SILK ROADS, RAIL AND SEABORNE TRADE

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...Despite this forecast growth, the existing rail links between China and Europe are likely to remain niche options. Steve Saxon, a logistics expert from McKinsey in Shanghai, summarizes it nicely: “Compared to sea freight, the volume of goods transported to Europe overland will always remain small.”  Read more at

https://www.maritime-executive.com/editorials/can-the-new-silk-road-compete-with-the-maritime-silk-road

We wish all customers, friends, readers and followers:

BRAZIL, OIL POLLUTION

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OIL POLLUTION, BRAZIL

Despite of high media and public interest in this subject, to unveil the real polluter of heavy oil washed up at the northeast coastlines in Brazil, resulting in a most unprecedented incident and worst damages to the marine environment.

The International Tankers Owners pollution Federation -ITOPF is advisoring the Brazilian institutions, such IBAMA and Navy to handle this case. Bearing in mind of some tankers ships has been appointed as liable for the disaster, the international legal frameworks, comprise of several rules of civil liabailities.

Among these entangled regulations, we may highlight two main conventions to be applied at this case: International Convention on Civil Libilities for Oil Pollution Damage (1969 CLC) and International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation of oil pollution damages ( 1971 fund convention).

We are convinced that whereby detected liability of the owner of the polluting vessel, shall be charged and supplemented by additional compensation available from a fund, to the Brazilian government. Read more at....

http://www.itopf.org/news-events/news/article/240/

O LIVRE ARBÍTRIO

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Leiamos o texto abaixo, com atenção:

"....Oh! havemos de persuadi-los de que não serão verdadeiramente livres senão abdicando da sua liberdade em nosso favor. Pois bem! Diremos a verdade ou mentiremos? Eles próprios se convencerão de que falamos a verdade, porque se hão-de lembrar da escravatura e da perturbação em que os tinha lançado a Tua liberdade. A independência, o pensamento livre, a ciência, hão-de perdê-los num tal labirinto, hão-de pô-los em presença de tais prodígios, de tais enigmas, que uns, rebeldes, furiosos, se destruirão a si próprios, outros, rebeldes, mas fracos, multidão de cobardes e de miseráveis, se hão-de arrastar aos nossos pés em clamores:

«Sim, tínheis razão, só vós possuís o seu segredo e a vós regressamos; salvai-nos de nós mesmos!» Sem dúvida, ao receberem de nós os pães, verão bem que são os seus os que tomamos, os seus, ganhos pelo seu próprio trabalho, para os distribuirmos, sem nenhum milagre; verão bem que não mudamos as pedras em pão, mas o recebê-lo das nossas mãos dar-lhes-á mais prazer do que o próprio pão. Hão-de lembrar-se de que outrora esse pão, fruto do seu trabalho, se lhes mudava em pedra nas mãos, ao passo que depois, quando voltaram a nós, as pedras se transformaram em pão. Compreenderão o valor da submissão definitiva. E, enquanto o não compreenderem, os homens serão infelizes..."

O texto acima descrito é parte dos excertos extraído da obra de "Fiodor Dostoievski, intitulada - Os irmãos Karamazov, publicada em 1879-1880". Retrata o dialogo entre os irmãos Ivan e Aliócha, no poema denominado - O Grande Inquisidor -.

Apesar do tempo, a narrativa nos remete a pensarmos em nossas escolhas e a maneira como a fazemos. Mostra também uma desconstrução da moral e das leis como as conhecemos e o surgimento de uma verdade alternativa. 

Este discurso é bastante difundido na política mundial, principalmente com viés ideológico de esquerda, em afirmar que o mal do mundo são aqueles que não querem se submeter ao governo deles, assim, precisam ser "restaurados" para o convívio social.

A narrativa é um momento de inflexão aos tempos estranhos em que vivemos hoje. Mas...há esperança.

Paulo Silvano

Lawyer | Consultant

THE PARLANCE, THE SPEECH AND THE METHOD

                                               image credits/google image

THE PARLANCE, THE SPEECH AND THE METHOD

The building of a logical thought, the effort of syntactic structuring and the performance in the sense of conveying the contents, enable the sender of the message, as protagonist, the main purpose is to entice the recipient to adhere the new tenets of ideas and disseminate it to his peers, mainly the whole civil society

The paragraph herein up, as well as the phrases set up in principle, seems to forego a logical structure in its more colloquial form of interpretation. But this is the key purpose of first part of this article. Ascertain a thought or saying something can happen in many ways, once circumvented by impressive, figures of speech. Press, social media and most of wing left, has master this prerogative, as important tool to probe the throng.

Let´s go to practical example: the second quarter Brazilian GDP growth figures was 0.4%, the trade agreement signed with the European Union, the approval of the social security reform in the national congress and the impending, hailed and uptake of Brazil as member of OECD. Despite these prominent spates of good news, driving the country to be one of major international players. However, this news, when spread by the mainstream media, always comes added by the conjunction "But" ...

These whole events, are happening in the sitting government and also befall on the erstwhile one. However, (then, language becomes metaphysical) once that the effects of these mishaps, though perceived, do not materialize overwhelmingly in the multitude.

First, because the outcomes do not immediately reach out the taxpayer's pocket. If it does, is very smooth, almost a slippage of credit outlook. Taking as an example the government allowance of withdrawal part of the "FGTS” amount, by the workers, which can give a relief and stimulus on the economy.

Another important, Brazilian asset, the " car wash" operations. Hated by most of politicians and some businessmen. On the other hand, beloved by the people and desired by the mainstream media, which exploits the good results in its own interests, sometimes for, sometimes against.

Thus, the logic of discourse tends to change to classical or aletic logic (derived from the Greek word alethéa "truth") where the arguments will be true if the facts are true or false if not verified in accordance with what was written. . (ALFRED Tarski - the semantic conception of truth, SP / UNESP, 2007. Apud CARVALHO, Paulo de Barros - Tax Law, Language and Method.) Means that, recipient must vet the primary sources to reach the truth.

In summary, the parlance and speeches devised by part of press and "think tank" are biased and bound to a methodology, a kind of syllabus. Readers must be very attentive to the content of discourse to understand its form, the underlying ideological charge, and for what purpose it was constructed.

By

Paulo Silvano

Lawyer | Maritime and Ports affairs

paulosilvano.juridico@gmail.com

TELL US THE FACT

TELL US THE FACT

I tell you! I tell you that the Amazonia´s burning footage, rebound and splurging in the social media and press is a misunderstanding and does not represent the truth. In fact, there is natural and seasonal burnings during the dry months, June July and august, considered as the amazonic summer. However, this year is getting worse than normal, stated INPE (official environmental office in Brazil).

Despite the seasonal dry, also occur, deforestation and criminal burnings by illegal farmers and loggers. Brazilian Federal government, together with Federal prosecutors (MP) have already opened an investigation on illegal deforestation and surge of intentional burning fires.

The last but not least, the national congress and governors of major’s state hit by blaze are vetting a strategic plan to be enforced by law to mitigate and reduce the criminal burnings and deforestation. The world is by no means unaware, that Brazil is the greatest global barnyard and will brace to supply food for approximately 8 billion peoples across the globe.

Therefore, as an important player in worldwide commodities market, Brazil is fully committed to embrace the default rule, to plays down and avert the global warming and comply with the sustainable environment treaty.

The celebrities, "think tank", media, plenipotentiary and entourage are always welcome in Brazil to probe our facilities and see the new world of opportunities and market opening for the entrepreneurs and long-term investors.

But, please, do not spread fire and blaze that burn the ideas, pleading and reasonings. Search the primary sources and find facts. Come to Brazil!

By:

Paulo Silvano

WHO IS THE CHARTERER?

https://mynorthwest.com/1461525/petrobras-to-supply-fuel-to-iranian-ships-brazil-top-court/

Brazilian supreme court on award, imposed an obligation to the giant state oil Petrobras to supply fuel oil to Iranians vessels lying at anchorage. Therefore, at this odd import and export negotiations, something still must be brought to light. for instance: Who is the Charterer? Assuming that, Brazilian importers bought urea from the Iranians vendors and in turn, will export corn in bulk to Iran.

Bearing in mind that  majors stakeholders and players in foreign trade are fully aware that Iran sanctions are enforce since the beginning of American´s hostages crises in 1979. Embracing a little bit relief in Obama´s government and again facing hard sanctions applied by Trump´s administration against the Iranian government.

I do not know the terms of contract, but suppose that buyers in Brazil decided to buy on FOB " free on board" terms, the responsibilities to arrange sea transport and delivery the cargo at destination port shall be held on sellers/owners account. Bunkers (fuel oil) in this case also should be at vessels Owners account.

However, should the Brazilian buyers and exporters, which seems to be the same claimants in court. Agreed to contract/fixture the sea transportation and sign in time charter, an Iranian flag vessel, the spot risks should be deeper calculated in order to avoid furthers setbacks

Claimants argued that the goods (corn in bulk) are not in sanctions list, really don´t. Nonetheless, the vessels flying the Iranian flag is target in US list according to OFAC (Office foreign assets Control) and penalties in breach these sanctions are severe.

Hope that Petrobras may be well succeeded and will not experiment any damages in this lawful imbroglio.

edited by 

Paulo Silvano

Lawyer and Maritime Consultancy