Brazil

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Federative Republic  of  Brazil     =**Political Information** =

Brazil is in South West America. It’s surrounded by many landforms. Its relative location is near the Amazon, the Brazilian Highlands, the Guiana Highlands and Pantanal. It is bordered to the north by Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. To the west it’s bordered by Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, and Paraguay. The south occupies Uruguay and Argentina. The Atlantic Ocean is to the East. It borders all South American countries except Chili and Ecuador. The absolute location is 10 degrees south and 55 degrees west. To get from Lancaster, Pennsylvania to Brasilia, Brazil it would be close to 4,266 miles in the South West direction. Brazil is the largest country in South America. It is a large, unbroken piece of land. Because of the Atlantic Ocean, it has a coastline of over 7,491 kilometers. It’s also the fifth largest country in the world after Russia, Canada, China, and the US and the third largest in the Americas. The total area is 8.5 million square kilometers. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">Brazil’s climate varies according to latitude and elevation. It has a wide range of weather conditions. Most of it is in the tropical zone and it stays wet all year around. Seasons change in the Northern Hemisphere so winter is June through September while summer is November through March. Summer ranges from 75-100 degrees Fahrenheit. It is usually warm summers and cold winters. The summer is rainy and the winter is dry. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">Some of the major physical features in Brazil are the Amazon Basin, the Atlantic Coast, the Guiana Highlands, the Paranaque Basin and the Brazilian Highlands. Rice, black beans, and a root like vegetable called maniocare the main foods for many Brazilians. The national dish is //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">feijoad, // (a thick stew of black beans and pieces of pork and other meats). They celebrate some of the same major holidays we do. They celebrate Christmas, New Years, Labor Day and Independence Day. The difference is that they celebrate Labor Day in May and Independence Day on September 7th. They also celebrate Children’s Day and All Souls Day. The major cities in Brazil are Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza, Manaus, and Brasilia which is also the capital.



=<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 21px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">**Human Rights** =

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: teal; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">There are many human rights issues that occur in Brazil today. Most of the violations that occur with different groups are with women, children, and colored people, generally not men as much. Violence against women and children include sexual abuse, trafficking, and the spread of child labor. Brazilian government fails to enforce labor laws. There is also discrimination and enslavement against colored people. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: teal; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">The government commits many crimes and is not prosecuted for corruption. Some of the problems reported are unlawful killings, torture, beatings and abuse. The government is not able to protect the witnesses involved in criminal cases. The people that are most affected by these human rights violation are women, children, minorities, and prisoners. Violence against people by government and police often gets ignored or covered up by authorities.

=<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 21px; line-height: 115%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">**Population Information** =

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">Current population- <span style="background-color: transparent; color: fuchsia; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: 0.75pt; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">203,429,773

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">Population density- <span style="background-color: transparent; color: fuchsia; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">22 people per sq. km.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">Age distribution- <span style="background-color: transparent; color: fuchsia; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: 0.75pt; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">0-14 years: <span style="background-color: transparent; color: fuchsia; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">26.2%, <span style="background-color: transparent; color: fuchsia; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: 0.75pt; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">15-64 years: <span style="background-color: transparent; color: fuchsia; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">67%, <span style="background-color: transparent; color: fuchsia; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: 0.75pt; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">65 years and over: <span style="background-color: transparent; color: fuchsia; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">6.7%

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">Natural Rate of Increase (NRI)- <span style="background-color: transparent; color: fuchsia; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">1.3

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">Literacy Rate- <span style="background-color: transparent; color: fuchsia; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">88.6%

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">Infant mortality rate (per 1000) - <span style="background-color: transparent; color: fuchsia; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">21.17 deaths

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">Life expectancy- <span style="background-color: transparent; color: fuchsia; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">72.53 years

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">Ethnic groups- <span style="background-color: transparent; color: fuchsia; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">white 53%, mixed black and white 38.5%, black 6.2%, other unspecified .7%

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">Main language- <span style="background-color: transparent; color: fuchsia; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">Portuguese

=<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 19px; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">**Economic Information** =

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">Currency and exchange rate against US dollar//<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">- // <span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">the real, 1 US dollar =1.60680 Brazilian Real

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">Natural resources- <span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">Iron Ore, Manganese, Bauxite, Nickel, Granite, Limestone, Clay, Sand, Tin, Gold, Platinum, Uranium, Gems, Petroleum, Phosphates, Timber, Hydroelectric Power

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">Agriculture products- <span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: 0.75pt; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, citrus; beef

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">Industries- <span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">Imports and Import Partners- <span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: 0.75pt; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">machinery, electrical and transport equipment, chemical products, oil, automotive parts, electronics

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: 0.75pt; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">US 16.12%, China 12.61%, Argentina 8.77%, Germany 7.65%, Japan 4.3%

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">Exports and export partners- <span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: 0.75pt; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">transport equipment, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee, autos

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: 0.75pt; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">China 12.49%, US 10.5%, Argentina 8.4%, Netherlands 5.39%, Germany 4.05%

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">GDP- <span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: 0.75pt; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">$2.194 trillion/ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: 0.75pt; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">GDP per capita- <span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: 0.75pt; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">$10,900

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">Unemployment rate- <span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: 0.75pt; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">7%

=<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 21px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">**Environmental Issues** =

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 19px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">One major environmental issue is deforestation in the Amazon Basin. It has been a problem for a long time, destroying the habitat and endangering multiple plants and animals. It also causes soils and vegetation of drylands to be severely degraded. Another problem is pollution and waste. Renegade miners are dumping mercury into rivers from Mercury Separation. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 19px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">Illegal wildlife trading ruining habitats is a big problem. Expansion of agriculture is also threatening rare habitats. These habitats are some of the most diverse ecosystems and are converted to forest growing plantations. Oil spills are also a problem. Water and air pollution are both effected by it.

=<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB','sans-serif'; font-size: 29px; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">Works cited =

“Brazil .” US Department of State . N.p., n.d. Web. 19 May 2011. <http://www.state.gov/‌r/‌pa/‌ei/‌bgn/‌35640.htm>.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -0.5in; vertical-align: auto;">“Brazil Environment-Current Issues.” //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">Index Mundi //. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2011. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -0.5in; vertical-align: auto;">//<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">Brazil Holidays //. Best Holidays in Brazil, n.d. Web. 4 May 2011. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -0.5in; vertical-align: auto;">“Brazil-Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette.” //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">Kwintessential //. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 May 2011. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -0.5in; vertical-align: auto;">//<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">Brazil-the Environment //. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 May 2011. <http://countrystudies.us/‌brazil/‌25.htm>. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -0.5in; vertical-align: auto;">//<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">CIA World Factbook //. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 May 2011. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -0.5in; vertical-align: auto;">“Climate in Brazil.” //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">El DMC //. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 May 2011. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -0.5in; vertical-align: auto;">Holiday, Jane. //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">The Library of Western Hemisphere //. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Print. Excerpt from Introduction. //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">Exploring Brazil with the 5 Themes of Geography //. By Jane Holiday. Ed. Geeta Sobha. New York: Rosen Publishing Group, 2005. 6-7. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -0.5in; vertical-align: auto;">“Major cities, Brazil, South America.” //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">Costasur //. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 May 2011. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">“Overview of Brazil.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">Federative Republic of Brazil <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 May 2011. <http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/‌economies/‌Americas/‌Brazil.html>