Sesc SP

Agribusiness – The high performance of the industry concerned with the production and sale of farm products, mainly involving large companies, is due to the increasing mechanization of farm work. Besides increasing the farm production, that has given an impulse to the national agro machinery industry. This sector has been organizing several agro machinery and equipment fairs, which have caught the interest of both local and foreign buyers.

Organic farming – The concern about healthcare and the growing demand for healthier food have increased the production of organic farming products. Farmed according to the principles connected with the preservation of biodiversity and with no use of toxic substances, the organic food must be certified by accredited organic certification agencies for commercial purposes.

Regulatory agencies – The privatization of the sectors of infrastructure has made the country adopt measures such as the creation of regulatory agencies to act as intermediaries between the new owners and the society. The government finds it very difficult to tackle the excessive autonomy achieved by these agencies, and is trying to reduce it.

Environment – The oil exploitation off the Dende Coast, south region of the state of Bahia, has been causing serious damage to the economy of the local communities, which depends on the fish and tourism business to survive. The shortage of fish, formerly abundant in the area, and the oil platforms structures have raised strong protests from the fishermen organizations and tourism sector.

Citizenship – The government is deeply concerned about issues involving Brazilian youth. Several projects have been designed for the young aged 15 to 24, in order to help them get a job and achieve a educational and cultural development.

Press – The first Brazilian newspaper, the "Correio Braziliense", was founded in London by Hipolito Jose da Costa Pereira Furtado de Mendonca in 1808, and published in that city for fourteen years. Furtado de Mendonca’s influential writings contributed to the achievement of independence for Brazil in 1822. In spite of all interdicts from the Portuguese Crown, the newspaper met with great success in Brazil as well as in Portugal.

Brazil – Bastos, in the west region of the state of Sao Paulo, has already been considered the most Japanese town in the country. Earlier a Japanese settlement, today the town is recognized as the Egg Capital of Brazil, due to its huge production of 7.5 million eggs per day.

Popular culture – The popular religious festivities, with music and dances, play a major role in the rural communities’ life. A decrease in the number of jobs in the countryside has taken many people into the great cities, but they have not broken with their rural traditions, which, although adapted to the persons’ new situation, still are present in their lives.

Violence – An official report showed in 2003 high numbers on issues involving violence in Brazil. For instance: in a period of 20 years, from 1980 to 2000, 600,000 people were killed in the country, the rate of homicide having increased 130 per cent. Experts demand measures to be taken quickly, first of all being the governmental decision to elect the public security as a priority. The economic and social components, which generate violence, can only be dealt with in the medium and long run.

Economic recovery – The economist Jose Roberto Mendonca de Barros, former secretary of economic policy of the Ministry of Finance, from 1995 to 1998, has made a speech at the Federacao do Comercio do Estado de Sao Paulo. He has talked about the economic recovery in Brazil in 2004.