Questões de Inglês

A TOOL FOR SPIES

  When Iran’s opposition protesters used Twitter and other forms of social media last year to let the world know about their regime’s brutal post election crackdown, activists praised Twitter as the tool of revolution and freedom. But now Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez has figured out how to twist this tool into one of repression. Though as recently as this past January Chávez was decrying Twitter as a weapon of terrorists, he’s since turned into an avid Twitterer himself ( his account, the country’s most popular, boasted more than half a million followers at press time ), as well as a devoted Facebook user and blogger. 

  Far from embracing the democratic spirit of the Web, though, the Venezuelan strongman is using his accounts and blog to exhort people to spy on each other. At the launch of his Twitter account, Chávez enjoined the Boliviarian faithful to use it to keep an eye on state enemies, namely the wealthy. My Twitter account is open for you to denounce them, “ Chávez announced on his television program. El Presidente has hired a staff of 200 to deal with tweeted “requests, denunciations, and other problems,” which have resulted in actions against allegedly credit-stingy banks and currency speculators.  He’s now considering going a step further and ruling that all Venezuelan Web sites must move from U.S.- based servers to domestic ones - which would, of course, make them far easier to control. Big Brother would be proud. 

(Newsweek – June 14, 2010. By Mac Margolis and Alex Marin) 

A TOOL FOR SPIES

  When Iran’s opposition protesters used Twitter and other forms of social media last year to let the world know about their regime’s brutal post election crackdown, activists praised Twitter as the tool of revolution and freedom. But now Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez has figured out how to twist this tool into one of repression. Though as recently as this past January Chávez was decrying Twitter as a weapon of terrorists, he’s since turned into an avid Twitterer himself ( his account, the country’s most popular, boasted more than half a million followers at press time ), as well as a devoted Facebook user and blogger. 

  Far from embracing the democratic spirit of the Web, though, the Venezuelan strongman is using his accounts and blog to exhort people to spy on each other. At the launch of his Twitter account, Chávez enjoined the Boliviarian faithful to use it to keep an eye on state enemies, namely the wealthy. My Twitter account is open for you to denounce them, “ Chávez announced on his television program. El Presidente has hired a staff of 200 to deal with tweeted “requests, denunciations, and other problems,” which have resulted in actions against allegedly credit-stingy banks and currency speculators.  He’s now considering going a step further and ruling that all Venezuelan Web sites must move from U.S.- based servers to domestic ones - which would, of course, make them far easier to control. Big Brother would be proud. 

(Newsweek – June 14, 2010. By Mac Margolis and Alex Marin) 

A TOOL FOR SPIES

  When Iran’s opposition protesters used Twitter and other forms of social media last year to let the world know about their regime’s brutal post election crackdown, activists praised Twitter as the tool of revolution and freedom. But now Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez has figured out how to twist this tool into one of repression. Though as recently as this past January Chávez was decrying Twitter as a weapon of terrorists, he’s since turned into an avid Twitterer himself ( his account, the country’s most popular, boasted more than half a million followers at press time ), as well as a devoted Facebook user and blogger. 

  Far from embracing the democratic spirit of the Web, though, the Venezuelan strongman is using his accounts and blog to exhort people to spy on each other. At the launch of his Twitter account, Chávez enjoined the Boliviarian faithful to use it to keep an eye on state enemies, namely the wealthy. My Twitter account is open for you to denounce them, “ Chávez announced on his television program. El Presidente has hired a staff of 200 to deal with tweeted “requests, denunciations, and other problems,” which have resulted in actions against allegedly credit-stingy banks and currency speculators.  He’s now considering going a step further and ruling that all Venezuelan Web sites must move from U.S.- based servers to domestic ones - which would, of course, make them far easier to control. Big Brother would be proud. 

(Newsweek – June 14, 2010. By Mac Margolis and Alex Marin) 

The Environmental Permit System Explained

January 26 2009

The Brazilian environmental law framework began to take shape in the 1980s when the National Environmental Policy Law (6,938/1981) and the 1988 Constitution were promulgated, adding to the existing Water Code 1934 and the Forest Code 1965. 

The 1988 Constitution, which is primarily based on European constitutions that seek more restrictive protection for the environment, was the first to refer to the fundamental right to an "ecologically balanced environment" which demands special protection. One of the mechanisms used to accomplish this protection is the permit system. 

Brazilian environmental legislation provides that environmental permits are required for the construction, installation, expansion or operation of any activity that uses environmental resources or is considered to be actually or potentially polluting to the environment. 

The extent of the activity's actual or potential polluting impact on the environment will determine the federal level at which it is regulated. State environmental agencies and the Federal Environmental Agency regulate most environmental permitting procedures, since municipalities can take part in the permitting process only once they have met minimum infrastructure requirements. 

Therefore, an activity that affects only one municipality (e.g., a petrol station) can be licensed by the municipal environmental agency, if there is one. Otherwise, it will be licensed by the respective state environmental agency. An activity that affects more than one municipality (e.g., a small power plant) will be licensed by the state environmental agency. Finally, an activity that is of national interest (e.g., oil exploitation) will be licensed by the Federal Environmental Agency. 

www.internationallawoffice.com/Newsletters/detail.aspx?g=3d7df9ac-8901-417e-94fc-c3ef4970e0f7. Adaptado.

The Environmental Permit System Explained

January 26 2009

The Brazilian environmental law framework began to take shape in the 1980s when the National Environmental Policy Law (6,938/1981) and the 1988 Constitution were promulgated, adding to the existing Water Code 1934 and the Forest Code 1965. 

The 1988 Constitution, which is primarily based on European constitutions that seek more restrictive protection for the environment, was the first to refer to the fundamental right to an "ecologically balanced environment" which demands special protection. One of the mechanisms used to accomplish this protection is the permit system. 

Brazilian environmental legislation provides that environmental permits are required for the construction, installation, expansion or operation of any activity that uses environmental resources or is considered to be actually or potentially polluting to the environment. 

The extent of the activity's actual or potential polluting impact on the environment will determine the federal level at which it is regulated. State environmental agencies and the Federal Environmental Agency regulate most environmental permitting procedures, since municipalities can take part in the permitting process only once they have met minimum infrastructure requirements. 

Therefore, an activity that affects only one municipality (e.g., a petrol station) can be licensed by the municipal environmental agency, if there is one. Otherwise, it will be licensed by the respective state environmental agency. An activity that affects more than one municipality (e.g., a small power plant) will be licensed by the state environmental agency. Finally, an activity that is of national interest (e.g., oil exploitation) will be licensed by the Federal Environmental Agency. 

www.internationallawoffice.com/Newsletters/detail.aspx?g=3d7df9ac-8901-417e-94fc-c3ef4970e0f7. Adaptado.

The Environmental Permit System Explained

January 26 2009

The Brazilian environmental law framework began to take shape in the 1980s when the National Environmental Policy Law (6,938/1981) and the 1988 Constitution were promulgated, adding to the existing Water Code 1934 and the Forest Code 1965. 

The 1988 Constitution, which is primarily based on European constitutions that seek more restrictive protection for the environment, was the first to refer to the fundamental right to an "ecologically balanced environment" which demands special protection. One of the mechanisms used to accomplish this protection is the permit system. 

Brazilian environmental legislation provides that environmental permits are required for the construction, installation, expansion or operation of any activity that uses environmental resources or is considered to be actually or potentially polluting to the environment. 

The extent of the activity's actual or potential polluting impact on the environment will determine the federal level at which it is regulated. State environmental agencies and the Federal Environmental Agency regulate most environmental permitting procedures, since municipalities can take part in the permitting process only once they have met minimum infrastructure requirements. 

Therefore, an activity that affects only one municipality (e.g., a petrol station) can be licensed by the municipal environmental agency, if there is one. Otherwise, it will be licensed by the respective state environmental agency. An activity that affects more than one municipality (e.g., a small power plant) will be licensed by the state environmental agency. Finally, an activity that is of national interest (e.g., oil exploitation) will be licensed by the Federal Environmental Agency. 

www.internationallawoffice.com/Newsletters/detail.aspx?g=3d7df9ac-8901-417e-94fc-c3ef4970e0f7. Adaptado.