 cassava and eucalyptus, the Novo Horizonte and Novo Horizonte I farms, located in the municipality of Laje, Bahia, became home to numerous animals. An exuberant scenery, where harpy eagles and other wild species feel safe and welcome.
The described scene was made possible thanks to initiatives such as the recovery of the springs and the implementation of new systems of land use in the two farms – in an amount corresponding to 620 hectares. The Strategic Starch Cooperative (Cooperativa Estratégica do Amido) came up with the idea to restore, recover and preserve the area. “We believe in a sustainable business model that adds productivity and social responsibility,” says Jairo Souza, President of the Cassava Starch Producers Cooperative of the State of Bahia (Cooperativa dos Produtores de Amido de Mandioca do Estado da Bahia – Coopamido).
Founded in 2009, Coopamido consists of over one hundred producers of cassava. Its performance covers seven cities in three regions of Bahia: Valença and Jaguaripe (Southern Bahia), Santo Antônio de Jesus, Sapeaçu, Conceição do Almeida and Castro Alves (the Recôncavo region) and São Miguel das Matas (Jiquiriçá Valley). The cooperative is part of the Development and Growth Integrated with Sustainability Program of the Environmental Protection Areas Mosaic of Southern Bahia (PDCIS), fostered by the Odebrecht Foundation.
Cassava roots delivered by rural producers to Coopamido are processed in a processing industry, where more than 200 tons are milled or processed per day. “The processes involve steps such as washing, crushing, purification and drying,” explains the Industrial Manager, Cristian Konishi. “Starch with high added value is used in industries such as food, cosmetics, oil and gas and pharmaceuticals,” he adds.
In order to encourage the creation of jobs and income, Coopamido has established partnerships with farmers in the region to stimulate them to lend degraded land to local farmers, who use them for growing cassava. “To be benefited, the member of the cooperative must foster environmental actions, such as reforestation and the recovery of springs in the assigned properties,” notes Jairo Souza.
That was the job opportunity that Roberto Carlos dos Santos, 34, was waiting for. He, who is a resident of the Cruzeiro community in the municipality of Laje, became a member of the cooperative with his wife, Nalva dos Santos, 32. The couple now grows cassava in one of the partner farms. The average monthly family income, which used to be R$ 400, is now over R$ 2,000.
In synergy with Coopamido, the Institute for Human Promotion of Starch (Instituto de Promoção Humana do Amido – IPHA) has qualified farmers in the region – currently, 30 new grantees are being trained. “Using the most appropriate techniques from planting to harvest, they will also be qualified to undertake activities on their properties,” says Magnólia Santos, Executive Director of the IPHA. By the end of the training process, which lasts one year, producers able to replicate the model of agriculture will be invited to become members.
Edition 175 - See what Bahia has!
The Odebrecht São Paulo Building hosts “Southern Bahia Lowlands Week,” showcasing initiatives that a...
With the OCT’s help, a new way of interacting with nature is emerging in Brazil’s Southern Bahia low...
Founded in 1965 as Emílio Odebrecht Foundation (Fundação Emílio Odebrecht), the Odebrecht Foundation...I also don't really buy into the theory that Ferrari were building cars around Alonso's tastes. Sure, he would have asked for tweaks, but the designers are always simply building the quickest cars they can within the regulations. The handling characteristics were changing significantly from year to year, and the 2014 car had handling characteristics that no professional driver in the world would want. It was just completely unpredictable and unstable. That may have played to Alonso's strengths, but hardly by design.Well alright... I already posted one weird incident, but as I've never before heard of another person experiencing this as well, I'll share this story here.

One night, when I was about 10 or so, I was laying in my bed looking out my open door at my open bathroom door across the hall. Suddenly, while I'm staring right at it, I see a short little shadow in the shape of a small man dart into the bathroom. I go wide-eyed, and sit upright. Then my mom tries to go to the bathroom.  They turned on the light and inspected, nothing.

I still get chills to this day when I think about it.The two main characters in one of the most iconic commercials to ever air on television are back together.
Pittsburgh Steelers' Hall of Famer 'Mean' Joe Greene and Tommy Okon enjoyed a reunion, as part of CBS' Super Bowl's Greatest Commercials 2016 special. The two were the stars of Coca-Cola's Super Bowl commercial, which aired during Super Bowl XIV. That also happened to be Greene's fourth and final Super Bowl victory.
Greene, who was named to the Super Bowl's Golden Team on Thursday, had the opportunity to meet up with the once-young child he gave his jersey too in one of the most remembered commercoals of all-time.Specifically you Jeremy-o.  Remember the time you told us all, how unfairly you thought Whitlam was treated, then you had the audacity to vote in a Fraser government.  Mark my words, We are watching you this time Jeremy-o!!Ever wanted to start your own, at home business?
Peter Wing did about 3 years ago.
“It’s become pretty big… I do everything myself… I love it,” Wing said.
The retired bilingual teacher started Peter’s Tutoring Service.
He shows adults how to speak English and Spanish, primarily out of his McAllen home.
“I started off with like 2 or 3 people and then it really branched out,” he said.
In order to work from home like Peter, McAllen residents are required to obtain a Conditional Use Permit from the City of McAllen’s planning department.
Director Juli Rankin described to the McAllen Cable Network how city rules govern how an at home business is defined.
“A business at home that doesn’t involve customers coming or sale of an item or product (is an at home business). We have people who make wood products, they arrange flowers, they make jewelry but they don’t sell from the home. Selling from home as in a retail store is not allowed in a home occupation so they can have a mail order business and deliver the items and those are mostly the kinds of businesses that we have,” Rankin said.
Currently, about 100 residents have a conditional use permit.
The main rule for starting your at home business is don’t upset the neighbors.
Signage is not allowed.
Oh and what about if you live in an apartment?
“If you happen to live in an apartment and you would love to have a home business such as an office from your apartment or condominium then you would need the permission of the property owner so the owner of the apartment complex needs to grant permission for you to request having this business,” Rankin said.
The fee to apply for a conditional use permit is $150.
That covers the legal notice mailed out to all property owners within 200 feet of your address.
You’ll also be required to place one of these signs alerting your neighbors of your intent to start up a home business.
Additional conditions must be met. A complete list of rules can be found on the City website or at the Planning Department.
Peter Wing likes the idea of being his own boss, perhaps you might too.
Leading bankers in the region say the outlook for capital markets in Asia is good in 2011 but that they will struggle to repeat last year’s record-breaking levels of equity issuance. According to figures from Dealogic, issuers in Asia (ex Japan) raised a total of $158 billion through initial public offerings in 2010 (as of December 21), smashing through the $100 billion mark for the first time. That constituted 57.5% of global IPO volumes.
In the league tables, the big story is the possibility that in 2011 UBS will be unseated as top dog for volume in Asia. Led by the volumes generated by Chinese dealmaker Henry Cai (now with Deutsche Bank), UBS has topped the volume charts in Asia in the past few years and looked as if it had clung on to the top spot at the end of 2010 despite the predictions of competitors.CIA Spends $630K On Geoengineering Climate Change, But Why?
The Federal Government just sunk a ton of cash into research on geoengineering climate change. They say it’s to save the planet, but few environmentalists are convinced.
Many will remember 2013 as the year freedom ended in America. Wemfinally had to come to terms with the fact that our lives are being tracked and recorded by the NSA, Google, and pretty much everyone else. In light of new laws that allow anyone to be “detained” for undisclosed reasons, the fact that we’ve lost all rights to privacy is pretty terrifying. Given the level of interest in Miley Cyrus dance moves, however, no one seems to be too bothered that their constitutional rights have been flushed down the