The presidents of the United States and
Brazil say they have a vision - a vision
of a world where the production and
consumption of biofuels is commonplace.
President Bush says it is a goal worth
meeting.
"I hope the people of the United States
and the people of Brazil are as
optimistic about the future as these two
presidents are," he said. "And one
reason we are optimistic is because we
see the bright and real potential for
our citizens to be able to use
alternative sources of energy that will
promote the common good."
Mr. Bush spoke after touring an ethanol
distribution facility in Sao Paulo with
the president of Brazil, Luis Inacio
Lula da Silva. Earlier, foreign
ministers from the two countries signed
an agreement designed to promote
research and development of biofuels and
to set the standards for ethanol to
become a recognized commodity on world
markets.
Together, the United States and Brazil
produce about 75 percent of the world's
ethanol. But Brazil is the largest
exporter, and the undisputed leader in
biofuel technology.
President Bush said he wants to work
with the Brazilians to expand production
and make ethanol more affordable. He
said in time, other developing countries
will be able to join in and use raw
agricultural materials - such as sugar
cane and grasses - to develop their own
fuels.
"I appreciate so very much the idea of
Brazil and America sharing research and
development opportunities. You have got
great scientists. We have got great
scientists. It makes sense for us to
collaborate for the good of mankind."
The development of alternative fuels has
become a key element of the Bush
administration's energy policy. And
President da Silva said he deserves some
of the credit, noting he brought up the
subject during their last meeting in
Brazil about a year-and-a-half ago.
"I was truly obsessed with biofuel," he
said. "And he almost couldn't have lunch
because I wouldn't stop talking about
biofuel. But I think that was important
because the world is not always ready
and prepared for major changes."
Both men talked about the ability of
biofuel production to create jobs in the
developing world, and cut dependence on
oil imports. Among the countries which
could lose out in the future if biofuels
catch on is Venezuela, one of the
world's largest oil exporters.
Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez has been
using oil revenues in an effort to build
a following throughout the hemisphere.
He is taking part in an anti-American
rally later Friday in Argentina.
Anti-Bush protests have taken place here
in Sao Paulo, where discontent with the
Iraq war has made the U.S. president
highly unpopular. There was some
violence Thursday, but most
demonstrators have been peaceful. They
include farmers worried that they might
be exploited by companies eager to
expand ethanol production, and
environmentalists concerned that the
Amazon jungle might be destroyed in the
rush to plant sugar cane.
But the biggest security concerns for
the traveling White House may be in
Bogota, Colombia, which Mr. Bush will
visit on Sunday. Police officials there
say there are signs Colombian rebels are
planning attacks, but add security
precautions are already in place.
In addition to Brazil and Colombia,
President Bush will also travel to
Uruguay, Guatemala and Mexico before
returning home next Wednesday. |
|
布什总统和卢拉总统都说，他们有一个共同的理想，那就是生物燃料的生产和使用将在全世界成为寻常之事。布什总统表示，这是一个值得实现的目标。
布什总统说：“我希望美国人民和巴西人民都会像我们这两位总统一样对前途感到乐观。我们感到乐观的一个原因就是，我们看到了我们的公民得以使用替代能源的光明而又真实的前景，那对大家都有好处。”
在发表讲话前，布什总统同卢拉总统一起参观了圣保罗的一家乙醇配送中心。早些时候，美国国务卿与巴西外长还签署了一个协议，共同进行生物燃料的研究和开发，并且为乙醇制定出一套标准，使之成为世界市场上被认可的商品。
美国和巴西生产的乙醇加在一起占世界乙醇产量的大约75%。不过，巴西是世界上最大的乙醇出口国，在生物燃料技术方面处于无可争辩的领先地位。
布什总统表示要与巴西合作来扩大乙醇的生产，使乙醇成为一种消费者买得起的燃料。布什总统认为，随着时间的推移，其他发展中国家也能加入这个行列，利用农业原料，比如甘蔗和草来开发他们自己的生物燃料。
布什总统说：“我很高兴美国和巴西能够共同进行研究和开发。这个主意很好。你们有伟大的科学家。我们也有伟大的科学家。我们理应为了人类的共同利益而相互合作。”
开发替代能源已经成为布什政府能源政策的重要一环。巴西总统卢拉表示他也非常热衷于替代能源。卢拉回忆道，1年半之前，当布什总统上次访问巴西时，他们就畅谈过生物燃料问题。
卢拉说：“我对生物燃料的确是过于着迷了。当时由于我不断地谈论生物燃料，他几乎连午饭都吃不下了。但是我认为，这是重要的，因为这个世界并不总是做好了迎接重大改变的准备。”
两位总统还讨论了生物燃料的生产给发展中国家创造就业机会，以及减少对石油进口依赖的问题。如果生物燃料流行起来的话，那些可能遭受损失的国家包括世界上最大的石油出口国之一的委内瑞拉。
委内瑞拉总统查韦斯一直在利用石油收入，试图在整个南半球争取对他的支持。他星期五晚些时候会出席在阿根廷举行的一个反美集会。
圣保罗也发生了反对布什的抗议活动。在这里，民众对伊拉克战争的不满使得美国总统布什非常不受欢迎。星期四的抗议中发生了一些暴力活动，但是大多数示威的人都比较平和。这些人包括那些担心可能受到急于扩大乙醇生产的公司剥削的农民，以及担心亚马逊丛林在种植甘蔗的热潮中可能遭到破坏的环境保护人士。
但是对于布什总统的随行人员来说，布什总统这次拉美之行中最大的安全忧虑可能是在哥伦比亚首都波哥大。布什总统星期天将到那里访问。警方官员说，有迹象显示，哥伦比亚的反叛分子正在制订袭击计划，但是他们补充说，他们已经采取了安全防范措施。
除了巴西和哥伦比亚以外，布什总统下星期三返回美国之前还要访问乌拉圭、危地马拉和墨西哥。 |
