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Brazil
Physical.
Brazil is located in Eastern South America bordering the Atlantic Ocean. It
covers an area just slightly smaller than the US. The climate is mostly tropical
with a southern temperate region. Its terrain is mostly flat to rolling lowlands
in the north with some plains, hills and mountains. There is a narrow coastal
belt in the south. Natural resources include bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese,
tin, and nickel.
People. An estimated 184 million people live in Brazil. Portuguese is the
official language while many Brazilians also speak Spanish, French and/or
English. Ethnically Brazil is: white (55% - this includes Portuguese, German,
Italian, Spanish, and Polish) mixed white and black (38%) and black (6%).
Nominal Roman Catholics make up the largest religious group at 70%. With one of
the most successful HIV/AIDS programs, Brazil has gained international praise
for its program.
Government. On October 27, 2002, Luiz Inacio “Lula” Da Silva was elected
president of Latin America’s most powerful state, the world’s fifth largest
country and the ninth largest economy on the globe. A multi-talented man, Lula
had been a lathe operator, leader of the independent Brazilian labor movement
that emerged in the late 1970's to challenge the military regime, a founder of
the Brazilian Worker’s Party (PT) and a former congressman from Sao Paulo. He
was reelected in 2006. His platform called for sustainable
macroeconomic growth and the reduction of poverty and inequality. Reviews were
mixed regarding progress made, but he was reelected.
Economy. Lula’s economic policies have adhered to classical economic
approaches. In an attempt to bring spending under control, he has trimmed the
public work force. Brazil has prospered from it
membership in Mercosur, a regional trade organization that consists of
Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. The president of Mercosur has expanded
with other countries, especally Chile, which became an associated member. Like the previous president and other
members of Mercosur, he has opposed US efforts to forge a Free Trade Area of the
Americas, preferring closer ties with the European Union. Since 2000, trade with
China has tripled and China is now Brazil’s fourth largest market, the bulk of
which is soybeans, iron ore and steel. In the face of statistics showing the
loss of 4.3 million jobs over the last 10 years, poverty remains a challenge.
Class, rather than race distinctions, limits the upward mobility of Brazil’s
poorer and frequently black population (blacks currently earn 40% less that
whites in the same profession).
Areas of Concern. The burning of the Amazon forests and the decimation of
the Indians of Brazil are of concern. Closing the gap between rich and poor
remains a problem. Violence by the police and other groups against street
children, indigenous peoples, homosexuals and common criminals is rarely
investigated.
Brazil statistics
Geography
Area: 3,285,670 square miles
Capital: Brasilia (pop 1,738,000)
Environmental concerns: deforestation; water and air pollution in cities; land
degradation; illegal wildlife trade
Geographical features: mostly flat to rolling lowlands in the north; some
plains, hills; mountains; narrow coastal belt
Climate: mostly tropical or semitropical; southern temperate zone
People.
184,101,109 people; white (55%); mixed (38%); black (6%)
Annual growth rate: 1.11%
Major languages: Portuguese; Spanish; English; French
Religions: nominal Roman Catholic (70%), other (30%)
Health and social issues
Life expectancy: Men, 67 years; women, 75 years
Infant mortality: 30.66 deaths per 1000 live births
22% of the population lives in poverty
1 physician per 681 people
HIV/AIDS rate in adults: 0.7%
86% of adults are literate
Compulsory education: ages 7-14; free
Communication and transportation
38,810,000 main telephone lines
14,300,000 Internet users
1,229,580 miles of highway
16,702 miles of railroad
3,277 airfields
18,030,000 motor vehicles
Government
Brazil is a federative republic that gained its independence from Portugal on
September 7, 1822.
President Luiz Inacio “Lula” Da Silva is both head of state and government
7 major political parties
Suffrage: voluntary from 16-19 and after 70; compulsory from 19 to 70
Military
Military expenditures are 2.1% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
Current disputes: boundary dispute with Uruguay
Economy
Currency: reals
Per capita income: $7,600
GDP: $ 1.38 trillion
GDP growth rate: 1%
Inflation rate: 9.3%
Labor force: (23%) agricultural; (24%) industry (53%) services
Resources and industry
Natural resources: bauxite; gold; iron ore; manganese; nickel; phosphates;
platinum; tin; uranium; petroleum; hydropower; timber
Agriculture: coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, citrus; beef
Industry: textiles; shoes; chemicals; cement; lumber; iron ore; tin; steel;
aircraft; motor vehicles; and parts; other machinery and equipment
Exports: $73.3 billion
Imports: $48.7 billion
Suggested web sites
www.brazilemb.org
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