The year 2004 may be characterized as a year of extremes, which^A) witnessed record prices for crude oil and gasoline, a severe hurricane season, and world energy markets that^B) were disturbed by unexpectedly high oil demand in China and continued volatility in the Middle East. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices for the near-term futures contract on the New York Mercantile Exchange soared and closed at an all-time record of more than $55 per barrel on October 22, a level about two-thirds above the $33.78-per-barrel price of crude oil at the beginning of the year. Since the October peak, WTI crude oil prices have fluctuated downward to about $42 per barrel as of December 28, 2004. Although the record high crude oil price this year can be attributed to a number of factors, the most influential of those^C) were: low U.S. crude oil inventories held in commercial storage, particularly during the early months of the year; uncertainty about the flow of Iraqi oil exports in the face of the high level of turmoil within that country; the damage inflicted on Gulf Coast and offshore oil installations following hurricanes Charley, Frances, and Ivan; unexpectedly strong world oil demand, particularly in China; and capacity constraints. Moreover, Venezuelan political instability, Nigerian labor strikes, and internal strife between the Russian government and Yukos, the giant oil company, contributed as well to keep crude oil and other petroleum prices higher this year.

Rising crude oil prices also pushed most petroleum product prices higher during 2004, including retail regular gasoline. Another noteworthy item during 2004 was record distillate fuel demand, which^D) measured nearly 4.1 million barrels per day. Even high diesel fuel prices, reaching a record (unadjusted for inflation) 221.2 cents per gallon on October 25, 2004, were not sufficient to temper strong demand that^E) was in part fueled by a still strong U.S. economy.

From This Week In Petroleum

(http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/twip/twip.asp).

Released on December 29, 2004.

The year 2004 may be characterized as a year of extremes, which witnessed record prices for crude oil and gasoline, a severe hurricane season, and world energy markets that were disturbed by unexpectedly high oil demand in China and continued volatility in the Middle East. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices for the near-term futures contract on the New York Mercantile Exchange soared and closed at an all-time record of more than $55 per barrel on October 22, a level about two-thirds above the $33.78-per-barrel price of crude oil at the beginning of the year. Since the October peak, WTI crude oil prices have fluctuated downward to about $42 per barrel as of December 28, 2004. Although the record high crude oil price this year can be attributed to a number of factors, the most influential of those were: low U.S. crude oil inventories held in commercial storage, particularly during the early months of the year; uncertainty about the flow of Iraqi oil exports in the face of the high level of turmoil within that country; the damage inflicted on Gulf Coast and offshore oil installations following hurricanes Charley, Frances, and Ivan; unexpectedly strong world oil demand, particularly in China; and capacity constraints. Moreover, Venezuelan political instability, Nigerian labor strikes, and internal strife between the Russian government and Yukos, the giant oil company, contributed as well to keep crude oil and other petroleum prices higher this year.

Rising crude oil prices also pushed most petroleum product prices higher during 2004, including retail regular gasoline. Another noteworthy item during 2004 was record distillate fuel demand, which measured nearly 4.1 million barrels per day. Even high diesel fuel prices, reaching a record (unadjusted for inflation) 221.2 cents per gallon on October 25, 2004, were not sufficient to temper strong demand that was in part fueled by a still strong U.S. economy.

From This Week In Petroleum

(http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/twip/twip.asp).

Released on December 29, 2004.

The year 2004 may be characterized as a year of extremes, which witnessed record prices for crude oil and gasoline, a severe hurricane season, and world energy markets that were disturbed by unexpectedly high oil demand in China and continued volatility in the Middle East. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices for the near-term futures contract on the New York Mercantile Exchange soared and closed at an all-time record of more than $55 per barrel on October 22, a level about two-thirds above the $33.78-per-barrel price of crude oil at the beginning of the year. Since the October peak, WTI crude oil prices have fluctuated downward to about $42 per barrel as of December 28, 2004. Although the record high crude oil price this year can be attributed to a number of factors, the most influential of those were: low U.S. crude oil inventories held in commercial storage, particularly during the early months of the year; uncertainty about the flow of Iraqi oil exports in the face of the high level of turmoil within that country; the damage inflicted on Gulf Coast and offshore oil installations following hurricanes Charley, Frances, and Ivan; unexpectedly strong world oil demand, particularly in China; and capacity constraints. Moreover, Venezuelan political instability, Nigerian labor strikes, and internal strife between the Russian government and Yukos, the giant oil company, contributed as well to keep crude oil and other petroleum prices higher this year.

Rising crude oil prices also pushed most petroleum product prices higher during 2004, including retail regular gasoline. Another noteworthy item during 2004 was record distillate fuel demand, which measured nearly 4.1 million barrels per day. Even high diesel fuel prices, reaching a record (unadjusted for inflation) 221.2 cents per gallon on October 25, 2004, were not sufficient to temper strong demand that was in part fueled by a still strong U.S. economy.

From This Week In Petroleum

(http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/twip/twip.asp).

Released on December 29, 2004.

The year 2004 may be characterized as a year of extremes, which witnessed record prices for crude oil and gasoline, a severe hurricane season, and world energy markets that were disturbed by unexpectedly high oil demand in China and continued volatility in the Middle East. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices for the near-term futures contract on the New York Mercantile Exchange soared and closed at an all-time record of more than $55 per barrel on October 22, a level about two-thirds above the $33.78-per-barrel price of crude oil at the beginning of the year. Since the October peak, WTI crude oil prices have fluctuated downward to about $42 per barrel as of December 28, 2004. Although the record high crude oil price this year can be attributed to a number of factors, the most influential of those were: low U.S. crude oil inventories held in commercial storage, particularly during the early months of the year; uncertainty about the flow of Iraqi oil exports in the face of the high level of turmoil within that country; the damage inflicted on Gulf Coast and offshore oil installations following hurricanes Charley, Frances, and Ivan; unexpectedly strong world oil demand, particularly in China; and capacity constraints. Moreover, Venezuelan political instability, Nigerian labor strikes, and internal strife between the Russian government and Yukos, the giant oil company, contributed as well to keep crude oil and other petroleum prices higher this year.

Rising crude oil prices also pushed most petroleum product prices higher during 2004, including retail regular gasoline. Another noteworthy item during 2004 was record distillate fuel demand, which measured nearly 4.1 million barrels per day. Even high diesel fuel prices, reaching a record (unadjusted for inflation) 221.2 cents per gallon on October 25, 2004, were not sufficient to temper strong demand that was in part fueled by a still strong U.S. economy.

From This Week In Petroleum

(http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/twip/twip.asp).

Released on December 29, 2004.

The year 2004 may be characterized as a year of extremes, which witnessed record prices for crude oil and gasoline, a severe hurricane season, and world energy markets that were disturbed by unexpectedly high oil demand in China and continued volatility in the Middle East. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices for the near-term futures contract on the New York Mercantile Exchange soared and closed at an all-time record of more than $55 per barrel on October 22, a level about two-thirds above the $33.78-per-barrel price of crude oil at the beginning of the year. Since the October peak, WTI crude oil prices have fluctuated downward to about $42 per barrel as of December 28, 2004. Although the record high crude oil price this year can be attributed to a number of factors, the most influential of those were: low U.S. crude oil inventories held in commercial storage, particularly during the early months of the year; uncertainty about the flow of Iraqi oil exports in the face of the high level of turmoil within that country; the damage inflicted on Gulf Coast and offshore oil installations following hurricanes Charley, Frances, and Ivan; unexpectedly strong world oil demand, particularly in China; and capacity constraints. Moreover, Venezuelan political instability, Nigerian labor strikes, and internal strife between the Russian government and Yukos, the giant oil company, contributed as well to keep crude oil and other petroleum prices higher this year.

Rising crude oil prices also pushed most petroleum product prices higher during 2004, including retail regular gasoline. Another noteworthy item during 2004 was record distillate fuel demand, which measured nearly 4.1 million barrels per day. Even high diesel fuel prices, reaching a record (unadjusted for inflation) 221.2 cents per gallon on October 25, 2004, were not sufficient to temper strong demand that was in part fueled by a still strong U.S. economy.

From This Week In Petroleum

(http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/twip/twip.asp).

Released on December 29, 2004.

“Isso de envelhecer se espalhou tanto, que os sábios desandaram a descobrir possibilidades de prolongar a vida^A), longe das marcas da decrepitude, conhecidas antes por um nome masculino, também no plural: “os ultrajes do tempo”. Surgiu então a série de vitaminas^B), e não param mais os soros, as geléias, os leites de vários fermentos, e regimes, ginásticas, massagens, banhos do maior calor ao maior frio, operações plásticas, xaropes, cápsulas, comprimidos... Tudo, entretanto, “pela hora da morte”.

Ora, a coisa mais eficiente e mais barata para melhorar o aspecto geral e o clima das pessoas de antiga permanência no mundo não será o bom humor? Quem nunca se aborrece^C) tem sempre vinte anos. Fugir dos importunos, evitar os maldizentes, desaparecer dos pessimistas, e dos que nos supõem importantes^D), e dos que nos acham sublimes, e dos que nos declaram idiotas. Nada valem os cabelos a menos por fora da cabeça. Vale tudo a calma dentro da cabeça^E).

MOREYRA, Álvaro. Havia uma oliveira no jardim.

“Isso de envelhecer se espalhou tanto, que os sábios desandaram a descobrir possibilidades de prolongar a vida, longe das marcas da decrepitude, conhecidas antes por um nome masculino, também no plural: “os ultrajes do tempo”. Surgiu então a série de vitaminas, e não param mais os soros, as geléias, os leites de vários fermentos, e regimes, ginásticas, massagens, banhos do maior calor ao maior frio, operações plásticas, xaropes, cápsulas, comprimidos... Tudo, entretanto, “pela hora da morte”.

Ora, a coisa mais eficiente e mais barata para melhorar o aspecto geral e o clima das pessoas de antiga permanência no mundo não será o bom humor? Quem nunca se aborrece tem sempre vinte anos. Fugir dos importunos, evitar os maldizentes, desaparecer dos pessimistas, e dos que nos supõem importantes, e dos que nos acham sublimes, e dos que nos declaram idiotas. Nada valem os cabelos a menos por fora da cabeça. Vale tudo a calma dentro da cabeça.

MOREYRA, Álvaro. Havia uma oliveira no jardim.

“Isso de envelhecer se espalhou tanto, que os sábios desandaram a descobrir possibilidades de prolongar a vida, longe das marcas da decrepitude, conhecidas antes por um nome masculino, também no plural: “os ultrajes do tempo”. Surgiu então a série de vitaminas, e não param mais os soros, as geléias, os leites de vários fermentos, e regimes, ginásticas, massagens, banhos do maior calor ao maior frio, operações plásticas, xaropes, cápsulas, comprimidos... Tudo, entretanto, “pela hora da morte”.

Ora, a coisa mais eficiente e mais barata para melhorar o aspecto geral e o clima das pessoas de antiga permanência no mundo não será o bom humor? Quem nunca se aborrece tem sempre vinte anos. Fugir dos importunos, evitar os maldizentes, desaparecer dos pessimistas, e dos que nos supõem importantes, e dos que nos acham sublimes, e dos que nos declaram idiotas. Nada valem os cabelos a menos por fora da cabeça. Vale tudo a calma dentro da cabeça.

MOREYRA, Álvaro. Havia uma oliveira no jardim.

“Isso de envelhecer se espalhou tanto, que os sábios desandaram a descobrir possibilidades de prolongar a vida, longe das marcas da decrepitude, conhecidas antes por um nome masculino, também no plural: “os ultrajes do tempo”. Surgiu então a série de vitaminas, e não param mais os soros, as geléias, os leites de vários fermentos, e regimes, ginásticas, massagens, banhos do maior calor ao maior frio, operações plásticas, xaropes, cápsulas, comprimidos... Tudo, entretanto, “pela hora da morte”.

Ora, a coisa mais eficiente e mais barata para melhorar o aspecto geral e o clima das pessoas de antiga permanência no mundo não será o bom humor? Quem nunca se aborrece tem sempre vinte anos. Fugir dos importunos, evitar os maldizentes, desaparecer dos pessimistas, e dos que nos supõem importantes, e dos que nos acham sublimes, e dos que nos declaram idiotas. Nada valem os cabelos a menos por fora da cabeça. Vale tudo a calma dentro da cabeça.

MOREYRA, Álvaro. Havia uma oliveira no jardim.

POLUIÇÃO!

Sombras medonhas sobre os verdes mares

Ainda existem lugares privilegiados – como certos pontos do litoral brasileiro – em que se conseguem ver os mil matizes que o sol faz refletir nas ondas do mar: azul-regata, verde-jade, azul-celeste... verde-esmeralda.

Mas, na maioria das praias próximas às grandes cidades, as águas parecem doentes: estão ficando paradas, cinzentas. Estão ficando imóveis, estáticas, plúmbeas, podres.

Não poderia ser diferente: grande parte do lixo litorâneo acaba sendo lançada diretamente nos oceanos, acumulando-se nas zonas costeiras, onde sobrevivem a flora e a fauna dos mares.

Quando a poluição dos oceanos é feita por matéria orgânica – geralmente, esgotos não tratados – há uma violenta proliferação de bactérias e microorganismos patogênicos que atacam a saúde através de diarréias, hepatites, micoses e outras doenças.

A poluição orgânica dos mares faz ainda com que as águas fiquem turvas, baixando o teor de oxigênio e aumentando a acidez.(...) Muitas espécies desaparecem e outras proliferam rapidamente. Os primeiros a morrer são as esponjas, corais, polvos, estrelas, moluscos, camarões, lagostas. Já os siris e caranguejos – amantes da imundície – sobrevivem numa boa.

Mas a poluição mais grave do mar não é a orgânica – e sim a industrial – principalmente petróleo e seus derivados. Ela provoca efeitos imprevisíveis, porque as correntes marinhas, em sua dança louca, não a arrastam para o alto mar. Os escapamentos que podem ocorrer em milhares de novos poços de petróleo que estão sendo perfurados em todo o mundo certamente contribuirão para aumentar as “marés negras”, de forma inevitável, inexorável.

(...)

Apesar de tudo, a consciência ecológica está crescendo. É possível que os nossos verdes mares não deixem (nunca!) de refletir os raios de sol em suas ondas de águas estilhaçadas – no azul de suas ondas onduladas. Águas que correm, que escorrem, que sobem, que descem...

DERENGOSKI, Paulo Ramos. Jornal do Comércio.

25 jun. a 1 jul. 2000 (adaptado).