Posts from January 2009

Brazil Least Affected by Crisis

Posted by Rachel No Comments
Jan 16 2009

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) released a report recently indicating that Brazil is the country least affected by the worldwide economic crisis.

The OECD uses an index based on the number 100: countries with indexes below 100 that are contracting are considered countries in a slowdown, while countries with indexes below 100 that are growing are considered in recovery. Meanwhile, countries with indexes above 100 that are contracting are considered in decline.

Brazil is the only country that maintained a score above 100 for all of 2008. Scored at 104.1 in July, the number declined over the next few months but was still above 100 at 101.2 in November. As such, the Brazilian economy is considered “in decline,” but is doing better than other economies like Russia which hit 89.8 points in November, or China at 88.5 points in the same period.

Evidence of Brazil’s strong economy includes the booming export sector, which earned US$574 million in December alone, as well as exports of oil which reached 620,000 barrels a day in the same period.

New Biofuel Discovery in the Amazon

Posted by Rachel No Comments
Jan 15 2009

Brazilian engineer Otoniel Duarte has made an important discovery during a study in the northern state of Roraima: he found that a species of Amazon palm tree, the palmeira inajá, is capable of producing oil that can be used for biofuel.

The inajá palm is a close relative of the dende palm, native to Africa, which can produce up to 5,000 liters of oil per hectar. Though the inajá isn’t as productive–it only produces 3,500 liters per hectar–it can be grown all over the Amazon basin. Not only does the palm tree produce oil, but it is also advantageous for the environment, since it is a source of food for birds and mammals. Also, it grows best in areas with lots of light, so deforested areas are ideal for planting the tree.

As a result, the tree could serve as a solution for farmers who could use the inajá as an alternative crop and could cease deforesting activities. The tree is already planted in plots by cattle ranchers, to provide shade and food for the cattle.

For more information about the discovery, see the Embrapa site here.

Brazil in the Headlines

Posted by Rachel No Comments
Jan 14 2009

Today we’re going to take a look at the headlines about Brazil:

Try, try again

Posted by Rachel 2 Comments
Jan 13 2009

There are several different ways to translate the English verb “try” into Portuguese, so today we’re going to take a look at them.

1. tentar: try as in make an effort to do something

Vou tentar terminar o projeto logo. I’m going to try to finish the project soon.

Ele tentou entrar no site de novo. He tried to open the website again.

2. pretender: try in terms of intending to do something

Ela pretende ser médica. She intends to become a doctor.

Eles pretendem ir na festa. They intend to go to the party.

3. provar: try in terms of food or clothing

Provei o pernil e não gostei. I tried the pork and I didn’t like it.

Prove a camisa – é muito linda. Try the shirt on – it’s really pretty.

4. experimentar: also means to try in terms of food or clothing

Ela gosta de experimentar comidas diferentes. She likes to try different foods.

Elas estão experimentando os vestidos. They’re trying on the dresses.

Beach Democracy

Posted by Rachel No Comments
Jan 12 2009

Though Brazil is a highly stratified society, one thing Brazilians pride themselves on is the democracy of their beaches. Unlike other locations like restaurants, clubs, and stores, the beaches are open to all, and all beaches in Brazil are considered public. The beach is supposedly a place where people of any social class can feel welcome. According to famous Carioca singer Fernanda Abreu, the beach “is where poor people, rich people, ugly people, pretty people, fat people, skinny people, black people, white people, children, the elderly, gays, straight people, transvestites, Brazilians, foreigners, Cariocas, good boys and criminals can meet.”

However, according to a survey done by O Globo newspaper in Rio de Janeiro, the beach isn’t quite as democratic as many believe it to be, at least in Rio. The survey showed that although Cariocas of all social classes feel comfotable at the beach, they usually go to specific beaches and sometimes even specific points on the beach. In Ipanema, for example, Posto 9 is known for being the spot for the young and wealthy, while farther down the beach in Arpoador, the crowd is mostly working class.

In the end, the survey showed that the beachgoers only felt at home when they were at their “regular spot” on the beach with people like them. In the end, Rio’s beach democracy is one more of a segregated democracy.

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