Latest news with #AmazonRiver
Travel Weekly
09-07-2025
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Why South America could emerge as a key river cruise destination
Brinley Hineman The big news in South America river cruising is AmaWaterways launching the first luxury river ship on the Magdalena River in Colombia, with plans to launch a second ship later this year. But it is not the only line with South America on its mind. I spoke in June with AmaWaterways co-founder Rudi Schreiner, ahead of him stepping down as company CEO. Though he didn't divulge company names, he told me in that other lines are considering joining them in Colombia -- now that the infrastructure has been built to support the budding industry. But outside of Colombia, the Amazon River has attracted river cruises. Many well-known brands are there, but perhaps most notable is Delfin Amazon Cruises, which is based in Iquitos, Peru. The company just took three months to renovate and relaunch its ship the Delfin I. Europe river cruising remains king of the river-cruise category, but I have repeatedly been told by river cruise executives and travel advisors that clients want to break the mold of a traditional river experience and explore off-the-beaten-path or "exotic" destinations. The Amazon, which flows through six countries, seems like it has the makings of a river poised to experience growth, and it's been years in the making, as Travel Weekly has reported. Especially in an era of overtourism dupes and European rivers becoming more crowded each year, it seems that the Amazon and other South American river could offer an alternative. What other lines are doing on the Amazon And there are plenty of options to choose from already. National Geographic Lindblad Expeditions charters Delfin Amazon Cruises' Delfin II and Delfin III to explore the Peruvian Amazon in the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve. With an expedition approach to cruising, the line aims to offer a luxury approach to the world's most biodiverse rainforest. Avalon Waterways, which has offered Amazon cruises since 2014, also charters the Delfin III to explore the Amazon. It offers six itineraries this year that include the South American waterway. Uniworld Boutique Luxury Cruises charters the Aria Amazon and offers two itineraries to explore the Peruvian Amazon. Though chartering is a popular way for brands to operate itineraries, some lines are going all-in by building their own ships. Abercrombie & Kent will debut a new ship, the Pure Amazon, on the river this year, while CroisiEurope will begin operating cruises on the Brazilian Amazon in 2027 on its Brasilian Dream.
Fast Company
03-07-2025
- Fast Company
These Lego-like homes are designed to float in floods
Outside a warehouse in a Los Angeles suburb, there's a fascinating experiment underway in how people can live in places at high risk of flooding. A prototype of a new type of housing has been undergoing tests in a large tank of water. The homes, made from a kit of plastic parts, are designed for flood zones: The foundation and the watertight shell of the house can float. When the water rises, the house rises, too. 'Normally, it just sits on land,' says Charles Wee, the architect behind the design. 'And then during a flood, it can actually just rise in the same position.' Wee spent most of his career working on conventional high-rise projects. But a decade ago, after visiting a relative who worked with indigenous communities in the Amazon, he decided to change direction. He'd seen how people living along the Amazon River lost their homes—simple shacks on stilts—every time the river flooded. Globally, more than a billion people face a significant risk of flooding, and that number is growing. Wee began considering how to build housing in flood plains differently. Learning from a disaster At first, Wee wasn't sure how to approach the idea of making a buoyant home. But he happened to see a photo taken after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The image showed wreckage from destroyed buildings filling the coastline. Wee noticed large blue boxes floating intact in the water. He discovered that they were molded tanks used by the fishing industry. They were cheap to produce and seamless, so water couldn't intrude. He realized that he could use the same low-cost manufacturing technique to make building parts. Wee closed his own lucrative architecture practice and founded a startup, LifeArk, to work on the new concept. The development was challenging. He wanted to make homes that would not only be resilient in floods, but that could withstand other disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes, and wildfires. After years of R&D, his team had a system that worked. It also meets the requirements of the California building code, one of the most restrictive building codes in the world. In its factory in California's Central Valley, the company now makes prefab housing parts using rotational molding, the process uses to make other hollow plastic products like coolers or playground equipment. Inside a large machine, a plastic-filled mold rotates, producing seamless roofs, doors, columns, and other parts. The shell is high-density polyethylene (HDPE), the same plastic used in products like milk jugs and shampoo bottles. It's filled with foam insulation that makes it energy efficient, strong, and buoyant. A better use for plastic Most plastic is used 'in the worst possible way,' Wee says. But one of plastic's environmental flaws—the fact that it doesn't easily break down—can be an advantage in a building. 'Plastic will last 100 years without degradation,' he says. 'It's a great material to build homes, but we use it to make shopping bags.' LifeArk's homes, which are the first to use plastic as a load-bearing material, can last longer than modular homes made from more typical building materials. At the end of a home's life, the manufacturer can fully recycle the plastic. (The company also uses around 30% postconsumer recycled material.) Plastic makes the homes resilient in earthquakes. In seismic testing on 'shake tables,' the material was flexible enough that it bent but never broke. Similarly, in a hurricane, the buildings can bend in strong winds. Making the homes resilient to fires was a bigger challenge, since plastic easily melts. But the team developed a compound that's mixed into the plastic that makes it carbonize in the event of a fire, forming a layer of black soot so the fire can't penetrate and it self-extinguishes. The Lego-like parts can be assembled into simple 8-by-8-foot modules without equipment. Then those modules can be laid out into homes. In one version of the housing, with a floating foundation and piers, the homes can adjust to floods or float permanently on water. (One proposal from the company looked at how the design could be used for ocean-based housing in the Marshall Islands to help deal with sea level rise.) In another version, the modules sit on a foundation that's raised 28 inches above the ground. The company has already built multiple projects, with others underway. But so far, the first developments haven't yet used the amphibious version. Because the concept is new, it isn't yet possible to insure. It also needs to overcome regulatory barriers. The first projects use a more standard foundation, though they also have advantages in flood zones. A new solution for supportive housing In a project in Watsonville, California, the design makes it possible to build in a flood zone. When a nonprofit in the small city wanted to build housing for people experiencing homelessness in a church parking lot, they initially planned to use another type of modular housing. But it would have cost $1 million to raise the other homes above the flood level. Because LifeArk's homes are already raised off the ground, it was far less expensive to make the housing high enough to avoid an extreme flood. The company also used the design in other supportive housing projects. In West L.A., one project that just opened on a city-owned parking lot includes 33 bedrooms and bathrooms around a central courtyard. Another project that opened last year, in an L.A. suburb, has 25 units for short-term stays for people experiencing homelessness. For supportive housing like this, the design can help significantly reduce costs. It's faster to build than other modular housing, with less labor required. The raised design also allows contractors to install utilities under the homes, rather than in trenches underground that are expensive to build. The company's first project, in another L.A. suburb, demonstrated the advantages. 'At the time, California was spending a minimum of half a million dollars a unit for housing,' Wee says. 'That was our first project, and so we made a lot of mistakes. But we still came up at least two to three times faster and at least half the cost.' As production scales up, the cost could come down further, making it more viable for use in disasters and in developing countries. And as the company builds more supportive housing projects, it's still working to make the amphibious version of the housing a reality. 'There's ample evidence that it will be far more economical in the long term to build an amphibious house in flood-prone zones than to repair homes damaged by floods,' says Wee. 'I am a strong believer that if we can crack this nut—mostly regulatory and insurance—this could open up whole new housing opportunities.' The super-early-rate deadline for Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies Awards is Friday, July 25, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today.
Washington Post
17-06-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Brazil auctions off several Amazon oil sites despite environmentalists and Indigenous protests
BRASILANDIA, Brazil — Brazil auctioned off several land and offshore potential oil sites near the Amazon River on Tuesday as it aims to expand production in untapped regions despite protests from environmental and Indigenous groups . The event came months before Brazil is to host the U.N.'s first climate talks held in the Amazon . The protesters outside Tuesday's venue warned of potential risks that oil drilling poses to sensitive ecosystems and Indigenous communities in the Amazon. A luxury Rio de Janeiro hotel hosted the auction conducted by the National Oil Agency. Most of the 172 oil blocks for sale are located in areas with no current production, such as 47 offshore locations close to the mouth of the Amazon River and two sites inland in the Amazon near Indigenous territories. Nineteen offshore blocks were awarded to Chevron, ExxonMobil, Petrobras and CNPC. The oil companies see the area as highly promising because it shares geological characteristics with Guyana, where some of the largest offshore oil discoveries of the 21st century have been made. This region is considered to have high potential risk due to strong currents and the proximity to the Amazon seashore. Under public pressure from President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva , the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources, known as IBAMA, approved an emergency plan allowing state-run Petrobras to conduct exploratory drilling in a block near the mouth of the Amazon River, the last step to grant an environmental license. 'It's regrettable and concerning that blocks are being acquired in a basin that has not yet received environmental licensing,' Nicole Oliveira, executive director of the environmental nonprofit Arayara, which tried to block the auction in court. 'This is an irresponsible move by the National Oil Agency and a very risky one for the companies involved,' Oliveira told The Associated Press. 'We will continue litigating to prevent the contracts from being signed and the blocks from being explored.' The auction wrapped up with only 34 oil blocks awarded. Brazil´s oil agency noted that the signing bonuses — one-time payments made by the winning companies — totaled $180 million, a record for auctions of this kind. An agency representative said the highest premium was for a block located near the mouth of the Amazon River, which drew a nearly 3,000% markup. Oliveira took part in a peaceful protest that gathered about 200 people outside the auction site, from environmentalists to Indigenous leaders. 'We came to Rio to repudiate the auction,' said Giovane Tapura of the Manoki, an Amazon tribe. 'We would have liked to be consulted and to see studies on how the oil drilling could affect us. None of this has been done.' In a recorded opening statement at the start of the event, Brazil's National Oil Agency said the auctions are part of the country's energy diversification strategy aimed at transitioning to a low-carbon economy and that contracts signed with the winning companies include measures to reduce carbon intensity in production activities, as well as mandatory investments in energy transition projects. Brazil has increased crude oil production, which became the country's top export for the first time last year, surpassing soybeans. The auction is part of the federal government's goal to maintain and even expand output beyond 2030, when production from current oil blocks under exploration is expected to decline. Brazil gets most of its electricity from hydropower and other green energies. The U.N. climate talks will be held in the city of Belem , close to the mouth of the Amazon. Critics say it's a contradiction that Brazil's president is pushing for increased fossil fuel production while trying to cast himself as an environmental champion. Claudio Angelo, head of international policy at Climate Observatory, a coalition of 133 environmental, civil society and academic organizations, told reporters ahead of the auction that Brazil is both undermining its own standing ahead of the climate talks and undermining climate protection efforts. 'The Brazilian government is endangering everyone's future since science has been crystal clear about the need to stop the expansion of fossil fuels everywhere in the world,' he said. ___ AP journalist Diarlei Rodrigues contributed to this report from Rio de Janeiro. ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at .
Associated Press
17-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Brazil auctions off several Amazon oil sites despite environmentalists and Indigenous protests
BRASILANDIA, Brazil (AP) — Brazil auctioned off several land and offshore potential oil sites near the Amazon River on Tuesday as it aims to expand production in untapped regions despite protests from environmental and Indigenous groups. The event came months before Brazil is to host the U.N.'s first climate talks held in the Amazon. The protesters outside Tuesday's venue warned of potential risks that oil drilling poses to sensitive ecosystems and Indigenous communities in the Amazon. A luxury Rio de Janeiro hotel hosted the auction conducted by the National Oil Agency. Most of the 172 oil blocks for sale are located in areas with no current production, such as 47 offshore locations close to the mouth of the Amazon River and two sites inland in the Amazon near Indigenous territories. Nineteen offshore blocks were awarded to Chevron, ExxonMobil, Petrobras and CNPC. The oil companies see the area as highly promising because it shares geological characteristics with Guyana, where some of the largest offshore oil discoveries of the 21st century have been made. This region is considered to have high potential risk due to strong currents and the proximity to the Amazon seashore. Under public pressure from President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources, known as IBAMA, approved an emergency plan allowing state-run Petrobras to conduct exploratory drilling in a block near the mouth of the Amazon River, the last step to grant an environmental license. 'It's regrettable and concerning that blocks are being acquired in a basin that has not yet received environmental licensing,' Nicole Oliveira, executive director of the environmental nonprofit Arayara, which tried to block the auction in court. 'This is an irresponsible move by the National Oil Agency and a very risky one for the companies involved,' Oliveira told The Associated Press. 'We will continue litigating to prevent the contracts from being signed and the blocks from being explored.' The auction wrapped up with only 34 oil blocks awarded. Still, Oliveira noted that the signing bonuses — one-time payments made by the winning companies — totaled $180 million, a record for auctions of this kind. She said the highest premium was for a block located near the mouth of the Amazon River, which drew a nearly 3,000% markup. Oliveira took part in a peaceful protest that gathered about 200 people outside the auction site, from environmentalists to Indigenous leaders. 'We came to Rio to repudiate the auction,' said Giovane Tapura of the Manoki, an Amazon tribe. 'We would have liked to be consulted and to see studies on how the oil drilling could affect us. None of this has been done.' In a recorded opening statement at the start of the event, Brazil's National Oil Agency said the auctions are part of the country's energy diversification strategy aimed at transitioning to a low-carbon economy and that contracts signed with the winning companies include measures to reduce carbon intensity in production activities, as well as mandatory investments in energy transition projects. Brazil has increased crude oil production, which became the country's top export for the first time last year, surpassing soybeans. The auction is part of the federal government's goal to maintain and even expand output beyond 2030, when production from current oil blocks under exploration is expected to decline. Brazil gets most of its electricity from hydropower and other green energies. The U.N. climate talks will be held in the city of Belem, close to the mouth of the Amazon. Critics say it's a contradiction that Brazil's president is pushing for increased fossil fuel production while trying to cast himself as an environmental champion. Claudio Angelo, head of international policy at Climate Observatory, a coalition of 133 environmental, civil society and academic organizations, told reporters ahead of the auction that Brazil is both undermining its own standing ahead of the climate talks and undermining climate protection efforts. 'The Brazilian government is endangering everyone's future since science has been crystal clear about the need to stop the expansion of fossil fuels everywhere in the world,' he said. ___ AP journalist Diarlei Rodrigues contributed to this report from Rio de Janeiro. ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
The Independent
17-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Brazil auctions off several Amazon oil sites despite environmentalists and Indigenous protests
Brazil auctioned off several land and offshore potential oil sites near the Amazon River on Tuesday as it aims to expand production in untapped regions despite protests from environmental and Indigenous groups. The event came months before Brazil is to host the U.N.'s first climate talks held in the Amazon. The protesters outside Tuesday's venue warned of potential risks that oil drilling poses to sensitive ecosystems and Indigenous communities in the Amazon. A luxury Rio de Janeiro hotel hosted the auction conducted by the National Oil Agency. Most of the 172 oil blocks for sale are located in areas with no current production, such as 47 offshore locations close to the mouth of the Amazon River and two sites inland in the Amazon near Indigenous territories. Nineteen offshore blocks were awarded to Chevron, ExxonMobil, Petrobras and CNPC. The oil companies see the area as highly promising because it shares geological characteristics with Guyana, where some of the largest offshore oil discoveries of the 21st century have been made. This region is considered to have high potential risk due to strong currents and the proximity to the Amazon seashore. Under public pressure from President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources, known as IBAMA, approved an emergency plan allowing state-run Petrobras to conduct exploratory drilling in a block near the mouth of the Amazon River, the last step to grant an environmental license. 'It's regrettable and concerning that blocks are being acquired in a basin that has not yet received environmental licensing,' Nicole Oliveira, executive director of the environmental nonprofit Arayara, which tried to block the auction in court. 'This is an irresponsible move by the National Oil Agency and a very risky one for the companies involved," Oliveira told The Associated Press. "We will continue litigating to prevent the contracts from being signed and the blocks from being explored.' The auction wrapped up with only 34 oil blocks awarded. Still, Oliveira noted that the signing bonuses — one-time payments made by the winning companies — totaled $180 million, a record for auctions of this kind. She said the highest premium was for a block located near the mouth of the Amazon River, which drew a nearly 3,000% markup. Oliveira took part in a peaceful protest that gathered about 200 people outside the auction site, from environmentalists to Indigenous leaders. 'We came to Rio to repudiate the auction,' said Giovane Tapura of the Manoki, an Amazon tribe. 'We would have liked to be consulted and to see studies on how the oil drilling could affect us. None of this has been done.' In a recorded opening statement at the start of the event, Brazil's National Oil Agency said the auctions are part of the country's energy diversification strategy aimed at transitioning to a low-carbon economy and that contracts signed with the winning companies include measures to reduce carbon intensity in production activities, as well as mandatory investments in energy transition projects. Brazil has increased crude oil production, which became the country's top export for the first time last year, surpassing soybeans. The auction is part of the federal government's goal to maintain and even expand output beyond 2030, when production from current oil blocks under exploration is expected to decline. Brazil gets most of its electricity from hydropower and other green energies. The U.N. climate talks will be held in the city of Belem, close to the mouth of the Amazon. Critics say it's a contradiction that Brazil's president is pushing for increased fossil fuel production while trying to cast himself as an environmental champion. Claudio Angelo, head of international policy at Climate Observatory, a coalition of 133 environmental, civil society and academic organizations, told reporters ahead of the auction that Brazil is both undermining its own standing ahead of the climate talks and undermining climate protection efforts. 'The Brazilian government is endangering everyone's future since science has been crystal clear about the need to stop the expansion of fossil fuels everywhere in the world," he said. ___ AP journalist Diarlei Rodrigues contributed to this report from Rio de Janeiro. ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
