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From: cramer@kontron.UUCP (Clayton Cramer)
Newsgroups: net.movies
Subject: Re: The Emerald Forest - how based-on-truth is it?
Message-ID: <410@kontron.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 24-Jul-85 22:54:55 EDT
Article-I.D.: kontron.410
Posted: Wed Jul 24 22:54:55 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 27-Jul-85 01:30:42 EDT
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Organization: Kontron Electronics, Irvine, CA
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> 
> First of all, go see it, it is very well done and enjoyable.  Convincing, too,
> although I am not really in a position to dispute any of the details. 
> 
> I would really like to know how much of this film is, as advertised,
> "based on a true story".  I have a feeling that maybe the extent of it is
> that yes, they did build a really big dam in South America once.
> Does anyone know any of the actual facts?
> 
> Steve Hayman

There's a lot of big development that was done in the Brazilian rain forest
in the 1970s, and the beginning of the 1980s --- heavily subsidized by the
Brazilian government.  Not surprisingly, many of the commercial ventures
failed --- most notably, Daniel K. Ludwig's "give me a parcel the size of
Connecticut and I'll make us all rich growing lumber" estate.

I have read that the assertions made in the movie that the Brazilian
rain forest makes 40% of the world's oxygen is bunk, because most of that
oxygen gets consumed decaying dying vegetation and animals.  (Besides
which, Cousteau said a few years back that the oceans make 70% of the
world's oxygen.  Gee, that adds up to 110% even before you include the
rest of the world.)