Uribe, Lula, García to discuss road, fluvial connectivity - Regional

Desideria (Moderator) says on Jul 18, 2008, 11:54:

Excellent!
One of the main obstacles for development in the area have always been poor land connections between different regions of South America.

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

0 funny, 0 helpful.

ColombianoGringo says on Jul 18, 2008, 12:11:

My first thought was that roads are a bitch to build in the jungle, but the article addressed that. I would be interested to see what exactly "fluvial navigation" means. Are they talking ferries, freight barges or what?

0 funny, 0 helpful.

sloopskipper says on Jul 18, 2008, 13:11:

Probably all, freighters, ferrys, barges.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

billyb says on Jul 18, 2008, 13:16:

fluvial travel is fine, but not sure I want to see abunch of roads cut into the Amazon. It will just attract poachers, illigal miners and loggers etc.. who will destroy the ecosystem and the few remaining native tribes along with it.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

sloopskipper says on Jul 18, 2008, 13:18:

I don't think I've seen the word before, but:

Fluvial - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaThe word fluvial is used in geography and earth science to refer to all topics
related to flowing water. Fluvial usually refers to rivers, ...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Desideria (Moderator) says on Jul 18, 2008, 13:19:

It says in the article that building roads in the Amazone basin is virtually impossible, due to soft, moist, muddy terrain. It would be tremendously costly.

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

0 funny, 0 helpful.

ColombianoGringo says on Jul 18, 2008, 13:29:

I know what fluvial means. I would just be interested in what type of infrastructure they're looking to set up. While extensive roads would be a nightmare on many levels, I would be equally concerned with freight shipping through the Amazon. Ships are dirty things leak and belch all kinds of nasty things into the environment. They require ports, buoys, and depending on the routes, probably a fair amount of dredging to make certain areas navigable.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Desideria (Moderator) says on Jul 18, 2008, 13:35:

Not necessarily, CG. The damage to the environment caused by ships would be less because of the flowing water and ships of modern construction and impeccable maintenance don't leak a lot. They used to, but ships that don't pass the controls for environmental impact should be allowed to operate. Stockholm is a port but I don't see a lot of damage to the environment in its waters.

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

0 funny, 0 helpful.

ColombianoGringo says on Jul 18, 2008, 13:42:

"modern construction and impeccable maintenance don't leak a lot"

We are talking about the Amazon here Desi. I don't know if impeccable can be counted on. We are talking about a very fragile ecosystem.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Desideria (Moderator) says on Jul 18, 2008, 14:10:

Yes, yes, I'm all for the ecosystem, but I still think river barges are less harmful for the environment that crisscrossing the Amazon basin with four-lane highways destroying both human and animal habitat, not to talk about the vegetation and yet, land/fluvial communications in this area are vital for the economical growth and development in South America.

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

0 funny, 0 helpful.

billyb says on Jul 18, 2008, 14:23:

SA doesn't need the Amazon for it's economic development. The damage that it would cause, by far, outweighs any economic benefits such development might provide

0 funny, 0 helpful.

billyb says on Jul 18, 2008, 14:24:

"modern construction and impeccable maintenance don't leak a lot"

The African queen would be considered modern in the Amazon.

0 funny, 0 helpful.