Request for training, PE 142 Resource Economics

UNCLAS BRASILIA 000266 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EB/ESC/IEC/ENR J LEWANDOWSKI DEPT FOR M/FSI/SPAS/ECON L FOX DEPT FOR HR/CDA/ML K BROWN DEPT FOR OES/PCI L POULTON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AFSI ECON BR SUBJECT: Request for training, PE 142 Resource Economics Ref: State 6460 ¶1. This cable is in response to reftel from January 18, 2007. The Regional Environmental Affairs Officer (Hub) for South America is requesting inclusion in PE 142, Resource Economics, to take place in Washington, DC and Denver, Colorado from July 9-13. ¶2. As South American Hub officer, this office is charged with looking at environmental issues of a regional nature that have broad impacts and implications throughout the continent. The majority of the South American economies continue to rely on extractive industries such as mining as the primary drivers for their economies. The environmental impacts of these extractive practices, and the political fall-out as well, have been seen throughout the region. For example, gas pipelines in Peru, gold mining in the Amazon, and natural gas and other minerals mining in Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, have all shown the inextricable links between these economic practices and politics and the environment. Understanding the primary economic principles behind these activities will help us frame our environmental efforts in a way that supports the development of these resources in a sustainable way while also giving this office the tools necessary to support efforts by the US Geological Survey and other actors in the sector. ¶3. The Hub officer has scheduled his R&R travel around the dates of this training and therefore can route his travel through Washington to his R&R point in order to save travel funds. Current tour of duty for the Hub is through September, 2008. Contact information for Hub officer James Story is storyjb@state.gov, telephone IVG 921 extension 7417 or direct at 55-61-3312-7417, fax 55-61-3312-7668. SOBEL