NEWS FROM BRAZIL
Brazil Weekly
Brazil Political News
In Brazil on June 2, 2011 at 9:02 pm
POLITICS
The political wounding of Antonio Palocci, the president’s right-hand man, comes at an awkward time, when the battle to cool the economy has only just begun (The Economist).
The Senate intends to debate for four months the new Forest Code bill, approved by the House of Representatives. To do so, the government leader senator Romero Jucá (PMDB-RR), intends to forward to president Dilma Rousseff a request to extend the Decree 7.029/2009, which orders the punishment of rural producers responsible for illegal deforestation as of June 11, 2011. The decree’s extension is to give time to senators debate and amend the bill (Senado Federal).
President Dilma Rousseff launched an ambitious plan to eliminate dire poverty in Brazilwithin four years by lifting more than 16 million people from conditions of “misery.” The “Brazil Without Misery” program is the signature policy of the former leftist guerrilla’s first term, her advisers said, fulfilling one of the key promises she made in her campaign for the presidency last year (Reuters).
The key political risks to watch in Brazil according to Reuters can be found here.
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INTERNATIONAL
Argentine Industry Minister, Debora Giorgi, and her Brazilian counterpart Fernando Pimentel met in Brasilia in order to discuss a possible solution for the trade conflict currently affecting Brazil and Argentina (Mercopress).
French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde pledged to push reforms to give Brazil and other emerging economies more influence at the International Monetary Fund as she kicked off a worldwide tour on Monday to win support for her candidacy to lead the global lender (Reuters).
The Chinese government is lobbying countries in Africa to reject a proposal by Brazil, India, Germany and Japan to expand the United Nations Security Council, Valor Economico newspaper reported (Bloomberg).
DEFENSE & SECURITY
Strengthening security on Brazilian borders and, at the same time, promoting populations’ development in the area: this is the challenge to be faced by the country, according to representatives of the Brazilian Armed Forces, the Federal Police and the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (Abin) heard in a debate at the Permanent Subcommittee on the Amazon and the Border-Strip, subdue to the Committee on External Relations and National Defense (Senado Federal).
Defense Minister Nelson Jobim extended his gratitude to Brazilian soldiers participating UN peacekeeping missions overseas. Jobim made the remarks in a message to celebrate the ninth International Day of UN Peacekeepers on May 29. The minister is now attending a meeting of defense chiefs from the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) in Argentina (Xinhua).
Brazil Economic News
In Brazil on June 2, 2011 at 9:02 pm
ECONOMY
A country once known for its macroeconomic incompetence has maintained an enviable stability, deftly navigating the 2008 financial crisis as well as the more recent influx of foreign capital. Not surprisingly, perhaps, many of Brazil’s economic officials now have an air of smugness about them, as they argue that the rest of the world has more to learn from Brazil than vice versa. The timing of such complacency could not be worse (The Economist).
Brazilian exports grew at twice the rate of imports in May, giving the country its strongest trade surplus yet for the year (Reuters).
The Brazilian economy will keep growing above the global average in coming years thanks to its solid fiscal position and efforts to keep inflation under control, Finance Minister Guido Mantega said (Reuters).
Brazil’s consumer prices will rise 5.04 percent over the next 12 months, compared with a week- earlier forecast of 5.11 percent, according to the median forecast in a May 27 central bank survey of about 100 economists (Bloomberg).
AVIATION
Embraer is pleased to welcome Bulgaria Air to its portfolio of E-Jets customers. The airline, a member of the Bulgarian Aviation Group, will operate three EMBRAER 190 jets from Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital, under a new agreement with a leasing company (Embraer).
Brazil plans to form public-private consortiums to revamp three of the country’s main airports as part of a broader effort to speed up preparations for the 2014 soccer World Cup, the government said (Reuters).
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BANKING
Banco do Brasil, Latin America’s largest bank by assets, won a tender to provide banking services at the agencies of Brazil’s state-owned postal service for 2.8 billion reais ($1.78 billion) (Reuters).
OIL & GAS
Petrobras is expanding its borders at sea with the deployment of self-sustaining platforms located far offshore which have been dubbed ‘floating cities’ (The Rio Times).
TRANSPORT
President Dilma Rousseff demanded local governments build more bicycle lanes in the country. In her weekly radio show, Rousseff commented on the program Path to School, which delivered 30,000 bicycles and helmets to public school students from 81 municipalities, who live in distant regions and have to walk long distances to go to class (Xinhua).
Brazil Regional News
In Brazil on June 2, 2011 at 9:01 pm
PROJECT OF THE WEEK
Render of the Jewish Museum for Sao Paulo (Skyscrapercity).
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AMAZON
Amazonian environmentalists who receive death threats will be protected by the government, and if necessary, receive protection from the national armed forces. That was the decision of an emergency meeting in Brasilia between members of the cabinet, prompted by the recent spate of assassinations of four Amazonian activists (The Rio Times).
The Dutch dredging company Van Oord has won a trade award for completing a unique project in the Amazon. Van Oord has completed its first so-called ‘subsea rock installation’ on two gas pipelines for Brazilian oil and gas company Petrobras. Van Oord has been active in Brazil since 1985 with offshore, dredging and marine activities, but this is the first gas pipeline project which transports gas from the onshore Solimões basin to the city of Manaus (The Rio Times).
BAHIA
Sitting on the soft white sand, shaded by gently swaying palm trees, the warm sea stretches out invitingly ahead. It is possible to walk thirty meters out into the clean water and still be just waist deep. Tropical fish frolic amongst the coral which reveals itself at low tide. It is a miracle anyone ever returns to the mainland from Tinharé (The Rio Times).
RIO
According to the state Secretary for Sport and Leisure, Márcia Lins, who spoke to The Rio Times recently, Rio will be safe for visitors during the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics. As concerns grow about the impact of the events on Rio’s poor communities, the biggest challenge and the most important legacy will be to ensure that improvements to the city continue after the sporting events (The Rio Times).
Prestigious in location, Gávea, which translates to “topsail” in Portuguese, sits within the golden circle of the Zona Sul (South Zone). The area has a much lower ratio of foreigners then the beach-front boroughs or Santa Teresa, adding to the charm for many. Flanked by Leblon, Lagoa, Jardim Botanico and São Conrado, this neighborhood has established itself a popular residential spot with lots to offer both its inhabitants and visitors (The Rio Times).
SAO PAULO
The World Bank and 40 cities from around the world joined forces in Sao Paulo with a pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The bank reached the agreement with the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, a coalition founded in 2005 with the aim of reducing carbon emissions. Its chairman is New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg (Washington Post).
