IndexIntroduction to BrazilPoliticsIndustryAgriculture and productsExportsResourcesRegional divisionThe North has several resource sites, from which the following materials are extracted:CommunicationsMediaEducationSocietyHealthPoliticsRegional wealthSocietyHealthEconomyHelpEducationCommunicationsMediaEnvironmentCrimeTourismConclusionIn this project I have collected, analyzed and evaluated evidence that helps me decide whether Brazil is a developed country or a developing country. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Introduction to Brazil Brazil is the largest and most influential country in South America with a population of approximately 176 million, which is larger than the combined total of the rest of the continent. Brazil occupies almost half of South America. The 6,448 km long Amazon River runs through northern Brazil and is the second largest in the world, while the Amazon basin is the largest river basin in the world. The river and more than a thousand tributaries drain an area of ​​6,150,000 km" and transport a fifth of the world's fresh water to the sea. In the northeast, Brazil has arid deserts with rolling grasslands in the south. The rainforest Amazon covers more than a third of Brazil and its exploitation has become a major environmental concern. Brazil is bordered to the east by the following countries: - French Guiana, Venezuela, Paraguay; Argentina and Uruguay 5° North and 30° South of the Equator, so it is possible to stand with one leg in the Northern Hemisphere and the other in the Southern Hemisphere North of Brazil with Macap and the mouths of the Amazon on its line The correct title of the Brazil is "The Federal Republic of Brazil" and its 26 states are administered from its capital, Bras, which was purpose-built and now has a population of 1 to 10 million people 17 million inhabitants. (See population map). The highest point in Brazil is Pico da Neblina which is 3,014 m (9,888 ft) above sea level. Brazil's main language is Portuguese and its main religion is Catholic Christianity. Brazilian society is a vibrant and diverse mix of cultures. The Brazilian part of the Amazon basin, which occupies half the country, has a model equatorial climate. The 150-200 cm of rain is distributed throughout the year, although some periods are rather rainier than others depending on the region. (See precipitation map) Temperatures are high, with almost no seasonal variations, but rarely exceed 38 (100). The Brazilian plateau, which occupies most of the rest of the country, has much greater temperature variations. Rain falls mainly between October and April. However, the Northeast, Brazil's least productive region, is very arid and has suffered from a severe drought in recent years, which has exacerbated its problems. (See precipitation map) Southern states have hot summers and cold winters, when frost can occur. The currency used in Brazil is the "Real". 1 real = 100 centavos. The average wage per capita per year is approximately .570. The following evidence I have collected describes how Brazil may have become a developed country. Economy Brazil has one of the world's leading economies and is now the ninth richest country in the world. the world. The economic reforms of the 1990s brought some stability to the country's finances. Reforms included privatization and the opening of its markets. During the 1960s and 1970s, GDP grew an average of 11% per year. At that time the country enjoyed massive industrial growth, butthen the Boom and Bust pattern occurred and Brazil went bankrupt! He became the world's largest debtor. The economy has undergone great diversification and industrialization, and today Brazil is a major producer of automobiles and computers. Indeed, the Brazilian automotive industry is hailed as the success of the decade. Economic reform, begun in 1990, allowed Brazil to reschedule its debts, but a sharp recession followed in 1990-1992. The launch of the new currency, the king, in 1994 was the fifth attempt at monetary stabilization since 1986. It contributed to the drastic reduction in inflation from about 50% per month in 1994 to about 80% per year in 1995 and less than 20%. % per annum in 1996. Economic growth of 5.7% in 1994 was the highest since 1986. This strengthened regional confidence and facilitated the launch of MERCOSUR, the common market with neighbors Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. In 1995, a fractious Congress blocked constitutional reforms of the tax and social security systems, but eventually agreed to end state monopolies in sectors such as telecommunications and oil, thus reviving the government's privatization program. Rio de Janeiro is a major city on the east coast and, although not the largest, was once the capital of Brazil. It was the area where the first Portuguese settlers (who always claimed to have discovered it) landed and immediately began cultivating the rich soil. At that time, there was all tropical forest in the area, but over many centuries it has been cut down and is now the political and economic heart of Brazil. Many people love the white sand beaches of Copacabana, overlooked by Sugarloaf Mountain. Many centuries Colonization, conflicts, slavery and massive immigration from Europe have made Brazil a country full of different races and cultures. Located halfway between Salvador to the north and Porto Alegre to the south, it occupies only 7.7% of Brazil's total. area, Rio De Janeiro supports over 30% of its population. Rio's annual carnival takes place over five days during which parades, balls, street dancing and samba and bossa nova music fill the streets. Brazil is also revered for its footballing prowess, having won the World Cup 5 times. The vast sugar cane plantations mean that alcohol production is huge and when oil became scarce and expensive in the early 1970s, many began to use industrial alcohol as fuel and then began building the vehicle. Politics Brazil is a democratic federal republic with 26 regional parliaments and a national congress. Brazil became independent from Portugal in 1822 giving the country the opportunity to develop to its full potential and the current borders were established. Women in Brazil have had the right to vote since 1934, and in 1993 Brazilians voted to keep directly elected presidents. In 1997 the constitution was amended to allow a president to run for re-election. Reformists want measures to curb tax evasion and in 1995 succeeded in ending state monopolies and allowing foreign investment in telecommunications, oil, mining and shipping. Many also want to see changes in the electoral system to curb the growing involvement of small parties in government. In October 2002, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, popularly known as Lula, won the election and became president. A former shoe shiner, he will head Brazil's first left-wing government for over 40 years. Upon taking office in January 2003, Lula promised to carry out major political and economic reforms and pledged to eradicate hunger. He also pledged to tackle corruption andBrazil's economic difficulties, to improve education and create 10 million jobs. He intends to rid Brazil of its reputation as the country with the largest gap between rich and poor in the world. He warned that this could take longer than his initial 4-year term. Plans to develop nuclear weapons have now been abandoned by the military. Industry Local industry is well developed, making Brazil dominant in the region. Major industries include: agriculture, mining, iron and steel, motor vehicles, oil and mineral refining, chemicals, pulp and paper, machinery, food processing, consumer goods, textiles, rubber processing and fertilizers. Brazil is one of the most important steel producers in the world and has large deposits of gold, silver and iron. Agriculture and Products Brazil has a huge, successful agricultural base and produces the largest quantities of coffee and soybeans in the world. It also has immense natural resources. It also produces cereals, cassava, sugar, oranges, cocoa, rice, cotton, tobacco, bananas, rubber, lumber, iron ore, bauxite, manganese, crude oil and natural gas, coal, chromium, nickel, tin, zinc, gold, Silver, diamonds, phosphates, salt, quartz crystal, beryllium, graphite, titanium, tungsten and asbestos. Exports The total value of exported products is 58.2 billion dollars. Brazil has previously built its wealth on coffee exports, but more recently on the export of sugar and that of its many other natural resources. Brazil is now one of the largest exporters of sugar and orange juice. Other exported products are sugar, machinery, animal feed, coffee, cocoa, iron ore, motor vehicles, soybeans and oil, oranges, iron and steel, chemicals and non-ferrous metals. Resources Under the army, Brazil commissioned several power plants from former West Germany. Power from these plants was more expensive than expected, but construction of the Angra-2 nuclear power plant was approved in 1996. Hydropower has been more successful, accounting for 90 percent of electricity production. An agreement to build a 2,200 km pipeline from Bolivian gas fields to Brazil's industrial south was signed in 1996 and put out to private tender. Ethanol is produced from sugar in an effort to reduce gasoline imports. In the agricultural sector, Brazil is the world's largest producer of coffee and the third largest producer of corn. The total amount of electricity generated is 251 billion kW/h. of this 93% is generated by hydroelectric energy and 6% by thermal energy. The total electrical capacity is 56.21 million kW. In the south, the forces of the Paran and Paraguay rivers have been harnessed to form the world's largest hydroelectric project, the Itaip Dam. Regional division Brazil can be divided into 5 regions (see regional map) North, North-East, Central West, South-East and South. The North has several resource sites, from which the following materials are extracted: Gold Bauxite Lead Copper Tin Iron Nickel Diamonds Common salt (sodium chloride) Oil But the north has no industries. This is due to the huge Amazon forest and the impossibility of building on it. In the Central West there is a similar amount of resources, which also includes zinc, limestone and quartz. As in the North, the Central West also has no major industries. In the South there are not as many resources as in the North and Central West, but there are many industries. Going back towards the South East there are many resources such as iron, nickel, oil, gold, quartz etc. and also several sectors including textile/garment sites, iron and steel and a shipbuilding site. Finally, in the northeast of Brazil there are many resource sites and sitesindustrial. These include bauxite, limestone, sea salt and oil refineries, mechanical engineering, textiles and clothing. Communications A vast road network is under construction to connect Brazil's major centers, and five river systems are being tapped for a total of 8,000 km (5,000 miles) of waterways. The antiquated railways are increasingly unreliable. The São Paulo subway is expanded to accommodate the city's rapidly expanding population. MediaBrazil is the largest exporter of TV programs. South America's largest media market is home to thousands of radio stations and hundreds of TV channels. The constitution guarantees freedom of the press, and vigorous media debate on controversial political and social issues is common. Media ownership is highly concentrated. "Globo" and "Abril" dominate the market and have interests in television and radio networks, newspapers and pay TV operations. EducationEducation follows the French system with a bachillerato (baccalauro) at the end of secondary education. Society Brazil has identified ecotourism as one of the main growth areas. The government is encouraging foreign investment in tourism facilities in the Amazon.HealthA free health service is available.This chapter includes evidence to suggest that Brazil may not yet be a developed country, but may still be developing.PoliticsDeficit reduction tax is a key objective. The government aims to drastically reduce overstaffing at all levels, reduce social security payments and address the problem of the high real level of interest rates. The 1988 constitution, which details promises for a better future, has proven unworkable in practice. The state cannot afford its commitments to social security, healthcare and pensions. The proliferation of local governments, designed to check federal power, has led to duplication of functions and is very costly. The impeachment of former President Collor de Mello for fraud in 1992 highlights the depth of Brazil's corruption problem. Many are now calling for an end to parliamentary immunity: under the current system, elected officials cannot be prosecuted unless they have been suspended from office by a two-thirds majority vote. The army, in power between 1964 and 1985, was responsible for human rights abuses, particularly against Amazonian Indians. His economic mismanagement has left Brazil with a legacy of huge debts and inefficient state industries. Regional wealth The government faces growing pressure to correct what some say is one of the most unequal distributions of wealth in the world. Much of the country's arable land is controlled by a handful of wealthy families, a situation the Landless Rural Workers' Movement (MST) seeks to remedy by calling for land redistribution. In his research he uses direct protest action and land occupation. Society Social conditions are harsh in the large cities of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, where a third of the population lives in favelas or slums. In the 1970s, a major campaign was launched to move settlers into the Amazon region. This caused considerable damage to large areas of the rainforest. The high rate of destruction of the Amazon by loggers and cattle ranchers remains controversial today. However, these government-sponsored migration programs have now been discontinued. Many people work in the fields for minimal pay, while some wealthy landowners benefit from the huge profits. Ownership of consumer goods is not high. Per 1,000 people: 278own a TV, 83 own a video recorder, 13 own a PC. Lack of money, health and education forces over 500,000 girls into prostitution. Many street children are killed by vigilante groups, who believe they are "cleaning the streets". 90% of these murders go unpunished. Amerindians suffer the prejudices of most other peoples of Brazil. Since 1900, 87 Amerindian groups have become extinct due to disease, starvation or forced occupation of their lands by miners, settlers and loggers. The Amerindian population today is estimated at only 220,000 inhabitants. Migrants from the poor Northeast face considerable discrimination in Brazil's largest cities. HealthBrazil's AIDS program has become a model for other developing countries, having succeeded in stabilizing HIV infection rates and reducing the number of AIDS-related deaths. However, it is a controversial program because it involves bypassing big pharmaceutical companies to produce generic AIDS drugs. There could be up to 2,000 HIV-positive street children. The main causes of death are heart disease, cancer, accidents and violence. There are 681 patients per doctor. Only 2.8% of GNP (Gross National Product) is spent on healthcare. The public health system is limited. Less than 20% of hospitals are state-run and private care is very expensive. The World Bank has criticized the underfunding of preventive healthcare. On average, only 15% of the health budget is allocated to child health, vaccinations and other prevention programs. Reported malaria cases tripled between 1980 and 1990; 90% are found in the Amazon, mainly in settler cities. Leprosy and parasitic skin infections are also becoming more common, often affecting settlers as well. Unfortunately, the construction of the Itaip Dam caused a series of waterfalls to drown in the created lake, thus creating a breeding ground for malaria-carrying mosquitoes. numerous plants that provide the basis for numerous valuable products, the most important of which are medicinal ones. The bark of the chinchona provides quinine to treat, for example, malaria. Other plants provide substances used in the fight against cancer. Brazil nuts are of course also famous all over the world. The constant plundering and attack of these natural resources is causing much damage. EconomyBrazil has a history of boom and bust, with its development attempts hampered in the past by high foreign debts. She had to be rescued in times of crisis. The total value of Brazil's debt amounts to a staggering $250 billion! ()The chaotic finances of states threaten national economic stability. Foreign investment is discouraged by corruption, the fragility of economic reforms and the preferences given to domestic companies in the sale of state-owned companies. Congressional opposition delays urgent tax and benefit reforms and privatizations. Savings and investment rates are about half those of major East Asian competitors. Despite enormous natural and economic resources, Brazil still has 32 million inhabitants living below the poverty line and has not begun to address the problem of homelessness and street children in Rio. , Sao Paulo and other large cities. An estimated one to five million families remain landless, while nearly 80% of agricultural land is owned by 10% of farmers. Brazil's vast wealth disparities have widened over the last decade. Relatively low levels of unemployment hide large-scale underemployment and the UN classifies above50% of the population as in poverty. The large number of poor rural migrants who move to cities live in favelas, or slums. Now favelas also appear in the countryside. Rich people like to drive European cars, vacation in Paris or ski in Switzerland, where most of them keep their money to avoid government audits and interference in their accounts. Brazil experienced an energy crisis in 2001. It is a country very dependent on water energy to fire hydroelectric power plants, so when droughts occurred so severe that reservoirs ran dry, they faced a severe catastrophe. At the time, hydroelectric plants and reservoirs produced more than 90 percent of the country's electricity supply, and the dry climate and unsafe infrastructure problems caused severe shortages. In 2002, they introduced some energy rationing, even declaring public holidays in an attempt to curb energy demand from large industries. This in turn has led to a more immediate need for an alternative fuel source and not keeping “all your eggs in one basket”, so to speak. They are currently importing oil from Venezuela and Argentina. Many large foreign companies have made serious bids for oil drilling and drilling rights in the rich off-shire reserves, 6,560 feet below the surface of the waters off Brazil's Atlantic coast. BP Amoco, for example, won a bid for an area located 186 miles from the mouth of the Amazon River. A second, third and fourth round of bidding was even more successful, with large investments in Brazil's oil reserves. AidBrazil's main aid donors are the United States and the EU. In 1996 the World Bank allocated 2 billion dollars for environmental, basic sanitation, road construction and anti-poverty projects. In addition to official aid, much of it comes from NGOs (non-governmental organizations) mainly for environmental and housing projects. EducationNot all children in Brazil are registered. Of those who are; 90% receive Primary education, 19% receive Secondary education and only 12% receive Tertiary education. The adult literacy rate is 84.9% of all registered people compared to 99% in the UK. State schools enjoyed a good reputation until the 1950s, but have since seen a decline. Most middle-class parents now send their children to private schools. The rich send theirs to Switzerland or France. Millions of poor people receive little education, especially those living in the Northeast and the Amazon, and the urban poor. Brazil's three million street children have no education. Public degree courses work on credit basis, as in the USA. Of the 95 Brazilian universities, 55 are administered by the state. The University of Sao Paulo is the most prestigious. Communications In Brazil, only 49 people out of 1,000 own a car and only 75 people out of 1,000 own a telephone. Media Although there is currently no official censorship, TV and radio operating licenses are granted as political favors and state advertising is so extensive that it cannot fail to influence editorial policy. Media ownership is also highly concentrated: 3 major corporations own 293 newspapers. There are 19 state television stations and 218 independent stations. There are 2000 independent radio stations, but only 1 is state-owned. Environment Federal agencies tasked with protecting the Amazon are underfunded, understaffed and accused of corruption. It is estimated that the Amazon rainforest contains 90% of the.