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Summary
Economy – Though devoid of natural beauties, the city of São Paulo attracts ever more tourists, who come to the city to attend congresses, close business deals or simply go shopping. Indeed, when it comes to the holding of events, the city is unrivalled in South America.
Environment – The adoption of an ecologic state-VAT – financial outlays to municipalities with conservation units, protected areas or water sources used in public water supply – has become a trend in Brazil since 1991. This and other initiatives have stimulated environmental preservation.
Urbanism – With nearly 4% of its population living in slums, Brazil is investing in urbanizing such areas. In the opinion of the slum-dwellers themselves, however, the greatest difficulty lies in overcoming the stigma that associates them with violence.
Entrepreneurism – The social business, a venture whose main target is not profit but, rather, financial self-sustainability, is increasingly more common in Brazil. Today, growing without losing sight of the original goal has been the main challenge for these initiatives.
Land issue – In Brazil’s Northeastern Region, communities known as "fundo de pasto" (back pasture) collectively raise in the dry caatinga herds of free-ranging cattle and goats. Over the last years, however, environmental degradation and the fences that isolate the farms have threatened the continuity of this type of animal husbandry technique.
Folklore – To contrast the Saci, a myth of rural Brazil for more than two centuries, with Halloween, a celebration that came from the United States in the 1960s in the backpacks of English courses, is an initiative that is gaining more and more followers in Brazil.
Farming – The world’s second largest banana producer, Brazil suffers with the threat posed by fungus Mycosphaerella fijiensis, which causes a disease that destroys the plant’s young leaves and compromises production. The main strategy adopted by agronomists and technicians is the development of more resistant varieties.
Ecology – Along Brazil’s 8,000-kilometer coastline, protected maritime areas are insufficient to prevent impact on several species, some of them already endangered. In light of that, the government is studying the possibility of increasing the number of marine conservation units and improving oversight in the already existing ones.
Natural history – Two hundred years ago was born British naturalist Charles Darwin, who half a century later would publish The Origin of Species, a work that revolutionized the world.
History – On 10 July 1999 in Mexico died Francisco Julião, the lawyer who became a symbol of the struggle for land reform in Brazil.
Religiosity – In April this year, in Aparecida, the city that boasts the title of the Brazilian capital of faith, was held the hundredth edition of the Saint Benedict Feast Day. This folk religious festival also has a profane nature, expressed in songs and dances performed by groups coming from many different parts of Brazil.
Profile – Journalist and writer Xico Sá is a constant presence in the media. The author of chronicles published weekly, Xico Sá is on a TV sports program, in bit parts of Brazil’s recent movie production, in addition to having been, in the 1990s, a composer for the Mangue Beat movement.
Article – Manuel Henrique Farias Ramos signs a text in which he warns against neo-Nazi movements, which tend to appear on the wake of economic-financial crises as the one that struck the world in 2008. In his opinion, we cannot allow such ideas to gain strength.
International relations – As the Year of France in Brazil, 2009 has witnessed several commemorative events since the month of April. This is an opportunity to review the strong historical contribution of France to the arts and culture of Brazilians.
Thematic panel – A renowned writer, doctor Moacyr Scliar is the author of 80 books published in Brazil and abroad. A specialist in public health, he spoke to the Fecomercio, Sesc and Senac Council of Economics, Sociology and Politics on medicine and literature. In his opinion, medical doctors have difficulty communicating with their patients or understanding them, and he suggests the use of communication techniques that focus on the sick rather than on the sickness.