The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Wr A SPL as | Le ate I t +X Be A AN ls a 5% TRL sv ROAR Sn SH iG FRR Fe aS DH q Kd Hy & hr Sts v ee Ay a SRAOPRNA SPR LINEN RASH IAD BUS WENSVERYF WIRCIPRNS I Bi Li WFD £40 54 edd i EE ET TE NN PORT PERRY STAR -- Wednesday, May 31, 1978 -- 9 -Local man spends six weeks in Brazil A Scugog Island business- man recently returned from a six-week trip to Brazil, and. came away with a favour- able impression of the rapid- ly changing country that dominates the South Ameri- can continent. Gary Fitchett led a group of six "businessmen from Rotary District 707 on the second half of a Canada- Brazil exchange which start- ed last year when six busi- nessmen from Brazil visited this country. (Star readers may recall a photo of the Brazilians taken last May ® when the group stayed at Mr. Fitchett's home on Scugog Island). The exchange is funded by the Rotary International Foundation and the purpose is to study the business, com- merce, political, economic and education systems of the respective countries. The "® delegates also act as "ambassadors" for their home countries to help improve the climate for understanding and co-oper- ation among nations. The Canadian group left. for Brazil March 24, and returned to Canada May 3. In an interview with the Star last week, Mr. Fitchett related some of his experi- ences and impressions. eo The Canadian group spent most of its time in the Brazil- "ian state of Parana which is in the southern part of the country. Like most parts of Brazil, Parana is in the pro- cess of rapid industrializ- ation. One hydro electric project visited by the Can- adians, a joint effort between Brazil and Paraquay, is scheduled for completion in ¢ 1982, and with an out-put of ~ 12.6 million kw, will be the largest in the world. By comparison, this pro- ject will be two and a half times larger than the hydro development at Churchill Falls. The hydro generated will be used to power the industrial sections of the country and some will be exported. The state of Parana is also an important agricultural area of the province, and Mr. ® Fitchett says that intense efforts are underway to increase the output. Large areas of agricultural land are being created by clear- ing virgin forests, and in one section the topsoil is 40 - feet thick. The fertile land, the two-crop growing season, coupled with modern agri- cultural practices help make Brazil a net exporter of food. ¥ Mr. Fitchett says the group of Canadians, which included an agricultural specialist, was amazed to learn that parts of the state produce six times as many cattle per land unit as in Canada. Unique techniques are .being used, and on one large dairy farm, they learn- ed that the land is divided into small plots, with the herd rotated daily from plot to plot to increase milk pro- duction. Brazil, of course is famous for its coffee production, and Mr. Fitchett says he learned that ironically frost damage to the coffee crops a couple of years may end up hurting Canadian exports of hogs to Japan. He explained why. After the frosts hit the coffee plantations, many farmers started to plant soy beans, The production of soya has increased to the point where large quantities are now being exported to Japan for use as feed for hogs. This in turn is helping to increase the number of hogs in Japan, which in a few years could mean that Japan will no longer need to im- port pork from Canada. All told the group spent five weeks in Parana state, visiting farms, businesses and factories. While wages for factory workers are very low by Canadian standards and prices the same or more expensive for consumer goods, many factories offer their workers extensive fringe benefits; everything from day care centres, sub- sidized stores, and dentists who works right in the fac- tory area fixing the teeth of the workers, free of charge. New cities that are spring- ing up in the state are plan- ned with large industrial areas, usually downwind from the residential areas, and the state and federal government is undertaking massive housing projects for the industrial workers. LANGUAGE Portuguese is the language of Brazil, and none of the Canadians had an extensive knowledge of the language. However, many of their hosts spoke English, and when necessary interpreters were provided. Mr. Fitchett seemed to know more about Canada' than Canadians know about Brazil. He says says that during the trip he = there is a great deal of inter- Boaters charged managed to learn a little Portuguese, enough in fact, to deliver an impromptu after dinner speech to a group of Brazilians. He adds that his knowledge of French was a great help and was often used as a common language. While in Parana, the group members stayed with Rotarians and their families. Some knew a little English and some knew none: at all. Mr. Fitchett says that Brazilians for the most part The OPP patrol boat was on lake Scugog over the .weekend and officers laid two charges. Joseph Meszaros of "RR1 Nestleton is -charged with dangerous operation of a boat. The father of a fifteen year old youth has been charged with not providing proper life-jackets as police est in the events in Quebec, and people often asked about the Margaret and Pierre Continued on page, 16 found all five occupants either were not wearing jackets, or having jackets not approved for proper safety. The OPP reported a quiet weekend in Scugog with about 15 liquor seizures and one charge of creating a disturbance following an in- cident at the Springfest at Scugog Arena. THURSDAY - FRIDAY - SATURDAY JUNE1-2-3 The Port Perry Star Co. Ltd., is pleased to announce that renovations at 235 Queen Street, are now complete and our retail business, "STAR STATIONERY & OFFICE SUPPLY" has been re-located at the home of your local newspaper, "THE STAR". We invite you to come in and see our bright, new offices and enlarged office supply inventory. * OFFICE FURNITURE * BUSINESS SUPPLIES * POCKET BOOKS '% SCHOOL SUPPLIES * MAGAZINES * CALCULATORS * TYPEWRITERS FREE DRA w BATES CAVALIER Telephone Index a VALUE $24.95 * FILE CABINETS * WEDDING INVITATIONS * RUBBER STAMPS * CHILDREN'S BOOKS File Box on top cabinet wit VALUE h shelf below. $43.00 an port perry Qf Stationery & Office Supply 235 Queen St. - Port Perry - 985-7383