WhyBrasil

“São Paulo is almost beyond the imagination — a drizzle-shrouded megacity of almost 20 million that sprawls like Los Angeles and boasts enough skyscrapers to vie with New York. The gritty financial engine of the new Brazil, São Paulo exerts influence over commerce, media and culture. The Brazilian writer Roberto Pompeu de Toledo calls it an “urban labyrinth that reaches toward the infinite.” It might not have the palm-fringed glamour of Rio de Janeiro, but in the view of urbane Paulistanos, Brazil has only one truly global city: theirs.”

– Key – Brazil Makes Its Own Manhattan – NYTimes.com

“Brazil’s central bank has lowered its forecast for economic growth to less than half of last year’s, partly blaming the slowing global economy. The central bank lowered its prediction for growth in 2011 to 3.5%, from 4% that it expected in June. Brazil has boomed as other countries have stalled, growing 7.5% last year.”

– BBC News – Brazil central bank cuts 2011 growth forecast to 3.5%

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In just three days, “Rock in Rio” is set to begin. Learn more about this incredible cultural event:

“Rock in Rio is the biggest festival of music and entertainment of the world. Always ensuring the quality of attractions, the comfort of the public and an impeccable infrastructure, is an event made for all the tribes that drives the music industry, the tourism and the economy.

The idea comes from the Brazilian businessman Roberto Medina, which in January 1985 took place its first edition in transition from dictatorship to democracy: the Rock in Rio invited Brazil to celebrate the freedom.

In its nine editions, being three in Brazil (1985, 1991 and 2001), four in Portugal (2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010) and two in Spain (2008 and 2010), Rock in Rio gathered more than 5 million people, who applauded 656 bands live. There were more than 780 hours of broadcast music for more than 1 billion viewers in 80 countries.”

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Rock in Rio – Sobre o Festival

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In just three days, “Rock in Rio” is set to begin. Learn more about this incredible cultural event:

“Rock in Rio is the biggest festival of music and entertainment of the world. Always ensuring the quality of attractions, the comfort of the public and an impeccable infrastructure, is an event made for all the tribes that drives the music industry, the tourism and the economy.

The idea comes from the Brazilian businessman Roberto Medina, which in January 1985 took place its first edition in transition from dictatorship to democracy: the Rock in Rio invited Brazil to celebrate the freedom.

In its nine editions, being three in Brazil (1985, 1991 and 2001), four in Portugal (2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010) and two in Spain (2008 and 2010), Rock in Rio gathered more than 5 million people, who applauded 656 bands live. There were more than 780 hours of broadcast music for more than 1 billion viewers in 80 countries.”

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Rock in Rio – Sobre o Festival

Comparing Brazilian states with countries: Compare-cabana | The Economist:

THE notion that Brazil is in the vanguard of a group of emerging countries on their way to economic superpower-dom is so widely accepted as to have become trite. But how far along this road is Brazil? One way to get a quick answer is to compare Brazilian states with countries. The map below presents country equivalents for every state in terms of GDP, GDP per person and population. It throws up some curiosities: who knew that Alagoas, a state in the north-east that is currently more famous for its murder rate than for its magnificent beaches, has the same GDP per person as China? It also suggests that even the comparatively rich states in the south and south-east have some way to go before they can be compared with wealthy places in the northern hemisphere. The gauchos of Rio Grande do Sul will not necessarily be delighted to learn that GDP per person in their state is close to that of Gabon

Brazil’s Rising Star – 60 Minutes – CBS News:

“On recent events in Brazil: “That story has some echoes in Brazil, where an orgy of ministerial sackings has been in full swing. Since June, President Dilma Rousseff has fired her chief of staff, the minister of transport, dozens of officials at that ministry and the deputy minister of agriculture, all of whom have been subject to various allegations of misconduct. The minister of agriculture himself resigned. More than 30 officials at the tourism ministry, including the deputy minister, have been arrested on suspicion of theft. Again, this is not the first corruption scandal on such a scale—a former president, Fernando Collor de Mello, was impeached on corruption charges—and a big difference between Brazil and elsewhere is that the president seems to be leading the charge to clean things up. Still, this is easily Ms Rousseff’s biggest challenge since she took office eight months ago.”

– Politics in emerging markets: The new middle classes rise up | The Economist

“PBS special report: “In Brazil, Women’s Changing Roles, Attitudes Leading to Smaller Families””

– GloboTrends: International Trend analysis / Brazil demographics

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great blog from http://streetsmartbrazil.com/blog/20100518/forrobod%C3%B3 :

“Simple melodies, basic harmonies, driving rhythms and gloomy lyrics romanticizing the harsh sertão of Brazil’s northeast are the elements of this playful genre spread far in the late 1940’s by Luiz Gonzaga who composed “Asa Branca”.

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– FORROBODÓ – Meet the Band Forró in the Dark | StreetSmartBrazil

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great blog from http://streetsmartbrazil.com/blog/20100518/forrobod%C3%B3 :

“Simple melodies, basic harmonies, driving rhythms and gloomy lyrics romanticizing the harsh sertão of Brazil’s northeast are the elements of this playful genre spread far in the late 1940’s by Luiz Gonzaga who composed “Asa Branca”.

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– FORROBODÓ – Meet the Band Forró in the Dark | StreetSmartBrazil