government to make large investments in the country’s infrastructure which have helped Brazil’s major cities become better equipped to welcome tourists."]},{"type":"h2","content":["Brazil is one of the largest"," ","countries in the world What are the top ten places you’ve visited so far besides your hometown?"]},{"type":"p","content":[{"type":"a","content":["Fernando de Noronha"],"attrs":{"href":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fernando_de_Noronha","target":"_blank"}}," ",{"type":"a","content":["Gramado"],"attrs":{"href":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gramado","target":"_blank"}}," ",{"type":"a","content":["Florianópolis"],"attrs":{"href":"http://www.lonelyplanet.com/brazil/the-south/florianopolis","target":"_blank"}}," ",{"type":"a","content":["Foz do Iguaçu"],"attrs":{"href":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foz_do_Iguaçu","target":"_blank"}}," ","(home to"," ",{"type":"a","content":["I"],"attrs":{"href":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iguazu_Falls","target":"_blank"}},{"type":"a","content":["guaçu Falls"],"attrs":{"href":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iguazu_Falls","target":"_blank"}},") ",{"type":"a","content":["Salvador"],"attrs":{"href":"http://www.lonelyplanet.com/brazil/the-northeast/salvador","target":"_blank"}}," ",{"type":"a","content":["Jericoacoara"],"attrs":{"href":"http://www.jericoacoara.com/j1/","target":"_blank"}}," ",{"type":"a","content":["Ipojuca"],"attrs":{"href":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipojuca","target":"_blank"}}," ",{"type":"a","content":["Curitiba"],"attrs":{"href":"http://www.lonelyplanet.com/brazil/the-south/curitiba","target":"_blank"}}," and ",{"type":"a","content":["Fortaleza"],"attrs":{"href":"http://www.lonelyplanet.com/brazil/the-northeast/fortaleza","target":"_blank"}},"."]},{"type":"p","content":[{"type":"i","content":[{"type":"b","content":["Leslie Trew Magraw"]}," ","is editor/producer for the Intelligent Travel blog network at National Geographic YYYY"}},"layoutOptions":{"top":{"colorMode":"light"},"sidebar":{"isSticky":true,"isStackable":true},"main":{"spacing":{"top":40}}},"Divider":{"className":"natgeoDivider"},"Body":{"inlines":[{"type":"image","data":{"disableFullscreen":false,"articleConfig":{"alignXxs":"full","align":"full"},"image":{"id":"","showCopyright":"Please be respectful of copyright National Geographic Your Shot)","lines":3,"showMoreText":"Read More","showLess":false}}},{"type":"image","data":{"disableFullscreen":false,"articleConfig":{"alignXxs":"full","align":"full"},"image":{"id":"","showCopyright":"Please be respectful of copyright the lively port city is an emerging powerhouse of Brazilian culinary culture where local ingredients are used to create dishes that blend Indigenous CAN: Bright and Airy shot of male mountain climber on Bugaboo Spire looking out at the sun high above the horizon with the rugged Purcell Mountain Range far bellow and in the distance.","crdt":"Photograph by Alex Ratson high above the 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local community "This is a unique evening that our Church offers us and that God has blessed us to make happen," he said Get our news on your inbox! Suscribe x MercoPress, en Español Montevideo, May 6th 2025 - 10:10 UTC Commenting for this story is now closed.If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page 43,000+ global companies doing business in the region 102,000+ key contacts related to companies and projects news and interviews about your industry in English Diálogo Américas in Portuguese) is strengthening surveillance and monitoring capabilities to control trafficking along the Brazilian border with Paraguay and Bolivia with the installation of new radar stations in the cities of Corumbá the Corumbá Radar Station was the first to become operational The new equipment expands capabilities to identify the presence of unauthorized aircraft flying at low altitudes with illegal cargo in Brazilian territory According to a press release from FAB’s Public Affairs Office the equipment provides air surveillance capabilities in a 450-kilometer radius “The functioning radars enable identification of all types of aircraft that circulate in the covered area the operational decisions related to control or air defense can be made very effectively,” the statement indicated According to FAB General Heraldo Luiz Rodrigues general director of the Department of Airspace Control (DECEA the new station considerably strengthens airspace control in the region “With the installation of radars in Corumbá DECEA will be able to identify any aircraft flying over Brazilian territory in this region coming from Bolivia or Paraguay and they will be intercepted and suffer legal consequences per airspace regulations,” he said more than 3.5 tons of cocaine have been seized on clandestine flights from Bolivia to Brazil through operations conducted by fighter jets the A-29 Super Tucano aircraft conduct the majority of clandestine flight interceptions along the border The installation of the Porto Murtinho radar station is close to completion according to news site Porto Murtinho Notícias The new radar station will monitor aircraft flying at low altitudes over the border region and will strengthen the ability to identify unauthorized flights which is essential in combat operations against drug trafficking The FAB estimates that the Porto Murtinho and Ponta Porã stations will be operational in the first half of 2021 For more on security and defense issues around the globe This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page in Portuguese) launched the new Ponta Porã Radar Station The station is the third in a series of new radars that the FAB installed along the border in the country’s central-west region The first station began operating in August 2020 The objective is for the new equipment to enhance the identification of low flying aircraft in Brazil’s border region with Bolivia and Paraguay increasing detection of unauthorized traffic or unlawful use of aircraft According to the newspaper Correio do Estado the two neighboring countries are the main departure points for clandestine flights to transport drugs nearly 4 tons of cocaine were intercepted on clandestine flights from Bolivia to Brazil The effect of installing radars at the border to combat drug trafficking may represent an increase in the number of seizures and also curb the frequency of flights carrying drugs into the country,” the article said highlighted the potential for the FAB’s operational capacity with the new Ponta Porã Radar Station “The acquisition of capabilities resulting from the operation of these three radars is consistent with the alignment of National Defense Strategy objectives which considers airspace surveillance an important responsibility for the consolidation of other Brazilian Air Force tasks,” said Gen “The new radars will strengthen aerial surveillance and curb the ongoing practice of cross-border crimes perpetrated by low flying aircraft.” highlighted the importance of integrated operations benefiting the protection of state borders: “In 2020 seized more than 760 tons of drugs that would have been distributed in Brazil The new Ponta Porã Radar Station is equipped with a long-range primary radar and a secondary radar It has aircraft detection capability within its coverage area with a range of up to 450 kilometers corresponding to about 636,000 square kilometers The equipment is prepared to operate 24 hours a day and the information generated can be viewed by air traffic controllers of the Second Integrated Center for Air Defense and Air Traffic Control (CINDACTA II an institution of the Department of Airspace Control (DECEA and responsible for airspace control in the region According to information published in DECEA’s magazine the integration of radar information allows CINDACTA II controllers to identify low-altitude flights in the border region resulting in operational benefits for both civilian aircraft control and air defense The Ponta Porã Radar Station was the third implemented by the FAB The radar stations in Corumbá and Porto Murtinho were already in operation (Photo: Brazilian Air Force Staff Sergeant Bianca Viol) (ANS – Corumbá) – On Thursday the Salesian Santa Teresa institute in Corumbá celebrated 125 years of presence and commitment to the pedagogical and social formation of its students The date was marked by a celebration with the students of the school and by the Mass in the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians During the day there were also sports and recreational activities that involved Salesians The first Salesians landed in Porto Geral in 1899 arriving in the city by sailing down the Paraguay River The Salesian community in Corumbá was established five years after the foundation of the São Gonçalo institute in Cuiabá in 1894; and two years before its foundation the Salesians in Uruguay had already passed through Corumbá Religious and educational activities began in the early 20th century in a modest rented building The first 112 students were educated in the house initially all males and children of good families from Corumbá engineers and successful businessmen would then emerge from this class who would bring good intellectual formation and Don Bosco's ideals of being "good Christians and upright citizens" with them These 125 years have been marked by different educational phases which was aimed at young people from the countryside in 1904 the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians arrived They founded the School of the Immaculate Conception an institution that ended its activities in 2021 The current building was built in the 1960s with a project carried out in several phases and the direction of the works entrusted to former student José Sebastião Cândia The school thus came to have a large and comfortable three-storey space the institution had signed an agreement with the state government and began a long period of educational service aimed at public school students with three shifts and 5,000 students involved the Santa Teresa institute has resumed offering a private education and continues to do so today as a Catholic school which respects all differences of religion and belief equality and interaction among its students in a healthy and welcoming environment for all following the ideals of Don Bosco who was the one who with great commitment and entrepreneurial spirit built the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians and the new building of the work; or Segismundo Martinez for two years principal of the School (1986-88) and subsequently Among the longest-serving principals is the current one who has carried out a major overhaul of the structure of the complex Among the works carried out there are new classrooms for children's education While in the Salesian community there are also the Rector of the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians together with Fr Jair Marques de Araújo Rector of Cidade Don Bosco and parish priest of the parish of St John Bosco The school has never stopped applying its Salesian pedagogy is always attentive to changes and new needs of society and the labour market (ANS - Corumbá) - Archbishop Segismundo Martínez Álvarez bishop emeritus of the diocese of Corumbá in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul The funeral is scheduled in the shrine of Our Lady Help of Christians in Corumbá Archbishop of Campo Grande and President of the Brazilian Episcopal Conference - West Region 1 he carried out his Salesian novitiate in Astudillo made his first profession on 16 August 1961 and his perpetual profession on 2 July 1967 He then studied philosophy in Medina del Campo (Valladolid) and theology in Verona (Italy) He could also boast a Licentiate in Pedagogy and Accounting Sciences He was Director of the Salesian house in Alto Araguaia (1979-2002); Director (1985-1988 and 1998-2000) He was subsequently Economer (1999-2001) of the Santa Teresa di Corumbà house Economer at the Don Bosco Center in Campo Grande (1992-1998) and Economer at Coxipó da Ponte (2002-2005) For the Province of Brazil-Campo Grande he was also the Provincial Economer (2000-2002) He was appointed bishop of the diocese of Corumbá on 7 December 2004 After having been titular bishop of the diocese for 13 years he resigned in 2018 on turning 75 years of age The Brazilian Episcopal Conference yesterday issued a note of condolence in which it expresses “solidarity with the family with friends and with the people of God present in the diocese of Corumbá” the communiqué thanks God for “the more than four decades dedicated as Salesian missionary to the Church in Brazil and to the educational charism especially in the diocese of Corumbá” Martínez for the "serenity and profound experience of living the faith Source: Religion Digital Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime made a visit to the city of Corumbá he was honored by local authorities and warmly received by the entire community especially the youth who frequent the local Salesian home The day's festivities included the conferral of honorary citizenship and a solemn Mass held at the church-sanctuary dedicated to Mary Help of Christians The visit of the Rector Major of the Salesians and 10th Successor of Don Bosco to Corumbá commemorates 125 years of Salesian presence in the municipality And after having traveled the world and visited more than 120 countries I like to say that we Salesians of Don Bosco have arrived with the vocation of giving what we are of helping young people to find meaning in their lives proposing the faith to them," stated the Rector Major upon his arrival at the airport in Corumbá on Saturday morning The welcome included a ceremony attended by civil and military authorities and the awarding of the title of 'Guest of Honour' who is also apostolic administrator of the diocese Rector of the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians and Director of Pastoral Care at the 'Santa Teresa' Institute the mayor emphasized that this was the first time the city of Corumbá had been visited by a Cardinal "Corumbá welcomes His Eminence with open arms we thank the Salesian congregation for 125 years of activity in our city The history of Corumbá is intertwined with the history of the Salesian presence in our municipality,” said the head of the Municipal Executive The First Citizen also reminisced about some of the key figures in the Salesian community over the past 125 years as well as the historical events surrounding the arrival of the first Sons of Don Bosco and Angelo arrived at our city's harbor in March 1899 and established the Salesian Institute 'St a significant date that marked a turning point in the city's history Our community experienced firsthand the transformative impact of the Salesians' educational approach we witnessed the construction of both the original and newer buildings of St the monumental 'Cidade Don Bosco' (City of Don Bosco) the 'Father Antonio Muller' Children's Rehabilitation Home (CRIPAM) the shrine dedicated to Mary Help of Christians and various other initiatives," he recalled the Tenth Successor of Don Bosco engaged with hundreds of children and young people at the social initiative "Cidade Dom Bosco" As the Hymn of the City of Don Bosco played the Rector Major was warmly embraced by the center's attendees "When I arrived and felt the warmth and affection of all of you I sensed the spirit of the pioneering brothers who dedicated themselves to helping those most in need particularly minors with limited opportunities All these social initiatives are significant as they address immediate needs and contribute to the social and human development of young people," remarked Cardinal Ángel Fernández During the reception attended by the Salesian Cardinal offered remarks on the significance of the Rector Major's presence and the history of Salesian social initiatives He highlighted Cardinal Ángel Fernández's role as a collaborator of Pope Francis and underscored the importance of Salesian contributions to the community "The Cardinal's visit holds great significance He has been appointed by the Pope as a collaborator and member of the College of Cardinals (...) what's truly remarkable is his role as the Rector Major of the Salesians The Salesian presence in our city's history predating even the formation of the diocese of Corumbá Their work in education and human and Christian formation has left an indelible mark on generations over the past 125 years," remarked the prelate the Rector Major was honored with the title of Citizen of Corumbá by the City Council "His presence in our city is a true blessing for all of us I am delighted to welcome such a distinguished religious leader whose tireless work has positively impacted countless lives worldwide," remarked Councillor Ubiratan Canhete de Campos Filho during the ceremony As the final event of his visit to Corumbá Cardinal Fernández Artime presided over Mass at the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in the evening Superior of the Campo Grande Province of Brazil (BCG) The celebration was a heartfelt expression of gratitude to God for the 125 years of Salesian presence in the city Cardinal Fernández Artime emphasized the significance of this milestone "Our celebration is not about boasting or triumphalism on the part of the Salesians we are acknowledging and celebrating God's blessings upon Corumbá over the past 125 years with faith in His continued guidance and grace for the future," he remarked The celebration was motivated by thanksgiving to God for the 125 years of Salesian presence in the city The jubilee of the Salesian presence in the city was one of the highlights of Cardinal Artime's homily "We're not celebrating any triumphalism on the part of the Salesians We are celebrating the fact that God has blessed Corumbá for the last 125 years and will continue to do so," he said Fonte: BCG Province Donation made by WWF-Brazil to the Environment Institute of Mato Grosso do Sul (Imasul) in November 2019 contributes to the work of the Fire Department in the state Por um futuro em que as pessoas vivam em harmonia com a natureza Photos and graphics © WWF or used with permission. Text available under a Creative Commons licence You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience Brazil - May 2022 - The theme of the Rector Major's Strenna 2022 nothing through constraint," inspired the "Loving-kindness" meeting the first activity of the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) of Mato Grosso do Sul which took place on May 28 simultaneously in Corumbá and the district of Indápolis in Dourados 90 youth from all Salesian works in the city participated they delved into the theme of the Rector Major's Strenna In Indápolis the meeting took place at the Salesian pre-novitiate and provided a way to experience a day of great joy marked by songs and the spirit of fraternity Brazil - December 2020 - The "Sino da Caridade" project so called when it was created more than 50 years ago by Fr Ernesto Sassida as he promoted it with the tolling of two bells this year has had the support of the Municipal Social Assistance Fund project The "Bell of Charity" is one of the largest and most traditional humanitarian aid and charitable projects in the Corumbá region which takes place over the Christmas period clothes and toys collected from the population were distributed to families during the weeks before Christmas with the support of partner companies and institutions in the project With the basic necessities collected at the Salesian house "Cidade Dom Bosco" 150 food baskets were packed and distributed to needy families on 18 December more than 900 food baskets were distributed to families in need Brazil - October 2022 – On October 19 the Salesian Community of Corumbá celebrated the Communal Salesian Day and Thanksgiving for the canonization of St The Eucharist was presided over by Bishop João Aparecido Bergamasco In a shrine of Mary Help of Christians crowded with collaborators and lay collaborators of the Salesian mission João Neto said in his homily that to love as Jesus teaches The Salesian also aligned the Gospel reading with the life of St starting with his recovery from tuberculosis began serving God by helping the sick with love and tenderness as a form of gratitude "Saint Artemide Zatti was the Salesian who discovered the great value of his vocation His life and vocation speak to us of the great value of consecration in religious life We are Salesians of Don Bosco and we live an evangelical way of life in the service of the little ones and the poor," he said the statue of the Help of Christians was honored with songs and the traditional crowning Brazil - August 2021 - The summer camp of the "Cidade Dom Bosco" house in Corumbá a Salesian house which celebrated its 60th anniversary this year Despite the limitations due to the pandemic and with all the anti-contagion precautions of Covid-19 who attend the afternoon activities of the "Criança and Adolescente Feliz Project" (PCAF - Happy Children and Teenagers Project) in the morning animate children aged 6 to 12 and send them messages of hope with dynamics and their own example six workshops were curated by at least two volunteers while the others worked by serving in the corridors and photographing the activities Brazil - November 2018 - From 23 to 25 November as part of the "Happy Children and Youths" program the seventh edition of the Salesian Day was held representing the City of Don Bosco and the Salesian Institute of Santa Teresa spirituality and interaction between students.The event was organized by the Salesian Youth Ministry of the two Salesian houses and It was also supported by several former journalists.The VII Salesian Day was accompanied by the director of the City of Don Bosco Brazil - August 2017 - The second edition of the “CDB Festival” was held on 11 and 12 August at the Don Bosco Gym of Corumbá (MS) an event organized by the pedagogical and participatory coordinating body of students teachers and lay people of the City of Don Bosco The festival featured activities such as singing where boys and girls expressed their talents