Topic: Harnessing Science and Technology to address Development Challenges
Country: Brazil
Delegate Name: Claire Mutch
School: Vicksburg High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Brazil position papers GLIMUN 2013 committees
Brazil is quickly becoming one of the world’s top science-generating countries. This year we have spent approximately $31 billion USD, an 8% increase from last year, towards science, technology and innovation. Brazil is also currently a part of the UK Science and Innovation Network or SIN. Since Brazil has joined SIN it has continued to strengthen our ongoing cooperation as well as starting new ones via the Federal Funding Agency and the Agriculture Research Corporation
Also, Brazil is using our technology to reduce deforestation. Brazil has set remote-sensing systems for monitoring deforestation. The reports that these systems make are posted on the internet where they can then be verified by members of civil society. Similarly, we have created a system for detecting illegal logging. This system has resulted in the arrest of more than 500 people for illegal deforestation or logging in the years 2005 and 2006. These two systems combined with the Brazilian government protecting 48% of the Brazilian Amazon has decreased international soybean prices and created a drastically cleaner energy matrix (we have avoided have 200 million tons of carbon emission from the years 2004 to 2008 by reducing our deforestation) than other developing counties.
Brazil knows first-hand the effect that improvements in the fields of Science and Technology can positively induce on a country. Since improving our technology we have also greatly improved our opportunities for gaining education. Also we have enhanced our e-government website to the point where it rivals most other nations in functionality and features. In addition to education and government websites, Brazil has also been able to greatly reduce the size of our “digital divide” or the lack of access to technology to certain portions of our population. We have accomplished this feat by starting the “Popular PC Project” which gives our public centers such as libraries and schools technology. This gives underserved citizens access to computers. There are also many local banks that have set up payment plans for their customers, making it easier for them to purchase their own personal computers. In addition to making technology like computers more accessible to the general public, Brazil has also been working on making technology like telephone lines more available as well. From the mid to late 1990’s, Brazil has increased the number of phone lines (both business and private) from 10 million to over 15 million, thus greatly improving our quality of service to all users.
As a nation that relies highly on its scientific innovations, Brazil believes that all nations should work toward enhancing their scientific and technological innovations. Brazil believe we should continue to develop and strength our science and technological programs as well as encourage other nations to strive to educate and employ individuals in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.
Brazil believes that countries should not only work on improving their own technology but also work on improving the technology of third world countries as well. We as a country believe that improved technology is essential to a productive, modern day, international society. Unfortunately many countries still need help to become successful in the fields of Science, Technology and Innovation. That is where the higher, more advanced countries can lend a hand to the smaller, developing countries.
