ECOPAZ conference Dec-Jan 1997, @ Rio de Janeiro

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Dear Friends of the Planet:

We need to ask a favor of you, as we need some help in spreading the word= about our programs of environmental education. (We also are sponsoring a= Semester in Brazil program in Rio de Janeiro for academic study of= environmental and developmental problems.)

Please give the following announcement a quick glance. If your group is= interested, we can make a special price for groups, either with this or= with another such seminar at a date of your choosing. If you are not= interested directly, please make a hard copy and pass it on to someone who= might be interested. We believe that there is nothing like seeing for= yourself to stimulate people to become active in the struggle for= ecological justice. But we need your help to spread the word about our= program. Thanks.

ECOPAZ TRAVEL/STUDY SEMINAR

Ecopaz is the Center for Ecology, Peace and Justice Studies, based in= Teres=F3polis, Brazil, just 60 miles from Rio de Janeiro. Dedicated to= environmental education, Ecopaz has a program that includes a Semester in= Brazil of academic study for university students and Travel/Study Seminars.

We think that we have an effective program for helping persons of the= Northern Hemisphere come to a fuller understanding of the problems facing a= developing country like Brazil, with regard to the environment. We believe= that a firsthand look at the realities of Brazil can motivate persons to= become more seriously involved in the efforts to avoid the destruction of= the earth=92s eco-system. It is for this reason that we are sending you= the following information about our next Ecopaz Travel/Study Seminar.

December 29--January 11, 1997

On Monday, December 30, 1996, a group of 16 persons will meet in Rio de= Janeiro to start an adventure of learning and sharing in Brazil. They will= spend two weeks informing themselves of the realities in Brazil with an= eye toward being more effective on returning to their homes in favorably= influencing corporate and national behavior toward the developing nations= of the South. They will meet with leaders of Brazilian environmental= groups, as well as government representatives. They will have a chance to= see firsthand the kinds of problems Brazil faces as it aggressively seeks= to develop its economy. They will also meet with leaders of the indigenous= peoples in Brazil to hear how they are being affected by past and current= policies in Brazil.

In addition, they will have the opportunity to see some of the most= impressive places in the world, such as Igua=E7u Falls, Bras=EDlia, Rio de= Janeiro, and the Amazon Rainforest.

THE PROGRAM:

Dec. 30: 12:00 noon=97The group will meet at the Gale=E3o International= Airport in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The group will transfer to the Insituto= Metodista Bennett, in the Flamengo area of Rio, for a get-acquainted= session and general orientation to the program. There will be time for= resting to get over jet lag.

Dec. 31: Orientation to Brazil, touring of Rio, including Corcovado, Sugar= Loaf, and Copacabana beach. New Year=92s Eve will be celebrated along with= more than one million Brazilians on the beach at Copacabana.

Jan. 1: (New Year's Day) Daytrip to Terespolis in the mountains outside of Rio to experience something of the flora and fauna of the mata atlntica.

Jan. 2: More meeting with Brazilian environmentalists. Time for shopping. Evening visit to folklore show in Rio.

Jan. 3: Travel to Recife, economic capital of the Brazilian Northeast. = Orientation meetings regarding economic and environmental problems of the= Northeast.

Jan. 4-5: Touring Recife-Olinda and environs. Meetings with leaders to= hear about social/economic/environmental problems facing the Brazilian= people. Beach time and shopping.

Jan. 6: 5:45 a.m. Travel to Manaus, arriving at 12:05 p.m.

Jan. 7: Travel on the Amazon River to the =93meeting of the waters,=94= (Solim=F5es and Negro rivers), walk through the rainforest in National= Park..

Jan. 8: Touring of colonial Manaus. 1:10 p.m. Fly to Bras=EDlia, arriving= 5:45 p.m.

Jan. 9: Tour city, meet with indigenous peoples' representatives and= government officials.

Jan. 10: More meetings, touring. Fly to Igua=E7u Falls on frontier with= Argentina and Paraguay. (5:30 p.m.)

Jan. 11: See falls and the Itaip hydroelectric project, the world's third= largest.

Fly to Rio for connecting flights home. [5:15 p.m. arriving Rio at 8:05= p.m.]

(Note: this program is a general outline of the planned program, but it is= subject to change without notice if that becomes necessary for any reason.)

THE COST: The price of the Ecopaz Travel/Study Seminar is US$1,195 per= person. Costs include lodging [convents, schools, pens=F5es, etc., group= occupancy, simple but adequate; hotels in Manaus and Igua=E7u], all meals,= local transportation, program and translations. Air travel to and from= Brazil is not included, allowing each participant to make his/her own= arrangements and thus get the best price. Airport taxes, drinks and= optional tour events not included. Each participant must purchase his/her= own Brazil Air Pass with Varig Airline for internal travel in Brazil. This= has a current cost of $440. This must be purchased at the time of making= travel arrangements. It cannot be purchased in Brazil. All participants= are responsible for making connection with the group in Rio. If you need= to make special arrangements, you must contact Ecopaz at least 30 days in= advance.

REGISTRATION:

The maximum group will be 16 persons and registrations will be accepted on a= first-come-first-served basis. An initial deposit of $200 is required to= guarantee space. The initial deposit should be made by October 31, 1996. = (A second deposit of $300 is required by Novemberl 25, and the balance must= be paid by December 15, 1996.

Deposits will be refunded if notice of withdrawal is given prior to December= 15, 1996. In the case of cancellation after December 15, 1996, the= deposits will be forfeited.

DOCUMENTS:

To enter Brazil you must have a passport that is valid for at least six= months after the date of entry, or until July 2, 1997. Participants are= responsible for getting their own visas from the Brazilian Consulate= nearest their home.

Contact Ecopaz for more details.

Ecopaz
Fred Morris
ecopaz@openlink.com.br
Snail-mail:
Caixa Postal 92631
Teresopolis, RJ
Brazil
25951-970

check our web page at: http://iypn.com/webpages/ecopaz.html
fone/fax: 011-55-21-742-1883

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