VGI Risk Project proposal in Paraná Orbis has identified a great opportunity for success in this project if implemented in the Iguaçu River and its affluents due to the facts below:

Curitiba and Metropolitan Region (RMC) Curitiba is a great over 1,5 million people city in South Brazil / capital of Parana State. Known internationally for its planning, especially in transportation, Curitiba and its Metropolitan Area also have important water sources, including the Iguaçu River’s headwater.

Iguaçu is the largest river in Paraná State. It rises named “Iraizinho” near the “Serra do Mar” (Mountain of Sea) in Piraquara (one of the Curitiba Metropolitan Area towns) and cuts Paraná State from East to West. It flows over 1,320 Km and on the border of Brazil with Argentina forms its greatest fall: the Iguaçu Falls. Besides being the most important river in Paraná it is strategic to the country because it is the source of about 7% of the electricity produced in Brazil - one of the largest contributor to the world electrical power. There are in its course five hydroelectric dams.

Unfortunately, Iguaçu River is the second most polluted river in Brazil (just behind the Tietê, in São Paulo). Nowadays, around 80% of its pollution is produced by domestic sewage and diffuse pollution. Industrial waste is 20%. Across Curitiba Metropolitan Area, the river receives wastewater of 2 million inhabitants. By leaving Curitiba, Iguaçu River is almost dead due to the garbage accumulated on its margins (iron, mercury and manganese waste ). 75 Km far from Curitiba, the river is back to life. In Porto Amazonas, for example, there are fishes again. Cities of middle Iguaçu collect water for domestic use.

Shares in favor of Iguaçu River Nowadays, due to pollution, there are many protection plans to Iguaçu River. Curitiba Municipality will invest EUR8 million to build two parks along the river and plus EUR5 milion in basic sanitation constructions. There is an increasing number of campaigns, websites, blogs and popular pressure for protection of the river. Tools and innovative mechanisms to encourage participation and social control still lack.

Possible Partners in Parana to VGI Risk project Municipality – “Olho d'água” Project (for Iguaçu revitalization): project to relocate houses along the river margin, sanitation infrastructure, environmental education and improve water quality; Globo Paraná and HSBC – “Águas do Amanhã” (Tomorrow’s Water): the most important Paraná communication group and a worldwide bank have joined forces in a website for social mobilization to preserve Iguaçu River in the whole state;Águas do Amanhã

Possible Partners in Parana to VGI Risk project Itaipu – “Cultivating Good Water”“Cultivating Good Water” Itaipu is the world’s largest hydroelectric power plant and runs a lot of projects in favor of the environment including the “Cultivating Good Water”. A program based on national and planetary documents seeks to establish criteria and conditions to guide the company's social-environmental initiatives related to the conservation of natural resources and focused on the quality and quantity of water and on people quality of life. Orbis maintains a good relationship with universities, the Federation of Industries, technology laboratories and social organizations.

CICI CICI is an International Conference about cities innovation. It will take place in Curitiba between May 17 th – 20 th. The event involves key-note speakers from 5 continents and the 2011 edition expects to gather over 4 thousand participants to contribute on building a new urban environment. Important Events about Environmental Risks in Brazil In the coming months will take place in Brazil important events to discuss enviromental risks that Orbis intend participating : XIV th IWRA World Water Congress will take place between September 25-29, 2011 in Porto de Galinhas/Recife, PE, Brazil. This year the central themes are: adaptive water management; water resources and global change; governance and water law and also knowledge systems. World Water Congress

Rio + 20 The Conference will take place in Brazil on June 4 th -6 th, 2012 to mark the 20 th anniversary of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), in Rio de Janeiro, and the 10 th anniversary of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, South Africa. Important Events about Environmental Risks in Brazil World Cup (2014) and Olympic Games (2016).

Orbis The Regional Base Observatory of Indicators of Sustainability – ORBIS, was set up on May 2004 with the support given by public, social and business leaders. The main actions are: 1. Organizing and monitoring a system of sustainability indicators; 2. Carrying out studies, analyses and knowledge; 3. Support discussion and decision-making process on the course the region should take. Multidisciplinary Staff: Administrator Cartographer Engineer Statistic Information Managers Webdesigner Systems programmer Journalist Project Analyst