General Information: Area: 8,511,965 sq km (a little smaller than the US) Capital: Brasilia (2.1 Million People) Total Population: 177 Million Religion: 80% Roman Catholic; 20% Other Infant Mortality: about 3% Median Age: 27.81 Years Life Expectancy: about 63.5 years Per Capita GDP: $2,840 Exchange Rate: 2.89 Reals / Dollar Population below Poverty Line: 22% (’98) Unemployment Rate: 11.5% Literacy: 86.4% HIV/AIDS (Adults): .7% People living with HIV/AIDS: 660,000 Languages: Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French Alliances and Coalitions: Organization of American States, Inter-American Treaty of Reciprical Assistance, Latin American Integration Association, Mercosul, involved in the Peru-Ecuador peace process, United Nations, non-permanent member UN security Council, Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, nuclear safeguard agreement with IAEA, Missile Technology Control Regime Brazil ranks 7th among the world’s industrial powers
History: Brazil was colonized and ruled by Portugal until 1822 when the prince of Portugal declared Brazil’s independence and established himself as Emperor with the title of Dom Pedro I. The new empire would not last, however. During the rule of his son, Dom Pedro II, there was a military coup in which a federal republic was established. Between 1889 and 1930 the country was a Constitutional Democracy, but in 1930 another military coup brought Getulio Vargas to power as the dictator until 1945. Between 1945 and 1964 the country was once again relatively democratic, but in 1964 another military coup overthrew the existing government and progressed toward more democratic reforms which culminated in the writing of the 1988 constitution of Brazil.
People: The people of Brazil are among the most diverse groups in the world. In the 16th century, the Portuguese colonized what is now known as Brazil. Therefore, many people can trace to some sort of Portuguese heritage. In fact, most people (55%) in Brazil can be classified as of European descent. This group includes ancestries from Portugal, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Poland. When the Europeans came to South America, the native population was pretty well eradicated. Thus, even to this day fewer than 200,000 Amerindians remain in Brazil. During the colonial period, the Europeans also acquired many Africans as slaves to work on plantations and such. However, as has generally been the case in Brazil, this ethnic group then mixed with other ethnic groups. Today, 38% of the population is a mixture of European and African ethnicities, or mulatto. Only 6% are considered black. The remaining 1% is made up of ethnic groups such as Amerindians, Arabs, and Japanese.
Geography: Brazil is located in central South America and is about the size of the United States. It contains the vast majority of the Amazon Rainforest and river basin in the northern part of the country. The northeast coastline is semiarid. The southwest contains mountains, hills, and rolling plains. Brazil’s climate is mostly tropical or semitropical with a temperate zone in the south. Brazil boarders every country in South America except Ecuador and Chile.
Political System: The current government of Brazil is Federative Republic with a bicameral legislature and separation of powers. The sitting president is Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva a member of the left-leaning Workers’ Party elected in 2002. The president serves in four-year terms and is limited to two terms. The legislature is set up similarly to that of the United States with an upper house based on fixed and equal representation from all states and the federal district and a lower house based on proportional representation by population. This system is set up to favor geographically large but sparsely populated regions. Since there are 15 political parties, unlike the United States, several different parties must come together to form coalitions for common goals in order to accomplish anything. Overall the government of Brazil is fairly free and democratic. Corruption does not seem to run rampant as it may in neighboring countries. President Lula is Brazil’s first working class president and has made several important reforms in Brazil. Some of these reforms include raising the minimum wage, reform of the nation’s public sector pension system, and an overhaul of its tax system. In addition Lula has helped the Brazilian currency, the Real, to not only stabilize but recover by implementing several economic policies and has made slight progress on a “Zero Hunger” initiative that hopes to help the people of Brazil to have three meals a day.
Economic Issues: Although the nation is one of the wealthiest and best industrialized in the region, Brazil still has major economic problems but is showing signs of improvement. When President Lula was first elected in 2002 the Brazilian economy was not doing so well. The real had depreciated 35%, foreign investors had cut some of their investments, public debt was up to 63% of gross domestic product (GDP), and and many thought that Brazil might default on public debt like Argentina had. Because of all of this, the International Monetary Fund lent Brazil $30 billion. Since then, Brazil’s GDP has grown significantly, the real has stabilized and slightly improved, and interest rates, although high, have fallen. Unemployment is still high at 11.5% and the minimum wage is still very low at 240 Reals per month (about $83).Although there are still some problems with the Brazilian economy, the progress the country has made over the last couple of years shows great promise for the future. The economy is very well diversified. Today, as with most major industrialized countries, the economy is primarily a service oriented economy. However Brazil has not abandoned its agricultural roots. Today Brazil is the global leader in both coffee and orange juice concentrate. In addition, Brazil has one of the most advanced industrial sectors in Latin America.
Health: The major health issue in Brazil, like many other places, is the AIDS epidemic. This epidemic has taken its greatest toll on the lower class. The middle and upper classes tend to have access to healthcare and hospitals of comparable quality to that of the United States. However, the poor of Brazil generally do not have enough money at their disposal to receive quality healthcare. In addition, the desperate actions of the impoverished such as prostitution and escape through drug use often put them at higher risk for such things as AIDS. Since these people cannot afford healthcare, often when they are sick they do not go to get treated and end up spreading the virus to many other people thus perpetuating the epidemic. In response to this the Methodist Church in Brazil has set up clinics, dental care programs, and classes to teach natural medicine to offset the dilemma of needing money to receive medical treatment. In addition, the church has also created the Semeador Project for the Disabled to assist handicapped citizens.
Celebrations
Carnival - Brazilian equivalent of Mardi Gras. The name means “farewell to flesh” It is a celebration that occurs before Lent as a last party before Lent. Rio de Janero hosts the biggest Carnival. The Carnival is most famous for its parade of the Samba schools. Sambodromo is the street where the Samba school parade takes place. The Samba schools are dance schools teaching the famous Brazilian dance of the “Samba”- which originated in the Brazilian province of Bahia from African dance rituals. The Samba schools are mainly composed of poor people who all dress in elaborate and brightly colored costumes for the competition. With their elaborate floats and accompanying songs, the Samba schools dance in the streets, flaunting their talent for all to see. People from all over Brazil, rich and poor, gather to dance and celebrate for days.
Christmas - One Christmas tradition is for families to construct a nativity scene, or a Presépio. Papai Noel is the gift-bringer (the Brazilian Santa Claus). According to legend, he lives in Greenland. When he arrives in Brazil, he usually wears silk clothing due to the summer heat. A huge Christmas dinner includes turkey, ham, colored rice, and wonderful vegetables and fruit dishes. Brazilians attend a midnight church service on Christmas Eve. After the dinner called Ceia de Natal they either sleep or go to the beach. Real flowers are used as decorations, and fireworks are shot off all through Christmas night. Three Kings Day (January 6th) is also celebrated with dancing and singing. January 6th is supposed to be the day when the Three Kings reached Jesus.
Easter - Since the 1950s, villages have preformed passion plays on Easter, which thousands turn out to see. Carnival plays a big role in the festivities leading up to Easter. Holy Week in Brazil begins with the blessing of the palm branches, which are woven in intricate patterns representing crosses, banners, letters, and other related objects. Streets are decorated with colored patterns drawn on the road surface over which a procession walks, carrying statues of Mary and the body of Christ. A special food called pacoca, is prepared by mixing together crushed nuts and other ingredients into a paste, which is given to visitors. On Easter Saturday, Carnival makes a brief reappearance with a Hangover Ball to celebrate the hanging of Judas.
