Brazil and France sign military hardware deals

Chris Kraul-Los Angeles Times, 12/24/2008
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva says the transfer of French ‘technological know-how’ is a key element of contracts for 50 helicopters and five submarines, one of them nuclear-powered. France signed multibillion-dollar arms deals Tuesday to sell Brazil 50 military helicopters and five submarines, including one nuclear-powered vessel.
French President Nicolas [...]

Forest Plan in Brazil Bears the Traces of an Activist’s Vision

ALEXEI BARRIONUEVO-New York Times, 12/22/2008
Twenty years ago, a Brazilian environmental activist and rubber tapper was shot to death at his home in Acre State by ranchers opposed to his efforts to save the Amazon rain forest.
After his death at age 44, Francisco Alves Mendes, better known as Chico, became a martyr for a concept that [...]

Announcing Brazil Institute Public Policy Scholar

Renowned historian of Latin America and especially Brazil, Leslie Bethell joined the Brazil Institute on December 3rd as a Public Policy Scholar-in-residence to conduct research on “Brazil in the New Global Order.” A professor emeritus at the University of London, Bethell was previously director of the Center of Brazilian Studies at Oxford University. He presented [...]

Brazil congress OKs Venezuela in Mercosur

AFP, 12/18/2008
The lower house of Brazil’s congress has approved Venezuela’s entry into Mercosur, a key decision that could lead to that country’s membership in the South American trade bloc.
The Chamber of Deputies’ Web site says the legislative decree recommending Venezuela’s membership in Mercosur was approved late Wednesday night by a vote of 265 to 61.
The [...]

US rejects Castro dissident-prisoner exchange offer

AFP, 12/18/2008
Cuba’s offer Thursday to release jailed political dissidents in Cuba in exchange for five Cubans convicted of spying in the United States was rejected by the State Department and Cuban rights groups.
When asked in the Brazilian capital about Cuban political dissidents, President Raul Castro responded by proposing an exchange.
“Those prisoners that you talk about [...]

Brazil, Uruguay GDP Champions

Latin Business Chronicle, 12/18/2008
Brazil’s economy, Latin America’s largest, will likely end the year with an expansion of 5.9 percent, according to new estimates from the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). That will be its best performance in 14 years, according to a Latin Business Chronicle analysis of data from [...]

President of Brazil Unveils Plan to Upgrade Military in Effort to Be Global Power

Alexei Barrionuevo-The New York Times, 12/18/2008
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil unveiled a new national defense strategy on Thursday, calling for upgrading the military forces and remaking the defense industry. The plan also called for a debate in Brazil on whether mandatory military service should be enforced and how the armed forces should [...]

Brazil’s foreign policy – The samba beat, with missteps

The Economist, 12/18/2008
It may be the rising power in the Americas but Brazil is finding that diplomatic ambition can prompt resentment. The symbolism was clear. With the United States at the fag-end of a disastrous presidency, Brazil assembled 33 countries from across the Americas to discuss a host of issues ranging from defence [...]

BRIC Shoppers Can’t Hold Off World Recession: Alexandre Marinis

COMMENTARY:Alexandre Marinis-Bloomberg, 12/18/2008
Disregard what you may have heard about how consumers living in the big four emerging market countries — Brazil, Russia, India and China — will rescue the world’s developed nations from recession. That won’t happen. What’s more, their programs to spur domestic consumption are useless and may backfire.
The so-called BRIC group of nations [...]

Latam summit: New independence, end embargo

BRADLEY BROOKS-The Associated Press12/17/2008
Latin American and Caribbean leaders called for the creation of a regional union that would exclude the U.S. and oppose outside interference on Wednesday at a summit hailed as a historic expression of independence.
With 33 nations represented by heads of state or other top officials, it was the largest regional gathering of [...]