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Brazil became an independent nation in 1822,
following three centuries under the rule of
Portugal. In 1957, Lucio Costa
presented his plan for the new capital of
Brazil called "Brazilia" which
later became its capital in 1960. The
name was derived from the brazilwood trees
that grew in the forests in the northern
part of South America. With a population of
169,799,170 it is the most populous country
in Latin America, and the leading economic
power in that region.
Deforestation in the Amazon Basin destroys
the habitat and endangers a multitude of
plant and animal species indigenous to the
area, producing a lucrative illegal wildlife
trade. AIDS is a big problem in that
country, resulting in lower life expectancy
and lower population and infant mortality.
Their ethnic group comprises of white
Europeans by 55%, Portuguese, German,
Italian, Spanish and Polish. 6% of their
population is Black and 1% includes
Japanese, Arab, and Amerindian. There
are 26 states, "estados" in the
country such as Acre, Amapa, Bahia, Distrito
Federal, Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Pernambuco,
Rio de Janeiro, Rondonia, Sao Paulo,
Tocatins, etc.
When we took a cruise our ship docked
in Rio de Janeiro, which has one of the most
beautiful harbors in the world, with its
huge statute of Christ with outstretched
arms atop Sugarloaf Mountain, overlooking
the sea. After shopping, we stopped for a
quick swim at the famous Copacabana Beach.
At night all lit up it is certainly a
magnificent sight with the city's sparkling
lights reflecting off the water and one of
my most memorable impressions.
Our ship also docked at Recife, Santos,
and Porto Alegre, where we bought enormous
straw hats made by the locals. The
night life at the discos is colorful, loud,
and very entertaining. Brazilians love
to dance their samba and bossa nova, and of
course, their Carnivals are legendary.
Unfortunately, Brazil has its problems like
everywhere else these days and the unruly
region at the convergence of
Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders is a
hotbed of money laundering, smuggling, arms
and illegal narcotics trafficking, and even
fundraising for extremist organizations.
There is a minor coca cultivation in the
Amazon region which is used for domestic
consumption and the government has embarked
upon a large-scale eradication program to
control cannabis. An important
transshipment area for Bolivia, Colombia and
Peruvian cocaine headed for Europe and the
USA, causes drug-related violence and significant
illicit financial activity in this
Tri-Border location.
In
speaking with Brazilians, here in Florida, I
am told that they have left their country
"because of its economic difficulties
with the overwhelming poverty and political
corruption." Brazil's economy
outweighs that of all other South American
countries, but the IMF has reinforced a
series of an inflation-targeting regime, a
tight fiscal policy, and a floating exchange
rate.
Green and yellow flags can be seen lining
US-I Highway around Broward County area as
Brazilians open supermarkets, auto agencies,
real estate offices, and pawn shops, as they
settle into a more moderate type of life.
But waiting in line is not part of their
culture as their hot-tempers and Latin
exuberance refuses to tame their impatience
to do things the "Anglo way."
One
of the adventures on my To Do Before I Die
List, is to travel by boat on the Amazon
river from Belem to Manaus, avoiding the
Peruvian border for safety reasons, but
certainly taking photos of the flora and
fauna, and taking a look at their gorgeous
orchids and parrots. For all its
social problems, Brazil is the loveliest
country for breathtaking scenery in all of
South America.
Alinka
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