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