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Brazil and the Sea in the XXIth Century – Second Edition:
Accepting the challenge!
Luiz Philippe da Costa Fernandes
Executive Coordinator of Cembra
Abstract
The updating of the publication “O Brasil e o Mar no Século XXI –
Relatório aos Tomadores de Decisão no País” (Brazil and the Sea in the
21st Century – Report for the Decision Makers) is described.
It is foreseen the virtual updating of the publication in the Center of
Excellence of the Brazilian Sea – CEMBRA site.
Key-words:
Brazil, excellence center, Brazilian sea, CEMBRA
I – Introduction The readers of the e&e periodical may remember an article about the now dissolved Independent National Commission on the Sea (CNIO)[1]. In this Commission, after examination of existing records and presentation of its main activities, it was discussed the first edition (1998) of the book “O Brasil e o Mar no Século XXI – Relatório aos Tomadores de Decisão no País” (Brazil and the Sea in the 21st Century – Report for the Decision Makers of the Country) considered as an unprecedented document since it presented a diagnosis of the main issues related with the Brazilian ocean.
At that time the book was divided into five parts (Legal and Safety
Aspects, Brazil and its Economic Interests in the Sea, Scientific and
Technological Aspects, Brazilian Perspective and Conclusions) that were
developed in 17 chapters. The results of a Public Opinion Poll about the
Sea was also presented in one of its annexes, covering all main aspects
of interest connected with the sea and this had the merit of being the
first poll carried out in Brazil about the subject, as far as we know. Finally, after the CNIO dissolution it was clear that a new Commission in the same model should be created and it seemed that the book published in 1998 should be updated in order to be used by our decision makers. And the article was concluded with a high-spirited challenge:
“Who is candidate to achieve this worthy purpose?”
II – Accepting the challenge Sometime after the article was published, we have accepted the combined invitation of the e&e Organization and the Space Centers and Excellence Networks (Ecentex/Coppe) in order to discuss the intended re-edition in the context of a new commission that would be eventually created. Aiming at this objective, some meetings were arranged and afterwards it was concluded that it was needed the creation of a new organ that would be able to continue the activities that were so well pursued by the old CNIO, emphasizing the re-edition of “O Brasil e o Mar no Século XXI”. Under the obvious and welcome influence of Ecentex, it was decided to create a new Center of Excellence that would deal with the issues connected with the sea, specifically the “Brazilian Sea”, defined as the ocean region where Brazil has the rights regarding sovereignty and jurisdiction according to what is established in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, an area that is being called “Blue Amazon”.
The article about the methodological base of
excellence centers, already known by our readers[2],
does not need any comments about this interesting organizational
practice. It should be mentioned that on August 27, 2009 it was held the
first formal meeting of the new Center of Excellence on the Brazilian
Sea (Cembra in Portuguese)[3].
It was not forgotten the initial emphasis regarding the updated
re-edition of “O Brasil e o Mar [ ...]”, since in the second Cembra
meeting this became its first Structuring Project.
III – Preparation of the second edition of “Brazil and the Sea in XXI
th Century”
Considering the good results of the systematic approach adopted in the
initial edition, it was decided that it should be repeated. So, a new
selection of distinguished consultants was made to elaborate the basic
text of each chapter after revision and updating of the 1998 edition.
For this starting point it was fundamental the support of the
Secretariat of Inter-ministerial Commission for the Sea Resources (Secrim).
In 2010 three regional workshops were organized at the Federal
University of Rio Grande (Furg) – in July 6 – 8, at the Alberto Luiz
Coimbra Institute of Engineering Post-Graduation and Research (Coppe/UFRJ)
– in July, 14 - 16 and at the Institute of Sea Sciences (Labomar/UFC)-
in August, 3 - 5, respectively in the South, Southwest and
North/Northeast regions. For this purpose it was established a
profitable partnership among the involved Cembra / Foundation of Sea
Studies (Femar) / Universities that permitted discussions, focused on
regional aspects, about studies carried out by the consultants and
compared with the original edition (1998). In the whole, the studies
were made by 18 Working Groups involving 157 professors, researches and
technicians who gave valuable contributions that have enriched the final
product. In this case, the financial support was divided in equal parts
between Femar and the host Universities.
It should be mentioned the dedication devoted to the activities of the
Groups and the continued collaboration, even after the events, among
Cembra and the coordination of each workshop which made easier the
subsequent task. Naturally, this phase presented difficulties regarding
the satisfaction of points of view about this or that but considering
that Cembra has arrived at a satisfactory text edition even though,
obviously, it does represent unanimity about all presented issues.
Regarding the necessary subsidies for the new edition, the new public
opinion poll about the sea at national level, like the one carried out
in 1997, should be specially mentioned not only because of its intrinsic
value but also because of the difficulties involved. Actually after the
Navy had transferred the funds, the bidding carried out by Femar, with
rigid terms for each phase and the usual resources, had as result the
delivery of the poll results by the Virtu enterprise only six months
after the tender was made (March 11). The new poll (2000 interviews)
consisted of a questionnaire containing 44 questions draw up by Cembra
that, like the previous one, adequately covered the main issues relative
to the sea. Now questions about Energy of the Sea, Marine Biotechnology
and Climate Change were included (the questions can be found at
IV – “Brazil and the Sea XXIth Century– Report for Decision
Makers of the Country” – second edition – January 2012
The first 1.500 copies of the second edition (total of three thousand)
were published in February of the current year and they were printed by
the Navy Hydrography Base in Niteroi. They will be distributed in
appropriate packaging so that they can be easily posted.
In the new edition, with information updated until December 31, 2010,
the text is distributed in nine parts grouped in related subjects
including three additional chapters:
1ª –Law and Security of the Sea, with two chapters: Law of the Sea and
Security of the Sea;
2ª – The Sea – source of energy and mineral resources, with three
chapters: Oil Exploitation, Energy of the Seas and Mineral Resources;
3ª – The Sea – source of food, with two chapters: Fishing and
Aquaculture;
4ª – The Sea –means of transport, with three chapters: Merchant Marine,
Ports and Naval Construction;
5ª – The Sea – Ecology and Tourism, with three chapters: Coast
Ecosystems, Marine Pollution and Marine Tourism;
6ª – The Sea – Sustainable Development, with one chapter;
7ª – The Sea – Science, Technology and Innovation, with three chapters:
Science, Technology and Innovation, Marine Biotechnology and Climate
Change;
8ª – The Sea – A National Perspective, with two chapters: The sea and
the perception of Brazilians and Maritime Mentality; and
9ª – Conclusions containing the last chapter.
There are 20 chapters in the whole that, including four annexes (The
Excellence Center on the Brazilian Sea, Results of the public opinion
poll relative to the Brazilian Sea, carried out in 2011, Regional
Workshops and Abbreviations and Acronyms.
Like in the original edition, there are some aspects that distinguish it
from those of equal nature:
Incidentally, this second poll is more important than the first one
because, besides the intrinsic answers obtained; it permitted to
evaluate how the Brazilian mentality regarding the sea has developed
after 14 years. In this context it is worthwhile to mention the
indication of ten maritime issues that, according to their vision, have
the best (and also the worst) conditions in the conjuncture.
In the next future it is foreseen the regional distribution of the book
under the auspices of Furg, Coppe and Labomar. It is also envisaged the
distribution to Congress members and the high echelon of the Executive
Power in Brasilia.
It would be impossible to close this topic without mentioning the
fundamental support of the Brazilian Navy regarding the necessary
initial consulting specialists, the execution of the public opinion poll
and the printing of the book. Without this support the 2nd
edition of the book would certainly not be published. It should not be
forgotten the support of some institution that had confidence on the new
Center, namely: the three mentioned Universities (Coppe/UFRJ, Furg,
Labomar/UFC), Femar, OGX, the Navy Club, Ecentex, the
e&e Organization and the
Society of the Navy’s Friends of Rio de Janeiro. Cembra is grateful to
these institutions.
V– The next step – the permanent updating of the virtual book
It should be mentioned Cembra’s concern about the updating of the huge
mass of relevant information contained in the second edition of the
book. The great difficulties faced to reedit the book are still present
and this occurred 14 years after the first one, mainly the volume of the
necessary financial resources. For this reason Cembra has envisaged a
procedure to maintain “alive” the second edition, namely a virtual
updating mechanism which seems simple but due to its newness it will
need considerable efforts. For this reason a new Structuring Project
[4]
for this activity was approved –
already in the form to be sent to the financing institutions – which, it
is hoped, will be as successful as the paper edition.
For this purpose, partnerships were set up with individual persons of
acknowledged competence in their fields aiming at updating the
publication. This step presents no difficulties considering the
partnerships set for the second edition and the fact that competent
specialists from Furg and Coppe, Partner Founders, will be able to deal
with some chapters.
Under the responsibility of Cembra it is intended to virtually include
these updating in the site of the Center of Excellence in a well visible
way. In principle only additions relative to relevant facts (examples:
legislative or executive norms that are important for the theme; call
for meetings of distinguished scientific value; establishment of
important new programs etc.) as well as pertinent comments. In principle
it is not envisaged the revisions of existing long texts unless they are
affected by the inclusions made. The frequency of dissemination of
alterations will be annual, in principle. But the experience gained with
the full implantation of the Project may indicate a reduction or
amplification of the foreseen time, per chapter.
The virtual media will also be used to shape the so called
Cembrapedia, whose systematics was approved in the beginning of
last March and aims at permitting permanent communication among
researchers/professors and university students connected with sea
matters - but also available to the general public – and Cembra through
chosen consultants. A system to be developed will include an adequate
input to the Cembra site, namely “Pending Messages”. After approval, the
messages, together with pertinent answers given by the consultants, will
be transferred to the page corresponding to the chapter so that the
public can assess it. About twenty pages will be available for this
purpose as a function of the chapters. This opportunity for information
exchange among internet users and consultants is also a skilful form to
build the maritime mentality in the country. The Project will be implemented in two distinct phases based on the adequate share of the goals to be reached:
Naturally the main advantage of the Project is to permit the existence in the country, in only one virtually updated publication, the subsidies necessary for decision makers and as support for their activities connected with the sea. But the permanent updating of the book will benefit not only the decision makers. Using this information, professors, researches, university students in general interested in subjects relative to the Brazilian Sea. This extension also applies to Cembrapedia, open to all those interested, with the usual restrictions of this media (it is not permitted the use of offensive terms or improper language in the Internet, etc.)
VI – Conclusion – new challenge...
The adequate dissemination of knowledge and innovation is more and more
prized. The activities carried out along the execution of its first
Structuring Project – the revised and amplified edition of the “O Brasil
e o Mar [ ... ]” book, now concluded, and its second one , namely, the
permanent and virtual updating of this publication demonstrate that
Cembra is progressing in both fields. The result, still modest but
certainly promising, provides evidence for recognition from financing
organizations.
Cheered by his success of the challenge posed more than three years ago,
as mentioned above, the author poses a new challenge.
Who will take the position now to support the new Cimbra project aiming
at updating, virtually and permanently, the “O Brasil e o Mar no Século
XXI”, a publication that is relevant for decision makers and all
Brazilians concerned with the Brazilian Sea?
[1]
“The
Independent National Commission on the Oceans – a memorable
experience!” Luiz Philippe da Costa Fernandes. In:
Economy & Energy,
nº 69, August/September.
2008.
[2]
“Spaces
Centers / Network of Excellence: Concept, Actions and Products”
– José Fantine. In: Revista Energia & Economia, nº 70, out./ nov.
2008.
[3]
Cembra has as Founding Partners the
Brazilian Navy (represented by the Director of Hydrography and
Navigation), Coppe/UFRJ and the Federal University of Rio Grande
(Furg). Other Partners are Femar (Sea Studies Foundation), the
e&e Organization, besides specialists and consultants.
[4]
More adequately, “a Structuring Action”, considering its
intended permanent character in time. |
Graphic Edition/Edição
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Revised/Revisado:
Monday, 08 October 2012. |