Floods in Brazil Leave 300k + Homeless
Region: Brazil
At least 40 people have died and the number of homeless is now above 308,000 in the worst flooding in northern Brazil in at least two decades, taking Rio Negro, one of the Amazon Forest’s rivers near to its highest level in more than 50 years. Government aid delivered mainly though the military is starting to arrive as water levels decreases. In northeastern state of Maranhão, some roads were reopened and... more
Views: 1736Brazil’s GDP growth may be 0% in 2009
Region: Brazil
During an interview this May 14th, Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Matega admitted for the first time that the GDP growth may be 0%. According to him, due to the volatility faced by the Brazilian economy and abroad it is hard to predict this year gross domestic product (GDP) outcome, although he reminded that he’s projections have been accurate for the past three year. The minister seems to be more cautious ab... more
Views: 1623Brazil's Biggest Importer? China
Region: Brazil
Numbers from March and April exports shows a historic change in the Brazilian economy, pointing out China as the Brazilian top trading partner. The sum of Brazil's exports and imports with China reached $3.2 billion in April, over the $2.8 billion in its trade with the U. S. April exports compared to the same month a year ago have increased 76.4% according to Development, Industry and Foreign Trade Ministry. ... more
Views: 1613Amid Brazil's Flood, Bloggers Form Solidarity Networks
Region: Brazil
by Paula Góes There have been three months of intermittent rain in Santa Catarina and there are now nearly 79,000 displaced people and 110 deaths. Of a population of 5.9 million, 1.5 million people have been directly or indirectly affected by the floods. There are 12 cities in a state of emergency. The rain is expected to continue over the coming week, which not only hinders relief and rescue operations in area... more
Views: 2558In Brazil, National Park Under Threat from Illegal Fires
Region: Brazil
by Paula Góes For over a month, the Chapada Diamantina National Park, in Bahia, has been burning relentlessly. According to Brazil's environmental agency, 50 percent of the national park's 1,520 km² have burned, which represents 75,000 hectares of forest (roughly the size of New York City). Nearly 500 people - firefighters and volunteers - are battling the blazes, caused by illegal fires supposedly started... more
Views: 1906Brazilian Blogger Discusses the Olympics, War and Elections
Region: Brazil
Posted by It could not have been any different; the Olympics, war and elections were the dominating keywords of the week in the Brazilian blogosphere, with many bloggers commenting on the games in Beijing and the achievements of Brazilian athletes, while others were more worried about the Russian-Georgian conflict, not forgetting, every now and then, to give consideration to the upcoming local elections in the count... more
Views: 2912Greenlight for Controversial Brazilian Nuclear Deal
Region: Brazil
Posted by Paula Góes to Global Voices Online Controversial Angra 3 reactor for Brazil's Nuclear Power Plant was given a pre-licence [pt] by the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) last July 23, not before a series of environmental terms were imposed by Environment Minister Carlos Minc - 60 all together ranging from permanent solutions for waste treatment, monitoring of rad... more
Views: 1810Brazilian Bloggers Unearth Senate Ad Web Corruption
Region: Brazil
Posted by Paula Góes to Global Voices Online The little banner at the top right corner of the paraiba.com.br website costs the taxpayers of Brazil US$ 30,084.61 per month. According to the contract, this is for the “Provision of a promotional banner branded by the Senate with a direct link to its web page at www.paraiba.com.br over twelve (12) consecutive months.” The scoop came from the Contradi... more
Views: 1765'Rent A Blog' Debate Heats Brazilian Blogosphere
Region: Brazil
Posted by Paula Góes to Global Voices Online The highly sensitive Brazilian blogosphere is fizzing after a famous brand of beverage decided to invest in blogs as the main vehicle to market its latest product. Nine prominent bloggers were cherry picked and received a fancy USB mini fridge with a new product to be tested - and obviously to be blogged about. Soon blogs [pt] and the twittorsphere [pt] were happ... more
Views: 2073In Brazil, Novel Seems to Predict Obama
Region: Brazil
Posted by Jose Murilo Junior for Global Voices Online The sweeping Obama phenomenon has caught Brazil, and it comes as no surprise in the country with the world's largest population of African descendants. Blogs are commenting on all things Obama, from his stand on ethanol to the ‘rumors‘ of his appraisal of Brazil's free software policies. An especially notable thread is the one reporting on the resurgenc... more
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