South American Stocks

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2009-06-14T12:55:00.000-07:00

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V Winner Post #1- People of Brazil

2008-08-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

More about Brazil.

Brazil's population is very diverse, comprising many races and ethnic groups. In general, Brazilians trace their origins from four sources of migration: Amerindians, Europeans, Africans and Asians.

Brazil has conducted a periodical population census since 1872. Since 1940, this census has been carried out decennially. Scanned versions of the forms for each census distributed in Brazil since 1960 are available on-line from IPUMS International.

Cities in Brazil, except for the state of São Paulo, are usually not arranged in a single network, but rather on various export paths to seaside ports. Some geographers have called this an "archipelago" of cities, and the most important cities are on the coast or close to it. State capitals are also each the largest city in its state, except for Palmas, the new capital of the recently created state of Tocantins, and Florianópolis, the capital of Santa Catarina. There are also non-capital metropolitan areas in São Paulo state (Campinas, Santos and Paraíba Valley), Minas Gerais (Steel Valley), Rio Grande do Sul (Sinos Valley), and Santa Catarina (Itajaí Valley).

São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are far larger than any other Brazilian city. São Paulo's influence in most economic aspects can be noted in a national (and even international) scale; other Brazilian metropolises are second tier, even though Rio de Janeiro (partially due to its former status as the national capital) still hosts various large corporations' headquarters, besides being Brazil's cultural center with respect to soap operas and film production.

Immigration has been a very important demographic factor in the formation, structure and history of the population in Brazil, influencing culture, economy, education, racial issues, etc. Brazil has received the third largest number of immigrants in the Western Hemisphere, after the United States and Argentina.

Brazil's structure, legislation and settlement policies for arriving immigrants were much less organized than in Canada and the United States at the time. Nevertheless, an Immigrant's Hostel (Hospedaria dos Imigrantes) was built in 1886 in São Paulo, and quick admittance and recording routines for the throngs of immigrants arriving by ship at the seaports of Vitória, Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Paranaguá, Florianópolis and Porto Alegre were established. The São Paulo State alone processed more than 2.5 million immigrants in its almost 100 years of continuous operation. People of more than 70 different nationalities were recorded.

Following the trend of several other countries in the Americas, which encouraged immigration from many countries, Brazil quickly became a melting pot of races and nationalities, probably the second largest in the world after the USA, but being peculiar in the sense of having the highest degree of intermarriage in the world. Immigrants found a strong social and cultural tolerance toward inter-racial marriage, including large numbers of Mulattoes (white and black), Caboclos (Indian and White) and mixed European, African and Indian people, though it was not accompanied by an entire lack of racism.

Correspondingly, the same mentality reflected in low psychological and social barriers regarding intermarriage between Europeans, Middle Easterners and Asians of several origins, as well as between people of different religions.
In part, the population descends from early European settlers — chiefly Portuguese; African (Yoruba, Ewe, Bantu, and others), and assimilated indigenous peoples (mostly Tupi and Guarani, but also of many other ethnic groups). Trans-ethnic marriages and concubinage have been common and well accepted ever since the first Portuguese settlers arrived. Starting in the late 19th century Brazil received substantial immigration from several other countries, mainly what are now the countries of Italy, Germany, Spain, Poland, Lebanon and Syria (mostly Christians), Ukraine, Japan, the People's Republic of China and Korea. Jewish people, both from Ashkenazi and Sephardi origin, form considerably large communities, especially in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.

The descendants of more recent European immigrants, particularly the Germans, Italians and Poles, are mainly concentrated in the southern part of the country, in the states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná, and the most populate, São Paulo; these states have a large majority of people of European descent. In the rest of the country, most of the white population is of older Portuguese settler stock. In the mid-southern states of Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul and in the Federal District of Brasilia, the number of whites is somewhat equal to the number of Afro-Brazilian and mixed race Brazilians.

In the Northeast, which received large masses of African slaves to work in sugarcane, tobacco and cotton plantations, people of African and mixed-race descent are dominant. The city of Salvador da Bahia, for example, is considered one of the largest black cities of the world. In the Northwest (covering largely the Brazilian Amazon), a great part of the population has distinguishable ethnic characteristics that emphasize their Amerindian roots. Other ethnic groups have merged with the Indigenous tribes there. This region is not densely populated, and "caboclos", people of mixed native and European descent, are a small part of the entire Brazilian population.

The Japanese are the largest Asian group in Brazil. In fact, Brazil has the largest Japanese population outside Japan, with 1.5 million Japanese-Brazilians, most of them living in São Paulo. Some Chinese and Koreans also settled Brazil. Most Chinese came from mainland China, but others came from Taiwan and Hong Kong, and also from Portuguese-speaking Macau—these Chinese from Macau could speak and understand Portuguese, and it was not hard for them to adjust to Brazilian life. Those immigrant populations and their descendants still retain some of their original ethnic identity, however they are not closed communities and are rapidly integrating into mainstream Brazilian society: for instance, very few of the third generation can understand their grandparents' languages.

There are also a large number of Brazilians of Arab descent (estimated at 10 million people), most of Christian Lebanese or Syrian descent.
According to the 2006 census, White Brazilians make up 49.7% of Brazil's population, or 93.096 million people.

Whites are found in the entire territory of Brazil, although the main concentrations are found in the South and Southeastern parts of the country. White Brazilians are all people who are total or mostly descended from White immigrants.

Up to 1800, close to one million Europeans had left for Brazil, most of them colonial settlers from Portugal. The boom of the immigration occurred in the 19th and 20th centuries, when nearly five million Europeans immigrated to Brazil, most of them Italians, Portuguese, Germans and Spaniards.

Although White Brazilians make up the majority of the population, a large number of them have some Amerindian and/or African ancestry (similar admixture are found in White Americans and White Argentines). Today, White Brazilians come from a very diverse background, which includes:

The Arab Brazilian population is estimated at about 10 million people, mostly Syrians and Lebanese people.

The Dutch were among the Europeans settling in Brazil during the 17th century. From 1630 to 1554, the Dutch controlled the northeast coast of Brazil, establishing their colonial capital in Recife. However, they had a minor influence in Brazil's ethnicity.

The first Germans arrived in Brazil in 1824. Most of them established themselves in rural communities across Southern Brazil, such as São Leopoldo, Novo Hamburgo, Blumenau and Pomerode. In states of the south, such as Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, they may represent as much as 35% of the population. [17]

Italians started arriving in Brazil in 1875. First they settled in rural communities across Southern Brazil. In the early 20th century, they mostly settled in the coffee plantations in the Southeast. 25 million Brazilians are of Italian origin, the largest numbers outside of Italy itself, most of them descended from Northern Italians.

Poles came in significant numbers to Brazil after 1870. Most of them settled in the State of Paraná, working as small farmers.

Most Brazilians are full or partly of Portuguese ancestry. They started arriving in 1500, the immigration grew in the 18th century and the boom occurred in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Spaniards came in large numbers to Brazil, starting in the late 19th century. Most of them were attracted to work in the coffee plantations in the State of São Paulo. Today there is an estimated 15 million Brazilians of direct Spanish descent.

According to a survey, the main ancestries claimed by White Brazilians are:
§ 45.53% Brazilian ancestry (mostly people of distant Portuguese background).
§ 15.72% Italian
§ 14.50% Portuguese
§ 6.42% Spanish
§ 5.51% German
§ 4.80% Amerindian (self-declared Whites who claimed to be part Indian)
§ 1.88% African or Black (self-declared Whites who claimed to be part Black)
§ 0.72% Arab
§ 0.62% Japanese (self-declared Whites who claimed to be part Japanese)
§ 0.25% Jewish
§ 4.05% others

V Winner Post #2- Tourism to Brazil

2008-08-30T06:30:00.000-07:00

A rich popular music, the best soccer in the planet, beautiful people, happy and hopeful, almost 8000 kilometers of beaches blessed by sun most of the year. During decades, Brazil didn’t pay attention to the tourism, imagining that, naturally, sooner or later, tourists would be in huge lines waiting to visit Brazil. But this didn’t happen and was necessary a long period to realize two facts why the area wasn’t successful. The first one is that Brazil doesn’t have exclusivity about the beauty of the planet and the second one is that without serious investments in tourism – promoting the image abroad for the improvement of the infrastructure to host the tourists. - The country takes the risk of staying for always in a second division in of the richest areas, dynamics and competition of the global economy.

The shock of reality helped Brazil to wake up in the tourism market. In the last years, thanks to the effort of a group of public and private areas, the country left the condition of promises to transform into a serious competitive market . The statistics already show the results, and are very relevant. According to the OMT- World Organization of Tourism, while the number of passengers of international trips raised around 50% in the planet between 1995 and 2005, the growth registered in Brazil at the same time was 170%. The reason of the rise of visitors, the exchange generated by the tourism got a record number of 4.3 billions of dollars. Result: Tourism is the fifth major commercial product of Brazil, behind only of iron minerals, oil, soy and automobiles.

The money brought by the tourists helped to move the market that earns more than 100Billions of Reais a year and employs more than 2 millions of people in the country. Isn’t coincidence that Brazil got the eyes of the big international hotel’s groups. Since a decade to now, more than 100 internationals chains got in Brazil. They are responsible for 2 of the 10 new establishments that are being built. Brazil was in the 5th place in the list of the 10 best country to the tourists, behind China, US, Morocco and Argentina, being in front of Spain and Greece.

Today, according to the OMT, Brazil is the 36th major destiny of the world in terms of visitors, and the 39th in terms of profits in the area. The development of national tourism faced a lot of problems with the infrastructure, for example the air blackout. That generated between the year of 2005 and 2006 a down number of visitors to Brazil from 5, 4 millions of people to 5, 1 millions. The first World Rank of tourism was analyzed 124 nations, being judged fundamental topics in the tourist industry, for example safety and infrastructure. The winners were Switzerland, Austria and Germany. Brazil got the 59th place, behind of countries like Bahrain, Costa Rica and Estonia. According to the analysts the problems with violence, the road’s bad conditions and the delays in airports are the causes that were more negative to the evaluation. The crises in the airports its only one topic of the long historic problems. The air transportation is the most used by the foreign tourists that visits Brazil, three in four visitors gets there by airplanes. Moreover, there are huge concentrations in the airports of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro: 87% of the international flights happens in the airports of Cumbica, in Sao Paulo, or The Galeao in Rio. At the moment, however, the deficiency of the infrastructure its what have more created problems in the airports. With the growth of the demand in the last years, the airport aren’t able to support it all. Since 2003, the Brazilian Company of Infrastructure area (INFRAERO) invested 2, 4 billions of Reais in operations and constructions to the improvements of 19 terminals in the country.

* Our first two posts covered people and tourism- the next two will cover politics and economy.

Stay Tuned- and feel free to post your own article or comment on any posted thus far.

V Winner Post #3- Politics of Brazil

2008-08-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer: As is the case in many of our Brazil posts- much of the content is Brazilian-based research. As such, ignore grammatical imperfections.

Politics of Brazil takes place in a framework of a federal presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Brazil is both head of state and head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of the National Congress. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. Brazil is divided in 26 states and a federal district. Throughout its history, Brazil has struggled to build a democratic and egalitarian society, despite its origins as a plantation colony and the strong influence of slavery.

In 2002, on his fourth try, Lula was elected president. In part his victory was derived from the considerable unpopularity of Cardoso's second term, which failed to decrease the economic inequality, and in part from a softening of his and the party's radical stance, including a vice-presidential candidate from the Liberal Party, acceptance of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) accord agreed to by the previous government and a line of discourse friendly to the markets.

Despite some achievements on solving part of the country's biggest problems, his term was plagued by multiple corruption scandals that rocked his cabinet, forcing some members to resign their posts.

In 2006 Lula regained part of his popularity and ran for re-election. After almost winning on the first round, he won the run-off against Geraldo Alckmin from Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), by a 20 million vote’s margin. Brazil is divided into two types of sub national units: states and municipalities.

Brazilian states are semi-autonomous self-governing entities organized with complete administration branches, relative financial independence and their own set of symbols, similar to those owned by the nation itself. Despite their relative autonomy they all have the same model of administration, as set by the Constitution. The states are:

§ Acre
§ Alagoas
§ Amapá
§ Amazonas
§ Bahia
§ Ceará
§ Distrito Federal
§ Espírito Santo
§ Goiás
§ Maranhão
§ Mato Grosso
§ Mato Grosso do Sul
§ Minas Gerais
§ Pará
§ Paraíba
§ Paraná
§ Pernambuco
§ Piauí
§ Rio de Janeiro
§ Rio Grande do Norte
§ Rio Grande do Sul
§ Rondônia
§ Roraima
§ Santa Catarina
§ São Paulo
§ Sergipe
§ Tocantins

States hold elections every four years and exercise a considerable amount of power. The 1988 constitution allows states to keep their own taxes, and mandates regular allocation of a share of the taxes collected locally by the federal government.

The Executive role is held by the Governador (Governor) and his appointed Secretários (Secretaries); the Legislative role is held by the Assembléia Legislativa (Legislative Assembly); and the Judiciary role, by the Tribunal de Justiça (Law Court). The governors and the members of the assemblies are elected, but the members of the Judiciary are appointed by the governor from a list provided by the current members of the State Law Court containing only judges (these are chosen by merit in exams open to anyone with a Law degree). The name chosen by the governor must be approved by the Assembly before inauguration. The 1988 Constitution has granted the states the greatest amount of autonomy since the Old Republic.

Each of the 27 governors must achieve more than 50 per cent of the vote, including a second round run-off between the top two candidates if necessary. In contrast to the federal level, state legislatures are unicameral, although the deputies are elected through similar means, involving an open-list system in which the state serves as one constituency. State level elections occur at the same time as those for the presidency and Congress. In 2002, candidates from eight different parties won the gubernatorial contest while 28 parties are represented in the country’s state legislatures. The next set of elections took place in 2006.

The most important Brazilian states (in terms of population and economic power) are São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, Paraná, Bahia, Pernambuco and Pará.Brazil has no clear distinction between towns and cities (in effect, the Portuguese word cidade means both). The only possible difference is regarding the municipalities that have a Law Court and those that do not. The first are called Sedes de Comarca (Comarca being the territory under the rule of that Court). Other than this, only size and importance differs one from another.

The municipality (município) is a territory comprising one urban area, the sede (seat), from which it takes the name, and several other minor urban or rural areas, the distritos. The seat of a municipality must be the most populous urban area within it; when another urban area grows too much it usually splits from the original municipality to form another one.

A municipality is relatively autonomous: it is allowed to have its own constitution which is called organic law (Lei Organica), to collect taxes and fees, to maintain a municipal police force (albeit with very restricted powers), to pass laws on any matter that do not contradict either the state or the national constitution, and to impersonate itself with symbols (like a flag, an anthem and a coat-of-arms). However, not all municipalities exercise the entirety of this autonomy. For instance, only a few municipalities keep local police forces, some of them do not collect some taxes (to attract investors or residents) and many of them do not have a flag (although they are all required to have a coat-of-arms).Municipalities are governed by an elected prefeito (Mayor) and an unicameral Câmara de Vereadores (Councilors Chamber). In municipalities with more than 200,000 voters, the Mayor must be elected by more than 50% of the valid vote. The executive power is called Prefeitura.

Brazilian municipalities can vary widely in area and population. The municipality of Altamira, Brazil, in the State of Pará, with its 161,445.9 square kilometers is larger in area than many countries of the world. Several Brazilian municipalities have over 1,000,000 inhabitants, with São Paulo, at more than 9,000,000 being the most populous.

Until 1974 Brazil had one state-level municipality, the State of Guanabara, now merged with Rio de Janeiro, which comprised the city of Rio de Janeiro.

The Federal District is an anomalous unit of the federation, as it is not organized the same manner as a municipality, does not possess the same autonomy as a state (but is ranked among them), and is closely related to the central power.

It is considered a single municipality, divided into the seat (Brasilia) and some urban districts (the so-called satellite cities). Satellites cities are created (in right) and governed directly by the governor of the federal district and possess no true identity.

V Winner Post #4- Economy of Brazil

2008-08-30T05:30:00.000-07:00

Brazil's GDP (PPP and Nominal) is the highest of Latin America with large and developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors, as well as a large labor pool. The country has been expanding its presence in international financial and commodities markets, and is regarded as one of the groups of four emerging economies called BRIC. Major export products include aircraft, coffee, automobiles, soybean, iron ore, orange juice, steel, ethanol, textiles, footwear, corned beef and electrical equipment. According to the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, Brazil has the ninth largest economy in the world by purchasing power parity (PPP) and tenth largest at market exchange rates. Brazil has a diversified middle income economy with wide variations in development levels. Most large industry is agglomerated in the Southern and South East states. The Northeast is the poorest region of Brazil, but it has attracted new investments in infrastructure for the tourism sector and intensive agricultural schemes.

Brazil had pegged its currency, the real, to the U.S. dollar in 1994. However, after the East Asian financial crisis, the Russian default in 1998 and the series of adverse financial events that followed it, the Brazilian central bank has temporarily changed its monetary policy to a managed-float scheme while undergoing a currency crisis, until definitively changing the exchange regime to free-float in January 1999. Brazil received an IMF rescue package in mid-2002 in the amount of USD 30.4 billion a record sum at that time. The IMF loan was paid off early by Brazil's central bank in 2005 (the due date was scheduled for 2006).

Brazil has a diverse and sophisticated service industry as well. During the early 1990s, the banking sector amounted to as much as 16% of GDP, and has attracted foreign financial institutions and firms by issuing and trading Brazilian Depositary Receipts (BDRs). One of the issues the Brazilian central bank is currently dealing with is the excess of speculative short-term capital inflows to the country in the past few months, which might explain in part the recent downfall of the U.S. dollar against the real in the period. Nonetheless, foreign direct investment (FDI), related to long-term, less speculative investment in production, is estimated to be USD 193.8bn for 2007. Inflation monitoring and control currently plays a major role in Brazil's Central Bank activity in setting out short-term interest rates as a monetary policy measure. The IPCA index, measured and calculated by the IBGE on a monthly basis, is the most commonly used index for inflation, although other indices such as the IPC-Fipe and IGP-M (FGV) are also widely used. According to the 2006 census, White Brazilians make up 49.7% of Brazil's population, or 93.096 million people.

Thanks to the review of the politic economy inserted in the country in 1993, Brazil construed the base to a strong economic development. It’s true that are some addictions and mistakes to these days, that’s why some adjustments are necessary so the right path can be followed. High expenses with The Public Force, high bureaucracy in his public service, and corruption are problems that the government should target it immediately.

The major consequence with high expenses with the Public Power is the high levels of taxation paid by the Brazilians. If we want to make a growth in the Brazilian economy, the government will have to adopt the reduction in the public spend. Otherwise the country will be inferior compared to other emerged markets. After having controlled the inflation, minimized the interest rates and resolved the problems of the extern debts, the priority now is to improve the business environment.

The International Monetary Fund (FMI) requested Brazil to minimize the autocracy and taxes paid by the companies for each employee, so that is a way to achieve a growth. It was also advised to the consolidation of the macroeconomics stability with the political economy in the institutional level, the rise of the efficiency of the public area and improvements of government’s bills.

Still referring with to the bureaucracy, the business environment in Brazil is in the 25th between the 31st of economies of Latin America and Caribbean Islands analyzed by the World Bank. Not counting the Caribbean Nations, making business in Brazil is not just worse than Ecuador, Bolivia and Venezuela. In first place it’s Chile, followed by Uruguay and Mexico. In the world rank, that lists 175 economies, Brazil stays in 120th place. Brazil was in 2005 the second country most expensive to live in South America, only losing for Chile. Paraguay and Bolivia were considered the cheapest ones.

In countries with a lot of differences like Brazil, the prices of products and the high concentration of income limits the access of the population to the richness. Brazil is the 6th position in family’s spending, besides, Brazil has the most develop economy in the region in terms of South America.

The information presented above show that the Tributary Reform and the Work Reform are crucial priorities in order to a bigger development.

*Ongoing disclaimer- Many of our posts are from Brazilians- please ignore grammatical errors and focus instead on content. We will make an attempt at editing posts when time permits.

V Winner Post #5 Economic Activity and Land Use

2008-08-30T05:00:00.000-07:00

Click on maps for a larger image.

V Winner Post #6- Diamonds are a Brazilians Best Friend

2008-08-30T04:30:00.000-07:00

Alluvial mining in Brazil was a labor-intensive vocation, and as such, negro slaves imported from Africa, were used extensively for mining operations. The capital city of Salvador De Bahia (est. 1549),on the Bahia de Todos os Santos (All Saints Bay) in Bahia, was a global hub for the Portuguese slave trade, and to this day, the state of Bahia has the highest concentration of blacks in Brazil. Diamantiferous sands and gravel, (cascalho or cascalhão) were hand-dug from river ledges and beds, scooped out of the river bottom by divers (escafandro), or dug from hillsides (engrunada or gruta). Then the diamond-bearing alluvium was washed in sluices of running water, washed again in wooden basins (faísca or lavagem), and finally picked through by hand. The cascalhão occurs in high river-bank ledges, as a combination of gravel and sand, but river-bottom gravel deposits were beneath a bed of clay and silt.

At first, Brazilian diamonds were not as desirable as their Indian counterparts and the fist few years of mining yielded smaller sized stones. As the supply of Indian diamonds dried up, Brazilian stones gained in popularity. In the mid 1700s, Brazilian diamonds were flooding the European market, and prices fell precipitously, but this was reversed as supplies began to dry up in the early 1800s. Brazil's largest rough diamond to date is the "Star of the South," a 254 carat stone found in 1854. Alluvial deposits in Brazil were created by Diamantiferous material being transported from its primary source, within kimberlite intrusions along the Amazonian cráton to the north, and the San Francisco Cráton in Minas Gerais. There are also diamond-bearing kimberlite bodies in the regions of Mato Grosso and Rondônia.

Diamantina in Minas Gerais

Miners prospecting for gold along the Rio Jequitinhonha river, near the town of Tejuco (now Diamantina) in the Minas Gerais region, made Brazil's first diamond discovery in 1725. By 1740, there was a major diamond rush to Minas Gerais' Rio Abaete and Rio Jequitinhonha alluvial deposits, and mining in the region reached its peek between 1785 and 1807.

Mato Grosso's Alluvial Diamond Fields

The Portuguese government took possession of the territory in 1748, creating a Colonial Captaincy so as to fully exploit Mato Grosso's mineral wealth. Mining exploration was heavily regulated by the Portuguese Crown during the 1700s, and all extracted minerals were subject to high taxation.

Mato Grosso's alluvial diamonds were first discovered in the 'Morro Vermelho' formation, near the mining town of Diamantino. By 1847, both diamonds and gold were mined-out in the area, and by 1852, the Diamantino prospect was abandoned, bankrupting the Mato Grosso Mining Society.

Chapada Diamantina in Bahia

In 1842, large diamond deposits were discovered along the banks of the rio Mucugê in the mountainous region of Chapada Diamantina (Diamond Highlands), in the Brazilian state of Bahia. This created a diamond-rush to the region, causing a new glut in the European market.

Diamonds in Chapada Diamantina's Serra da Sincorá (Cincora) region (aka Lavras Diamantinas) occur in river gravels and sands (cascalhão) along the banks of the rio Mucugê, which is a tributary of the rio Paraguaçu (Paraguassu river). Within the Chapada Diamantina sits the Circuito do Diamante (Circuit of the Diamonds) surrounded by the towns of Andaraí, Mucugê, Palmeiras, and Lençóis.

By 1901 around 5000 slaves worked in the Bahia mines at Serra da Sincorá. The Sincorá region is one of the few locations on earth that carbonado is found. Carbonado (aka 'carbon diamond' or 'black diamond') is a rare, semi-porous black polycrystalline variety of diamond.

The Chapada Diamantina has a dramatic landscape with high plains, table-top mesas, and steep cliffs or towers known as 'tepuy.' Before the arrival of the Portuguese in the 1800s, the only local inhabitants of the region were indigenous Indians from the Maracas and Cariris tribes. In 1985, the Chapada Diamantina region was made into a National Park, with its headquatrers in Palmeiras.

Brazil's Recent Diamond History

In the 1960's, near Mato Grosso's capital of Diamantino, the 'Mato Grosso Diamond Project' (a 63,000-hectare claim block) created a 'diamond rush' to the area. To date, more than 50 kimberlite pipes have been located, many of which are the most likely source for the region's historic alluvial deposits.

In 1999, nearly 3000 itinerant miners (diamond diggers, or garimpeiros) illegally entered the protected, Cinta Larga ("broad belt") Indian reservation to mine for diamonds. This area lies between the states of Rondônia and Mato Grosso, along the Bolivian boarder. Mining was forbidden within the 'Roosevelt Reservation' in order to preserve the indigenous 'Cinta Larga' people's homeland, but the Cinta Larga are allowed to engage in 'small scale prospecting' (garimpagem), if the labor is done exclusively by indigenous Indians. Federal Police evicted the garimpeiros, but the government estimates that as much as $50 million were smuggled to Belgium.

The Cinta Larga attacked a group of illegal prospectors in April of 2004, killing 41 of them. Since the incident, tensions in the region have eased, and in October 2004, Brazil received accreditation to obtain a Certificate of the Kimberley Process. Diamond mining within the Roosevelt Reservation could be worth an estimated $3.5 billion annually.

Future Diamond Mining in Brazil

The most promising locations for any future Brazilian diamond mining activity are in the states of Matto Grosso and Bahia, and in recent years diamond mining activity has picked up in the region. Diagem Inc. in cooperation with Rio Tinto (Rio Tinto Desenvolvimentos Minerais Ltda) is still surveying for new diamond finds in Brazil. There have been several promising finds at its 'Collier-04' kimberlite pipe, located in the Juina diamond district of Mato Grosso, Brazil.

Exploration in the Diamantina, Regis, Santo Antonio, and Serra da Canastra regions of Minas Gerais is currently being conducted by Brazilian Diamonds Limited, CODEMIG, and Mineração Rio Novo Ltda.

Word Resources and Supply-2006

According to data of the Mineral Commodity Summaries – 2007, the world reserves of diamond changed little as compared to 2005, but it is worth highlighting that the data on the world availability of diamonds are still inaccurate and that the world source for consultation is limited solely to the reserves of uncut diamonds, of the type industry. Congo is the country that holds the largest reserve of diamond, contributing 27.4% of the world reserve.

Brazil contributes only 2% of the world reserve and according to consolidated data of the Annual Extraction Report 2007 – base year 2006, out of the 24 Mct (millions of carats) declared by miners, 19 Mct are from secondary deposits and 5Mct from primary deposits. The State of Mato Grosso has the largest declared reserve of Brazil, and contributes 77% of the secondary reserve and 100% of the primary reserve.

The world supply in 2006 was of about 176 Mct, with a small decrease as compared to 2005 of 0.6%. According to data of the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme, the biggest producers were Russia (21.84%), Botswana (19.53%), Australia (17.05%), and Congo (16.51%), which together contributed 74.9 % of the world production of diamond in 2006.

It is estimated that Brazil, in 2006, produced circa 0.2 Mct of diamonds, contributing only 0.11% of the world production.

DOMESTIC PRODUCTION

According to the official records, the Brazilian production of uncut diamonds (industry and gem) in 2006 was of 181.350 ct, and the State of Mato Grosso produced 96.4% of the diamonds, Minas Gerais 3.4% and Goiás only 0.2%. It is possible to notice a drop of approximately 41% in the production of diamond as compared to 2005, which occurred due to the interdiction of exports of uncut diamonds, in the period from February to September, 2006, brought about by “Operation Carbon”.

In the corporate segment, the major producers of diamond were Chapada Brasil Mineração Ltda (Chapada dos Guimarães – MT) that produced 10.312ct; S.L. Mineradora Ltda (Juína – MT) that produced 8.457ct and Mineração Rio Novo Ltda (Diamantina – MG) with a production of 5.514ct. But most of the Brazilian production still comes from artisan mining, from areas object of PLGs – Regime of Permission of Artisan Extraction. In 2006, only in Juína, the PLGs produced circa 151.000ct of diamond, which corresponds to approximately 84% of the Brazilian production.

Foreign Trade

Exports

In 2006, the Brazilian exports of uncut diamonds were of 90.017ct, producing revenues of US$ 5,415,769.60. As well as in production, exports featured a drop for the already mentioned reasons. The drop recorded in volume (ct) was of 25% as compared to 2005 and the drop recorded in the revenue (US$) was of circa 72%. (In 2005 Brazil exported 280.519.38ct, producing revenues of US$ 19,052,767.86).

The countries of destination were: the European Community (86.16%), Israel (9.95%) and the United States (3.9%). The DNPM issued 16 certificates, 10 for the European Community, 4 for Israel and 2 for the United States.

Ongoing and/or Forecast Projects

In Brazil there are several diamond provinces at research stage, mostly in the states of Mato Grosso, Rondônia, Mato Grosso do Sul, Bahia and Minas Gerais and this factor will probably contribute for an increase in reserves.
Vaaldiam Resources Limited develops eight projects in Brazil, 3 advanced projects (Pimenta Bueno – RO, Brauna – BA, Duas Barras – MG), 4 Projects under evaluation (Taboco – MS, Traira – MT, Barra Rica and Gruta – MG) and 1 new project (Aroeira – BA). Project Duas Barras is scheduled for production in 2007, with a capacity of 38.000 ct/year.
DIAGEM International Resources Corporation (Juína-MT) has detected primary sources of diamond and is intensifying research activities, in addition to beginning extraction in 2007 in areas already researched.

V Winner Post #7- Brazil is Golden

2008-08-30T04:00:00.000-07:00

Brazil, which was the biggest gold producer when it was Portugal’s colony in the XVIII, is still investing in increasing its gold mining industry to offset the dramatic fall in the production of ‘garimpeiros’. Entrepreneur Eike Batista leads the project started last November by Mineração Pedra Branca do Amapari in Amapari, 200 km from Amapa, which means a new development cycle for that state which has suffered the impact of the manganese mines’ shutdown in Serra do Navio, formerly operated by ICOMI.

His associate partner is Canadian Gold Corp and the project has been implemented in 18 months to produce 5 t/y of gold as the third biggest mine in Brazil. In its first phase of the open-pit mine and heap-leaching plant to treat oxidized ore, R$150 million were invested. In the second phase, to take place from 2009 to 2012, R$150 million more will be invested to open an underground mine and build a CIL plant to treat sulphide ore. Reserves amount to 1.53 Moz of gold, at a grade of 2.3 g/t, sufficient for 12 years of production.

Yamana Gold is another Canadian mining company, with two mines in Brazil – Fazenda Brasileiro, in Bahia, and Bacilandia, in Goiás. It has an extensive program involving three new projects, São Francisco, in Vila Bela da Santíssima Trindad, Mato Grosso, with a 4 Mt/y ore capacity requiring $45 million in investment; and the Chapada project, whose production is expected to start in October 2006 generating 16 Mt/y of ore, which will demand a $100 million investment. The third project is São Vicente, in Nova Lacerda, Mato Grosso, an operation expected to start in December 2006, producing 1.8 Mt/y of gold ore.

Yamana Gold is predicting its gold production exceeding 340,000 oz in 2006, increasing to more than 500,000 oz in 2007 from mines currently in production and under construction. For 2008, total production is expected to
increase to almost 600,000 oz.

Estimated production to 2008 from Yamana properties (shown pro forma assuming the completion of the acquisition of RNC Gold, which includes the acquisition of the San Andres mine in Honduras and La Libertad in Nicaragua, by March 1, 2006) is detailed below. The other mines below are all in Brazil.

Potential gold production from São Vicente has not been included in the table as the project is subject to completion of feasibility studies. Gold production at Chapada in 2006 will mainly depend on whether or not mine construction is completed in September 2006.

AngloGold Ashanti announced investment of $125 million in 2005, 70% of which is to increase the production Cuiabá mine in south-eastern Brazil to open new galleries underground and access ramps to deeper levels than the current 700 m, going down to 1,300 m. The project focuses on deepening the mine to access the Serrotinho and Fonte Grande ore bodies, located below the existing mine, which account for 60% of the total mineral resource at Cuiabá. Production will increase from the current level of 190,000 oz/y to 250,000 oz/y at a cost of $169/oz over the life of the project and will extend the life of mine profile by six years to 2019.

To accommodate the resulting increase in mining volume, the project will include upgrading shaft hoisting capacity and constructing new milling and flotation facilities at the Cuiabá shaft area. Flotation concentrate will be transported via the existing aerial ropeway to the treatment plant at Queiroz, located 16 km from the mine, both located in Minas Gerais, where another roaster and acid plant will be built and the current leaching facilities upgraded.

The existing milling and flotation facilities at Queiroz will be decommissioned. The expansion should be commissioned in December 2006, ramping up to full production by the end of the second quarter of 2007.

In addition to significantly increasing production at Cuiabá, the completed
deepening project may also provide a new opportunity to exploit narrow-vein ore bodies below level 11 at Cuiabá as well as the Lamego deposit in the area. Conceptual studies have highlighted the potential to extract significant value from these areas, which would otherwise be sterilized, using the infrastructure that the Cuiabá expansion will provide. Commenting on the expansion, AngloGold Ashanti CEO Bobby God sell said:

The company also holds interests in Crixás gold mine, in Goiás and is studying the gold ore body in Córrego do Sitio. Investments for 2006 have been estimated at $90 million.

Jaguar Mining is a Canadian gold mining and exploration company that produces gold in Brazil and is expanding production and expects to produce at a rate of 200,000 oz/y by 2008.

Jaguar’s focus is on gold properties in the Iron Quadrangle, which is a compact but prolific gold-bearing greenstone belt in close proximity to the well-serviced mining city of Belo Horizonte, in the State of Minas Gerais.

Belo Horizonte is the mining capital of Brazil. The Iron Quadrangle is a geological sweet spot which has hosted several multi-million ounce gold mines that exhibit strong vertical continuity to depths exceeding 2,000 m.

Jaguar describes Brazil as “a pro-mining country offering outstanding minerals resources and infrastructure, commitment to sustained mining development and respect forth environment. It is active in four local regions in the Iron Quadrangle: Paciência, Sabará, Santa Bárbara and Turmalina, where last year it worked to upgrade approximately 1.3 Moz of measured and indicated resources to proven and probable reserves in its four regions by completing feasibility studies that preliminarily indicate production of between 1,200 and 4,000 t/d, depending on the property.

At the beginning of this year, Jaguar commissioned its new 25,000 oz/y gold oxide heap leach facility and recovery plant at Sabará. The plant is crushing and stacking ore at a rate of 450,000 t/y and has produced its first gold. This surface production advances Jaguar’s development plan of becoming a mid-tier producer by generating near term cash flow while it completes development and construction of its underground mines. Underground operations are projected to make up 75% of Jaguar’s production profile of over 200,000 oz/y by2008. Jaguar also confirmed the measured and indicated resources feeding the new plant at 2 Mt at 2.8 g/t.

In the Sabará Region, Jaguar now has production capacity of 75,000 oz/y. It is producing gold at two oxide plants and is developing its underground Catita sulphidemine. Catita mine began supplying 400 t/dof ore to the Queiroz plant of AngloGold Ashanti in the first quarter of 2006. Jaguar will sell 65,000 oz of gold this year. Jaguar is also building the 60,000 oz/y Turmalina mine and ended 2006 with 150,000 oz/y of production capacity. Rio Paracatu Mineração (RPM), controlled by Kinross, started its expansion project III for the Morro do Ouro mine at an estimated cost of $110 million, which will allow it to grow, beginning in 2007, its gold production from 7 t to 10 t/y, by commissioning a SAG mill to process harder ores (Wi above 9). The plant will increase its throughput from 20 to 30 Mt/y.

The expansion of the mine and its reserves resulting from lowering the underground water will increase its lifecycle to 11 years.

Canadian junior Desert Sun Mining has invested $40 million to resume gold production at Jacobina Mineração in Jacobina, Bahia, which was closed at the beginning of 1999.

In January 2005 the first mill was activated and the second, in February. The underground mine João Belo is already producing 120,000 t/month on average. Jacobina’s potential is 4 Moz of gold, but further deposits may be found in the so-called 160 Km long ‘Gold Belt’. Eldorado Gold assumed 100% ownership of the São Bento mine in July 1996, in Minas Gerais. This 20 km2 property hosts an underground mine, conventional mill with flotation, pressure oxidation, BIOX plant and CIL. It produced some 65,000 oz in 2005.

The Amapari heap leach and processing plant, at Amapá, in the north of Brazil.
There is also the Vila Nova gold project in Amapa State, where Eldorado holds an option to acquire 84% of the project. The 2005 diamond drill programmed began in November and totaled 764 m in nine holes. The drilling occurred in two areas where the targeted gold mineralized zone has been exposed: Gaivota and Croado.

Brazil ranks twelfth in world production (and second in Latin America) according to GFMS, with output in 2001 at 51 tonnes (1.6 million oz), of which roughly 38 tonnes (1.2 million oz) came from formal mines and the balance from alluvial operations (garimpos) worked by prospectors (garimpeiros).

Greenstone belts in Brazil's extensive Achaean shield, similar to those in Canada and South Africa, host extensive gold deposits. Gold was first discovered in 1552, but significant production did not begin until after 1700 at alluvial deposits in Minas Gerais, Goias and Mato Grosso provinces.

Output was around 16 tones (0.5 million oz) by 1750, making Brazil the world's largest producer, but then declined.

In 1835 the Mineracao Morro Velho mine opened in Minas Gerais; it is the world's oldest continually worked mine, now owned by AngloGold, who also have a 50% share in the Serra Grande mine.

Apart from Morro Velho and limited alluvial output in the Amazon basin, output did not rise above 10 tones (0.3 million oz) until 1980. Then the high gold price prompted an immense gold rush of garimpeiros, who located rich alluvial deposits along the Rio Tapajos and Rio Madeira and in the regions of Cuiaba, Cumaru, Alta Floresta and, above all, at Serra Pelada ('Hill of Gold' in Portuguese) south of Belem in the Amazon delta. Serra Pelada alone produced 13 tones (0.4 million oz) in 1983. Production peaked at a record 102 tones (3.3 million oz) in 1988. The best alluvial deposits, however, were soon worked out and through the 1990s the balance shifted to formal mining as Brazilian groups, such as CVRD, and foreign mines such as Rio Tinto, TVX Gold, and Eldorado Gold developed mines. By 1993 their output exceeded garimpos.

Gold production was at 50,393 kg in 2000, including 8,368 by garimpeiros. Deposits found at Serra Pelada in 1980 raised gold production to 103,000 kg by 1989; production averaged 90,380 kg in 1987–91, and output in 1996 was 60,011. Higher production costs, depletion of shallower deposits, lower world prices, and much higher environmental standards caused the drop-offs. Gold output could increase significantly with the growth of copper production and increased interest by domestic and foreign investors in largely unexplored areas; more than 2000 gold occurrences were known, mostly Precambrian vein deposits and alluvial placers.

Brazil in 2000 was the largest recipient of foreign direct investment in the region for the fifth consecutive year—because of the sale of previously state-owned assets. The governmental Company for Mineral Resources Research has sought to expand existing mineral industries and to establish new ones—the Amazon region has been a particular focus of the company's efforts. The government took steps to encourage private capital investment in the development of phosphate reserves, the exploitation of oil-bearing shale, and the expansion of iron ore output. Brazil's petroleum and mining industries and utilities attracted investors' interest because of the government's macroeconomic policies, the country's diversified minerals endowment, and a skilled labor force. Most important in the non fuel sector were the Minas Gerais iron ore joint venture (CVRD and China's Shanghai Baosteel Group Corp.) and the Sossego copper-gold joint venture (CVRD and Phelps Dodge Corp., of the United States); both were to begin in 2002. Because of increased world demand for stainless steel and better nickel prices, $1.4 billion was invested in the nickel industry, with plans to triple output to 107,000 tons per year starting in 2003. The Carajás mining project, in Pará, was expected to lead to the mining of manganese, copper, tin, silver, gold, nickel, molybdenum, bismuth, and zinc.

The discovery of gold in Minas Gerais ("general mines") in 1693 made Brazil the world's leading gold producer; rapid exploitation under the Portuguese colonial system exhausted the mines in less than a century. The dissipation of the nation's gold wealth for the benefit of a foreign power instilled in Brazilians a protective attitude toward mineral reserves, resulting in government control. The 1988 constitution forbade foreign majority participation in direct mining operations. Lack of capital has long restricted development by domestic firms, and Brazilian mining laws and adverse geographic conditions have discouraged foreign capital. The major portion of the mineral industry was partially or wholly owned by private Brazilian investors, Brazilian corporations, and/or foreign companies, the exceptions being the natural gas and petroleum industries. The structure of the industry continued to change to a privately owned/government-regulated regime. Two 1995 constitutional amendments opened the way for participation of the private sector (domestic and foreign), through privatization, joint ventures, and deregulated investment, in the sectors of coastal and river shipping, mining, natural gas, petroleum, telecommunications, and transportation. By the mid-1990s, investment was on the rise, as a result of aggressive economic policies, the diversity of mineral resources, and the constitutional reform that eliminated restrictions on foreign investment in mining. In 2000, the import tax for minerals was reduced, with varying rates, and the export tax would no longer apply to exported mineral products, nor would the tax on industrialized products apply to mining activities.

Disclaimer- As metals in general, and gold specifically - has changed dramatically, many of the figures mentioned (monetary/production) are significantly different today. Take this piece as a general overview. We will provide more accurate numbers in the near future.

V Winner Post #8 More on the Brazilian Economy

2008-08-30T03:30:00.000-07:00

Note- as with all of our posts- we rely on Brazilian research, some of which is slightly dated. The purpose of this site is to provide general overview.

The Brazilian economy

Is the tenth largest in the world and its processing industry, the seventh. The income of Brazilians is $ 3.200,00 a year. Until 1994 the Brazil had high rates of inflation, when the Real Plan implemented the 10th exchange of currency during the period Republican, transforming the currency of Brazil Real, divided into 100 cents, a stable currency.
The drastic reduction of the inflationary indexes contributed to a small improvement in distribution of income. The Central Bank of Brazil, set up in 1965, with headquarters in Brasilia, gave the currency of the country, but from the Real, this function is performed by the Monetary Council Nacional (CMN), composed by the Ministers of Finance and Planning and the President of the Central Bank. Other large banks are The Bank of Brazil and the BNDES (National Bank of Economic and Social Development), in addition to numerous other state and private banks. The main sources of income are the EU Tax on Income, Taxes on Industrial Production (IPI) and Contribution to Social Security (Cofins). The Federal Government still collects taxes on imports, exports and financial operations, from the PIS / Pasep and the Net profit. The number of enterprises by 1993 in Brazil is estimated at 3.5 million, according to the Sebrae and 0.4% for large, 1% of mid size, 8% of small 90.6% and micro-enterprises, with 52.5% in the sector of trade, 32.5% in services and 15% in industry.
By 1995, 916 companies had the certificate ISO 9000. Micro enterprises are the most numerous in the services sector, accounting for 94%. The sector that is the fastest growing is agricultural. To cope with globalization, Brazil becomes, based on freedom of Market and privatization. The main buyers of Brazilian products are the United States, Germany, Japan, Italy, Argentina, France, the Netherlands and Britain.
The largest exports were: soybeans, coffee, iron ore, steel, transport equipment, meat, machinery, shoes and fabrics. The United States remain the main source of imported products by Brazil followed by Venezuela, Germany, Japan, Argentina, France and Canada.
Major imports included crude oil and refined, machinery, metals, chemicals and wheat. There in Brazil 3.4 million rural properties, which correspond to 325 million of Ha, of which only 0.9% of landowners hold 35% of the properties. Among them, 35,083 are considered unproductive land, with an area exceeding 1,000 ha, a total of 153 million of ha. This means that 47% of the land rural Brazil is part of unproductive land. Brazil is part of MERCOSUR, treaty signed by Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, in 1991, in the city of Asuncion, capital of Paraguay, aiming at the establishment a common market between these four countries, which is already giving fruit. The rationalization agricultural activities, aimed at greater productivity and higher profits, modified a panorama existing previously.
Currently it is the development of agribusiness and the emergence of medium and small owners who use modern technology. Approximately one quarter of the world's coffee is grown in the plantations of Sao Paulo, Parana, Espirito Santo and Minas Gerais.
Brazil is among the main World producers of sugar cane. The main agricultural products are sugar cane, orange, corn, soybean, cassava, rice, coffee, tobacco, potatoes, cotton, wheat and bananas. The Brazilian livestock, traditionally, is the type extensive. With the adoption of modern criteria and incorporating itself breeds imported, the herd has been diversified. Currently the trend is that the livestock becomes intensive. The herd is a homogeneous distribution of the land, especially in Sao Paulo, Minas Gerais, Goias, Mato Grosso do Sul and in the South, where There are a lot of dairy cattle, pigs (36 million), poultry, sheep (20 million), goats (12 million), horses (6.5 million), donkeys (1.9 million), buffalo (1.2 million) and mules (1.3 million). Brazil has one of the largest herds cattle in the world (161 million head). The production of milk is the mount of 15,784,011,000 liter and the slaughter of 1,263,108,084 head per year. The production of eggs, chicken is 2,199,083 thousands of dozens, of quail,30,035 and thousands of dozens of honey bee, 18,841,386 kg per year.

Industrialization Brazil started after the construction of the first roads of iron in the century XIX. The first installed was the textile industry, which remained for more than 80 years as the main activity in the country. After 1960 settled in the manufacturing modern and diversified and the processing industry currently occupies the seventh position in the world. The main industry are: textiles, steel, consumer electronics, tobacco, automobiles, ships, planes, food and chemical. Sao Paulo is the main rule industrial, with factories that produce about one third of the total volume of the industries in Brazil, the cities of Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Belo Horizonte (MG),Porto Alegre (RS) and Fortaleza (CE) are also large industrials .A industry of Wood much timber has developed in the decades of 1970 and 1980 and the forests were cleared quickly, arriving to be threatened with extinction, such as Araucarias of Paraná. At Amazon continues to unbridled exploitation by from illegal logging which exclude the mahogany, particularly on Indian land, without any effective supervision. In Xapuri, in the Acre, rubber were organized and are upgrading the techniques of extraction of it, without recourse to the devastation of forests. In recent years, techniques favored to freeze the operation of Amazonian fruit as allow its exportation. Its exports, in addition to winning space on the domestic market. The mineral resources of Brazil are great. Brazil is one of the largest producers world's gold, iron, tin, of crystals of quartz, monazite and beryllium. From the Continental Platform are extracted 60% of the oil production, having the biggest part coming from the Basin of Campos (RJ).

V Winner Post #9- Brazilian Industries

2008-08-30T03:00:00.000-07:00

Paper and pulp industries

South-America's total output of paper and board in 1995 was 12.5 million tons and total output of pulp 9.3 million tons. Average increase in output has been approximately 7% per year. Brazil produces 48% of South-American paper and board and 62% of pulp. Brazil has 45 pulp mills of which 13 sulfate, 1 semi mechanical, 1 sulfite and 30 mechanical and 220 paper and board mills.
Brazil is the biggest producer of paper and pulp in South-America. It is the eleventh largest paper and board producer in the world (5.8 million tons in 1996) and seventh largest pulp producer (5.9 million tons in 1996). The main geographical areas in the paper and pulp industry are the states of São Paulo, Paraná and Santa Catarina.

Sulfate and soda chemical pulp form 90% of total pulp production. Brazil is self-sufficient in pulp and produces it also for export. Brazil also uses recycled paper as a fiber source for pulp production. In 1995 1.76 million tons were collected, of which 60% was packing paper and board.
The Brazilian paper and pulp sector is comprised of nearly 200 companies, which together employ over 64,000 people in the paper and pulp industry and a further 40,000 people in forestry. Most companies in this sector are privately-owned. Foreign-owned companies account for about 6% of the output.
Three major groups in the paper industry are Klabin, Suzano and Votorantim. Their production is approximately 37% of Brazil's total paper production. The largest integrated pulp and paper producer in Brazil is Klabin. Klabin's Monte Alegre Mill in Paraná is the largest forestry complex in Latin America. The biggest pulp manufacturers in Brazil are Aracruz with 1 million tons per year, Suzano, Klabin and Votorantim. They produce 60% of Brazil's total pulp production. The Klabin group is the leader in packing grade papers (29%) and tissue paper (25%). Suzano produces newsprint, printings and cartonboard. It also manufactures writings and tissue papers. Votorantim is the leader in printings and writings and specialty papers.

The Brazilian ecosystem is quite sensitive and because of this, the paper industry's production is based on the use of wood from plantations. At the same time, the paper industry also safeguards supplies and ensures consistent quality. Brazil has increased its forested area for commercial plantations from 47 million in 1986 cubic meters to 107 million cubic meters in 1995. Simultaneously they use 36% less natural forests.
The total area of forest plantations used by the pulp and paper industry is 1.5 million hectares, of which 61% is eucalyptus and 36% pine. Brazilian paper consumption in 1995 was 5.34 million tons with an increase of 17% from the previous year. Imports of paper and board have almost doubled from 415,000 tons in 1994 to 808,000 tons in 1995.

As a result of improvements in the purchasing power of Brazil's citizens, consumption of hygiene and sanitary products has increased by 16% annually.

The newsprint market grew about 18% in 1995. In the same year, 21% of paper and board and 33% of pulp production was exported.

Consumption of paper and board in Brazil is currently about 35 kg per capita. Differences are enormous between the north and south-east parts of the country. For instance, consumption of newsprint is 10kg per capita in São Paulo but only 200g per capita in the Amazonas. In Western Europe, consumption of paper and board is 173 kg and in North-America 321 kg per capita.

Agriculture
The rapid expansion of agriculture has led to problems such as soil degradation, water pollution and pest-control imbalances due to the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides. There is a significant market for modern biocides, new-generation agro toxins and improved irrigation techniques.

Legal and Institutional Framework
The backbone of Brazilian environmental policy is found in the 1988 Constitution and the 1981 National Environment Policy Act. The Constitution of 1988 instituted for the first time in the country's history a specific chapter on the environment.
At the federal level, planning and coordination responsibilities are vested in the Ministry of the Environment and Amazon Affairs. Operational and monitoring responsibilities rest with IBAMA, the Brazilian Environmental Agency, under the Ministry of the Environment. CONAMA - the National Environment Council - include representatives from the federal, state and local agencies, as well as from the private sector and the non-governmental organizations.
CONAMA drafts the basic guidelines for environmental protection and regulations for the preparation of environmental impact assessments and reports.

The government demands a report on the environmental impact of any proposed activities that are potentially harmful. Environmental consulting is likely to become a promising market, due to more strict environmental regulations and the environmental licensing requirement for economic activities with an impact on the environment. However, the level of common interest in environmental issues in Brazil cannot be compared to what it is in more developed countries.

The Amazon Region
Brazilian environmental problems have attracted international attention with pollution and deforestation endangering the Amazon, the world's largest tropical forest. The amount of rainforest in Brazil is around 200 million hectares and is estimated to decrease by 0.5% to 1.0% annually. The main reason for this is said to be the burning of forests and land for cattle rising and other purposes. The pulp and paper industry uses mainly its own planted forests that are located in southern parts of the country. However, many of these forests may earlier have been natural forests.

The desertification is spreading in some areas of the north-east Brazil due to deforestation and mining activities. In the Amazon River, the mercury used to extract gold is also causing damage to nature. During the 90's, the Brazilian government has launched ambitious programs to protect the Amazon region from illegal forest and mining activities. However, much remains to be done to ensure the sustainable development of this area in the future.

ENERGY
The availability of cheap, imported energy provided the impetus for Brazil's economic transformation, which began in the 1950's and accelerated during the late 1960's. However, the 1970's oil crisis sparked a drive for energy self-sufficiency, with hydroelectric schemes, the production of sugar-based fuel alcohol, the development of nuclear resources and the stepping-up of oil and gas output.

Now Brazil is moving steadily towards a reform of the energy sector. Brazil is not pressed by the risk of an immediate energy shortage or a critical deterioration of services. At the moment the energy production is in the hands of state-sector organizations, but there are plans for extensive privatization in power generation; whereas power distribution is not to be privatized.

Electric Sector
The electricity production in Brazil is highly concentrated in hydroelectric power stations. Total installed electrical generating capacity in 1995 was 54.8 GW, excluding the self producers. More than 95% of this is generated by hydroelectric plants. Total electrical consumption in Brazil in 1994 was 226 TWh. More than half of this, 52%, is consumed in the southeast region. The southeast region also accounts for 46% of the nation's electric power production.

There are two separate integrated transmission systems. One for the north and northeast and other for the south, southeast, center, east of Brazil. Most of Brazil's territory is still not covered by an integrated electric grid; it therefore faces an inadequate supply from local generators, most of them using diesel and fuel oil.

The Itaipu power plant is a specialty in Brazil's power generation. It is the largest hydroelectric plant in the world. The Itaipu power plant is located on the Paraná River on the Paraguay-Brazil border close to Iguacu Falls. Brazil and Paraguay divide equally the 12.6 GW power production from Itaipu. An other significant hydroelectric power plant is Tucuruí Dam, capacity of 3.9 GW, located in the south-east of the Amazon basin.

Natural Gas

At present, the Brazilian gas market is served by domestic production. However, an everlasting Bolivia - São Paulo - Curitiba - Pôrto Alegre gas pipeline project will apparently come true this century. Petrobrás is constructing this USD 1.8 billion project in cooperation with foreign oil companies and has promised that the pipeline will be in operation by the end of 1999. Also, the northeast is soon to be linked by a pipeline from Salvador - Bahia to Fortaleza - Ceará and in the south and southeast a new pipeline will link Belo Horizonte - Minas to the Campos - Rio de Janeiro - São Paulo trunk line. With these new pipelines, the share of gas in the supply of energy will increase from 2.4% up to as much as 10%.

Oil

At the beginning of the 1980's, Brazil created a quite utilitarian energy plan, to restrain the intolerable burden of oil imports on the trade balance. In addition to replacement of gasoline by alcohol and oil by electricity, coal and biomass, the energy plan included improving national oil production. These facts helped to reduce oil imports radically. In 1995 Brazil produced 712,200 barrels per day. This was about half of the nation's consumption.
Privatization of Petrobrás is not being envisaged, but any private, national or foreign company will be able to go into partnership with Petrobras.

Nuclear power

Nuclear power has a minor role in Brazil's energy supply. Today, there is only one nuclear power plant in operation. Angra I, 624 MW, in Rio de Janeiro State's supplies less than 20% of the Rio de Janeiro States power needs.

Economic Growth and Energy Consumption

The stabilization of the economy anticipates a new surge of economic development which may induce a rise in the energy consumption growth rates. Most estimates are that to meet the growth of demand, it will require investments of the order of USD 10 billion per year until the year 2000. Investments are necessary to increase generation capacity from 54.8 GW to 80 GW. Without this expansion the country runs the risk of reaching the next century faced with a serious energy shortage.

Main Business Opportunities

Lack of public investment capability, almost certain economic expansion and adjustments during the restructuring period of the energy sector, will open a large field for investments on new power projects and privatization. Light, distributor in Rio de Janeiro, and Escelsa in Espríto Santo have already been privatized. Other state utilities will be privatized in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo and hydropower plants will be tendered. Two big gas pipeline projects, Amazon Project and Brazil-Bolivia Natural Gas Pipeline, offer business opportunities.

V Winner Post #10 - Brazilian Industries - Continued

2008-08-30T02:30:00.000-07:00

HEALTH CARE
Brazil's major health authority is the Ministry of Health (MOH). The ministry is involved in a host of activities, including the provision and regulation of health services. The decentralization of the country's medical system has given more autonomy to states and cities in the planning and control of local health care programs. The SUS, (Sistema Unico de Saude - Unified Health System), was created to transfer hospital products procurement to the states and municipalities.
About 120 million people are reported to depend exclusively on public health care, provided through state, municipal, and private contracted hospitals throughout the country. Despite strong social security financing for health care, serious disparities remain among regions and different income groups. The Government of Brazil wishes to improve the capability of its health system by rehabilitating and re-equipping its decaying SUS, and has launched a project named REFORSUS. The project is assisted by the World Bank and during the next three years, altogether a sum of USD 650 million will be directed to hospital equipment investments.
About 35 million people are currently covered by private health insurance which ensures them the possibility to use otherwise extremely expensive private health services. The insurance is usually paid by the employer and typically covers the rest of the family, too. The number of insured people is expected to increase to nearly 50 million as a result of the constantly growing standard of living. Currently a portion of 90% of the medical device sector market is formed by private hospitals.

All health care products, including equipment, must be registered at the Brazilian Ministry of Health prior to commercialization. Also, ISO 9000 certificate is considered to be mandatory, and a FDA certificate usually helps to gain reliability in the market. The imported products must be innovative, ergonomic and of high quality as domestic medical equipment production also exists. The bidding process for the public sector goes strictly according to predefined general rules set by the government. Private sector marketing is similar to marketing to any private company.
The role of a qualified, on-site Brazilian agent is extremely important in gaining access to end-users of imported medical equipment. Personal visits to directors of surgery centers, who make the purchasing recommendations, are considered essential. Direct mail and advertising campaigns in specialized publications may also be effective, in addition to exhibiting at specific trade events/surgical congresses or catalog shows. The annual Hospitalar seminar held in June in São Paulo is the biggest event of the market, gathering nearly 40,000 visitors yearly.

The products which should have the best long-term prospects in Brazil are medical imaging equipment, electro-diagnostic apparatus, and technologically advanced disposable medical products, and implants/prostheses. In the pharmaceutical sector, long-term prospects for over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and vitamins are excellent because of the high cost of private medical assistance and a growing trend toward home treatment. The medical equipment market is growing at a rate of nearly 20%; meanwhile the import toll for these products is decreasing from 14%. Consequently, the Brazilian healthcare market will be one of the most interesting in the world in the near future.

CHEMICAL SECTOR

Chemical Industries
Brazil's chemical and petrochemical sectors are ranked the eighth largest in the world, the current market being about USD 11 billion. Total production of chemicals and petrochemicals is estimated at 23 million tons. There is a large repressed demand in the area of agricultural chemicals. Trade liberalization is forcing the Brazilian chemical industry to upgrade efficiency and pricing of its production. Import duties, which reached 80 percent in 1990, are now at an average of 20 percent. The chemicals and plastics industry is responsible for around 15.7% of Brazil's manufacturing directly and indirectly, and contributed 3.6% of Brazil's GDP in 1996. The sector will continue growing at a rate of 8%-15%.

Fine Chemicals
The Brazilian Fine Chemicals Association estimates the market for the fine chemicals segment at USD 8 billion, representing 3.2% of the world market of USD 256 billion. The fine chemicals industry is new, with most investments made in the last decade. Technologically, the fine chemicals sector is among the most developed of the Brazilian economy and it has operational costs from 50 to 70 percent lower that its competitors worldwide. The domestic fine chemicals sector employs 134,000 persons. The pharmaceutical and pharmo-chemicals sub sectors alone employ over 100,000 persons.

There are approximately 600 fine chemical companies in Brazil - 80% of which are Brazilian owned. However, foreign companies maintain a dominant market share in most sub sectors. The participation of Brazilian firms in terms of sales varies from 10 to 30 percent of the total market except in the area of catalysts, where the Brazilian companies are responsible for 80% of total sales.

Major foreign groups in Brazil are Hoechst, Sandoz, ICI, Bayer, Union Carbide, Henkel, Dow and Akzo. Among the Brazilian companies are Ultra Quimica, Getec, Aquatec, IQT and Bann. The US is a leading importer with a 32% share, followed by Germany (17%) and Switzerland (12%).
The pharmaceutical industry is responsible for 33% of the imports of fine chemicals and 21% consist of agricultural chemicals. Other sectors (food additives, plastics, lubricants, pigments, cleaning products and fragrances and essences) are responsible for 46% of imports.

Industrial Inorganic Chemicals

The market for the inorganic chemicals segment reached USD 2.6 billion in 1994, with imports accounting for USD 428 million. The US supplies 29% of the inorganic chemicals import market, followed by Surinam (9%), and Germany (7%). The sector comprises about 260 companies, producing over 300 different products. International firms manufacturing in Brazil include Dow, DuPont, Monsanto, Union Carbide, and Rohm & Haas. These companies together employ more than 150,000 workers and have annual sales of about USD 14 billion. The Brazilian domestic market is large and it is expected to grow at a steady rate of 4 percent annually according to the Chemical Industry Association.

The major end-users of inorganic chemicals are Brazilian industry and agriculture. Industrial inorganic chemicals generally serve as major inputs to a wide range of industries. As such, they are used in products for agriculture and in numerous sectors of Brazilian industry, particularly textiles, plastics, pharmaceuticals, paints and varnishes, and the chemical industry itself.

Inorganic chemicals are sold in Brazil through an established network of distributors, manufacturers of complementary products acting as distributors, and direct sales from the manufacturer to industrial end-users. Direct sales are normally aimed at large industrial plants. Distributors often have in-house packaging operations to supply small and medium-size clients, and these in-house operations usually result in high price mark-ups. The larger distributors usually have branches throughout the country, particularly in the main consumption areas. Brazilian distributors, for the most part, represent local and foreign companies, and deal with a wide variety of products. The appointment of a well-known distributor who already handles the products of major companies is highly re-commended, as it provides the support for maintaining a steady market presence in Brazil.

Petrochemicals

The state owned company Petrograd has been granted exclusive rights for oil exploration and production. Petrobrás quickly set about identifying commercially viable oil deposits to become a self-sustaining, large-scale enterprise. By the early 1990's, spurred on by the world's first oil crisis in the 1970's, Brazil had more than tripled its oil production, reaching in July 1994 a record of 736,322 barrels per day.

It also became self-sufficient as regards refining. Brazil's petrochemical industry has experienced rapid expansion. Currently, Brazil has three petrochemical complexes, located in the states of Bahia (northeast), Rio Grande do Sul (south) and São Paulo (Southeast) with an overall total ethylene production capacity of 1.4 million tons per year.

Pharmaceuticals

Brazil has a powerful medicine manufacturing sector. At the beginning of 1993, about 1,300 pharmaceutical drugs were produced by 177 companies and 400 drug producing laboratories. Most are situated in the southeast of the country. Although 80% of the laboratories are Brazilian owned, they account for only 25% of pharmaceutical sales.

The government hopes to reduce pharmaceutical retail prices by promoting production in state-owned laboratories, which are operating at 50% capacity on average. The domestic production industry is dependent on the purchase of foreign active ingredients and raw materials. Three-quarters of the inputs are imported.

The value of imports to Brazil totaled USD 734 million in 1994, up 49% from 1993. Many of the products are imported by Brazilian subsidiaries of foreign MNCs. Leading sources of imports include Germany, Switzerland, Japan, the United States, and Belgium.

According to the president of the ABIFARMA trade association, the size of the pharmaceutical market at the retail level is USD 8.4 billion. The pharmaceutical research firm PMSI valued the size of the market (ex-factory prices) at USD 4.6 billion in 1994. At either level, Brazil is one of the fifteen largest markets in the world. Despite its size, per capita spending on medicine is only about USD 13 annually. Brazilians are becoming more health conscious and they are jogging, dieting, and consuming vitamins and health products. The growth of pharmaceutical consumption in Brazil tends to be correlated with the growth rate of the economy as a whole .Prescription drugs comprise 85% of the market, with OTCs making up the remaining 15%. Owing to the absence of patent protection, there is differentiation between brand name prescription and generic prescription drugs in Brazil (although usually several brands of similar drugs are available). The share of the market held by OTCs is projected to rise over the next few years. In particular, non-chemical remedies including herbal products are increasing in importance. Sales of pharmaceuticals are currently allowed only in registered pharmacies, although it is hoped that OTCs will soon be made available in supermarkets. There are more than 40,000 pharmacies in Brazil. Pharmacists are very important in the consumer purchasing process, as even OTCs are sold behind the counter.

Drugs that can be sold without prescription include vitamins, tonics, analgesics, digestive remedies, liver remedies, topical first aid products, herbal and homeopathic products, oral hygiene products, laxatives, chest rubs and inhalations, nasal sprays, topical contraceptives, and several other product types. Leading types of OTCs include brands of dipironas, C- vitamins, analgesics, anti-diarrhea, and cough and cold rubs.Brazilian prices for pharmaceuticals are among the lowest in the world . After many complaints of "abusive pricing" made by the Brazil government against pharmaceutical companies, the companies agreed to keep increases in prices at or close to the economy's inflation level. As a means to reduce prices, the Brazilian government is promoting more direct distribution channels; mark-ups represented 42% of the retail price paid by Brazilian consumers in 1992. Government and industry have also introduced a new price index, which resulted in about an 18% decline in prices

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY IN BRAZIL

- The Brazilian chemical industry consists mainly of producing large-scale units, intensive in capital, technology and raw materials
- The industry operates near the limits of the installed capacity
- The industry employs specialized and highly skilled manpower with the highest salaries in Brazilian industry.

V Winner Post #11- Brazilian Industries- Telecom

2008-08-30T02:00:00.000-07:00

TELECOMMUNICATION

Organizational Structure

Currently telecommunication services in Brazil are provided by 28 operators of the national Telebrás (Telecomunicações Brasileiras S.A.) system and by a couple of independent operators. The Telebrás System is responsible for operating about 90% of all 15 million telephones and 5 million mobile phones in the country. The holding company Telebrás is nowadays an authorized open capital company subordinated to the Ministry of Communications. Telebrás coordinates 27 state operators, one in each state, and Embratel (Empresa Brasileira de Telecomunicações S.A.) a company providing Brazil's interstate and international communication services. Each subsidiary operates with a certain amount of autonomy but Telebrás has, by now, been required to own at least 51% of the controlling interest in its state subsidiaries, by now, but the companies are expected to be privatized as the new law for telecommunications is expected to be set in 1997.

In Brazil the Ministry of Communications has a double role in the existing government structure. It is the agency regulating telecommunication and postal services, and also the agency supervising and controlling governmental business activities in both areas. The Ministry of Communications establishes national telecommunication policies; regulates, grants, and inspects telecommunication services as well as postal services. On the other hand, it controls business policies and the activities of Telebrás system and Brazilian Post and Telegraph company.

The subsidiaries provide local and long distance services as well as cellular and data transmission services within each of the 27 states of Brazil. The six largest subsidiaries include Telesp of São Paulo, Telerj of Rio de Janeiro, Telepar of Paraná, Teeming of Minas Gerais, Telebrasília of Brasília and Telebahia of Bahia.

The monopoly position of the Telebrás system has allowed the operators to gain over 50% profits. But, for example, American call-back services have been taken lots of customers from Telebrás' international services. However, these trends are fading as margins decrease due to privatization and tougher competition.

Technical Infrastructure

The centralized Telebrás system has resulted in a standardized communication system with uniform service standards throughout the national territory. The network is basically analog, but the biggest cities already have some digital connections and local operators are digitizing their networks at varying pace. Brazil is also one of the few nations having its own development and production technology for large size digital switching equipment. Over 20% of fixed lines are connected to automatic Stored Program Control (SPC) centers.

Brazil's telecommunication transmission relies very much on satellites and microwave radios. Rural areas cover two thirds of the country's territory and wireless systems are the only reasonable way to reach all regions. After the four Brasilsat satellites were launched in 1985-1995 Brazil has had a modern domestic satellite communication network that has made possible the extension of voice, video, data, and text services to remote areas integrating all municipalities. International services are provided through satellites, analog submarine cables, and fiber optic cable systems.

Mobile Systems

Brazil has the biggest mobile telephone network in Latin America with approximately 5 million users. The expanding rate is also remarkable, estimated to be 45% new users annually. The operator market within cellular systems is expanding almost 190% a year. At present, there are up to 2.5 million people on waiting lists for cellular lines. Cellular systems are typically run by a local state-owned operator which operates on A-Band. The new digital B-Band is to be licensed to private consortiums, typically formed by a financial, media and telecommunication company operating on one of the ten B-Band regions of Brazil.

American standards for mobile communications have strongly influenced the Brazilian cellular system. Analog 800 MHz AMPS system is the main mobile communication standard and also the digital system will be a North American standards: CDMA or TDMA. However, Brazil must also take other Mercosul members into account when considering new communication standards. The systems should be as compliant as possible. The national roaming service based on the IS-41B standard covers the whole country, being one of the widest automatic roaming systems in the world.

Paging services have always been rendered by private enterprise. At the moment there are four paging operators in the market: Mobitel, Teletrin, Powernet and Connectel serving altogether 1.5 million subscribers. Eighty new channels will be opened in 1997 and the paging market is expected to grow to nearly 4 million subscribers by 2003. Also, new voice pager devices will emerge on the market by 1999. Pagers in Brazil are alphanumeric, i.e. the message is sent to the receiver directly and not left in a voice mailbox. The reason might be in culture: Brazilians do not feel comfortable talking to a machine. The pager operator market has been open to competition for years and the companies are healthy and well-prepared for the future.

Data Communication

Data communication is also a free market as long as the transfers do not cross state borders. Interstate and international data communications are still Embratel's monopoly. Data services consist of data-, voice-, and video services. So far, the biggest user groups for data communication services are banks, multinational companies and national organizations but the market is growing at a rate of 30% a year.

Development Plan

Brazil's telecommunication sector has a huge improvement potential. Communication resources have not been capable of meeting the needs of rapid economic growth. There are far too few telephone lines available, approximately 11 lines per 100 inhabitants, and they are expensive. Queuing time for a telephone line can range from half to three years, while the nation's economic expansion increases the network load on existing lines. A dense public telephone box network combined with paging and virtual telephone services have offered a cheaper alternative for telecommunication. The most urgent need for communication services is within the triangle region of São Paulo - Belo Horizonte - Rio de Janeiro.

The Ministry of Communications has elaborated an ambitious plan for developing telecommunications and postal services in Brazil. The project is named The Recovery and Expansion Plan Program for Telecommunications and Postal Systems (PASTE). To meet the country's needs, huge investments are planned to be directed to the sector by 2003 - a sum of about USD 75 billion. The government is also intensively opening markets for foreign investors to gain a surge of capital inflow for building a massive communication system in the country.

Opportunities

If privatization of the communication sector will materialize as planned and Brazilian economy stays stabilized, business opportunities are numerous for foreign companies. Privatized markets are easier to enter and the market grows rapidly, especially among cellular and data transfer systems. Brazilian telecommunication operators are willing to invest intensively on new technology, but usually it requires cooperation with some domestic company. Thus, a cooperative R&D work would be one good way to start a high-tech business in Brazil. All value-added services around cellular communications and data networks are a good opportunity especially for small and medium sized companies.

MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE NEW TELECOMMUNICATIONS CODE

To provide conditions for all telecommunication services to be developed in a competitive environment.
· To create conditions for the full participation of private sector initiative in the telecommunication service sector, ensuring equal opportunities.
· To stimulate the capabilities of sectors from the telecommunications industry to participate in domestic and foreign markets creating attractiveness for Brazil to become an international telecommunications center.
· To institute an objective and transparent process to grant licenses to exploit services to ensure the efficient utilization of the radio electric spectrum and of the orbital positions of satellites.
· To establish a tariff and pricing system that will lead to the allocation of resources in the sector, stimulating the achievement of productivity gains and consequent transference to society, also making feasible an appropriate offer of telecommunication services throughout national territory.

Source: Ministry of Communications

V Winner Post #12- Brazilian Industries- Mining

2008-08-30T01:30:00.000-07:00

MINING

Mineral Potential and Production

Brazil's territory of 8.5 million km2, contains extremely rich mineral provinces, with internationally significant reserves of minerals, such as iron ore, aluminum, bauxite, manganese, nickel and tin. Also, the natural resources of kaolin, pewter, lithium, niobium, quartz, titanium, marble and granite are significant. Brazil's gemological provinces are the largest in the world, and the country is also one of the major producers of gold and precious stones.

Brazilian mineral production currently includes more than 100 substances and amounts to USD 6.9 billion. Mining is one of the fastest growing sectors in Brazilian industry. However, production is still very much concentrated principally on iron, gold and bauxite which, given the existing potential, shows that there is plenty of room for the Brazilian mineral-metallurgical sector to grow. The main challenge lies in obtaining reliable geological data in a country still largely unsurveyed and covered by jungle.

The Iron Quadrangle district in Minas Gerais is the best known and explored mining district in Brazil. The Carajas mining district in the state of Pará is the most important mining area in the Amazon and it contains important mineral reserves of iron ore, copper, manganese and gold. The trend in the mining sector seems to be that activities are moving more and more towards the Amazon region.

The Mining Development Program

After the stagnation of the Brazilian mining industry and the fall of mineral exploration investments in the early 90´s, the Federal Government started a Mining Developing Program in 1994. This program aims to revamp the mining industry and to maximize, on a sustainable basis, the economic return of the Brazilian mineral resources endowment. After the removal of restrictions for foreign capital in 1995, about 60 new international companies have started developing activities in Brazil, mainly looking for gold opportunities. The Federal Government offers tax incentives to encourage development of the less economically and socially favored regions of Brazil. Such incentives are only for the companies establishing, expanding or maintaining mining operations in the northeast and Amazon regions.

There are a large number of domestic and foreign mining companies operating in Brazil. However, a few big companies are responsible for the majority of the production. CVRD - Companhia Vale do Rio Doce is the largest Brazilian mining company with total sales over USD 2.5 billion in 1994. CVRD's principal minerals are iron, gold and manganese. CVRD is included in the National Privatization Program and its majority stockholding is to be sold by the Federal Government in 1997. Other major Brazilian mining companies include MBR, Samarco, Ferteco and Samitri.

Mining Equipment market

The Brazilian market for mining equipment is one of the largest in the world. In Brazil, most machinery and equipment used by the mining industry is produced domestically, either by branches of international companies or by Brazilian firms using imported technology. The annual demand for imported machinery and equipment for the mining industry is estimated to be USD 200-300 million and to grow at an annual rate of 4% until the year 1999.

The US has been the leading foreign supplier of this sector in Brazil, followed by Germany, Sweden, Japan, Italy and Finland. Finland's share of the total mining equipment imports was 3 percent in 1995. Finnish knowledge in mining technology is known in the country even though the number of underground mines in Brazil is relatively small compared to open pit mining. There are no impediments to the importation of mining machinery and components to Brazil. The best way to enter the Brazilian market for mining equipment is through a local representative or agent. Virtually all products are sold directly to the end-users, even when local representatives are involved.

V Winner Post #13- Information Technology

2008-08-30T01:00:00.000-07:00

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

The Brazilian domestic computer market lags about four to five years behind the European level, mostly because of past years' closed markets. Currently, the total annual Brazilian market for computer hardware, software and services is estimated to be nearly USD 5 billion. Within this market, the corporate software tools sector is growing particularly fast. Between them, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro concentrate 75% of the buying decisions for information technology in Brazil. It has been estimated that around four percent of all households have personal computers.

Media hype of the Internet is fueling PC purchases. Advances in LAN (Local Area Network) and WAN (Wide Area Network) technology are interacting with the growth in the installed base of PCs. Over the next two years, fledgling corporate experiments in client/server technology will mature into full-blown migration efforts as companies move applications from the mainframe environment to network client/server applications.

Brazilian corporations are investing in custom applications, both to meet the needs of LAN-based departments, and to integrate departments, customers, and suppliers into corporate WANs. The number of installed PCs has passed the threshold where it now makes sense to pay for custom applications to integrate PCs into the corporate network. This integration is increasingly seen as a market-share weapon by Brazilian banking, commerce, and industry. Such WAN-integrating applications will be developed primarily in Brazil, using high-end software tools purchased from abroad. The need for imported tools to develop WAN-integrating software is further heightened by downsizing of corporate mainframes and the outsourcing of the functions of data processing centers.The federal government has started a program, Softex 2000, to develop Brazilian software exports. Softex 2000 aims to start exports by educating Brazilian software developers in how to run companies, pick market niches, package products, and choose distributors. However, it is unlikely that Brazil will achieve anything like India's success at software export, due to Brazil's Portuguese language base, meager investment in mass technical education, and lack of incentives to productivity.

The Software Law of December 1987 permits foreign software to be sold in Brazil as long as it is registered with the Secretariat of Informatics and Automation Policy (SEPIN). The majority of foreign software, submitted for registration with SEPIN has been approved for distribution in the country. This law establishes that registration must be made by the local distributor/licensee, and that the marketing of the software is restricted to a national company. Software distributors successfully argued that the monetary operations tax (IOF) on payments remitted abroad was reduced from 25% to 0%. Another significant obstacle for software distributors in Brazil is the prevalence of copyright infringement which is very common among software market, and a gray market flourishes in hardware business, too.

BEST PROSPECTS

- Add-on tools for third-party RDBMS (relational database management systems).
- Control kits for Visual Basic. Add-ons to Lotus Notes.
- Object-oriented CASE tools and development environments.
- Middle ware for integrating various hardware and software configurations into seamless WANs.
- Software asset control tools and WAN managers.
- 32-bit versions of software tools to run under Windows 95, Windows NT Server, UNIX and OS/2 Warp.
- Client/server application development tools.
- Tools to develop Internet corporate software for information providers, service providers, and firewall implementers.
- Multimedia tools for building Internet content particularly in emerging applications for banking, retail, and publishing/entertainment.

V Winner Post #14- Regions of Brazil

2008-08-30T00:30:00.000-07:00

Click on graphic to expand.

Regions of Brazil

Brazil is currently divided in five regions, by the Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE). These divisions are composed by states with similar cultural, economical, historical and social aspects, and although through the scientific point of view information given by this type of division is not very accurate, because official information given by the IBGE uses this system, this division is the most widely used in Brazil.

North Region
· Area: 3.869.637,9 km²(45.28%)
· Population: 12.833.383 hab (3,31hab/km²; 6.2%)
· GDP: ~9.6bi US$ (2%)
· HDI: ~0,750
· Climate: Equatorial (high temperatures and high annual precipitation)
· States: Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima and Tocantins
· Largest Cities: Manaus (1.403.796); Belém (1.279.861); Ananindeua (392.947); Porto Velho (314.525); Macapá (282.745); Santarém (262.721); Rio Branco (252.885); Boa Vista (220.383); Palmas (208.000).
· Economy: Iron, Energy production, electronic manufacturing, latex, tourism.

· Transport: Mainly rivers (which are abundant in the region). Highways are scarce and present mainly in the east. Airplanes are commonly used in small remote communities and sometimes in the larger cities
· Vegetation: Almost the entire region is covered by the Amazon Rainforest, except the state of Tocantins, with a savanna-like vegetation (cerrado). Although most of the native vegetation still remains, the region suffers critical problems from deforestation occurring quickly in the area.
· Highlights characteristics: Presence of the Amazon Rainforest that is the vegetation dominant in every state but Tocantins. Cities are all spread apart in the region that has the lowest population density of the country. Very few paved highways pass the region that is almost isolated from the rest of the country. It is also the biggest region of Brazil, being responsible for almost half of the Brazilian territorial extension. Economic growth above national average (especially in Amazonas and in Tocantins).
The economy of the North Region is essentially based on the vegetal plantation and extraction, such as latex, assai, woods and nuts; and mineral extraction of gold, precious stones, cassiterite and tin (metal); as well as mining exploitation, mainly iron, at Carajás Mountain Range (in the State of Pará) and manganese, at Navio Mountain Range (in the State of Amapá).

Northeast Region
· Area: 1.561.177 km² (27.50%)
· Population: 47.700.000 hab (30.55 hab/km²; 16%)
· GDP: ~48.1bi US$ (~12%)
· HDI: ~0.715
· Climate: Very hot all the year long, Tropical near the coast and semi-arid in the interior; semi-equatorial in the far west of the region.
· States: Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Maranhão, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte, Sergipe
· Largest Cities: Salvador (4.011.828); Fortaleza (2.138.234); Recife (1.421.993); São Luís (868.047); Maceió (796.842); Teresina (714.583); Natal (709.536); João Pessoa (595.429); Jaboatão dos Guararapes; (580.795); Feira de Santana (481.137); Aracaju (461.083); Olinda (368.666); Campina Grande (354.546).
· Economy: Tourism, cocoa, machinery manufacturing, textiles.
· Transport: Mainly highways, which are more abundant along the coast, although transport by sea is also important
· Vegetation: Desert-like vegetation mainly, with tropical forests along the coast and in the west, and savanna-like vegetation in the southwest .

Remarkable characteristics: This region was the first found by the Portuguese, and the first Brazilian capital, Salvador, was founded here. Lowest social indicators of the country, but had the best economic growth (above national average) between 2000 and 2003 . Its economy is mainly based on the production of sugar, cocoa and cotton; as well as the extensive cattle breeding. Some time ago, at São Francisco River Valley (between States of Bahia and Pernambuco), fruits for export started being produced too. At the seaside and the continental platform of the Region, the main activity is the exploitation of oil, which is later processed in the State of Bahia. Major industries (clothing, food, small machinery) are in the main metropolitan areas of Northeast.
In São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, as well as many other parts of the metropolitan areas of Brazil outside of the Northeast, nordestinos are often not well liked by people of the middle and upper classes, who claim that the nordestinos are responsible for many of the social problems of the city.Generally, nordestinos in hope of a better life come without much money, and are rejected by most employers due to their low or nonexistent education. Quickly realizing that the big city is as bad or worse than the sertão, they end up in favelas (slums). Many of them then return to their former hometowns in the Northeast once they've collected sufficient money to do so. Conversely, many Brazilians who live outside the Northeast often go there to vacation on the beaches. The Northeast is the poorest region of Brazil, with the worst Human Development Index rates of the country, mainly in the rural areas, which suffer from long periods without rain.
This is somewhat ironic since the Northeast, during Brazil's colonial era when sugar production was higher, was the most prosperous region in all of South America. Education and health care are very bad when they exist, malnutrition is common in people living in these areas, literacy is about 78% and child labor is a concern, as is child prostitution in major cities. Prostitution in the major cities has become an enormous problem, caused largely by the low Brazilian minimum wage as well as sexual tourism. In contrast to the situation occurring in the other Brazilian regions where social problems are worse in bigger cities, social problems in the Northeast regions are worse in the rural and small communities of the interior, lessening in bigger cities near the coast. Some diseases are still common such as tuberculosis and yellow fever and there have been several recent outbreaks of widespread dengue fever especially along the eastern seaboard and otherwise near watery areas where the Aedes aegypti mosquito breeds. Brazil's Ministry of Health, with limited resources, has tried to combat these outbreaks.

Center-West Region

· Area: 1.612.077, 2 km² (28, 3%)
· Population: 11.616.750 hab (7, 2 hab/km²; 6, 4%)
· GDP: ~40bi US$ (8%)
· HDI: ~0.775
· Climate: Savanna climate (hot, with relative few precipitation during the year) in the northeast and the east; Tropical in the east and in the west; Equatorial in the north
· States: Goiás, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul; along with Distrito Federal (Federal District), where Brazil's national capital, Brasília, is situated.
· Largest Cities: Brasília (2.043.169); Goiânia (1.090.737); Campo Grande (662.534); Cuiabá (483.044); Aparecida de Goiânia (335.849); Anápolis (287.666).
· Economy: Pecuary, Soybeans, tourism.
· Transport: Highways where they are present (mostly in the center and east regions); transport by rivers is common in the north and in the east; airplanes are used in remote and smaller communities.
· Vegetation: Mainly savanna-like vegetation, including the Pantanal (Chaco, in Paraguay), flooded areas in the west, equatorial rainforests in the north.
· Remarkable characteristics: Low population density, Remarkable presence of pecuary instead of agriculture - The region is the least industrialized in the country, based mainly in food & meat processing.
The economy in the Central-West Region is essentially based on cattle breeding, which took the place of gold and precious stone prospecting, which were local activities in the past.

The Brazilian largest manganese reserve is in the Central-West Region, at Urucum Woods. Pecuary, "politic business" and tourism are very important to the region. Located in the State of Goiás, in a region called Planalto Central, the Brazilian Federal District is divided in 19 administrative regions.
Brasília - place where the three branches of the Federal Government are located - is the main attraction of this dry area and climate with only two seasons. The raining season from October to March. During the dry season, the humidity can reach critical levels, mainly in the pick hours of the hottest days. The artificial lake of Paranoá, with almost 40 km² and 500 million m³ of water, was built exactly to minimize the severe climatic conditions of the winter. The region also attracts mystics and in its surroundings you find many temples of different religions and sectarian groups.

Southeast Region
· Area: 927.286 km² (12%)
· Population: 72.300.000 hab (42.7% of Brazil’s population) (77,96 hab/km², 38%)
· GDP (nominal): ~320bi US$ (58, 5%)
· HDI: ~0,820
· Tropical in the northwest (warm, relatively dry in the winter and wet in the summer); Semi-arid in the north; Temperate in the south

· States: Spirit Santo, Minas Geris, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo
· Largest Cities: São Paulo (10.405.867); Rio de Janeiro (5.851.914); Belo Horizonte (2.232.747); Guarulhos (1.071.268); Campinas (968.172); Nova Iguaçu (915.366); São Gonçalo (889.828); Duque de Caxias (770.865); São Bernardo do Campo (701.289); Osasco (650.993); Santo André (648.443); Contagem (600.236); São José dos Campos (538.909); Ribeirão Preto (505.053); Uberlândia (500.488); Sorocaba (494.649); Niterói (458.465); Juiz de Fora (456.432); Santos (412.243), Vila Velha (357.952), Jundiaí (340.907), Bauru (310.000), Vitória (291.941) .
· . Economy: Machine and electronic manufacturing, automobile and aviation industry, coffee, soil, sugar cane, tourism, oil&sub-products (gasoline, diesel, etc), textiles, energy production (not sufficient, however, to attend its demand); it is the business-economic center of Brazil, most bigger Brazilians companies and foreign companies installed in Brazil have their headquarters installed in this region
· Transport: The region is heavily covered by highways, and in a somewhat extent, railways. Railways and rivers are used mainly for freight, and used when they are present. Regional, domestic and international air routes connects larger cities, with the main hubs for airlines in the country
· Vegetation: Mainly tropical-like semi deciduous forests (Mata Atlântica), semi-arid in the north, with almost no vegetation, savanna-like vegetation in the west and in the northwest (cerrado). Very little of the native vegetation still remains (~2%, mostly in parks)
· Remarkable characteristics: The southeast region is the major powerhouse of the Brazilian economy, being responsible for 58% of the Brazilian GDP (~320 bi US$). It is also the most populated region in the country, where the two national metropolitan regions of the country are located (São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro), among other three regional metropolitan regions, Belo Horizonte, Campinas and Santos.

São Paulo
It is the major industrial and economic powerhouse of the Brazilian economy. It is named after Saint Paul. São Paulo has the largest population, the biggest industrial park and the biggest economic production of the country. The capital, São Paulo, is also the largest city in South America. Gastronomy and culture are main strengths of this state; nicknamed "the land of the drizzle" Barretos receives a large number of visitors every year for the Festa do Peão de Boiadeiro, a rodeo. Petar, Lagamar and Brotas are popular destinations for the eco-tourists and adventurers. A popular place to visit during winter is Campos do Jordão.
The state of São Paulo has an area of approximately 248,800 km² (95.700 mi²), and a population of about 40 million (21.5% of the population of Brazil), which makes it the most populous country subdivision in the Western Hemisphere.
The climate of São Paulo is tropical to subtropical, altitude being the largest contributor to what variation there is. The capital, São Paulo City, barely outside the tropics in the south of the state and about 800 meters (2,600 feet) above sea level, has daily minima and maxima averaging about 19°C and 28°C (66°F and 82°F) respectively at the warmest time of year and about 12°C and 22°C (54°F and 72°F) respectively at the coolest time of year. Temperatures reach around 33°C (91°F) on the hottest days and fall as low as 5°C (41°F) on the coldest nights. In the low-lying northwest of the state, temperatures average around 4°C (7°F) higher.
São Paulo is the richest state in Brazil. It has the second highest per-capita income (lower than only the Federal District) and, with the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, the highest standard of living in Brazil, despite the poverty in some peripheral parts of the largest cities. According to the IBGE of 2007, there were 41,164,000 people residing in the state. The population density was 165,4 inh./km². The last PNAD (National Research for Sample of Domiciles) census revealed the following numbers: 28,814,800 million White people (70.0%), 9,879,360 million Pardo people (24.0%), 2,058,200 million Black people (5.0%), 411 thousand Asian or Amerindian people (1.0%).People of Italian descent predominate in many towns, including the capital city and the northeast part of the state, which is 65% Italian.
Portuguese and Spanish descendants are present in most towns. Those of African ancestry or of multiracial background are relatively numerous. Many of the non-Whites are migrants from Northeast Brazil. São Paulo is home to the largest Asian population in Brazil, as well to the largest Japanese community outside of Japan itself.
There are many people of Arab descent, mostly Syrian and Lebanese people.

V Winner Post #15- Regions of the South East

2008-08-29T23:30:00.000-07:00

Economy of Sao Paulo
The service sector is the largest component of GDP at 47.2%, followed by the industrial sector at 46.3%. Agriculture represents 6.5% of GDP (2004). São Paulo (state) exports: vehicles 17.2%, airplanes and helicopters 11.6%, food industry 10%, sugar and alcohol fuel 7.8%, orange juice 5.2%, telecommunications 4.1% (2002).
Participation in the Brazilian economy: 30.9% (2004).
São Paulo state is responsible for approximately one-third of Brazilian GDP. The state's GDP (PPP) consists of 550 billion dollars, making it also the biggest economy of South America and one of the biggest economies in Latin America, second after Mexico. Its economy is based on machinery, the automobile and aviation industries, services, financial companies, commerce, textiles, orange growing, sugar cane and coffee production. Wealth is unequally distributed in the state, however. The richest municipalities are centered around Greater São Paulo (such as Campinas, Jundiaí, Paulínia, Americana, Indaiatuba, São José dos Campos, Santos, etc.), as well as a few other more distant nuclei, such as around São Carlos, Ribeirão Preto and São José do Rio Preto. Some regions, such as Registro and the Bananal region, in the border with Paraná, are very poor, some of them nearly as poor as municipalities in the Northeast of Brazil.
The state of São Paulo is a region of a very mixed culture, as it was the land for many immigrants from other parts of the world, particularly from Europe (mostly from Italy), Middle East (mostly from Lebanon) and Eastern Asia (mostly from Japan).
The São Paulo state was also, earlier, the land where lived the bandeirantes, the adventurers who penetrate the Brazilian west and south searching for indigenous slaves and mineral wealth. This is the reason because of the culture of São Paulo influenced most of the western Brazil, and also the states of Minas Gerais and Paraná. A very distinctive character in the culture of São Paulo is the caipira tradition, which has also its own dialect, quite distinct of the standard portuguese. This culture is very present in the countryside, while the largest cities like São Paulo City, Campinas and Santos are more cosmopolitan.
Another distinctive character in the state of São Paulo is the called Brazilian erudite culture. São Paulo was the home of the Brazilian Week of Modern Art (Semana da Arte Moderna), organized mostly by poets and artists from São Paulo, like Mário de Andrade, Oswald de Andrade, Menotti del Picchia and Anita Malfatti, or foreigners living in São Paulo, like Victor Brecheret and Lasar Segall. São Paulo was also the birthplace for many Brazilian classical composers, like Carlos Gomes (the most famous Brazilian opera composer), Elias Álvares Lobo and Camargo Guarnieri.

Minas Gerais
Is one of the 26 states of Brazil, the second most populous and fourth largest by area in the federation. The capital is the city of Belo Horizonte, located near the central area. Main producer of coffee and milk of the country, Minas Gerais is known by the patrimony of architecture and conserved colonial art in historical cities as Ouro Preto and Tiradentes.
In the south, the tourist points are the hydro mineral ranches, such as Caxambu, São Lourenço e São Tomé das Letras -, Monte Verde and the national parks of Ibitipoca and Aiuruoca. The landscape of the State is marked by mountains, valleys and caverns. In the Serra do Cipó, Sete Lagoas, Cordisburgo and Lagoa Santa, the caves and waterfalls are the attractions. The north of the State, including the capital Belo Horizonte, has beautiful cities between mountains and has many farm-hotels.
Minas Gerais is the source of some of the biggest rivers in Brazil, most notably the São Francisco, the Paraná and to a lesser extent, the Rio Doce. The state also holds many hydroelectric power plants, including Furnas. Some of the highest peaks in Brazil are in the mountain ranges in the southern part of the state, such as Serra da Mantiqueira and Serra do Cervo, that mark the border between Minas and its neighbors São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The most notable one is the Pico da Bandeira, the third highest mountain in Brazil at 2890 m, standing on the border with Espírito Santo state. The state also has huge reserves of iron and sizeable reserves of gold and gemstones, including emerald, topaz and aquamarine mines.
Each region of the state has a distinct character, geographically and to a certain extent culturally.
· The central and eastern area of the state is hilly and rocky, with little vegetation on the mountains. Around Lagoa Santa and Sete Lagoas a typical Karst topography with caves and lakes is found.
Some of the mountains are almost entirely iron ore, which led to extensive mining (in some places at the expense of the environment). Recent advances in environmental policy helped to put limits to mining. To the east of the state capital Belo Horizonte, there is a region known as Vale do Aço (steel valley), mainly the cities of Ipatinga, Coronel Fabriciano and Timóteo, which holds a great number of iron and steel processing companies along the course of the Rio Doce and afluents. Now that mining is restricted large areas of forest are being removed for timber, charcoal and to clear land for cattle ranching. The original forest cover of these inland hills is very much fragmented. The city of Governador Valadares is in the limit of this region with the poor North.
· The south of Minas Gerais is hilly and green, with coffee and milk production. This region is notably cooler than the rest of the state, and some locations are subject to temperatures just below the freezing point during the winter. The region is also famed for its mineral-water resorts, including the cities of Poços de Caldas, São Lourenço and Caxambu. Many industries are located at Varginha and Pouso Alegre.
· The southeast of the state, called Zona da Mata (Forest Zone) was the richest region until the mid 20th century, nowadays the biggest city, Juiz de Fora, remains an important industrial, cultural and educational center, being also the fourth largest in the Minas state.
· The day-to-day living in the Zona da Mata however, is better represented by a group of smaller cities like Além Paraíba, Viçosa, Leopoldina, Cataguases, Muriaé, Ubá, Astolfo Dutra and several others. Those cities put together a strong economic presence based mostly on agriculture, textiles and minerals.
· The west of Minas Gerais, also known as "Triângulo Mineiro" (which means "the Minas Triangle", due to the geographic shape of this region), is composed of a particular type of savanna, known as Cerrado. This region was initially occupied by great free-wheeling beef ranches, which are still important for the economy of the region. Over the 1990s, extensive soy and corn farms occupied most of the farming land available. The main cities of this region are Uberlândia and Uberaba.
· The north of Minas Gerais is arid, being subject to frequent droughts. Recent irrigation projects use the water from the São Francisco river for agriculture; the river crosses the northern region carrying water from its basin at the central area of the state, which is subject to a regular rainfall pattern. The diamond mines of this region attracted miners but are now exhausted, and the remaining population lives in poor conditions, especially in the valley of the Jequitinhonha River. The main cities of this region are Montes Claros and Teófilo Otoni.

History
Minas Gerais was formed mainly by colonists who searched for veins of gold (discovered 1693) and gems, and later diamonds. (The name literally means general mines, a shortening from Minas dos Matos Gerais, or mines of the general woods, this being originally the hinterland to the incipient colonies of São Paulo dos Campos de Piratininga and São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro.) These helped to boost occupation of the inner lands and led to the foundation of several new villages. The first capital and seat of the local see was the city of Mariana; it was later moved to Vila Rica. In the late 18th century, Vila Rica was the biggest city in Brazil and one of the biggest of the Americas in population. As the gold mines were exhausted over the 19th century, the city lost its importance; it was later renamed Ouro Preto and remained the state capital until the construction of the all-new, planned city of Belo Horizonte at the turn of the 20th century.
The gold cycle left its mark in cities such as Mariana, Ouro Preto, Diamantina, Sabará, Tiradentes and São João del Rei. The relative isolation from European influence, added to the huge influx of gold and other valuable minerals, helped the local people to develop their own style of art, which became known as Barroco Mineiro. Prime examples of this period are the richly decorated churches at the colonial cities, some of them preserved today as museums. The most important artist of this period was Antônio Lisboa, who became known as Aleijadinho. His statues and paintings are now highly valued by experts as one of the most refined artistic expressions outside Europe at that time. In addition to art and architecture, there was an explosion of musical activity in Minas Gerais in the 18th century.
Printed copies of European music, as well as accomplished musicians, made the journey to the area, and soon a local school of composition and performance was born and achieved considerable sophistication. Several composers worked in Minas Gerais in the 18th century, mainly in Vila Rica (now Ouro Preto), Sabará, Mariana, and other cities. Some of the names which have survived include José Joaquim Emerico Lôbo de Mesquita, Marcos Coelho Netto, Francisco Gomes da Rocha and Ignacio Parreiras Neves; they cultivated a style related to the classical European style but marked by more a more chordal, homophonic sound, and they usually wrote for mixed groups of voices and instruments.
During the 18th century, mining exploration was strongly controlled by the Portuguese Crown, which imposed heavy taxes on everything extracted (one fifth of all gold would go to the Crown). Several rebellions were attempted by the colonists, always facing strong reaction by the imperial crown. The most notable one was the Inconfidência, started by group of middle-class colonists, mostly intellectuals and young officers. They were inspired by the American and French Revolutions and Illuminist ideals. The conspiracy failed and the rebels were arrested and exiled. The most famous of them, Joaquim José da Silva Xavier (known as Tiradentes), was hanged by order of Queen Maria I of Portugal, becoming a local hero and a national martyr of Brazil. The Minas Gerais flag—a red triangle on a white background—is based on the design for the national flag proposed by the "Inconfidentes", as the rebels became known.
Due to the economic importance of the state and the particular traits of the local population—famed for its reserved and balanced character—Minas Gerais has played an important role on national politics. During the 19th century, politicians such as José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva were instrumental in the establishment of the Brazilian Empire under the rule of Dom Pedro I and later his son, Dom Pedro II. After the installation of the Brazilian Republic, during the early 20th century, Minas Gerais shared the control of the national political scene with São Paulo in what became known as the "Coffee and Milk" political cycle (coffee being the major product of São Paulo, and milk that of Minas Gerais).
Minas Gerais was also home to two of the most influential Brazilian politicians of the second half of the 20th century. Juscelino Kubitschek was president from 1956 to 1961, and he was responsible for the construction of Brasília as the new capital of Brazil. Tancredo Neves had an extensive political career that culminated with his election in 1984 to be the first civil president after the 1964 military countercoup. However, he died after a series of health complications just as he was about to assume the position. Also, Itamar, Brazil's previous president, lived there, though he was not born in Minas.
The last PNAD (National Research for Sample of Domiciles) census revealed the following numbers: 9,019,164 million White people (46.2%), 8,784,900 million Pardo people (45.0%), 1,639,848 million Black people (8.4%), 58 thousand Asian or Amerindian people (0.3%).
People of Europen ancestry (mostly colonial Portuguese and recent Italian descendants) predominate in the south, central and west parts of the state. People of African and Pardo background predominate in the north part. There are people of German origin in some towns (Teófilo Otoni, Juiz de Fora, etc.) and of Syrian and Lebanese descent, mainly the capital city.

Economy of Minas Gerais
The service sector is the largest component of GDP at 47.1%, followed by the industrial sector at 44.1%. Agriculture represents 8.8% of GDP (2004). Exports: iron ore 26.1%, siderurgy 20.9%, coffee 12.8%, not ferrous metals 7.2%, others agriculture products 6.2%, vehicles 5.9% (2002).
Participation in the Brazilian economy: 9.4% (2004).
Minas Gerais (or simply Minas, as it is commonly called) is a major producer of milk, coffee and other agricultural commodities, as well as minerals. Electronics are also produced in Minas. The automakers Fiat and Mercedes-Benz have factories there. Tourism is also an important activity for the state: historical cities like Ouro Preto, Mariana, Sabará, Congonhas, Diamantina, Tiradentes, and Sao João del Rey, are a major attractive for visitors interested in their colonial architecture. Other cities, like Araxá, Poços de Caldas, Lambari, Caxambu, and others, attract visitors interested in their mineral watersprings.
The state has marked economic divisions. The southern part of the state (close to the São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro state borders) has several mid-sized cities with solid industrial bases such as Juiz de Fora, Varginha, Pouso Alegre, and Poços de Caldas, as well as Ipatinga in the east of the state, which is also a modern and major industrial city and Itabira, considered city mother of the Company it is Companhia Vale do Rio Doce, that has actions quoted in Bovespa and NYSE. The northeastern region is marked by poverty, but Governador Valadares and Teófilo Otoni attract foreign traders for the semi-precious gems such as topaz and sapphire. The central region of the state (where the capital is located) has big reserves of iron (and to a lesser extent, gold) still being actively mined. The western part, the "Triângulo Mineiro", is less densely populated than the rest of the state, and it is now a focus of biotechnology investment, particularly on the cities of Uberlândia, Uberaba and Patos de Minas, which includes leading research on cattle, soy and corn culture.

Rio de Janeiro
It is located in the Brazilian geopolitical region of the Southeast (assigned by IBGE) and its boundaries, all of them with other Brazilian states in the Southeast region (Rio de Janeiro is the only state in the Southeast to share borders exclusively with other states in the same macro region), are with Minas Gerais (N and NW), Espírito Santo (NE) and São Paulo (SW), and plus its shore line, in the Atlantic Ocean, to its East and South.
Rio de Janeiro has an area of 43,653km² and its capital is the city of Rio de Janeiro, which was the capital of the Portuguese colony as of 1763 (the first capital being Salvador da Bahia), capital of the United Kingdom of Brazil, Portugal and Algarves as of 1806 and the capital of independent Brazil from 1822 to 1960.
The state's most populous cities are Rio de Janeiro, Nova Iguaçu, Niterói, Duque de Caxias, São Gonçalo, São João de Meriti, Campos dos Goytacazes, Petrópolis and Volta Redonda.
Its principal rivers are the Guandu River, the Piraí, the Paraíba do Sul, the Macaé and the Muriaé. It's climate is considered to be tropical.
Rio de Janeiro is made up of two distinct morphological areas: a Plain, known as baixada, and a Plateau, which are disposed parallelly from the shoreline to the country side (towards Minas Gerais).
Rio de Janeiro is the smallest state in the Southeast macro region and one of the smallest in Brazil. It has, however, the third longest coastline in the country (second only to Bahia's and Maranhão's), extending 635 kilometers.
The last PNAD (National Research for Sample of Domiciles) census resulted in the following numbers: 8,513,778 million White people (54.6%), 5,145,690 million Pardo people (33.0%), 1,871,160 million Black people (12.0%), 62 thousand Asian or Amerindian people (0.4%).
People of Portuguese ancestry predominate in most of the state.
Other European ethnic groups, such as Swiss and Germans settled mostly in the mountainous areas (Nova Friburgo, Petrópolis, etc) and in the capital. Italians and Spaniards are also present in the capital as well as in the surrounding cities.
People of African descent are numerous mostly in the capital city. Those of mixed-race ancestry (mulattoes) are the majority of the population in some towns.

Economy of Rio Janeiro
The industrial sector is the largest component of GDP at 51.6%, followed by the service sector at 47.8%. Agriculture represents 0.6% of GDP (2004). Rio de Janeiro (state) exports: petroleum 44.8%, fuel 17.5%, siderurgy 13%, chemicals 3.6%, not ferrous metals 2.8%, vehicles 2.1% (2002).

Carnival
Participation in the Brazilian economy: 12.6% (2004) It is the great explosion of joy in Rio. A party uniting emotions, creativity, plasticity, colors, sounds and much fantasy. It is the greatest popular party in the world. A unique record of the rich cultural melting pot typical of Brazil.

Espírito Santo

Is one of the states of southeastern Brazil, often referred to by the abbreviation "ES". With its capital at Vitória and largest city at Vila Velha. Those who are born in the state are known as "Capixabas", although the precise word is "Espiritossantenses". The name means literally "holy spirit" after the Holy Ghost of Christianity. With an extensive coastline (40% of the territory is on the coast), the State has the main ports of the country but the beaches are the best tourist attractions. Vitória, the capital, is on an island, next to Guarapari, well known by its sands. In the extreme north is Itaúnas part of the municipality of Conceição da Barra, whose sand dunes and forró are famous. Still on the coast, the typical gastronomy is another attraction with the moquecas capixabas and many fruits from the ocean and seafood. In the interior of the State are the many natural beauties, as the parks of Pedra Azul and Alto Caparaó, and the Italian and German colonies.
With 46.180 square kilometers, it is about the size of Estonia, or half the size of Portugal, and has a variety of habitats including coastal planes, lakes, mountain forest, mangroves and many others.The islands of Trindade and Martim Vaz, 715 km East of Vitória in the Southern Atlantic Ocean, also belong to Espirito Santo state.
During the first 300 years, the main cash crop was sugarcane, until 1850 when coffee, in high demand by Europeans, overtook it.
During the colonial era, there were also periods of "gold rush" when agriculture was neglected, leading to food shortages, but not much gold was found in Espirito Santo.
Another factor that impeded expansion was the prohibition of roads opening into Minas Gerais, where it was feared smuggling would be encouraged through Espírito Santo. The service sector is the largest component of GDP at 50%, followed by the industrial sector at 44%. Agriculture represents 5% of GDP (2004). Espírito Santo exports: manufacturing of iron and steel 35.8%, ore of iron 25.2%, paper 17.6%, coffee 7.7%, granite 6.5% (2002).
Participation in the Brazilian economy: 2% (2004).
The main crops of the state are rice, coffee (one of the most important cash crops in Brazil), cacao, sugarcane, beans, fruit (mostly bananas and papayas), and maize. The livestock industry, important throughout Brazil, is primarily cattle raised for milk and beef. Industry consists mainly of canning, forestry, textiles, iron and steel works. The latter two are concentrated around Cariacica and the "Vale do Rio Doce" ironworks.
Vitória is an important port for exporting iron and steel. Indeed, it is the biggest steel producer in the world. In São Mateus, petroleum reserves have been found on its continental shelf, and today are being commercially exploited.
Tourism plays an ever-increasing role in the state economy.
However, most of the visitors are from neighbouring states, rather than foreign countries. Popular destinations include coastal areas such as Guarapari, Jacaraípe and Manguinhos, but mountain retreats such as Domingos Martins are also popular. Guarapari is also a local tourist destination, known for its curative black sand beaches.

V Winner Post #16- Southern Region of Brazil

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South Region

· Area: 577.214 km² (6,2%)
· Population: 25.800.000 hab (43,46 hab/km², 12,5%)
· GDP: ~91,5bi US$ (16,5%)
· HDI: ~0,875
· Climate: Temperate in almost all the entire region, warm in the summer and cold in the winter (sometimes there is snow in the southern regions of the region). The northeast part of the region has a Tropical climate, being hot in the summer and warm/cool during the winter, with some cold days.
· States: Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina
· Largest Cities: Curitiba (1.586.848); Porto Alegre (1.360.033); Londrina (446.822); Joinville (429.004); Caxias do Sul (360.223); Florianópolis (341.781); Pelotas (323.034); Canoas (305.711); Maringá (288.465); Ponta Grossa (281.000); Blumenau (277.500); Cascavel (273.000); Foz do Iguaçu (269.585); Santa Maria (243.396), Rio Grande (238.000)
· Economy: Machinery and automobile industry, textiles, tourism, energy production, computer programming, soil, orange, apple, grapefruit.
· Transport: Highways and railways are heavily present throughout the region, although the latter is mainly used for freight. Rivers are used when possible.
· Vegetation: Rainforests along the coast (Mata Atlântica), tropical semiciduous in the north and west (Araucárias) and prairie-like vegetation in the south (Pampas). Little native vegetation still actually remains
· Remarkable characteristics: The South region is characterized by its high standard of living, with the best social indicators of the country - The best city to live in and the best capitals to live in are all here:Florianópolis, HDI of 0.875; Porto Alegre, HDI of 0.885; Curitiba, HDI of 0.860 (information of 1996). The region, along with the state of São Paulo, is characterized also for the strong immigrant presence (Italians, Germans, Portuguese, Spanish, Poles, Japanese, Arabs, Ukrainians and Lithuanians), that gave the region their typical aspects (architecture, culinary, agriculture of subsistence, etc).

Paraná
Located in the South of the country, bordering Paraguay and Argentina. Cut by the Tropic of Capricorn, Paraná has what is left of the araucarias forest, one of the most important subtropical forests of the world. At the border with Argentina is the National Park of Iguaçú, considered by UNESCO as Patrimony of the Humanity and the spectacle of the Cataratas do Iguaçú attracts about 700 thousand tourists per year. At only 40 km (24 miles) from there, at the border with Paraguay, the largest dam of the world was built, the Hidroelétrica de Itaipú.

The State Park of Vila Velha near he city of Ponta Grossa, is another attraction, with great rocky formations sculptured by the erosion of rain and wind. Curitiba, the capital, is famous for its excellent quality of life, and the Ilha do Mel, next to the historical Paranaguá, is another destination for eco-tourists.
Paraná was first settled by gold prospectors from São Paulo and formed part of the captaincy and province of São Paulo.
The first missions of the Jesuits on the Paraná were situated just above the Guaíra Falls in this state and had reached a highly prosperous condition when the Indian slave hunters of São Paulo (called Bandeirantes) compelled them to leave their settlements and emigrate in mass to what is now the Argentine territory of Misiones. Their principal mission was known as Ciudad Real.
The territory was set apart from São Paulo in 1853. Pedro II of Brazil did so as a punishment for São Paulo support of the insurrection of 1842.
Waves of European immigrants started arriving after 1850, mainly Germans, Italians, Poles and Ukrainians. The development of the state is closely linked to the arrival of the immigrants.
By the early 20th century, the state had two railway systems: the Paranagua to Curitiba (69 miles) with an extension to Ponta Grossa (118 miles) and branches to Rio Negro (55 miles), Porto Amazonas (6 miles) and Antonina (10 miles); and the São Paulo and Rio Grande, which crosses the state from northeast to south-west from União da Vitória, on the Iguaçu, to a junction with the Sorocabana line of São Paulo at Itararé.

The junction of the two systems was at Ponta Grossa, north-west of Curitiba.
The last PNAD (National Research for Sample of Domiciles) census revealed the following numbers: 7,620,120 million White people (73.2%), 2,394,300 million Pardo people (23.0%), 270 thousand Black people (2.6%), 124 thousand Asian or Amerindian people (1.2%).
People of Polish descent predominate in the central and southern regions, mainly around Curitiba. Italians predominate in the capital, Curitiba and in the coast. People of Ukrainian descent predominate in a few cities, such as Prudentópolis; many Ukrainians are found in the entire state. Germans predominate in a few cities, such as Rolândia. The Portuguese and their descendants are present in large numbers in almost all towns.
People of multiracial ancestry predominate in a few towns in the north. There is a sizeabe Muslim Lebanese and Syrian community around Foz do Iguassu. In the north, Japanese people are very numerous.
The main cities of the state are:
Curitiba (Capital and largest, east)
Londrina (2nd largest, north)
Maringá (3rd largest, north)
Foz do Iguaçu (4th largest, west)
Ponta Grossa (5th largest, center-east)
Cascavel (6th largest, center-west)
Guarapuava (9th largest, center)
Paranaguá (10th largest, east-coast)

Economy of Parana
The service sector is the largest component of GDP at 41.6%, followed by the industrial sector at 40%. Agriculture represents 18.4% of GDP (2004). Paraná exports: soybean 34.2%, vehicles 21.4%, wood 10%, frozen meat 8.2%, others agriculture products 8.8% (2002).
Participation in the Brazilian economy: 6.2% (2004).
Paraná has one of the highest standards of living in Brazil (though it is the least developed state of the South-Southeast regions, which comprise the richest Brazilian states) with relatively low crime levels, a special attention given to education and health and a Human Development Index of ~0.787, the 5th highest in Brazil.
In October 2003 Paraná banned both the cultivation and transportation of genetically modified crops. This is stricter than the national standard, which prohibits commercial cultivation of such crops, but allows experimental cultivation and permits transport. Paraná, Brazil's largest grain producing state, is now also Brazil's largest exporter of organically-grown crops.

Santa Catarina
Is a state in southern Brazil with one of the highest standards of living in the country. Its capital is Florianópolis, which mostly lies on the Santa Catarina Island. Neighboring states are Rio Grande do Sul to the south and Paraná to the north. It is bounded on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, and to the west it borders the province of Misiones, Argentina.
Most of its inhabitants are descendants of Portuguese, German and Italian immigrants. The beaches along the coast of 561 kilometers (348 miles) are a great attraction for tourists visiting the smallest State of the South Region. Florianópolis, the capital, is on an island and is one of the Brazilian cities that receive more foreign tourists. To the south, Garopaba is the preferred destination of surfers looking for good waves. In the mountain region, São Joaquin is the attraction during winter because of its low temperatures. Blumenau, in the interior of Santa Catarina, is the stage for one of the biggest events of the country: the Oktoberfest, a traditional beer party originated from Germany, that happens in October. The inheritance of the Italian, German and Portuguese immigrants can be perceived in the architecture and the customs of the State.
Santa Catarina is in a very strategic position in Mercosur, the South American Common Market. Its position in the map is situated between the parallel 25º57'41" and 29º23'55" of the Southern latitude and between the meridians 48º19'37" and 53º50'00" of Western longitude.
Florianópolis, its capital, is 1.673 km (1039 miles) from Brasilia, 705 km (438 miles) from São Paulo, 1.144 km (710 miles) from Rio de Janeiro and 1.850 km (1149 miles) from Buenos Aires.
The Serra Geral, a southern extension of the Serra do Mar, runs north and south through the state parallel to the Atlantic coast, dividing the state between a narrow coastal plain and a larger plateau region to the west.
The Atlantic coast of Santa Catarina has many beaches, islands, bays, inlets, and lagoons. The humid tropical Serra do Mar coastal forests cover the narrow coastal zone, which is crossed by numerous short streams from the wooded slopes of the serras.
The central part of the state is home to the Araucaria moist forests, dominated by emergent Brazilian pines (Araucaria angustifolia). The drainage of the plateau is westward to the Paraná River, the rivers being tributaries of the Iguaçu, which forms its northern boundary, and of the Uruguay, which forms its southern boundary. The semi-deciduous Paraná-Paraíba interior forests occupy the westernmost valleys of the Iguaçu and Uruguay rivers.European settlement began with the Spanish settlement of Santa Catarina island in 1542. The Portuguese took control in 1675. The captaincy of Santa Catarina was established in 1738.
Large numbers of European immigrants, especially from Germany, began arriving in the early 19th century. Immigrants from Italy, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Japan and other parts of Europe later arrived, with one result being an abundance of small, family held farms in the state's interior.
In late March 2004, the state was hit by the first ever hurricane recorded in the South Atlantic. Because there is no naming system for such an event in Brazil, Brazilian meteorologists called it Catarina, after the state.
According to the IBGE of 2007, there were 5,974,000 people residing in the state.
The population density was 62,5 inh./km². The last PNAD (National Research for Sample of Domiciles) census revealed the following numbers: 5,215,302 million White people (87.1%), 585 thousand Pardo people (9.8%), 161 thousand Black people (2.7%), 11 thousand Asian or Amerindian people (0.4%).
People of Portuguese ancestry, mostly Azoreans, predominate in the coast. People of German descent predominate in the northeast region (Itajaí Valley) and in the north (Joinville region). There are many German communities in the west. People of Italian descent predominate in the south, as well in many areas in the west. People of African, Amerindian or Japanese origins are small communities in a few towns.

European settlement
Santa Catarina is one of the Brazilian states that exhibits the most signs of 19th century European immigration. The vast majority of the population are descendants of European settlers.
Portuguese
The Portuguese started arriving in the 1750s, mainly from the Azores islands, and colonized the coast. In the late 18th century, half of Santa Catarina's population was Portuguese-born. These Portuguese established many important towns of the State, such as Florianópolis, the capital.
Germans
Germans started arriving in 1828. They were peasants that were attracted to Brazil to get their own lands, since Germany was overpopulated and many people had no lands to work. German immigration was very low, until the 1850s, when waves of Germans started arriving in Southern Brazil. To stimulate the development of the German colonization in Southern Brazil, the Brazilian government created many German colonies. These colonies were ethnically Germanic areas, where people from many parts of Germany settled. Initially, these colonies were rural lands, where the immigrants were able to cultivate their own lands. Many of these German colonies had a great development and became big towns, such as Blumenau and Joinville, the largest city in Santa Catarina. Germans had been isolated in rural communities for decades. They did not have much contact with other people of Brazil, and for generations they were able to speak German and keep their German traditions in Brazil.
This situation changed in the 1930s, when Brazil declared war against Germany in 1942, and the German immigrants were required to learn Portuguese and to follow a Brazilian way of life. Nowadays, the German influence in the State of Santa Catarina is still very strong and visible. Many towns, especially the small ones, still retain many aspects of the German culture, such as Pomerode, a small town where 90% of the population are of German-Brazilian heritage and most of the inhabitants speak German fluently or the Oktoberfest of Blumenau and many other towns in the region. The architecture also shows German influence, which is also evident in people's customs and food.

Italians
Italian settlers started arriving in Santa Catarina in 1875 and immigrated in large numbers until the 1910s. They were peasants from Northern Italy and established themselves in ethnically Italian colonies close to the coast. In the beginning, the Italian settlement had failed, because many Italians died of tropical diseases or left the colonies to find better conditions. However, in Vale do Tubarão region (southern Santa Catarina), Italian immigrants found cooler weather and better lands, and the colonies prospered. Many Italians worked in the coal industry and, unlike the German immigrants, they did not dedicate themselves very much to agriculture. As they were not isolated in rural colonies, Italian immigrants were quickly integrated into the Brazilians of Portuguese descent, that were living there since the 18th century. Nowadays, a great deal of italian descendents in the state have a double citizenship, mainly in the southern region, around Criciúma.

Economy of Santa Catarina

The industrial sector is the largest component of GDP at 52.5%, followed by the service sector at 33.9%. Agriculture represents 13.6% of GDP (2004). Santa Catarina exports: aviculture 26.1%, logging 15.4%, compressors 8.5%, cotton 6.8%, vehicles 5.8%, woods 5.1% (2002).
Participation in the Brazilian economy: 4% (2004).
Santa Catarina has one of the highest standards of living in Brazil- comparable to the Iberian Peninsula countries, and is a major industrial and agricultural center.
In the northeast of the state, electric-mechanical, textile and furniture industries are stronger; in the west, cattle and poultry breeding, and in the south, ceramics and shellfishes.
The corridor between Joinville, Jaragua do Sul and Blumenau is heavily industrialized - more than 50% of the state's industrial output is concentrated in this small, but very developed area.
Santa Catarina has some of the most beautiful beaches in Brazil - Summer months (Dec-Mar) make the state one of the most sought-after travel destinations in Brazil and South America. Tens of thousands of Argentines and Paraguayans flock to the state's beaches from mid December to late January.
The major cities and their respective fields are:
1. Joinville, metal-mechanic; tourism/events; software; commerce.
2. Florianópolis, tourism; government; technology; education.
3. Blumenau, software, textile and beer.
4. São José.
5. Criciúma, ceramics.
6. Chapecó, cattle and poultry breeding.
7. Lages.
8. Itajai, seaport.
9. Jaraguá do Sul, electric motors and textile.
10. Palhoça
11. Balneário Camboriú major beach resort.
12. Tubarão.
13. Brusque, textile.
14. São Bento do Sul, furniture.
Tourism
Santa Catarina is not just a summer destination. The State which was initially known for its beautiful coastline with more than 500 beaches grew to acknowledge that its geographic and cultural diversity was also a big tourist attraction and as a result, tourists can today enjoy contrasting sceneries and climates which are very close to each other – only two hours by car separate paradisiacal beaches from some 2000 meters-high mountains.
Santa Catarina offers a number of products and specialized segments throughout the year: rural tourism, thermal mineral resorts, ecological tourism and adventure sports, historic monuments and sights, religious tourism, Beto Carrero World and Unipraias parks) and the unforgettable beach resort of Balneário Camboriú.
Some of the products can only be sold in the off-season, like the snow spectacle on the Catarinense Mountain Range - the only place in Brazil where it snows every year. This region is the birthplace of rural tourism, has farm hotels with trout fishing in the ice-cold rivers, horse riding, trekking and outdoor sports activities.
Between July and November, the Right whales visit the state's coast – and the number of tourists wishing to see this spectacle has increased year after year.
The big festivities are in October. The main Oktoberfest in Blumenau is Brazil's largest and the world's second largest (after Germany's Munich).
Joinville is the host city of the July "Joinville Dance Festival", the annual "Festival of Flowers" in November which showcases orchids produced in the region, and several business events in its Convention Center.
Florianópolis the city/island State Capital attracts a large numbers of tourists during the summer months lured by its 42 beaches.
Santa Catarina has one of the most beautiful coastlines in Brazil, with one very busy beach resort: Balneário Camboriú.
There are also many smaller resort towns, including Itapema, Piçarras, Barra Velha and Penha, home to the famous amusement park "Beto Carrero World".

Rio Grande do Sul
"Great River of the South" is the southernmost State of Brazil, and the State with the fourth highest Human Development Index (HDI). In the largest and most populous state of the region is the most southern city of the country, Chuí, on the border with Uruguay. The mountain region, where the winter can be rigorous, has cities with European characteristics, such as Gramado and Canela. In the region of Bento Gonçalves and Caxias do Sul, the largest wine producing center of Brazil, the attraction is the Italian gastronomy. Besides the European influence, the gaucho cultivates the traditions of the Pampas - region of the border with Uruguay and Argentina -, such as the chimarrão, the typical barbecue churrasco and wears the bombacha, boots and large hats.
Despite being mainly rural for much of its early history, Rio Grande do Sul's prairies have been the scene of bloody wars: the dispute between Portugal and Spain for the Sacramento Colony, and the Guarani Missions War. It also was a focal point for internal rebellion in the 19th century.
In 1835 a separatist movement broke out in the province and lasted ten years. The War of Tatters was eventually ended more through the use of money and favors than by force of arms; but the province suffered greatly in the struggle and did not recover for many years. It is of interest that Giuseppe Garibaldi joined the separatists for a while before he returned to Europe and eventually became a hero in his native Italy.
In 1865 a Paraguayan army invaded the state and on 5 August occupied the town of Uruguaiana.
In the following year in September, however, the Paraguayan General Estigarribia surrendered without a fight - an unusual occurrence in the War of the Triple Alliance.
Political agitation was frequent in Rio Grande do Sul, but no important revolution occurred after the Ponche Verde Treaty in 1845 until the presidency at Rio de Janeiro of General Floriano Peixoto, whose ill-considered interference with state governments led to the revolt of 1892-94, under Gumersindo Saraiva.
In this struggle the revolutionaries occupied Santa Catarina and Paraná, capturing Curitiba, but were eventually overthrown through their inability to obtain munitions of war. An incident in this struggle was the death of Admiral Saldanha da Gama, one of the most brilliant officers of the Brazilian navy and one of the chiefs of the naval revolt of 1893-94, who was killed in a skirmish on the Uruguayan border towards the end of the conflict.
In 1738 the territory (which included the present state of Santa Catarina) became the Capitania d'el Rei and was made a dependency of Rio de Janeiro. Territorial disputes between Spain and Portugal led to the occupation by the Spanish of the town of Rio Grande (then the capital of the capitania) and neighboring districts from 1763 to 1776, when they reverted to the Portuguese.
The capture of Rio Grande in 1763 caused the removal of the seat of government to Viamão at the head of Lagoa dos Patos; in 1773 Porto dos Cazaes, renamed Porto Alegre, became the capital.
In 1801 news of war between Spain and Portugal led the inhabitants of Rio Grande to attack and capture the seven missions and some frontier posts held by the Spaniards since 1763; since 1801 the boundary lines established by treaty in 1777 have remained unchanged.
The districts of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande had been separated in 1760 for military convenience, and in 1807 the latter was elevated to the category of a capitania-geral, with the designation of "Sao Pedro do Rio Grande," independent of Rio de Janeiro, and with Santa Catarina as a dependency.
In 1812 Rio Grande and Santa Catarina were organized into two distinct comarcas, the latter becoming an independent province in 1822 when the Empire of Brazil was organized.
In the far western area of the state are the remnants of Brazil's 17th century Jesuit missions or reductions (aldeias) to the Guaraní Indians. Important to the region, it should be noted that Jesuit Father Roque Gonzales, also known as Roque Gonzales de Santa Cruz, who arrived from Paraguay on the 3rd of May of 1626 to establish the Saint Nicolas mission (today known as São Nicolau), was the first white person to enter in what is today know as the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Of all the ruins left behind by the vanished Guarani Missions, the most significant one is São Miguel or São Miguel Arcanjo, located nearby the present city of Santo Ângelo.
There is an ongoing Light and Sound (or Som e Luz in Portuguese) show presented at the ruins of the São Miguel church.
Originally part of Uruguayan territory, it was lost in the Uruguayan struggle for independence. Uruguay could have lost all of the Rio Grande do Sul area if not for the help of Argentina, which wanted to defeat Brazil.
Getulio Vargas, who led Brazil as dictator from 1930 and later was elected president in 1950, was a native of Rio Grande do Sul.
In the 1980's the Pampa Independence Movement was created with the goal of restoring the independence of the former Riograndense Republic.The last PNAD (National Research for Sample of Domiciles) census revealed the following numbers: 8,973,928 White (81.7%), 1,405,952 Pardo people (12.8%), 560 thousand Black (5.1%), 43 thousand Asian or Amerindian people (0.4%).
People of Portuguese ancestry predominate in the coast and southern parts of the state, mainly of Gaucho and Azorean background. People of German descent predominate in the Sinos Valley (Novo Hamburgo, São Leopoldo, etc) and in parts of the centre and western regions. People of Italian descent predominate in the mountains (Serra Gaúcha, Caxias do Sul, Bento Gonçalves, etc) and in parts of the centre and western regions. There are sizeable communities of Poles and Ukrainians across the state.
People of African ancestry concentrate in the capital city. The southern part of the state has a sizeable population of Amerindian features.
The region what is now Rio Grande do Sul was originally settled by Amerindian peoples, mostly Guarani and Kaingangs.
European settlement started in 1627 with Spanish Jesuits. Portuguese Jesuits established Indian Reductions in 1687 and dominated the region. Most of the Indians of the region became Catholics and went to live among the Jesuits. These reductions were destroyed by the Bandeirantes from São Paulo in the 18th century, who wanted to enslave the Indians.
The Portuguese settlement in Rio Grande do Sul was largely increased between 1748 and 1756, with the arrival of two thousand immigrants from the Azores Islands, Portugal. They settled many parts of the state, including the nowadays capital, Porto Alegre. Blacks were 50% of Rio Grande do Sul's population in 1822. This number decreased to 25% in 1858 and to only 5.2% in 2005. Most of them came from Angola to work as slaves in the cattle farms. Nowadays, the Black community is mostly concentrated in the Porto Alegre region.
German immigrants first arrived to Southern Brazil in 1824. They were attracted to Brazil to protect the country from invasions of the neighboring countries and to populate the empty interior of the Southern region. The first city to be settled by them was São Leopoldo. In the next five decades, around 28 thousand Germans were brought to the region to work as small farmers in the countryside.
Italian immigrants started arriving in Rio Grande do Sul in 1875. They were mostly poor peasants from Veneto, Northern Italy, who were attracted to Southern Brazil to get their own farms.
Italian immigration to the region lasted until 1914, with a total of 100 thousand Italians settling there in this period. Most of the immigrants worked as small farmers, mainly cultivating grapes in the Serra Gaúcha part of the state.
Other European immigrants also migrated to Rio Grande do Sul, mostly coming from Eastern Europe (Poland, Ukraine and Russia).

Economy of Rio Grande do Sul

The industrial sector is the largest component of GDP at 42.6%, followed by the service sector at 41.1%. Agriculture represents 16.3% of GDP (2004). Rio Grande do Sul exports: footwear’s 18.1%, soybean 14.2%, tobacco 13.6%, vehicles 8.1%, frozen meat 7.2%, chemicals 6.8%, leather 5.3% (2002).
Participation in the Brazilian economy: 8.1% (2004).
One of the most prosperous Brazilian states, Rio Grande do Sul is known especially for grain production, viticulture, ranching, and for its considerable industrial output. Constituting less than 6% of the total Brazilian population. The main products exported by Rio Grande do Sul are shoes, tobacco, automobiles, grains, beef, leather, and chemicals.
Natives of the state are known as Gaúchos, named after the cattle herders and ranchers who settled the state's pampa regions.

Culture
The state of Rio Grande do Sul is renowned as one of the most culturally rich states of Brazil.
Rio Grande's music is a blend of many styles (Prata's Rhythms in the main), including the Chamamé, Milonga, Polca and Chacarera. The inhabitants of the state are famous in the country for drinking chimarrão, a local version of the mate drunk in neighbouring Uruguay and Argentina. The barbecue locally known as "churrasco" is one of the most important elements of everyday life. Rio Grande do Sul's culture is far from a typical Brazilian one. Fashion plays a prominent role in Rio Grande do Sul, by far the largest provider of top models and beauty queens in Brazil - 5 of the last 10 winners of Miss Brazil were Miss Rio Grande do Sul. Alessandra Ambrosio, Gisele Bündchen, Ana Hickmann, Letícia Birkheuer are some of the international super models from Rio Grande do Sul. The Riograndenses are assiduous readers. The state has the highest number of books read per capita in Brazil, with Latin America's largest outdoor book fair, the Porto Alegre Book Fair, taking place in Porto Alegre every year.
In commemoration of the War of Tatters, Farroupilha Week takes place between the 13th and the 20th of September every year, with music and dance shows from the Pampas region, typical foods, and a traditional parade.
In common with other states in Brazil, a Carnival also takes place in the run-up to Lent.

Tourism
The Rio Grande do Sul has a great potential for tourism paleontological, with many paleontological sites and museums in the geopark of paleorrota.
Ecotourism is very popular in the Germanesque cities of Gramado and Canela; their cold weather is among their attractions for internal tourism. Tourism is also high in the wine regions of the state, principally Caxias do Sul and Bento Gonçalves. The pampas of the native Brazilian gaúcho are both a national and international curiosity to tourists and their customs are alive in the capital city of Porto Alegre as well as in the cities of the "interior" or western Rio Grande do Sul such as Santa Maria and Passo Fundo. The state is also home to the historic São Miguel das Missões, the ruins of an 18th century Jesuit Mission. In the city of Nova Prata, in way the native bush, you find a park thematic, with sources that gush out thermal waters in a temperature of 41°C, which possess excellent medicinal properties and therapeutically. The state of Rio Grande do Sul and its cities have developed series scenic routes to appeal to tourists. The Rota Romântica is a popular scenic drive that exhibits the diverse Germanic culture of the mountainous regions of the state referred to as the Serra Gaúcha. One can visit the state's Italian settlements through Caminhos da Colônia, tour the wine country through the Rota da Uva e do Vinho and visit a subsection of the Rota Romântica called the Região das Hortênsias, the region filled with beautiful blue hydrangea flowers each spring.

V Winner Post #17 - More About the South of Brazil

2008-08-29T22:30:00.000-07:00

Transportation

The South is well served in the transport sector, with natural conditions that facilitate the deployment of a good loop road and rail. Moreover, the fact that its population is distributed evenly, without large empty population, allows its network of transport is more efficient and profitable. While almost all major cities of the region are served by lines of the Federal Railway Network (RFFSA), road transport is more developed. The region has several roads such as Highway Régis Bittencourt, connecting Sao Paulo to Rio Grande do Sul, and the Highway Café, reaching the northern Parana to the port of Paranaguá. As other regions of Brazil, the rail and road investments which require the maintenance of existing roads and the opening of new ones. Even the most busy airports in Brazil, after the airports in the Southeast and Brasilia, are located in the South This region also has ports in activity: the port of Paranaguá, which exports mainly coffee and soybeans; the ports of Imbituba and Laguna, in Santa Catarina, exporters of coal, the ports of South San Francisco, Itajaí and Itapoá (the 1 ° private port in Brazil) also in Santa Catarina, exporters of wood, and finally the ports of Rio Grande and Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, by which goods are diverse.

Energy

The Southern region is very rich in oil shale and coal. The coal is used to produce electricity at thermoelectric plants, such as Usina Termelétrica Jorge Lacerda, in Santa Catarina. In addition to these minerals, the region has also hydroelectric energy in abundance, thanks to the characteristics of its hydrography - the rivers and the rivers of caudalosos plateau. The largest hydroelectric power plant in the region is the Itaipu, inaugurated in 1983, that takes water from the river Parana, more precisely in the vicinity of the cities of Foz do Iguazu (Brazil) on the left bank in Ciudad del Este, former President Puerto Stroessner ( Paraguay), on the right bank. How is considered the largest hydroelectric plant in the world, its energy is used in equal parts by both countries to which they belong, Brazil and Paraguay. In addition to supply South Region, the energy of the Itaipu hydroelectric Usina is vastly used in other regions of Brazil, including in the Southeast, which is more developed, with the large industries. The distribution of electric energy in the Southern Region is controlled by Eletrosul, based in Florianopolis (SC), which extends action to the State of Mato Grosso do Sul and also to other areas of Brazil, due to interconnections with the network's Energy Region Southeast. Regarding the hydroelectric plants that still exist in activity since the twentieth century, came into operation between the decades of 1990 and 2000, such as hydroelectric Usina de Ilha Grande, the river Parana, Usina of hydroelectric Machadinho, in the river Pelotas, and hydroelectric Usina Itá, on the River Uruguay.
PAC estimated $ 18.7 billion for infrastructure, energy in the South Region

The southern region will receive $ 18.7 billion in investments in energy infrastructure from 2007 to 2010, according to the Growth Acceleration Program (CAP). Across the country, investment in the sector will total $ 274.8 billion. Most resources will be devoted to expansion of the capacity of generation and transmission of electric energy. The Rio Grande do Sul, Parana and Santa Catarina will receive $ 10.42 billion for generation of 4,472 megawatts of electricity. Seven hydroelectric plants are planned and a thermoelectric the coal. They are in the deployment phase eight hydroelectric, three thermoelectric, 11 small hydroelectric central, 11 central wind and two thermoelectric biomass. A total of $ 1.05 billion will be implemented by 2010, 2,078 kilometers of transmission lines of power in the south. In the area of renewable fuels, should be applied R $ 628 million in the production of ethanol and R $ 330 million in biodiesel. There are no estimates of investments in pipelines in the region.

Growth Potential

The South Region is highlighting positive in virtually all follow economic, in the industrial sector is no different. He, currently, the percentage of second place in that sector of the national economy, the trade is 21% of the national total thus is exceeded only by the Southeast. In the region are inserted different types of industries, however, the activities that dominate most is the food and textile production, they use as raw material to production agriculture developed in the region. The industries are installed at strategic locations near the sources of material-press, in the areas of livestock production are productive parks in the wake of refrigerators, leather, milk, as in areas of agricultural production are installed factories for vegetable oils, production of wheat, production of juices and wine. This junction between agricultural and industrial production is called for agribusiness. The industries of the Southern region are regularly distributed over the territory, they are found in small towns and medium, however, naturally the areas that concentrate the largest portion of the industries are in the metropolitan areas of Porto Alegre and Curitiba and northeast of Santa Catarina , which has Joinvile, Blumenau, Brusque, in addition to industrial parks in the cities of Londrina, Maringá, Ponta Grossa, in Parana, already in Rio Grande do Sul the main cities are Caxias do Sul, Santa Maria and Pelotas. One of the important factors for the industrial development in the Southern Region is the potential energy due to hydroelectric plants installed in the region, the relief of plateau facilitated the construction of the same, thus the abundance of electric energy facilitates the supply of productive industrial sector.

New prospects for the industry in the south Until the 70's, the economic activities undertaken in the Southern Region were linked to primary production, especially in agriculture and livestock products. Henceforth, in this step the region joined in an intense process of industrialization in different follow, soon became the second industrial pole of the country. Later, in the late 80's and the early 90, there has been no significant growth, thus the industrial park in the northeast that almost surpassed. However, the growth of the industry occurred recently, with the migration of investments in the sector, which provided the installation of domestic and foreign companies that produce cars, parts, supplies, computers, appliances and beverages. The incentives for the installation of several companies in the region are directly related to tax benefits offered by the state and placed in the context of the entire infrastructure that facilitates the movement of goods, capital and people, in addition to proximity to the trading partners of MERCOSUR (Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay). With all these aspects, the south is in a condition privileged in relation to the rest of the country, the region establishes a homogeneity of the industry and that favors growth equal within the territory.

V Winner Post #18- A Discussion about Mining

2008-08-29T22:00:00.000-07:00

Mining
Brazil was Latin America's leading producer of iron ore, manganese, aluminum, cement, ferroalloys (ranking third in the world), tin (fourth in the world), gold (sixth in the world), and steel (eighth in the world), and produced 92.4% of the world's columbium, whose deposits contained 90% of the world's pyrochlore reserves. Brazil continued to be one of the world's largest gemstones producers and exporters, and the only source of imperial topaz and Paraíba tourmaline. Iron ore was Brazil's second-leading export commodity in 2002, and production of cement, iron ore, tin, and steel were among its top eight industries. Brazil's 19,500 million tons of iron ore reserves ranked it sixth in the world, and recent discoveries of platinum indicated that Brazil could have half the world's reserves. Brazil produced 70 mineral commodities—21 metal, 45 industrial, and 4 fuel—including large deposits of the metals alumina, bauxite, beryllium, chromium, columbium (niobium), copper, lead, nickel, silver, tantalum, thorium, titanium, zinc, and zirconium; of the industrial minerals anhydrite, asbestos, betonies, diamond, dolomite, fluorite, fluorspar, graphite, gypsum, kaolin (4,000 million tons of reserves, 28.2% of world total), limestone, magnetite (630 million tons of resources with 180 million tons of magnesium content identified), marble, mica, phosphate rock, potash, potassium, prophylactic, quartz (crude, common, crystal, and powder, reserves of 53 million tons), marine salt, rock salt, and talc; and of the fuel mineral coal. In 2000, Brazil also produced sizable quantities of cobalt, tungsten, barite, basalt, calcite, hydraulic cement, diatomite, feldspar, gneiss, granite, kainite, lime, lithium, nitrogen, mineral pigments, quartzite, industrial sand, calcareous shells, silica, slate, caustic soda, soda ash, sulfur (Frasch and pyrites), and vermiculite.
Brazil's economy was the world's eighth largest and the largest in Latin America, making up one-third of the region's economy. GDP grew at a rate of 4.46% in 2000 and 0.82% in 1999. The mineral-based industries produced $50.5 billion, or 8.5% of GDP. The total value of minerals produced was $9.3 billion, 1.6% of GDP, a 9.1% increase over 1999, mostly as a result of crude oil output. The value of mineral exports was $12.012 billion, a 10% increase over 1999, topped by iron ore ($3.048 billion), and followed by copper, phosphate rock, potash, sulfur, and zinc. Mineral imports were valued at $13.328 billion, 39.4% higher than in 1999. The state-owned mining giant Companhia Vale do Rio Doce(VALE), (CVRD), privatized in 1997, brought the state $3.3 billion in revenue. The minerals sector employed 940,000 people in 2000, with an additional 700,000 active garimpeiros, small-scale independent miners.
The following increases in production were recorded in 2000: chromium (content) and mica (muscovite), 33.3% each; manganese (content), 32.4%; graphite (content), 33.1%; titanium (content), 25.8%; iron ore, 20%; and diamond (carat), 11.1%. Bauxite, gold, potash, and salt outputs declined. Depletion of shallow gold and tin deposits and environmental constraints on garimpeiros were expected to affect future outputs.
Gross iron ore and concentrate output for 2000 was 210 million tons, up from 174.2 in 1996 and 59.4 in 1974, which was more than double 1969's output. Brazil exported 156.9 million tons of iron ore and pellets (12.3% higher than in 1999) valued at $3.05 billion, compared to $2.75 in 1999. Eight firms accounted for 96% of iron ore production, with CVRD accounting for 48%. The second-largest producer, Minerações Brasileiras Reunidas S/A (MBR), opened three new mines, Capão Xavier, Tamandúa, and Capitão do Mato, in Minas Gerais, to increase capacity to 32 million tons per year by 2004 and to offset depletion at the Aguas Claras and Matuca mines. In 1942, CVRD began mining operations in the high-grade deposits of Minas Gerais, and increased its activities with the aid of loans from the US Export-Import Bank. New deposits in the Amazonian state of Pará were discovered in the 1970s, and in 1981 Brazil became the world's leading iron ore exporter.
In 2000, 2.19 million tons in gross weight of marketable manganese ore and concentrate were mined in Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso, and Amapá; 1.66 million in 1999; and 2.506 million in 1996. CVRD's high-grade Igarapé Azul manganese mine, in the Carajás complex, accounted for 70% of metallurgical manganese production (1.4 million tons, up from 960,000 in 1999, because of mine expansions). A higher demand for steel resulted in a 96% increase in manganese ore exports, to1.17 million tons in 2000. Manganese ferroalloys exports increased by 62.7%
Brazil has become a major exporter of tin in recent years; 2000 output was 14,200 tons in concentrate, compared to 13,202 in 1999, 18,078 in 1997, and the peak of 50,200 in 1989. Production cuts have been made in the past five years at the Pitinga Mine (in the State of Amazonas), operated by Marmoré S.A., and at the garimpeiros' Bom Futuro operations (Rondônia). The Pitinga Mine produced 8,827 tons, with byproducts of columbium, tantalum, zirconium, hafnium, thorium, and cryolite. Exports increased to 7,161 tons from 6,048. Amazonas and Rondônia produced 72% and 25%, respectively, of the country's tin. The highest exports were registered in 1997, 11,957 tons.
Major deposits of high-quality bauxite have been discovered in the Amazon region; output has risen rapidly, from 6.5 million tons in 1987, to 11 million in 1996, and 13.85 million in 2000. Mineração Río do Norte, S.A. (MRN), a joint venture 40% owned by CVRD, was the world's third-largest bauxite producer and exporter; in 2000, it produced 10.6 million tons, 81.2% of Brazil's output. MRN planned to open its new mine, in the Papagalo plateau, with bauxite reserves of 800 million tons and an annual capacity of 2 million tons.
Brazil in 2000 produced 31,190 tons of pyrochlore in concentrates (up from 19,621 in 1996), 18,218 tons of columbium in alloys, and 1,274 tons of columbium in oxides from two open pits—Araxá (Minas Gerais) and Catalão I (Goiás). The two columbium producers, Mineração Catalão de Goiás Ltda. (MCGL) and Companhia Brasileira de Metalurgia e Mineração (CBMM), had capacities of 65,000 tons per year pyrochlore and 1.9 million tons per year columbium ore. Tantalum production totaled 50 tons, and increased world demand was expected to maintain an upward trend.
Diamonds, along with other precious and semiprecious stones, were mined primarily in Minas Gerais, Goiás, and Bahia. Other gemstones, found throughout the country, were emerald, aquamarine, amethyst, citrine, chrysoberyl, opal, topaz, agate, tourmaline, ruby, and sapphire. In 2000, total yield was 1 million carats of gem-quality diamond (up from 100,000 in 1998) and 600,000 carats of industrial diamond; garimpeiros produced 820,000 carats. Fewer garimpeiros and increased environmental restrictions have caused a decline in production. Despite government closure of high-content gem placers and high taxes on domestic sales of jewelry, Brazil had great potential, with its 600 million cu m of sedimentary rocks containing diamond grading between 0.01 and 0.1 carat per cu m (15 million carats), which represented 1.2% of the world's diamond reserve base. Diamond production was 11.1% higher than in 1999. Belgium received 95% of the uncut stones.
Gold production was at 50,393 kg in 2000, including 8,368 by garimpeiros. Deposits found at Serra Pelada in 1980 raised gold production to 103,000 kg by 1989; production averaged 90,380 kg in 1987–91, and output in 1996 was 60,011. Higher production costs, depletion of shallower deposits, lower world prices, and much higher environmental standards caused the drop-offs. Gold output could increase significantly with the growth of copper production and increased interest by domestic and foreign investors in largely unexplored areas; more than 2000 gold occurrences were known, mostly Precambrian vein deposits and alluvial placers.
Brazil in 2000 was the largest recipient of foreign direct investment in the region for the fifth consecutive year—because of the sale of previously state-owned assets. The governmental Company for Mineral Resources Research has sought to expand existing mineral industries and to establish new ones—the Amazon region has been a particular focus of the company's efforts. The government took steps to encourage private capital investment in the development of phosphate reserves, the exploitation of oil-bearing shale, and the expansion of iron ore output. Brazil's petroleum and mining industries and utilities attracted investors' interest because of the government's macroeconomic policies, the country's diversified minerals endowment, and a skilled labor force. Most important in the no fuel sector were the Minas Gerais iron ore joint venture (CVRD and China's Shanghai Baosteel Group Corp.) and the Sossego copper-gold joint venture (CVRD and Phelps Dodge Corp., of the United States); both were to begin in 2002. Because of increased world demand for stainless steel and better nickel prices, $1.4 billion was invested in the nickel industry, with plans to triple output to 107,000 tons per year starting in 2003. The Carajás mining project, in Pará, was expected to lead to the mining of manganese, copper, tin, silver, gold, nickel, molybdenum, bismuth, and zinc.
The discovery of gold in Minas Gerais ("general mines") in 1693 made Brazil the world's leading gold producer; rapid exploitation under the Portuguese colonial system exhausted the mines in less than a century. The dissipation of the nation's gold wealth for the benefit of a foreign power instilled in Brazilians a protective attitude toward mineral reserves, resulting in government control. The 1988 constitution forbade foreign majority participation in direct mining operations. Lack of capital has long restricted development by domestic firms, and Brazilian mining laws and adverse geographic conditions have discouraged foreign capital. The major portion of the mineral industry was partially or wholly owned by private Brazilian investors, Brazilian corporations, and/or foreign companies, the exceptions being the natural gas and petroleum industries.
The structure of the industry continued to change to a privately owned/government-regulated regime. Two 1995 constitutional amendments opened the way for participation of the private sector (domestic and foreign), through privatization, joint ventures, and deregulated investment, in the sectors of coastal and river shipping, mining, natural gas, petroleum, telecommunications, and transportation. By the mid-1990s, investment was on the rise, as a result of aggressive economic policies, the diversity of mineral resources, and the constitutional reform that eliminated restrictions on foreign investment in mining. In 2000, the import tax for minerals was reduced, with varying rates, and the export tax would no longer apply to exported mineral products, nor would the tax on industrialized products apply to mining activities.

V Winner Post #19- Best Places to Visit in Brazil

2008-08-29T21:30:00.000-07:00

Best Places in Brazil

The weather is worth considering when planning a trip to Brazil, as it can have a significant bearing on how you enjoy certain regions of the country. For example, the Amazon region is one of the world's rainiest places, making travel exceedingly difficult between January and May. Similarly, if you plan to go to the Pantanal, do so during the dry season. The rest of the year, roads are washed out and travel is a nightmare. The south has the most extreme temperatures and during the coldest winter months snow is even possible - but rare.
During summer (December-February) many Brazilians are on vacation, making travel expensive and frequently booked out, and, from Rio to the south, the humidity can be oppressive. However, summer is also the most festive time of year, as Brazilians take to the beaches and streets. School holidays begin in mid-December and go through to Carnaval, usually held in late February.
Brazil's low season corresponds to its winter. Rio temperatures hover around 23°C (73°F), with a mix of both rainy and superb days. With the exception of July, which is also a school-holiday month, this is the cheapest and least-crowded time to visit the country.

Popular Places
· Brasília (Goias)
· Foz do Iguaçu (Iguaçu Falls) (Parana)
· Manaus (Amazonas)
· Porto de Galinhas (Recife)
· Caldas Novas (Goias)
· Bahia Coast (Bahia )
· Campos Do Jordao (Sao Paulo)
· Bonito (Pantanal) (Mato Grosso)
· Florianopolis( Santa Catarina)
· Lencois Maranhenses (Maranhao)
· Angra dos Reis (Rio De Janeiro)
· Ilha do Mel (Parana)
· Canela (Rio Grande do Sul)
· Rio de Janeiro ( Rio de Janeiro)
· Rio Araguaia( Mato Grosso and Goias)
· Ilha de Marajo (Para)

Amazon National Park
This huge national park can best be seen by hiring a guide locally for hikes through the dense rain forest (hiking without a guide is allowed only on certain trails). Be sure to take food and treated water with you on the trail. During the rainy season (February-April) you can tour the flooded rain forest by boat. Basic cabins are available in the park only if scientists are not using them; visitors can stay in hotels in the town of Itaituba. 1,550 mi/2,500 km northwest of Rio de Janeiro.

Angra dos Reis

This town is a popular destination for trips to nearby islands such as Ilha Grande, a nature preserve with great beaches and for yachting and spear fishing. To kill time while waiting for your boat, visit the Nossa Senhora do Carmo church and convent. There's a Club Med in nearby Mangaratiba. 75 mi/120 km west of Rio de Janeiro.

Belem do Para

The large port city of Belem (pop. 1,245,000) is a good base for half-day river cruises to get a closer look at jungle, birds, dugout canoes and Brazilian fishermen. (These short cruises are really intended for people who aren't headed farther up the Amazon on longer cruises.) Belem itself has enough of interest to justify a two-day stay: the 18th-century Basilica de Nossa Senhora de Nazare; the Goeldi Museum (a combination of zoo, botanical gardens, aquarium and a good ethnology museum); some old French-style mansions in the Cidade Velha (Old Town); and the Teatro da Paz, which was graced by Anna Pavlova and other famous performers at the beginning of the 20th century. The Ver-o-Peso Market is special: Among the fruit and vegetable stalls, you'll find vendors selling crocodile teeth, dried boa constrictors and voodoo charms (go early in the morning to see the most action). If possible, attend a batuque ceremony (batuque is a religious sect known for its colorful costumes and interesting music). Not far from the city is the Ilha de Marajo, an island the size of Switzerland at the convergence of the Amazon and several smaller rivers. The island's ranches accept guests July-December. 1,520 mi/2,445 km northwest of Rio de Janeiro.
Belo Horizonte

This very modern and industrial city is usually visited as a stopover point for travelers going from Rio to Brasilia. Belo Horizonte (pop. 2,017,000) called Belo or Belzonte locally, lies in the center of the country's most important mining area. It probably doesn't warrant more than one full day and night to see its highlights: the Palacio das Artes handicraft museum and the Church of Sao Francisco (paintings by artist Portinari and design by Niemeyer, the primary architect of Brasilia). You can also see a prehistoric Indian cave and the Museum of Modern Art. Walk through the city's jewelry section and window-shop for gems (buy only if you know what you're doing). If you're in Belo Horizonte on a Sunday morning, visit the arts-and-crafts fair in Municipal Park (don't overlook the park, which has an incredible 2,000 species of trees as well as a few resident pickpockets). Belo is known for its hearty cuisine. A visit to Congonhas (45 mi/70 km away) can be made as a day trip, or as a prelude to nearby colonial Ouro Preto. If you're in Congonhas, be sure to visit the Basilica de Bom Jesus to see Brazil's most famous work of art, the Twelve Prophets, created by sculptor Aleijadinho. 220 mi/350 km northwest of Rio de Janeiro.

Brasilia

Brasilia, the nation's capital (pop. 1,598,000), was constructed from scratch at the end of the 1950s. Located near the geographical center of the country, it replaced Rio as the capital in 1960. Built in only three years under the direction of Brazil's leading architects, Brasilia was intended to draw development to the country's interior. Although, on paper, it appeared to be a well-planned city, in reality it falls short of its promise. The city was laid out in the shape of an airplane (a modernist metaphor): government and administrative buildings form the cockpit and fuselage, while residential and shopping areas fill in the wings. The city was planned for a maximum population of 500,000, with space set aside in every residential block for apartments, restaurants, shops and services. No provisions were made, however, for the great mass of non government workers (more than one million in number) who provide services to the city and who live in several "satellite communities" (more commonly referred to as slums). There are a few other details, in addition, that weren't really thought through. For instance, even though the temperature is always blazing hot, there's little shade, and every building must be air-conditioned-a tall order for an energy-poor country. It's also a city that's convenient only if you have a car: Even short distances on a map make miserable walks. What's more, its location in the middle of nowhere has not endeared it to the politicians who live and work there (those who can afford it get away every weekend to enjoy the cultural attractions of Brazil's larger and more cosmopolitan cities). Unless you're particularly interested in modern architecture, don't go out of your way to visit Brasilia-especially at the expense of some of the country's other attractions. If you do go, one day will be more than ample. Plan just enough time to see some of the more impressive buildings: the Palacio do Congresso (Capitol Building), Palacio do Planalto (presidential mansion and office), Palacio da Justica (Supreme Court, with artificial cascades) and the Palacio de Itamaraty Foreign Ministry). For a nice view of the main buildings, go to the Square of the Three Powers (referring to the legislative, executive and judicial branches). Afterward, see the impressive National Cathedral, built in the shape of a crown with angels suspended within. You'll find a good view of the city atop the main television tower (you'll be able to see from there that the city is indeed shaped like an airplane). If you have more time, visit the national museum (historical displays and a comprehensive modern firearm collection). The embassy sector, where each country has taken pains to represent its national contemporary architecture, is worth seeing only if you're stumped for something to do-the area is relatively isolated, and all you can do is look over the compound walls at embassies. 575 mi/925 km northwest of Rio de Janeiro.

Buzios

Buzios (pronounced BOO-zee-ohs) is a priced, attractive resort area jutting into the Atlantic on the Cabo Frio Peninsula. The resort is made up of three towns (Armacao, Ossos and Manguinhos) with 17 idyllic beaches set among sandy coves. Water sports include surfing, wind surfing at Ferradura (Horseshoe) Beach, snorkeling (Joao Fernandes and Joao Fernandinho Beaches) and swimming. Sunbathers can avoid tan lines at Azeda and Azedinha, the resort's two topless beaches. Although not very well known by North Americans, Buzios was "discovered" by the French in the 1960s and has been popular for years with chic Brazilians and Europeans. Development is continuing at a controlled pace: New buildings have a height limit of two stories and are designed to blend in with local surroundings-a neat trick for million-dollar villas in what was once a fishing village. Most lodging is in small pousada-style accommodations. Book as far in advance as possible, as it can get busy. As befits an upscale resort, there are many fine shops and excellent restaurants (Continental and Brazilian cuisine). At least once, sample grilled fish, fresh from the sea, on the beach-it's a special treat (and inexpensive, to boot). 125 mi/200 km northeast of Rio de Janeiro.

Chapada Diamantina

This mountainous area, where diamonds were discovered nearly 200 years ago, is dotted with abandoned mining towns. The mountains are laced with hiking trails that pass roaring waterfalls, mysterious caves and wild rivers (but hire a guide-maps are hard to find). Rock hounds will enjoy the opportunity to collect unusual specimens-those keen eyes may even spot a diamond. Lencois was the center of the diamond activity, and it has retained much of the diamond-rush days. Visit the Old French vice-consulate (the French bought industrial diamonds for drills in the Panama Canal) and the Mining Museum (Museu do Garimpo). 725 mi/1,165 km north of Rio de Janeiro.

Costa Verde

The Costa Verde (Green Coast) offers relaxing day and weekend trips from Rio and Sao Paulo. Locals favor its charm and authenticity over fancier Buzios. The drive from Rio to the city of Santos is beautiful: small beach line one sides of the road, jungle and mountains the other. Visitors pass cattle ranches, quaint 17th-century towns, not crowded beaches of white sand and more than 300 offshore islands. (The islands can be seen on day trips from Sepetiba Bay, an hour-long drive from Rio.) Santos itself, located 45 mi/70 km southeast of Sao Paulo, is Brazil's leading commercial port-both Santos and next-door neighbor Guaruja afford a wide range of nice beaches and boat tours. Nearby Jose Menino have beautiful orchid gardens that flower from October to February. East of Santos is the popular beach resort of Ubatuba. Also in this area is the colonial town of Parati (settled in 1650), which has been designated a national and UNESCO monument. The historical town center is now closed to automobile traffic. 175 mi/280 km southwest of Rio de Janeiro.

Cuiaba

The capital of Mato Grosso State, Cuiaba (pop. 500,000) is interesting to tourists mainly as a jumping-off point for excursions into the Pantanal. If you find yourself in town with time on your hands, visit the small zoo and the Museu do Indio at the University of the Mato Grosso. Riverside cafes, with live entertainment, offer nice views of the Cuiaba River. Santo Antonio de Leverger, just upstream, has excellent river beaches. 975 mi/1,570 km northwest of Rio de Janeiro.

Curitiba

This large capital is a nice, well-functioning and clean city that is finally beginning to get the attention it deserves. Settled by Germans, Poles and Italians, Curitiba is usually a way station on the highway from Sao Paulo to Iguacu Falls or points south. A model for urban planners throughout the world, the city features Lagoa da Ordem (a nicely preserved historic section with cobblestone streets), pleasant parks (with many bike paths) and several museums (we liked the exterior of the art nouveau Museu Paraense, though its exhibits were less memorable than its facade). It has excellent restaurants (Italian, Japanese and Brazilian) and active nightlife (local jazz and rock). But perhaps the biggest surprise is Brazilian drivers who stop at red lights! Unless you plan a day trip to Vila Velha, one night is adequate. Another day trip is the 65-mi/105-km train rides to the town of Paranagua, through Lovely Mountain scenery. 420 mi/675 km southwest of Rio de Janeiro.

Emas National Park

Advance permission from the National Park Department is necessary to visit this park (there are no tourist facilities), but hard-core nature lovers will find that it's an excellent place to see Brazilian wildlife. The residents include rheas, anteaters, capybaras, coatimundis and armadillos, as well as tropical birds. Enormous termite mounds dot the grounds. The park lies east of the Pantanal
Fernando de Noronha

A seldom-visited, mountainous archipelago off the northeastern coast, Fernando de Noronha is a year-round destination that offers quiet beaches, good diving, great surfing and snorkeling, and a laid-back atmosphere. The landscapes and seascapes are diverse and beautiful: The islands were declared an environmental reserve in 1986. There are 17 fortresses on the islands (the principal one being Forte de Nossa Senhora dos Remedios), but the main reason to go there is relaxation. A week will not be too long for those who think this sounds appealing. The Hotel Esmeralda (built by the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II) is the only hotel; so advance reservations are essential. 320 mi/510 km north east of Recife.

Florianopolis

Imagine Bavaria by a tropical bay and you'll have some idea of Florianopolis. The capital of Santa Catarina state, the city is divided into two: the mainland part is mostly industrial, while the scenic spots are on the island-attractive colonial buildings, 400-year-old forts, baroque churches and the best surfing in Brazil (on the eastern coast of the island). Florianopolis' night life is active and the bier halls are popular meeting spots . Nearby, at Camboriu, are resorts and casinos. 480 mi/770 km southwest of Rio de Janeiro.

Fortaleza

This coastal city (pop. 1,766,000) has several outstanding beaches to the north and south, but avoid the polluted beaches in town. Facilities are adequate. The seafood and local music are excellent. It's a good place to shop for Brazilian handicrafts. Aside from a few museums and the mausoleum for Castelo Branco (a military president), there really isn't much to see or do. 1,350 mi/2,175 km north of Rio de Janeiro.

Iguacu Falls

Located near the junction of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, Iguacu Falls (pronounced eeh-gwa-SUE) is a must-see: It may be the greatest waterfall in the world. There are 275 cataracts in all, stretching 2 mi/4 km from bank to bank and reaching a height of 300ft/90 m. The falls, on the Parana River, are best seen October-December and March-May. We suggest flying from Rio or Sao Paulo as early as possible, overnight at the falls, then flying to another destination the next evening. That way, you'll have a lot of time at the falls, which look and photograph differently in different light. The adventurous can go by train, road or riverboat (the boat trip takes about two days from Rio). A four-minute helicopter ride goes up the river into the falls and over them, then circles and comes down in to the falls again before landing (there's about a 1-mi/2-km walk back). About 35 mi/55 km south of the falls, you can drive into Argentina via a bridge, or continue on to Paraguay. We don't recommend it, however. The traffic is horrendous, as the area is jam packed with South Americans shopping for discounted (and often counterfeit) goods. We suggest, instead, that you stay longer at the falls or visit the old missions in the area. Keep in mind that you'll need a very long day to see both the Brazilian and Argentine sides of the falls. On the Brazilian side, you'll see the falls from a distance (although the views are breathtaking), while the Argentine side has catwalks that take you deeper into the jungle setting and right up to the edge of the roaring waters. (You can take a boat ride quite close to the edge.) The park has an aviary with more than 200 types of birds, most of that are native to Brazil. An easy side trip is to the vast Itaipu Dam built jointly by Brazil and Paraguay, where you can take a free tour. It's one of the largest hydroelectric works projects in the world (55 stories high and 5 mi/8km wide-12,800 megawatts). 730 mi/1,175 km southwest of Rio de Janeiro.

Manaus

In the days of the Amazon rubber boom (before the invention of synthetic rubber), Manaus was known as the Paris of the Jungle. Those days, however, are long gone: Today's Manaus is a troubled city. A fire devastated part of the center of the city, and the city's population has exploded to 1,300,000, overburdening sanitation and health facilities. Nonetheless, Manaus still serves as a base for tourist excursions exploring the mid-Amazon region. Day trips can be made by riverboat to visit villages built on stilts or to hike through the jungle on foot. Several jungle lodges in the vicinity offer a wide variety of rain-forest programs. When cruising down the river about 12 mi., 20 km from town, watch for the Wedding of the Waters, where the clear waters of the Rio Negro meet the muddy Amazon. Adventurous travelers might consider long-distance river journeys to or from Belem (though to be honest, we were bored out of our gourds after three days on the river). The city itself, though rather dirty, is worth exploring. Despite the fact that it's 1,000 mi/1,600 km inland, huge oceangoing ships dock there to distribute their cargo throughout the Amazon basin, and it's fascinating to watch them unload. Amazon wildlife can be easily seen at the CIGS zoo, and the Municipal Market on the river is colorful and lively-try to visit when fishermen arrive and unload their catch. Make a point to see the restored 1892 opera house, Teatro Amazonas, in its entire belle-époque splendor. Some top performers have sung there. Plan two nights in Manaus. 1,200 mi/1,930 km northwest of Brasilia.
Natal

This city of 607,000, located on the northeastern tip of Brazil, is best known for its beaches. We think the two nicest are Ponta Negra and Praia Maio. Negra is a relatively deserted stretch of sand dunes south of town (except on weekends, when the dunes are hopping with crowds), and Maio is a broad beach in town protected by a reef and the star-shaped 16th-century Fortaleza dos Reis Magos (Fort of the Magi). The lighthouse of Mae Luiza affords great views of Natal and the surrounding beaches. Because of its distance from other major areas, many tourists don't visit Natal. Plan three nights there if you're a beach lover; otherwise, one night will be plenty. 1,290 mi/2,075 km north of Rio de Janeiro.

Olinda

Olinda (pop. 389,000) has some of the best-preserved colonial buildings in Brazil (UNESCO has declared it a "monument to humanity"). The city's architecture reflects both its Portuguese and Dutch heritage (the Dutch invaded and occupied the area in the 17th century). We think the best way to see Olinda is on foot. Stroll its 16th- and 17th-century cobblestone streets, past colonial houses, shops, churches and markets. There are frequent festivals in town-the best known is Carnival. Olinda is usually seen as a day trip from Recife. 1,200 mi/1,930 km northeast of Rio de Janeiro.

Ouro Preto

Originally named Vila Rica (Rich Town), this 18th-century hill town (pop. 30,000) was once the wealthiest gold-mining center of Brazil. (The name Ouro Preto itself means Black Gold.) We think its a-must-see, particularly for architecture and history buffs. Unlike many other colonial towns in the country, Ouro Preto is largely unaffected by encroaching modern buildings and skyscrapers. For this reason, it is considered one of the two best-preserved colonial towns of the nation (the other is Olinda). Ouro Preto has cobblestone streets, baroque churches and scenic ruins. Other evidence of its past wealth and glory includes the 18th-century Igreja de Nossa Senhora de Pilar (much of it covered in gold leaf) and sculptures by Aleijadinho. Allocate half an hour to see the Museum of the School of Mines (containing 25,000 gems and mineral samples) located on the main square. The massive white sculpture nearby depicts independence hero Tiradentes (Toothpuller-he was a dentist). The town can be seen as a day trip from Belo Horizonte, but we recommend a day and night in Ouro Preto, just to absorb its special atmosphere. Nearby Mariana, filled with baroque churches, is also a gem. Its terrain is relative flat, so those who have difficulty walking might find it an alternative to steep Ouro Preto. 60 mi/100 km southeast of Belo Horizonte.

Pantanal

The Pantanal is one of the world's great wildlife reserves. A trip there should be booked through an adventure tour operator-only a very small part of the area has any tourism infrastructure (or towns, for that matter). The Pantanal abounds with birds (especially waterfowl), and because the terrain is largely open, it's easier to spot some animals in the Pantanal than farther north in the jungles of the Amazon. Fishing is excellent, with more than 350 varieties of fish, some weighing up to 175 lb/80 kg. The reserve has alligators, deer, armadillos and capybaras (the world's largest rodent). Unfortunately, poaching has endangered some of the animals, and anteaters, jaguars and otters are no longer commonly seen (although they're said to be making a comeback). The best time to visit is during the breeding season (July-September). 1,000 mi/1,600 km west of Rio de Janeiro.

Petropolis

Petropolis, a half-day or full-day trip from Rio, provides a very nice vacation from your vacation. Set in the cool hills north of Rio, this Swiss-style town (pop. 286,000) was the summer retreat for the last emperor of Brazil. Petropolis' main attractions are its Crystal Palace, Gothic cathedral, Museu Imperial (imperial crown and robes-the marble floors are special, too) and the house of Santos-Dumont. Alberto Santos-Dumont, a turn-of-the-century Brazilian aviator, is notable for two reasons: First, Brazilians fervently claim him to be the inventor of the airplane-the Brazilian Encyclopedia Britannic doesn't have an entry for the Wright brothers-and, second, he was incredibly compulsive and designed his house to conform with his ways. He always climbed the stairs to his house starting with his right foot first, so he cut out the left side of every other stair starting with the first, and the right side of alternating stairs, thus forcing his visitors to do as he did. We especially enjoyed the horse-and-carriage rides through the city past lovely canals and bridges, old-fashioned street lamps and pleasant parks. 30 mi/45 km north of Rio de Janeiro.

Porto Alegre

This modern southern city (pop. 1,263,000) first became notable around the turn of the century when large groups of European immigrants (primarily Germans and Italians) arrived. Plan two nights in Porto Alegre to see its baroque Italian cathedral, several palacios (mansions), the 80-acre/30-hectare Parque Farroupilha and the Teatro Sao Pedro (the city's oldest theater). If time permits, take a ride on the Guaiba River to see islands and the city from the water. Day trips north can be made to visit the shoe-manufacturing town of Nova Hamburgo-the drive there passes potato, corn, tobacco, sugarcane and soybean fields. On the way are the towns of Canela and Gramado, where descendants of Germans make wood and basket handicrafts. 700 mi/1,125 km southwest of Rio de Janeiro.

Recife

The coastal city of Recife (pop. 1,297,000), on the Golden Coast of northeastern Brazil, presents a contrast of colonial and modern buildings. Called the Venice of Brazil for its canals and bridges, Recife is dirtier than the Italian version (but not by much). Plan two nights to see the three main regions of the city (spread out over islands and peninsulas connected by bridges-the older parts of the city are nearest the ocean). Recife has a number of interesting museums, including ones devoted to clay, sugar, trains and subjects such as slavery, archaeology and geography. There are also 17th- and 18th-century churches with beautiful woodcarvings and gilded altars. Take time to browse at the Casa da Cultura (an old prison turned shopping mall), or shop for Brazil's finest ceramic tiles at the Brennand Ceramics Workshops, just outside of town (there are also many startling sculptures there). Recife has a fantastic Carnival that rivals those in Rio and Salvador. Several half- and full-day excursions can be made, including ones to Olinda; Cabo (20 mi/30 km south-beaches at Gaibu, a fort and a museum); the Island of Itamaraca (30 mi/50 km north-good beaches, a 17th-century Dutch fort and one of the oldest churches in Brazil); Sao Jose da Coroa Grande (65 mi/110 km south-beaches and good scuba); and Caruaru (85 mi/135 km west-a figurative-arts center with big markets Friday-Sunday and smaller markets on other days). Tours to traditional sugarcane plantations outside Recife are also available. 1,155 mi/1,860 km north of Rio de Janeiro.

Rio de Janeiro

Rio (pop. 6,000,000), the former capital of Brazil, sits on one of the world's most magnificent harbors-arrive by ship, if possible. Beautiful Rio de Janeiro (pronounced HEE-oh dee zhah-NAY-roh) demands no fewer than three nights to do it justice. We're happy to report that the city seems to be coming to terms with problems that have plagued travelers in the recent past. Crime is down, and morale is up, although graffiti is more prevalent than before. Driving isn't quite so unpleasant: Major roads now go one way for morning traffic and another for the afternoon rush, and littering is heavily fined. The numerous hillside slums known as favelas are still the shame of Rio, but renewal projects are extending city services for the first time to many residents in the poorest areas. Progress seems slow but steady. Upon arrival in Rio, almost everyone heads up to the rocky outcrop known as Pao de Acucar (pronounced pow dee ah-SU-car, or, in English, Sugar Loaf Mountain) for a spectacular 360-degree view of Rio and Guanabara Bay (a gondola-and-cable system takes you up and back). The view of Rio at your feet is stupendous, but continue up Corcovado Mountain to get an even higher perspective: It's the site of the 130-ft/40-m Christ the Redeemer statue, which overlooks the city (the drive there and back and the tour will take almost three hours). You can also take a funicular up to the statue-the best view is on the right-hand side. From Corcovado, you'll see that the city is divided by a mountain range into two areas: the Zona Norte and the Zona Sul (northern and southern zones). The Zona Sul holds most of the city's sights. Rio, you'll soon find, is not only lovely, it's lively. Cariocas, as Rio natives are called, are fun loving, and it's important to allow time to join in activities where you'll meet the people: Spend a day on one of its famous beaches (Copacabana, Flamengo, Leblon or Ipanema), attend a soccer game at Maracana Stadium (the largest stadium in the world-it holds 200,000 fans!), go to a performance at the Municipal Theater or plan a night of club hopping. There are several museums in town, covering everything from classical composer Villa-Lobos (his possessions and scores) to the campy Carmen Miranda Museum (the actress' costumes and trademark fruit-basket headdresses). The National History and Fine Arts Museums are other must-sees. For a look at Rio's spiritual side, see the divine art and architecture of the Candelaria Church and Gloria Church, as well as the Sao Bento Monastery. Indulge your natural spirit in the botanical gardens or Tijuca Forest. Rio's first theme park, Enchanted Land, is south of Copacabana and Ipanema beaches. Every year, during the four days preceding Ash Wednesday, the most chaotic celebration in any city in the world gets under way: Carnival. Everybody is out dancing in the streets, so don't plan on doing any shopping or normal sightseeing at that time. In fact, Carnival activities range not only citywide, but also nationwide! Participants plan (and save up for) their colorful, exquisite costumes for a year (though some costumes seem to be little more than glitter and one or two sequins). The best costumes can be seen on Sunday and Monday of Carnival week in the specially constructed Sambadrome. The shows start at 8 pm and continue until 8 am! Buy your tickets well in advance. Carnival is a must-at least once in a lifetime. Day trips from Rio include Petropolis, Angra dos Reis, Itatiaia, Niteroi, Paulo Enginheiro de Frentim, Vassouras, Nova Friburgo (Alpine mountain town, noted for its flowers) and Teresopolis (the climbing and hiking center of Brazil). Parati, to the west of Angra dos Reis, is a charming beach resort and colonial town (albeit a bit too far for a comfortable day trip-plan an overnight instead). Sao Paulo is 45 minutes away by the Air Bridge (shuttle flights leave every half-hour).

Salvador

This is striking city (pop. 2,300,000), Brazil's longtime colonial capital, and lies on beautiful Santos Bay (Bahia De Todos os Santos). A strong African influence derives from the slaves brought to work in the sugar cane fields more than 400 years ago. Salvador is divided into an upper and lower section, and the enormous Lacerda elevator, which goes from one level to the other, affords outstanding views. Multicolored homes, red-tiled roofs, a great market, twisting and narrow cobblestone streets, great beaches, terreiros (cult worship houses) and about 300 churches make this an excellent place to stay for two or three nights. No tour of the city is complete without seeing the Igreja de Sao Francisco-although relatively plain on the outside (as are most Portuguese churches in Brazil), the inside is covered in gold leaf and is as ornate as it is beautiful. Also visit the Farol da Barra (a 16th-century fort overlooking one of several sites claiming to be the original spot where Portuguese navigator Cabral's party landed in Brazil) and the Igreja do Bomfim, where believers from across the state go to worship and celebrate (don't miss the Room of Miracles, where believers leave reproductions of body parts in need of miraculous healing-you'll be amazed by the number of plastic arms, legs, heads, hearts and lungs dangling from the ceiling). Shopping is good on Rua Alfredo do Brito and exceptional at the Mercado Modelo (good African and Brazilian souvenirs). Pelourinho, one of the oldest areas in town, has colonial architecture and a pillory (where slaves and prisoners were tortured). Other reminders of the city's past can be seen at the Museu de Arte da Bahia (17th-century antique displays) and the Museu Abelardo Rodriques (colonial paintings). The city's culture is celebrated in the Museu da Cidade (Yoruba tribal displays), the Afro-Brazilian Museum (African displays), and the Carlos Costa Pinto Museum. Try to attend a candomble ceremony, which illustrates the lively African religious culture found in the city, and watch capoeira, an amazing combination of martial arts and African folk dance (don't take pictures of the participants unless you are willing to pay for the privilege). Salvador also has a great Carnival celebration, though it's not as flashy as the one in Rio. North of Salvador is the fishing village of Praia do Forte, which borders the Sapiranga Ecological Reserve. The reserve protects one of Brazil's last stands of Atlantic rain forest. Itaparica, a lush island 12 mi/19 km southwest, has several nice beaches and a great view of Salvador across the bay. The Sao Joaquim Ferry makes the 45-minute crossing several times daily, but be sure to reserve a space in advance-Salvadorans like Itaparica, too. Note: Salvador has more than its share of poverty and crime. When you're having a soda or beer in an open bar or cafe, be prepared for beggars with cups or glasses to ask you for a drink. Crime directed at tourists is a problem, particularly in Pelourinho after dark or the sparsely populated beach areas. Avoid the temptation to change money on the streets at attractive rates-you'll be inviting trouble. 750 mi/1,200 km northeast of Rio de Janeiro.

Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo is where nature's jungle gives way to concrete one. It's the largest city in South America and the third largest in the world. This ethnically diverse megalopolis of 16,000,000 is the financial, commercial and industrial center of Brazil. It is also rich in culture, parks and museums. But don't go expecting to see a beautiful city like Buenos Aires or Rio. While there are lovely neighborhoods in Sao Paulo, it seems as if everything is made of concrete-even the fire hydrants! The real reason to go is to sample its wide variety of international restaurants, fabulous shopping and very active night life-Sao Paulo is one of the very few places in the world where you can get stuck in a traffic jam at two in the morning. The city is centered around the Praca da Se (praca, pronounced PRAH-sah, means square). It was near the square's cathedral, at the Patio de Colegio, that Jesuit priests founded the city in 1554. But the sentimental heart of the metropolis, featured in poetry and song, is the intersection of Avenida Sao Joao and Avenida Ipiranga. We especially enjoyed Sunday morning in the square, when the Hippie Fair (a colorful flea market) is open for business. Nearby is one of the city's loveliest parks, the Praca da Republica, and the tallest building in town (Edificio Italia, which has a rooftop garden and restaurant). Just off the Praca da Republica is the Rua Barao de Itapetininga, a pedestrian shopping street that leads to the baroque Municipal Theater (world-class concerts) and one of the city's symbols, the Viaduto do Cha (Tea Bridge). Skyscraper-lined Avenida Paulista, once the street, where coffee barons lived in splendid residences, is now the commercial center of the city. For an idea of what a millionaire's mansion looked like, visit the McDonald's on Avenida Paulista (the hamburger chain restored one of the last remaining manors for its location). History buffs should allow time for the 17th-century Casa do Bandeirante-the building highlights displays from Brazil's age of internal exploration. High among the city's cultural attractions is the Sao Paulo Museum of Art (locally known as MASP, it's on Avenida Paulista), with a fine collection of Portinaris and one of the largest compilations of impressionist paintings in the world. The Sacred Art Museum, near the Tiradentes subway stop, is claimed to be the best on the subject in Brazil. Art lovers will want to visit the city in the fall of an odd numbered year, when Sao Paulo hosts the Bienal de Arte, showcasing modern art from dozens of countries. The Museum of Contemporary Art, open year in and year out, is also housed in the Bienal building. Ethnic neighborhoods provide the setting for exceptional restaurants and the city's active nightlife. Some of the more interesting areas are Bela Vista and Bixiga (both Italian), Vinte e Cinco de Marco (Arabic), Bom Retiro (Jewish) and Liberdade (Japanese). Liberdade has a colorful street fair on Sunday mornings-exit the Liberdade subway station and you'll find the market all around you. Other Sao Paulo sights include the Butanta Institute Snake Farm and the Jockey Club (horse racing). Parks include the Parque de Ibirapuera (planetarium) and Parque de Ipiranga (the tomb of Dom Pedro I, the nation's first emperor, is in the park). Shopping, once done only in small stores and boutiques, is now possible in upscale shopping centers all over town. Chiefs among them are Morumbi, Eldorado, Iguatemi and Ibirapuera. Alameda Itu and Rua Augusta (the latter leading off Avenida Paulista) are the chic shopping streets. Plan two nights in Sao Paulo. For a day trip, drive down the scenic Via Anchieta to the ports and resorts of Guaruja and Santos. Rio de Janeiro is 45 minutes away by the Air Bridge, shuttle flights that leave every half-hour). 225 mi/360 km west of Rio de Janeiro.

V Winner post #20- Honorable Mention: Florianopolis

2008-08-29T21:00:00.000-07:00

In the lists of cities with the best quality of life in Brazil, Florianópolis always appears in the first standings. Fine beaches, courteous people and low cost of living turned the capital of Santa Catarina in the "Island Magic." The fame of paradisiacal place grew, brought tourists and, lately, new residents. In five years, the population increase was 15%, a rate well above the national average. Scared with the boom, the city took a radical step. Since last month, the council has a new body with the task of filtering the arrival of outsiders and, if possible, to send some of them to go home. The screening is done in Maria Rita Road, and the strategy is simple. Interviewers host buses on arrival to the capital and apply a questionnaire to find out the reasons that bring those passengers to the city. Who comes without a destination receives a kit to take bath, guidance on the difficulties that will find in Florianopolis and, in some cases, passage back to the city of origin. In the first month of operation, more than half of those approached accepted the offer. Until today, it was an idea that the migrant who came to Florianopolis fit in the stereotype retiree-rich-tired-to-run-run - the-big-cities. In part, this is true. The population over 60 years in Florianopolis increased 55% in ten years. They are people with good cultural level and good income that help boost the local economy. This group is still very welcome to the city and will be received with pomp and red carpet. But the perception that the migration covers less desirable profiles of residents is growing. In a recent survey of the Secretary of Housing, it was found that 40% of street children under the council came from other states to live in the streets of Florianopolis. The remaining 60% live in slums in the region, and half of them belong to families that also came from other counties or states. In other words: the poverty that now runs the traffic lights in the capital of Santa Catarina (in a manner much more discreet than in other centers) came out. Alarmed with this situation, the city adopted the project to monitor the arrival of new residents.
The fact is that Florianopolis begins to feel the negative effects of their success. Twenty years ago, there were only five slums in the Greater Florianópolis. Now there are more than fifty scattered across hills of the island. Another facet of this growth disorderly is violence. Twenty years ago, the district had a rate of 4.9 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants. It was an index comparable to the most developed cities in the world. But that number tripled, today is of 17.2 deaths, and continues to rise. Besides the problem, less advantaged families still coming to the city in search of a better life. Florianópolis really presents great social and economic indicators. For the discretion of the United Nations, the Magic Island is among the five cities of Brazil with better quality of life. This means that the council has indicators of income, education and quality of life of European standard. Allied to this framework, there is a cycle of economic development of the place. The construction is increasing the impressive 10% a year. They are buildings, shopping malls, hotels and convention centers, which are changing the local landscape. The experience of Florianopolis repeats, in part, other migratory flows of Brazilian history. In a country like Brazil, with no armed conflicts or popular uprisings, the contrasts were the main economic factor of population movements throughout the twentieth century. In the decades of 50 and 60, millions of people left the camp and were heading to cities. Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, the best that time, inflated and suffered with the appearance of side effects of progress: slums, urban violence and chaos. Today, the major centers are saturated and there is a migration to cities of lesser size. Studies of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) show that the segment of the population that grows more in Brazil is concentrated in small and medium-sized cities. According to the survey, people want economic opportunities and quality of life. Florianopolis is the two characteristics, and, inevitably, will be a pole of migration in the coming years. From rich and poor - despite the efforts of the municipal selective.

V Winner Post #21- The Most Valuable Addresses

2008-08-29T20:30:00.000-07:00

The most Valuable addresses of Brazil

In the past two years, prices of residential and commercial buildings rose from 20% to 30%, on average, in the best neighborhoods of the main Brazilian cities, according to search System Cofeci-Creci, the regional councils and the federal Real Estate . "Runoff from bank finance, begun in 2005, is warming up the market in all capitals. Prices were low years and now rise rapidly," says John Teodoro, president of Cofeci. "But the recovery is different in each city because it depends on the stock of buildings and the availability of free areas in neighborhoods better evaluated." When there is the exhaustion of the land in areas already considered noble, investment usually run for areas with potential for verticalization in neighborhoods with location or in blends parts of the city still little explored. Check below the neighborhoods of middle class and middle class high with a greater chance of recovery in six Brazilian capitals.

Rio de Janeiro Expansion to the West
The neighborhood is more expensive in Brazil Ipanema, where the square metre costs, on average, 20000 real, according lifting the Cofeci-Creci. The prices are high because demand for an apartment in the district is very high and there are almost no more land for incorporation. The same applies to Leblon, where the square metre costs 18000 real. Hardly prices will drop in those districts, but few believe that there is still room for a high marked in the near future - the values are in a very high level. The prospect of greater increases in the prices of residential and commercial buildings is in Barra da Tijuca and the Recreio dos Bandeirantes, in the west. "The Barra da Tijuca land is very large, do 100000 square meters. Will not be in our lives that it will be all occupied," says Rubem Vasconcelos, president of Patrimóvel, the largest property of the River.

Sao Paulo High in regions east and west of the city
The scarcity of land and high demand for apartments ensure Higienópolis, in the central region of São Paulo, the lead in the ranking of the most expensive residential square metre between releases in the city: 7700 actual, second search of Embraesp, company specializing in the analysis of property market in Sao Paulo. To some extent, Higienópolis is in a situation similar to the Ipanema in Rio de Janeiro. Prices have already risen and very few believe that will point upward in the short term. For Cofeci-Creci the largest potential use of the housing is in the neighborhoods of Tatuapé, in the east, and the Morumbi, in the western region. "In the commercial segment, should increase rather square metre in the Marginal Pinheiros, toward the Ceagesp, in Park Thomas Edson, in Barra Funda," says Luiz Paulo Pompéia, president of Embraesp.

Curitiba New companies pressure prices
The housing more expensive in Curitiba are in neighborhoods, Batel, where the square metre costs, on average, 2200 real, and Ecoville, 2000 real. These areas, however, have had recovery of only 2% since last year. The neighborhood that most rewarded in the past 12 months and which has the greatest potential in the coming years is Green Water, which has great infrastructure services and a large number of squares. The square meter for apartments of four rooms there cost, on average, 1600 real, 23% more than a year ago. "The good topography and the large availability of land leverage its expansion," says Alfredo Canezim, president of Creci place. In the commercial segment, the demand is heated because new companies have settled in the city and there were few investments in offices in the last decade. The consultant Eduardo Schulman, the Top Real Estate, pointing two areas in this promising segment: the Techno Park, a venture in the final stage of project to house high-tech, and the stretch of BR-116 which cuts Curitiba and is being urbanized
.

Belo Horizonte
Via express extends the view
The high standard of construction and large infrastructure services raise the neighborhoods of Belvedere, Lourdes and Staff at the top of the ranking of the most expensive square metre of Belo Horizonte. They are also those that have strengthened the most in the last 12 months, according lifting the Cofeci-Creci. Between August 2006 and July 2007, the value of the square meter rose from 3500 to 5000 real. Despite the recent high, there is still room for recovery. "Many people dream in this neighborhood live. Is the one with the largest number of new buildings and still has areas for incorporation," said Caio Mario Campos Ferreira, the city property and Field and one of the directors of Creci-MG. "In Lourdes and Staff, the pattern is for Class A, but the land available there are few." For investors, the works of the road Green Line opened a new horizon. With 35 km, the expressway linking the capital to the airport Tancredo Neves, in Confins, and facilitate access to the surrounding neighborhoods and municipalities in the northern metropolitan region. It is in this new scenario appearing in the neighborhoods of Pampulha Selling New among the greatest potential.

Salvador
Bet on the northern edge of the capital The area that is most rewarded in recent years in the capital Bahia is near the historic center. It is the region the sea known as Victory, which extends the Largo do Campo Grande to the Largo da Vitoria. It is the most expensive of the state of Bahia. A year ago, an apartment of four rooms were sold there by 4500 the actual square meter. Today, valley real 7000, a high of 55%. The recovery is explained by being a tourist area, the excellent infrastructure and the shortage of land. As prices in Victoria have had great high, investors have taken their games for the north edge of the city, which includes the neighborhoods of Pituba, Patamares and Horto Florestal. The regions with greater potential for recovery extends between Avenida Parallel and the coast. There are stand residential condominiums and high standard of buildings overlooking the sea. The square meter ranges from 2700 to 5000 real. "This is the region that has the most potential for growth in the city, both at home and in the commercial segment," says Tom Salles, director of Lopes Consulting, which recently opened an office in the city

Manaus
Close to the Rio Negro
The view from the watercourse Black, one of the cards-postcards of Manaus, it is hard currency for the valuation of buildings of the city. It was the proximity of the river and the dense woodland that made the neighborhood of Ponta Negra the most noble of the capital of Amazonas. In the period of one year, August 2006 to July 2007, the square meter increased from 20% to 40% and now range from 2000 to 4000 real, according lifting the Cofeci-Creci. In the short and medium term, Ponta Negra should continue being one of the areas of greatest potential for recovery. With the warming of the economy and new investments in the Free Zone, the demand for buildings of medium and high standard grew enough to purchase and leasing. In light of that motion, Adrianópolis, the neighborhood noble more traditional Manaus, also has good prospects. Ali, the square meter costs from 3000 to 3500 real. In the commercial segment, the search of Cofeci-Creci indicates the region of the avenue Djalma Batista, axis of Manaus, as the area with the greatest potential for recovery. Currently, the square meter store or point commercial environment that costs, on average, 1000 real.

V Winner Post #22- The Best Place to do Business in Brazil

2008-08-29T20:00:00.000-07:00

The industries may be fleeing to other parts of the country, but Sao Paulo – where else could be? -- Is the best Brazilian city for business. With nearly 10 million habitants and a potential for consumption estimated at 55 billion dollars a year, Sao Paulo leads undoubtedly the list of best cities for business in the country. The Rio de Janeiro, the second city on the list, has a potential for consumption nearly 15 billion dollars lower than São Paulo. What the São Paulo spend a year in the capital is a slice of more than 11% of annual consumption of Brazil. These data are contained in a study prepared by the consulting Simonsen Associates in partnership with EXAMINATION. The purpose of the search, the sixth of the genus published by the magazine since 1993, was to identify the cities with the best opportunities for business in the country. For a definition of the first ten cities in the ranking, the study examined the situation in 101 municipalities, taking into account factors such as availability of daily flights, number of bank branches and hotel rooms on the network until indicators of quality of life, such as educational level of population, hospital beds and sanitation. The same indicators were used to define the second rank of the best cities for business in Brazil. In the sum of all queries, Sao Paulo emerged unbeatable. As the largest retailer and wholesaler centre of the country, São Paulo always done the wheel of the money spinning faster. Each year, the São Paulo spend a mountain of money on food at home, bars and restaurants, books, health, travel and frequent trips to shopping centers that do not stop to spread the city. Next year it is expected an explosion of sales with the opening of seven other establishments of the genre. Only this year, the turnover of the shopping malls of the city was 12.3 billion reais, a jump of 25% over 1997. It is easy to understand why companies want to be close to the consumer paulistano. On average, he spent 5680 US dollars per year, 80% above the average spending of the country. The greater purchasing power of São Paulo reflects itself in their habits until morning. The families in 34% of households in Sao Paulo consume cereal breakfast, against 18.4% in other Brazilian cities. The lifting of Simonsen shows that 41.2% of households paulistas belong to class A and B. In the rest of Brazil, this index is only 22.4%. It is not for nothing that only in Sao Paulo there are sales of brands of luxury cars like Jaguar and Ferrari. Until October, 797 models super sportives were sold in the city. The price of each unit? Something between 300000 and 1 million reais. "About 70% of these vehicles are in the hands of the city's population," says Carlos Vilhena, executive director of the Brazilian Association of Imported of Vehicles Automobiles , Abeiva. For the region of Jardins , scattered up some of the main symbols of consumption in the world. There emerged in recent years as sales of labels Vuitton, Cartier, Mont Blanc, François Lacroix and many others. What other city could host a home Brazilian as Daslu, a boutique emerged 40 years ago in the garage of a Building and that today focuses on 4400 meters of built area that extends for nearly a quarter of the entire Vila Nova Conceição - one of emerging neighborhoods of Sao Paulo - the finest brands of clothing female and male in the world? An army of 30 security guards and park helpers stand on the doors of Daslu, a house that showcases waiver and placards in front. Ali, saleswomen with surnames 40’s shows to about 300 people attending the shop one day all the latest releases of designers as Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Donna Karan, Ferragamo and Ermenegildo Zegna. Altogether, the Daslu represents 38 labels of male and female first line. In Latin America, only the Daslu has Chanel. Prices, of course, are salted. An evening dress, may leave by 5000 US dollars, but that matter? At 20 hours of a Tuesday in early December, a group of women filled a room reserved for boxes. "We have to meet our customers who work outside and do not have much time to deal with fashion," says Eliana Tranchesi, 43 years old, daughter of a founder of the boutique, which form with her husband, cardiologist Bernardino Tranchesi, one of couples most disputed in social paulistanas wheels. The success of Daslu - Eliana does not reveal the billing of the store - is one of the best portraits of the business that proliferated in the city from the opening of the economy earlier this decade. She mind that, once heard the speech of possession of President Fernando Collor announcing the intention to open the borders of the country, thought immediately on the possibilities which appeared to their field. "We were all distressed to the confiscation of the money, but I just thought: I will make a Chanel here on the side," says Eliana. Two months after sales reduced to almost zero, there she was in Europe, seeking their first contacts to Brazil to import the best of fashion labels. "It relied in Brazil." The way was paid in advance and bring the first five brands to the store. Little by little, the trust was established. Today, few shops in the world with a rival Daslu in the concentration of labels of luxury. This year, there was a growth of 65% in the women. The industry turned to the public in this male same period rose from 700 to 2800 square meters. Beside this strength, Sao Paulo together with their problems ever – awful transit, public spaces bad care, chronic violence and social indicators capable of scare anyone. The fleet of 310 helicopters circulating the city, much of it is used by executives of large companies that try to escape the chaotic transit stranglehold that the main roads of the capital Sao Paulo. Run away from the city streets, exchange the convenience of a house or apartment for a live surrounded by security guards can be a solution, but all these problems, certainly, put Sao Paulo ahead at a disadvantage to other cities in the world. It was his performance in the query pífio quality of life that relegated Sao Paulo, the largest Latin American economic colossus, a mere sixth in a recent list published by the American magazine Fortune of the best cities for business in the region. It was hit by cities such as Santiago, the capital of Chile and the first of the ranking, Monterrey, Mexico, Buenos Aires and Mexico City. The Rio was the fourth of the list. In recent times, much has been written and talked about a supposed economic decline of Sao Paulo. The fact, however, is that, as we lost investments billionaires for industries of other states, Sao Paulo demonstrated an extraordinary ability to recreate. Just walk the streets of residential neighborhoods before genuinely such as Vila Nova Conceição or Vila Olympia, now full of bars, restaurants, shops and houses of spectacles sophisticated, or contemplate a row of intelligent buildings on the banks of the Pinheiros River to see the metamorphosis that passes the city. Sao Paulo firm itself increasingly as a financial centre and provider of services similar to those that have occurred with other world metropolises such as New York, London and Tokyo. This year, 148 were performed major events in the network of hotel and convention centers São Paulo. For 1999, are scheduled 226 events of this nature. Data from a survey of the joint Sebrae with Sao Paulo Convention & Visitors Bureau, the SPCVB - the body responsible for the capture of conferences, conventions, exhibitions and symposia - shows that the industry handled 5.6 billion reais in Sao Paulo in 1996. With an average spending of 270 dollars per day, participants of these events end up strengthening the revenue from rental cars, restaurants, bars, not to mention the hotel own network, which has a rate of occupancy during the week, higher than 75%. In Sao Paulo, are the headquarters of major industrial and financial corporations in the country. A Black & Decker may have changed the region of the ABC by Uberaba and Walita was transferred from South Zone to Varginha, Minas Gerais, but in Sao Paulo that both companies retain their administrative headquarters. IBM is the latest company to succumb to Sao Paulo. After 81 years in Rio, it will transfer its centre decision to São Paulo. Since January, the general manager of IBM, Fernando Mitri, and 40 more will gather executives in the company's building on Avenue on May 23, in the central region of Sao Paulo. "We want to get closer to our customers," says Mauro Segura, communication manager of the company. The reasons for being in Sao Paulo are varied. Concentration in the city the apparatus necessary for the achievement of the business. The São Paulo is labor-Expert, the largest supply of executives, consultants, the bunkers, advocacy, advertising agencies, the best hotel network, the best hospitals and restaurants in the country. "Businesses follow a ritual," says Fabio Steinberg, director of external relations of the Central Communications Globo, a carioca that five years ago lives in São Paulo. "For the executive who comes from outside, it is difficult to open hand of the comfort of services that are used to in their country of origin." Much of the 150 people who attend the daily Fasano, one of the fine restaurants of Sao Paulo, is composed of businessmen. "Sao Paulo has never had many restaurants that could be anywhere in the world," says Rogerio Fasano, socio-owner of the Fasano and one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the industry. "The difference now is that the average of restaurants São Paulo improved a lot. Appears one behind the other, which is encouraging." The São Paulo noticed the difference. Daily, about 100 people not on the table for dinner Gero, one of the three houses created by Fasano in the last five years. His most recent work, launched this month, is the Café Gero, installed in the courtyard of a shopping. "I would prefer a coffee on sidewalks, but people do not go on the streets in Sao Paulo." The café in Paris, the third restaurant, Fasano, opened four months ago, consumed investments of 1.5 million reais. Sao Paulo today is the best mirror of the transformations that are changing the face of the country from economic openness and new business opportunities brought by massive investments in the areas of telecommunications and energy provided by the deregulation of public services. Only Telefonica, Spanish company that led the consortium that bought the Telesp, must invest $ 600 million to expand the services of fixed telephony in the city. It is in São Paulo that Enron, one of the largest energy companies in the United States, established its headquarters for the entire South Cone The company, one of the members of Petrobras in Bolivia-Brazil pipeline, is investing 400 million dollars in area of distribution of electric energy. Enron, which bought the Elektro, the former Dismembered company Cesp, or bet now on the market for wholesale energy, a novelty in the country. "Let's get out in front, but new competitors to arise on the way," says Diomedes Christodoulou, director of the Enron for the South Cone Why the company chose Sao Paulo to host its business in South America? "Here is the market and the largest facility of flights," said Christodoulou. "Like any executive who works in the area of services, step three days a week inside a plane." They also points to the facilities of São Paulo that foreign executives are to enroll their children in schools that follow the curriculum and school year of their countries of origin. There are in Sao Paulo more than a dozen of them. Only American, are four, in addition to two British, two German, one French, one Spanish and one Swiss, among others. With the new executive takes to the waves, which have never been abundant, time got shorter. In Graded School, one of the American schools, there is a queue of more than 100 children waiting for a place in pre-school. At the time of his new recruit corps leader, Telefonica is giving preference to executives without children. To solve the problem, the American Chamber of Commerce in Sao Paulo signed an agreement with the college Pueri Domus, one of the most traditional of the city. From next year, the children of American executives can monitor the curriculum of your country on the premises of the college. "Instead of creating new schools, this may be the solution," says John Mein, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Sao Paulo. To house the new companies and executives who come to the city, scattered up by Sao Paulo sets of intelligent buildings and flats, especially in the southern region of the city. Sao Paulo now has 7000 rooms of flats. By the year 2002, that number will jump to 12000. The Brazil Realty, a joint venture between construction Cyrella and Irsa - the largest real estate company in Argentina, controlled by George Soros mega investorr - is investing 150 million real in three ventures in the high-luxury offices in the region of Avenida Faria Lima. In the past two years, invested 120 million others in the actual construction of 1400 flats and 500 small office to house the activities of professionals that arise around this new web of services in the city. "We are taking the path to where Sao Paulo are following," says Daniel Citron, the chief financial Brazil Realty. Sao Paulo is a kind of incubator business that if they certainly, if scattered to other parts of the country. "It is a tip of the spear from where it spread trends for the rest of the country," says Fatima Araujo, researcher of the foundation Seade, of Sao Paulo. From here some time, the habits of São Paulo have undergone a remarkable change. The shopping in supermarkets, visits to bookstores or trips to the movies, the changes are immense. In recent years, spread by the city novelties as home centers (large stores that follow the concept "DIY"), where you can buy everything for home, a simple nail the partitions of wood. There are at least a dozen such establishments in the city, including the French Castorama networks and Leroy Merlin. In the area of retail, there is an ongoing war between the major supermarket chains, for a greater slice of the market not only in Sao Paulo but in the whole country. The Carrefour bought the French company Comptoirs Modernes, which acquired 23 stores of the network Stores American. The units will be converted into supermarkets. The Sugar Loaf announced this year investment of about 400 million reais in improvements and expansion of its network of stores in Sao Paulo. For the same path is going the Portuguese group Sonae, which bought the network Cândia, with investment of 25 million reais. In the midst of this war, the consumer has received gifts unimaginable before. In some shops in Sugar Loaf, now to open on Sundays, customers make purchases to the sound of Brazilian music and classical pieces played by a quartet installed in one of the corners. A few months ago, the same network opened a store dedicated solely to its clientele child. There, mother only enter together. "The networks are looking occupy space at any price," says Marcos Gouvea, director of Gouvea de Souza, consultant specializing in trade and retail. Another novelty of Sao Paulo are mega book stores, sort of center of home entertainment, where the consumer can choose a huge variety selection of books, magazines, CDs and CD-ROMs. The Attica, the first shop of the genus in Sao Paulo, was acquired by the French network Fenac. Bookstores traditional as Saraiva and Siciliano also mounted big stores in some shopping malls in the city. Another novelty which landed recently in Sao Paulo were the multiplex cinemas - complexes of up to 14 rooms of projection, where every 10 minutes there is a new session starting. No arm of the seat, there is room to accommodate a bucket of popcorn and glass of soda. The network Cinemark American, the fifth I the United States, opened four multiplex cinemas in Sao Paulo since last year and six others are on the way. By the next year, the 140 cinemas, which was in Sao Paulo in 1997 should double. The result of that is invested that after a phase of audiences empty and closed rooms, cinema returned to fashion. "The frequency grows every month," says Valmir Fernandes, director of Cinemark. There are many other innovations in the area of entertainment in Sao Paulo. They are so many that have changed the face of an entire neighborhood. At Vila Olympia, in the south, where until a few years ago was concentrated mechanical workshops and warehouses empty, the night hive. "The beach of São Paulo are the bars, restaurants and night clubs," says Assadur Mekhitarian, owner of Jardineira Beer, the newest beer house of Vila Olympia. There, in the midst of old objects, 'lovers cigars have at their disposal a room equipped with a system of exhaustion. Nearby are the homes of spectacles Via Funchal and Tom Brazil, beyond nigh clubs Absolute, Chaos - a glorious network in New York - and Lov.e. The latter follows the international trend of offering music in a lower volume, so that people can talk. After 1 of the morning, the people , if packaging to the sound of electronic music. That is the web of opportunities that are opening up in Sao Paulo, which makes it one of the most fascinating cities in the world of business. Billionaire or not , they found that huge city a good field to flourish.

V Winner Post #23- Real Estate In Brazil

2008-08-29T19:30:00.000-07:00

'Ten Top reasons to invest in real estate in Brazil today'"Brazil Property continues to be hot, but it has never reached the critical mass to produce rampant growth, as in Costa Rica, Florida or Las Vegas. This is about to change. Brazil for the first time is emerging from a status it hasn’t had since the 1960’s. Growth is picking up, foreign direct investment is up year after year, and the Brazilian stock market is as high as ever.Reasons why Brazil Property has not increased in value as much as Costa Rica, for example, may be traced to investors' unfamiliarity with Brazil and the Brazilian market. Brazil is still seen as unstable by some, though the truth is the opposite. If you have title insurance buying property in Brazil, safety is not at issue. Once a person owns property State and federal laws makes lawsuits and foreclosures nearly impossible. Another myth is that foreigners cannot own property in Brazil" False. Property in Brazil is freehold. But it is worth being cautious with companies offering options other than freehold ownership or when an accredited title company refuses to issue full title insurance.For the top ten reasons to buy property in Brazil today:1/ New mortgage laws:A. These laws create a better environment for banks to loan moneyB. The banks are able to make a safer investment when lendingC. In countries without sustainable mortgage products, there is very little domestic demand for property because purchasers are forced to pay in cash for property. This creates low property pricesD. By the end of 2008, wide-open mortgage packages will be availableE. Right now falling interest rates are making mortgages more commonF. Due to the availability of mortgages domestic demand for property is increasing2/ New ownership laws protect the buyer:A. These laws are some of the best in the Americas, designed to make ownership more appealingB. Ownership is far more secure in Brazil than many other popular Latin American destinationsC. This creates new international demand3/ Easy access from Europe and North America due to new infrastructure:A. The Government is supporting tourism projects all across the coast by increasing the availability or utilities and infrastructureB. Government is financing the renovation of old airports and building new airports to meet the demandC. The government has come to realize that tourism and property is a new form of economic growthD. Currently Brazil is the 5th best infrastructure in the AmericasE. Infrastructure and access adds value to property and creates domestic and international demand4/ Outstanding currency appreciation:A. Currency appreciation that has taken place with the Brazilian currency is outstanding. In 2002, Brazil’s currency was almost 4 to 1 to the US dollar. Today it is 2 to 1. Its low was approximately 1.85 to 1 dollar July of 2007B. If a person bought property in 2002, that person would have doubled their money with currency appreciationC. In April 2007, the Brazilian reserve sat at $101 billion. As Brazil becomes more stable and builds up currency reserves, this appreciation will continue5/ Undervalued Beach property compared to the rest of the Americas:A. An acre of Beach Property in Florida goes for $10 millionB. In the Bahamas, an acre in accessible areas sells for $2 millionC. An acre of Beach property in Costa Rica sells for $100,000D. In Brazil, acres bought in quantity are as low as $5,000 to $15,000 or single acres on the ocean for less than $55,000E. This creates international demand and domestic demand6/ Brazil has a large domestic population of almost 200 Million people:A. This domestic population will embrace credit and mortgages and start buying houses and propertyB. This will create domestic demand, demand forces property prices to riseC. Costa Rica and Nicaragua have populations of roughly 5 million. These countries' real estate booms are not homegrown, but due to international speculation. This situation lacks long-term stability. Why buy a half acre on the ocean in Costa Rica for $1 million when you can buy it in Brazil for $35,0007/ Currently the 10th largest economy in the world, Brazil will be the 5th largest in 2050 as ranked by Goldman Sachs:A. When Brazil reaches its paramount in 2050, the beach property prices will be the same anywhere in the worldB. It is expected that beach property will continue to increase in value rapidly until 2050C. This economic growth and stability creates international demand. It solidifies Brazil as a great place for real estate investors8/ Pay little, get a lot:A. In Brazil, construction costs are half what they are in the United States and EuropeB. Currency is also 2 to 1 to the dollar and almost 3 to 1 to the Euro. This money goes a long way on everyday purchasesC. This bonus can lure property buyers seeking an affordable standard of living, will create international demand9/ Interest rates in Brazil are dropping fast:A. If you look at rates 18 months ago they were at 18%. Today they are under 12% and falling every few monthsB. These rates are falling because Brazil has a huge trade surplus and account balance due to its raw material export driven economy. This surplus has assisted in Brazil have sufficient currency reserves and eliminate deficit spendingC. Further exports of sugarcane ethanol to Japan, United States and Europe will further Brazil’s trade surplus and create a more stable economy allowing for interest rates to fall even lower10/ Beautiful beaches:A. Brazil is ranked for having some of the best beaches in the world. They feature white sand, warm water, warm climate and beautiful tall palm treesB. Brazil has one of the longest tropical coast lines in the world.