Brasil Observer #22 - English Version by Brasil Observer

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B R A S I L O B S E R V E R NOVEMBER

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ISSN 2055-4826

# 0 0 2 2 Leticia Faddul

L A B O GL E V I T C E P S R E P EXCLUSIVE: Ambassador Roberto Jaguaribe discusses Brazil’s new position in the world

Cadu Gomes

Divulgation

DILMA ROUSSEFF RE-ELECTED The challenges facing the president in the second term

WORLD TRAVEL MARKET Brazil’s best holiday experiences showcased in London

LL R

E D I T O R I A L

Four more years to come

Let’s be clear about the victory of Dilma Rousseff in Brazil’s presidential election. The result of the ballot is emblematic because, despite the feeling of change absorbed by a significant portion of the electorate who are hungry for change, the majority of Brazilians preferred to once again trust in the advances proposed by the Brazilian progressive forces represented by the Workers Party (PT). Proposals that, if analysed from the perspective of a Neo-Developmentalism model, programmatically committed to economic growth and income redistribution, indicate the overcoming of the neoliberal scheme guided almost exclusively by antidotes touted by the financial market and the interests of more developed economies. It is not a small thing. Facing an external environment of low growth that embraces the theme of austerity and cuts to welfare, this reflects among other things, the strengthening of an isolationist extreme right view, as seen in the UK with the rise of UKIP. Instead the PT’s fourth victory confirms the possibility of building new growth not only in Brazil but throughout Latin America. With Rousseff, the country will be far better placed to build true social democracy and face the greatest and most urgent national challenge: reducing the inequality that keeps the privileges and sustain the same unfair structures like those between the plantation houses and slave quarters. There is, however, no room for illusions. Over the next four years,

in order not to suffer the disastrous consequences that a politically divided country can provide, Dilma Rousseff will have to fulfil the promises backed by those who voted for her and balance this with advancing the demands of those who did not give her the vote. This will require a focus on two key issues: the reform of the political system and the direction towards the crossing way to a new cycle of economic development. This will not be an easy task. Political reform depends primarily on the dialogue that the government can engage in with the National Congress. If the federal deputies do not support a major role of the population in national decisions, how can we believe that they will change the rules of the game and listen to those who gave them the condition to be the people’s representatives? This is the first equation to be solved. During the campaign, Rousseff advocated for a plebiscite to create a constituent assembly to reform the political system. She had already expressed this during the demonstrations last year, when Brazilians took to the streets to demand, among other things, greater participation in the direction of the country. That’s what we see not only in Brazil but worldwide. There is a growing demand for direct participation, but not through traditional ways. It is clear that parties should not be demonised, after all without parties, what remains is the authoritarianism, but the legitimacy of public engagement

cannot be rejected as well. So who’s really afraid of public participation? Surely those who are not interested in the democratic development of the country. And this development will come, for example, with the end of private funding of political campaigns - which is one of the key points of the reform advocated by Rousseff. Such a point is defended even by those who have a more conservative view. After all, companies do not vote, and from the moment that they directly influence the election by financing candidates and requiring counterparts, misrepresent the system that has its roots in the concept of “one person, one vote”. If Rousseff get it approved, Brazil will be able to have an unprecedented advance. In the economic area - where international interest is much higher - the challenges are problematic because they represent a risk for the government to adopt the program defeated at the polls and thus lose credibility. Rousseff used the campaign to say that her opponents would increase the interest rates - what would be a risk to the country. But to the surprise of the market itself, the Central Bank decided to raise interest rates in the last week of October. Moreover, before the close of this edition, came the news that the government was preparing a package to reduce public spending – a possibility that Rousseff had criticised during the campaign. These are just examples. Regardless of these, the federal govern-

ment needs to find a way to balance the public accounts deficit and reduce inflation without undermining investment and growth itself that is already at low levels. The exemptions for entrepreneurs held by Dilma under the Greater Brazil Plan were not enough to raise private investment that could be more encouraged if public investment increases, improving infrastructure and rising demand. Even if the government sees this issue as contradictory, it is unwise to see foreign investments as a threat. It is necessary to expand even more the dialogue with those who understand the Brazilian process of development, those who understand that an internal market heated with jobs, higher wages and social achievements is the inseparable counterpart of sales, profits and investment. The defense of development, competence and national competitiveness is at the centre of the winning project in the polls.

ON TIME Brasil Observer celebrates it’s first birthday this month and to commemorate we have developed some changes that can be seen in this new edition - with more pages, new sections and free contributors, plus a new design. Thus, we reaffirm our commitment to bring readers a quality journalistic product with critical discernment and truth. Thank you to all our readers and contributors to make this possible and for your continued support. Thank you!

brasilobserver.co.uk | November 2014

GUEST COLUMNIST

The Answer is Blowing in the Wind I am convinced that journalists know nothing. Or, to be more generous, much less than we think we know By Tiago Lobo

brasilobserver.co.uk | November 2014

Tiago Lobo is a freelance journalist, editor of Pensamento magazine

I have a thousand words to tell you a story. And so far, you can see, I have already spent twenty and taken me three minutes which is about half the average time, it takes me to smoke a cigarette, or finish a glass of Whiskey. Sometimes writing comes quickly, it’s simple, sometimes automatic. But the thought and deciding on how to tell a good story can often take longer than the writing itself. Journalism is a kind of “literature done with haste”, and thus has a nasty habit of yielding to industrial pressures, becoming cold and ephemeral. So fleeting as a sheet unnoticed floating in the wind. When this happens it ceases to tell a story and the reader is offered a bureaucratic report instead. The writer ceases to perceive the beauty, and subtleties of life. And the leaf is shed, lifeless, in a poetic flight facing death. The tree, which sacrifices its beauty for the sake of survival, because it needs to save energy, could offer its poetry to add much needed reality to a report on sustainability, as a perfect analogy about the biggest concern of humans in the 21st century. And if anyone has doubts about this, just search the text of American journalist Joseph Mitchell, who decided to tell the story of a woodpecker hammering the trunk of a tree. The reporting from Mitchell became a classic piece of journalism, immortalised in the pages of the New Yorker magazine. It’s the thought and the time devoted that enables a journalist to break the barriers of this literature made in a hurry. To escape the pressure of time and space, and create a piece of journalism in its essence and guarantee the permanence of the story. This whole process is guided by a human urge to tell and share facts about history. When you talk about journalism today, people think of the immediate consumption of 24 hour news. A diet of chaotic fast food of badly verified, staggered and frivolous information. Here, I am obliged, to remember Spyros Makridakis, a management guru who has a lot to say to the media. In one of his texts, he argues that our culture accepts certain statements as

true, even though they may not be. According to Makridakis, from an empirical perspective, the information available in general is redundant and provides little additional value. If we analyse Brazilian journalism, you can see Makridakis’ view in action. It’s surprisingly easy to imagine the major daily newspaper in the country becoming the same vehicle, in terms of content. After all, the headlines are the same, the same news stories are recycled and are treated equally. So, I ask, is your time better spent consuming various reports made in a hurry or focusing on stories that will explain to you with analysis and depth, the facts that interest you? Too often journalists project a view of knowing about a subject without really understanding it. They think know and they will die believing that they understand what readers want to read. Some have decided that you do not want to read. Giving rise to the latest fad for infographics, colours, pictures that do have the same dimension and data, such as well researched reports, analysis and viewpoints that transform human life in frigid statistics. I am convinced that we journalists know nothing. Or, being generous, much less than we think we know. Perhaps, in this disguised arrogance, journalism lives it’s most intense autumn. Journalists in their refrigerated offices are blind to the poetry of life and reproduce the dullness of their digital office atmosphere. Try to translate them through electrical pulses and binary codes. Living perched on the phone and with eyes glued to the computer - their window to artificial human life. May be why extreme themes like murder, poverty, corruption, disasters and life in society are taken as banal clichés. The individuality of the facts and human nature will always find a gust of wind to navigate the world. It’s up to journalists to pay more attention and to go back to great story telling, just like the Argentine writer Mempo Giardineli said: “people never cease to be interested in stories well told.”

brasilobserver.co.uk | November 2014

IN FOCUS

Brazil is not becoming a Venezuela or an Argentina. The PT (Workers Party) is not a socialist party; it is actually a social democrat and probusiness one

MEETING BRAZILIAN COMPANIES IN THE UK Event organised by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) in late October in London brought together Brazilian companies that are already or intend to settle in the UK, as well as other companies with interests in Brazil. The event, Meet Brazil in the UK, was co-organised by the HM Consul General São Paulo and Director of UKTI Brazil, Richard Tuner, and the Inward Investment Manager of the UKTI Brazil, Raquel Kibrit, and aimed to create links to the exchange of experiences and new business opportunities. As the unique representative of Brazilian media produced in the UK, Brasil Observer had the chance to meet interesting Brazilian initiatives that seek to internationalise their business in London. One of the highlights was the platform Bliive, a collaborative network for time exchange. The director Ana Beatriz Schwanck Fernandes and the developer Fernando Gielow, who are based in Glasgow, Scotland, and presented the concept to the London audience. The operation is quite simple: first, the network user provides a experience, for example, a guitar lesson for one hour; for the hour offered, you get a TimeMoney, currency exchange created by the network; later, TimeMoney can be

exchanged for what the user wants. The initiative was awarded funding from the Sirius Programme, which offers opportunities for entrepreneurs around the world establishing their business in the UK. Among the companies which are not in the UK, but want to be join the British market, Brasil Observer could met Multi Farmas, an online price comparison of medicines and drugs between pharmacies currently operating in Brazil. The founder Carlos Matos, who was in London for the first time, said he had already undertaken feasibility studies, but that would only know for sure after better understand the “ground”, which he hoped would happen during Innovate UK (another UKTI event) , at the beginning of November. Another Brazilian company looking to reach UK is Sankhya, represented by the product manager Lucas Menezes. Based in Uberlândia, in the State of Minas Gerais, the company offers solutions in business management using information technology. There were other Brazilian companies looking to establish themselves including Qualitin, HUB, Nabas Legal and Asc Accountants, who were hopeful at the prospects discussed at the event.

AGENDA g

11 November A seminar organised by King’s Brazil Institute, at which Dr. Jewellord Nem Singh, from the University of Sheffield, will examine how states build developmental capacities in the context of economic globalisation, specifically in two distinctive contexts, Brazil and Chile.

13 November The Embassy of Brazil in the UK organises the fourth Brazil-UK Oil & Gas Meeting, the largest and most important Brazilian oil and gas event in Europe. It aims to promote business opportunities in the Brazilian oil and gas sector and will be attended by some of the sector’s most important officials and institutions.

14 November Organised under the auspices of the London School of Economics and UNESCO, this international seminar brings together multiple voices from Brazil and the UK to discuss how ground level experiences of social development intersect with governments and policy-makers in shaping processes of policy design and implementation.

19 November A panel from the Brazilian Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain will discuss what the result of the Brazil’s presidential election means for UK law firms and their clients with commentary on the new government, policies and an outlook for the next four years.

25 November King’s Brazil Institute receives Simone Maria Hüning, PhD in Psychology and a professor and researcher at Universidade Federal de Alagoas (UFAL), Brazil. In recent years Simone has been conducting research on Social Psychology, on themes related to the biopolitical government of life in urban spaces.

Anthony Pereira, director of King’s Brazil Institute, during a debate promoted by Canning House during Brazil’s presidential election

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brasilobserver.co.uk | November 2014

PROFILE

The way Daniel Ribeiro looks Director of the film ‘The Way He Looks’, speaks about the discovery of sexuality in adolescence, the progress made by the LGBT community in Brazil and defines himself as an optimist: “for all that is negative in the world, there are many more positive things” By Guilherme Reis

We are finally leaving aside the hypocrisy in Brazil, one that pretends that racism and homophobia do not exist. It is very clear that there are such things and now we have to face it

brasilobserver.co.uk | November 2014

Divulgation/Guilherme Freitas

Daniel Ribeiro during the filming session

The year of 2014 will surely go down as a special one in the promising career of Brazilian director Daniel Ribeiro. After all, it has been almost six months since he presented his first feature film, The Way He Looks, to the world. The film has been warmly received by critics and audiences and in addition to receiving a host of awards at the Berlin Film Festival, it has also been chosen as Brazil’s candidate for the 2015 Oscar in the category of best foreign film. In late October, the film was released in UK cinemas during the BFI London Film Festival. Daniel was here to attend the festival and talk with the public about his work. A day before flying to Belgium for another series of commitments, he met the Brasil Observer at his hotel for an exclusive interview so our readers can understand more of his motivations and way of seeing the world. For those who still do not know about what the movie is about, The Way He Looks follows protagonist Leo (Guilherme Lobo), a blind teenager who discovers he is gay after falling in love with Gabriel (Fabio Audi), a new student who arrives at his school. Around this encounter and the discovery of his sexuality arise other issues such as the relationship between Léo and his best friend Giovana (Tess Amorim) and the independence from his overprotective parents. Like many of those who choose a career in the arts Daniel was motivated to join the audiovisual course at the University of São Paulo by a need to express, what he deems important to the society. “The gay issue has always been very important to me. It was one of the strongest factors that led me to study cinema,” he explained. “When I was 16 I felt that there were not enough movies or gay characters that I could identify myself. This was and still is very bad, especially for gay adolescents that are growing and have no reference to who they may be, if they can be happy or not in this violent society. But not only that, other social issues that we face in Brazil bother me too much. Topics such as abortion, drugs and racism instigate me and make me develop this desire to approach these issues through cinema.” Despite frequently dealing with issues related to the rights

of the LGBT community, Daniel also has a lightness to his tone which encourages us to see beyond the problems we face, to the virtues and the opportunities of each historical moment. “I see everything in a positive way. We have evolved a lot in Brazil, and you cannot feel that we are late because the visibility was so great in the last ten years. Today we have gay characters in almost all novelas. We cannot ignore it and keep thinking that only people like Feliciano [referring to Marco Feliciano, evangelical pastor and congressman that militates against the rights of the LGBT community in Brazil] exist. They are reflections of our visibility. We appear a lot so we bother these people. Thus they came out of the closet, all the reactionaries to combat what they think is a problem.” For Daniel, “we are finally leaving aside the hypocrisy in Brazil, one that pretends that racism and homophobia do not exist. It is very clear that there are such things and now we have to face it. The Brazilian people are tolerant, despite the racism and homophobia. The more we know the less we prejudice. It is easy to be tolerant when certain topics are no longer taboo in society. I am optimistic.” Talking specifically about his film, Daniel revealed that the main idea was to reflect on where sexuality comes from. “Many people think that the person chooses to be gay. But everyone who is gay says that was born gay. So when you take a blind character that never saw a woman or a man and falls in love with someone of the same sex, you question it. Sex and sexuality are closely linked to the vision. Just as prejudice, as many say they accept gays, but do not want to see them. When you take the vision of the character, you get to see homosexuality in a different way, more gentle and natural. It’s a gay movie for straights. There is nothing that can offend”. The delicacy with which the film deals with the subject of homosexuality is revealing of another important feature of Daniel’s personality. He went through a period of discovery much like what is portrayed on The Way He Looks, which led him to have a non-confrontational acceptance of himself during adolescence.

“In a way, I was always well resolved. Of course, when we are very young, 12 or 13, you do not understand what is happening, you question a lot and not have anyone to talk to. But to me, even back then in the 1990s, when there were not many references, everything was very easy. At 16 I also had a best friend, and a young boy arrived at my school I started dating him. He was crucial for me to understand myself, and I to him. It hastened my acceptance.” “I did not accept to be unhappy, I did not accept to pretend I was not gay. I think no gay adolescent should be questioned about their sexual choice. Heterosexual ones grow and start dating without any problem, why gays have to go through this process?” “Adolescence is a very short moment of life and it is very unfair that a gay teenager misses this moment to be excited with a new passion. We cannot deprive gay teens to have these moments. I had the opportunity to be in love at 15 years old, everyone deserves that.” The way Daniel sees and portrays the world has not been complimented by all, however. Some have criticised the film for converting a utopian representation of reality, especially in a Brazil where very day many homosexuals are killed in violent attacks. Still, Daniel seems to carry an unwavering optimism, which is more than innocence. “The conflicts that exist stimulate me to fight even more. The fight will be difficult, but it will work out. I believe in people, in human beings. For all that is negative in the world, there are many more positive things. There are many more happy stories of gay experience than reports of them being beaten on the streets. Despite the violence, the love is bigger. It’s very important that the two sides are shown.” During November, Daniel is heading to the US promoting The Way He Looks, attending events and being seen and heard by an increasing number of people. Regardless of the outcome of the 2015 Oscars, when Daniel returns to Brazil, he will not be alone in his way of seeing life and understanding of the country’s contemporary social issues.

brasilobserver.co.uk | November 2014

Rômulo Seitenfus

Brazil is in the market to development

Brazilian Ambassador for the UK, Roberto Jaguaribe says “foreign investment has to generate national empowerment, skills and employment”, increasing the basis of production and competitiveness By Guilherme Reis

The international perception of Brazil, and how the country stands in the process of globalisation has been in the spotlight this year with events that led to the formation of a wide range of interpretations. From the country’s ability to host the World Cup to the choice of the new President, there were plenty of arguments pointing out the best paths toward the development of the world’s seventh largest economy. An economy that, now is facing a lower external growth, with the risk of stagnation, while maintaining enviable rates in relation to employment, increasing wages and reducing inequality compared with some developed countries.

For a greater understanding about the role Brazil plays in the world today and to open a wider dialogue with all those who see the country a vast portfolio of opportunities, Brasil Observer interviewed Brazil’s Ambassador for the UK, Roberto Jaguaribe. Conducted before the runoff election which re-elected President Dilma Rousseff to four more years in office, the conversation revolved around bilateral relations between Brazilians and British, passing through the challenges of development in emerging countries and the Latin American integration. Continued >>

brasilobserver.co.uk | November 2014

What is the focus of the Brazilian Embassy in London? Like any Embassy of Brazil in the world, we have some permanent goals. The most obvious to us is to broaden, strengthen and deepen bilateral ties with the UK. So we cannot lose sight of some elements. First of all, the relevance of the bilateral relationship. Second, the understanding of Britain as a major global actor. Third, the multiple facets that London features and that are not necessary and directly linked to the British government, as it has its own dimension. Obviously this year for Brazil is different, so we had different focuses. We first had the World Cup, which generated huge expectations and a lot of tension about what was going to happen. The embassy was very dedicated to rationalise this debate and show that there was a more than adequate preparation for the event. Second we are in an election year, which generate different demands and questions. How do elections affect your work? It creates an internal demand for coordination of a series of elements and also an expectation of greater knowledge and understanding of Brazil. Obviously, the Embassy is not here to address a specific political action, but to clarify elements in relation to Brazil, which gains more visibility because of the elections. But I wanted to talk about Brazil’s insertion on the world. I think this is a key issue and one must understand that the insertion of a country on the world is only effective if it is consequent and coherent. Consequent with reliable, established and solid foreign policy. Coherent with the internal projection of your own country. Foreign policy of any country cannot have a very sharp dissonance between what the country is in terms of culture, vocation, nature, size, problems and challenges. All has to be addresses in foreign policy. Brazil is a country that embraces diversity and welcomes others. Whether you are visiting Brazil for a short time or long-term immigration, you are integrated. Within this multicultural landscape, we have a major Western tradition that makes us feel ease in dialogue with our closest neighbours and also with traditional partners such as Europe and the United States. On the other hand, Brazil is a developing country, an emerging country that needs to meet numerous challenges and problems ahead. This puts

us in a position of enormous understanding about the problems and challenges that other emerging countries have. So, along with this other group of countries, we share a lot of interests and wills. So we put ourselves simultaneously in these two worlds, traditional western countries and emerging ones. I do not see any contradiction in that. Our development challenges are very similar to those found in our neighbours, but also in African countries, Asia and elsewhere in the world. Then we create conditions terms of affinity, closeness and understanding with a very large group of countries. A third element is that for many years Brazil has developed an independent foreign policy. We do not join the position of any other country automatically. Brazil has no allies, instead Brazil has friends. So Brazil creates affinities with most countries and tries to generate a policy to approach, always with independence. And within that logic is necessary to maintain a certain high standard to gain reliability. There is a consensus that for Brazil to enter into a new cycle of development it is necessary to increase investments significantly, including attracting foreign capital. Do you think the country is doing enough efforts in this direction? Brazil is a country of great attractiveness for foreign investment. And regardless of certain cyclical variations, it remains attractive. In recent years the flow of investments in Brazil has been very important, which does not mean we have no problems. The level of internal investment in Brazilian economy is down, close to 16%, and historically we have had higher levels. But Brazil remains attractive for investments and certainly depends on the Embassy promoting the attractiveness of these investments. We have host events here with the former Ministry of Civil House, Gleisi Hoffmann, presenting investments packages in infrastructure, and the Communications Minister Paulo Bernardo, for the issue of 4G technology. We often make smaller meetings on various types of investments. And every year we do a big event for attracting investments in the oil and gas sector, which is certainly the sector that is most developed. What do investors need to be successful in Brazil? Brazil has been open to investment for many years. So you first need an understanding of Brazil.

I think it is important to establish appropriate partnerships and create a building scheme in the country. What do I mean by that? Brazil is not in the market to stay pure making purchases; is in the global market to empowerment and development. To technology absorption; increase industrial production and capacity. So it’s not exclusively a purchase wholesale, but rather a matter of form the basis of production and competitiveness. One must understand that this is the goal of the investment that we desire. Foreign investment has to generate national development, skills and employment. The reciprocal path is also important for the country, like the internationalisation of Brazilian companies... Certainly. Brazil was the second largest foreign investor in the European Union in 2013, behind only the United States. There are Brazilian companies that are increasingly becoming global in sectors like energy, mining, steel, distribution, services, computer… There is a growing number of Brazilian companies seeking global space. And the truth is that to be competitive at home, it is now necessary to be competitive abroad. But there are still many complaints in Brazil towards the competitiveness of Brazilian companies... There are elements that need to be addressed, and they are being attacked, but they still need a lot of internal efforts to be overcome and improve the competitiveness of certain productive sectors in Brazil. We have the famous ‘Brazil costs’, related to bureaucracy, waste, infrastructure deficiency... There are many elements that require a significant effort to overcome. Is there an unnecessary clash between state and market? This happens in all countries of the world. The perception today is more important than reality, because it has become the reality. So it’s important to transmit a receptivity signal to ensure reciprocity. Brazil has a very old history of absorbing foreign capital, but the relationship has changed because the importance of the country has changed and Brazil is no longer a country that wants to buy ready-made packages. Brazil aims to empower itself, aims that the investments have convergence towards domestic production, employment generation and

increase productive capacity. This is a process that many companies are already doing and will continue. Has the crisis damaged the external perception of Brazil? The financial crisis has generated different forms of assessment and investment, with greater caution. Today investors are cautious around the world, holding a little over their investment capabilities. There is a greater risk aversion. But I have no doubt that looking at the issue on the required form and with a long term view Brazil is one of the most attractive countries on the world. We have favourable demographics, natural resources, stable democratic environment, important institutional solidification, extraordinary production capacity in agribusiness sector, clean energy matrix, availability of various sources of energy. All long term elements indicate great attractiveness of Brazil. What risks are present in Brazil? The risk is the lack of growth. In Brazil, there is a growing understanding that to be based solely on the ability to expand the consumption of the middle class is no longer enough. This will continue and it is important to continue, but it must be extended to other aspects, because by itself is not enough to sustain growth and social mobility. There are also concerns about inflationary issues, but the Central Bank has acted to prevent the escape of the inflation. Is there a danger that the focus on Brazil in relation to the other BRICS countries has taken the South American integration out of focus? I do not think that’s true. The number one priority of Brazil’s foreign policy is with our neighbourhood, which I think is right and natural. The progress of Brazil must be the progress of our neighbours and vice versa. But Brazil is a country of such great size that ends up turning into a natural global actor. So the creation of other groups that strengthen us in the international arena is of great importance, and the BRICS is one of them. What is Brazil doing to progress the trade agreement that between Mercosur and the European Union? The problem of making an agreement between two blocks that assemble more than 30 countries is that it needs the support of all of

brasilobserver.co.uk | November 2014

Rômulo Seitenfus

NOTES AND INFORMATION g

In 2013, the UK was the 12th trading partner of Brazil in terms of exports and 15th in terms of imports. From 2003 to 2013, Brazilian exports to the UK increased by almost 120%. Brazilian imports also showed large increases in recent years and in 2013 rose by just over 7%. The trade balance showed a surplus for Brazil last year of £304 million – with total bilateral trade of £4.81billion, almost 4% lower than in 2012. Brazilian exports to the UK are diverse although the raw materials and semi-manufactured products have greater prominence. Brazilian imports from the United Kingdom are predominantly cwntered on factors of production and capital goods.

Brazil was the second largest investor in the European Union in 2013, behind only the United States. The list has a large US leadership (£245 billion), followed by Brazil (£16 billion), Switzerland (£14 billion), Japan (£8 billion), Hong Kong and Russia (both £6 billion). In 2013, the top destination for investment from the European Union was also the United States (£124 billion), followed by Offshore financial centres (£31 000 billion), Brazil (£28 billion), Switzerland (£19 billion), Hong Kong (£8 billion) and China (£6 billion). In the general framework, foreign direct investment of the 28 countries of the European Union (EU28) for the rest of the world has reached £266 billion last year, while investment from the rest of the world in the EU28 was £256 billion.

Brazil had an 8% increase in the flow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) between January and August 2014, reaching well over £26 billion, reported the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. Official estimates indicate that annual revenue from Brazil this year will be similar to that recorded in the previous year, which ended 2013 with over £40 billion. This growth happened in a downturn scenario in the region as a whole. The flow of FDI in 13 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean fell 23% during the first half of 2014 compared to the same period of 2013, reaching a total of only £52 billion. Brazil in 2014 received half of the total value of FDI in these countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.

In July 2014, the governments of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa signed the agreement that created the BRICS Development Bank, an institution that will finance infrastructure projects and development. The new bank will have an initial authorised capital of US$ 100 billion (£63 billion). Arrangement has also created the Contingent Reserves, with an initial amount of another US$ 100 billion. The arrangement will act as a “cushion of safety” and will be an additional mechanism to others that already exist, such as the IMF (International Monetary Fund). Together, the five BRICS countries represent 46% of world population and 18% of the world GDP. In ten years, trade between them has increased 922%, from £17 billion in 2002 to £173 billion in 2012.

The internationalisation of Brazilian companies grew 1.6% in 2013, according to a survey prepared by the Dom Cabral Foundation. The ranking represents a sample of Brazilian multinationals who agreed to participate. The survey is done annually and takes into account the data of assets, revenues and employees of these companies abroad. The survey showed that 65.1% of companies plan to expand their operations in markets where they already operate abroad. Other 44.4% plan to enter new countries in 2014, numbers that have been repeated in previous surveys. South America leads with 75.8% of Brazilian multinationals with physical presence in the region, followed by North America (66.7%) and Europe (54.6%).

In 2013, members of the Pacific Alliance (Mexico, Peru, Chile, Colombia and Costa Rica) had a combined economic growth of 5%, with trade between them growing 1.3% over the previous year. Mercosur (Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Uruguay and Paraguay) had a combined growth of 2.9%, with a reduction of trade among its member countries on the order of 9.4%. For 2014, according to a survey of US investment bank Morgan Stanley is predicting that growth in the Pacific Alliance of GDP is 4.25%; Mercosur, up 1.9%. The Pacific Alliance now represents half of the region’s exports, despite a combined GDP totalling less than two-thirds of Mercosur.

This interview was conducted in London before the runoff election which re-elected Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff

them. Of course this is dragging on too long, with claims that Argentina’s foot dragging, that Brazil itself was not encouraged, but the truth is that Brazil is determined, the Brazilian industry is very interested in that and the government certainly is too. We cannot make a deal just because it’s a deal. We need an agreement with real meaning, which bring important achievements, tangible benefits. I have no doubt that this agreement will come out. In the Latin American environment, what is necessary to overcome the apparent discrepancies between the Pacific Alliance and Mercosur? Mercosur is an effective institutional reality. The Pacific Alliance is a projection of countries that have no borders among themselves, they have no immediate natural physical integration, but they have a unity of purpose that I find commendable. I see

no incompatibility between the two blocks. I think ending the gap between both is natural. According to the US diplomat Arturo Valenzuela, Mercosur would be more of a customs union, while the Pacific Alliance would be more market-driven... Obviously this is a personal opinion. The same could be said of the Pacific Alliance, which is an alliance of ideological strand of countries seeking a more liberal approach. But I do not believe it is like that. I believe it is a genuine interest of convergence, to enhance the participation of these countries in the world. Mercosur is much more than the Pacific Alliance in terms of construction and in terms of reality. But I do not see any need to maintain a distance. Brazil has a notion that the integration of South America is the main goal. Our central goal of integration is the strengthening of Unasur.

brasilobserver.co.uk | November 2014

BR-UK CONNECTION

Newton Fund promotes cooperation between British and Brazilian scientists For Alex Ellis, the UK ambassador for Brazil, the country is developing to become a scientific superpower By Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation Divulgation/UK in Brazil

Last month, three cooperation agreements between Brazil and the UK were signed through the Newton Fund, a British initiative aimed at promoting research and innovation in emerging countries. The signing ceremony took place in Brasilain during the 11th National Week of Science and Technology and included Brazil’s National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), National Council of State Foundations for Research Support (Confap) and Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (Capes). The Newton Fund was first announced in April this year by the UK Minister of Finance George Osborne and will allocate £27 million pounds to Brazil over the next three years. This will be invested in programs that provide training, academic mobility and bilateral research. Local institutions are committed to invest equivalent resources in return.

Exchange The president of CNPq, Glaucius Oliva, signed two memorandums, one with the deputy director of the British Council, Eric Klug, and the president of Confap, Sergio Gargioni, and another with the UK ambassador Alex Ellis. According to Oliva, two of the initial partnerships with the Newton Fund involve CNPq and the first is a series of 10 workshops. “When you want to promote interaction between scientists from Brazil and the UK, a good way is to choose a topic, conduct a meeting and bring together leaders in that topic, so people can discuss what they are doing and from there, find common interests between these researchers to later develop into joint research,” he said. Funded by CNPq, Confap and British Council through the Newton Fund, the series of workshops will approach the scientific communities in areas such as agriculture, bio fuels, industrial biotech, neglected diseases, drugs, water resources and food security.

Brazil and the UK join forces for scientific discovery

The other agreement relates to a shared work program, “The goal is to identify researchers from both countries who are interested in doing joint research,” said Oliva. “The first document encourages the encounter of these people while the second is to give support to researchers to promote exchanges between laboratories.”

Relevance At the signing ceremony, the British ambassador for Brazil, Alex Ellis, said that the UK is a “scientific superpower”, with 76 Nobel prizes, 16% of the most cited scientific

papers in the world and four of the six best universities on the planet. “But when I got here, I discovered that Brazil is well on the way, if not already a scientific superpower. It’s been amazing to see the increased investment and the return on this investment in recent decades of the country’s history,” Ellis said. Brazil and the UK are usually best when they work together, Alex Ellis said. “The internationalisation of science is essential to overcome social challenges that we all have. Embrapa [Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation], for example, is a great result of Brazilian investments,

and is working with the British government in the world’s poorest countries to tackle social problems”.

Capes and Confap The president of Capes, Sergio Gargioni, said the document signed with the British Council complements research projects and training of human resources. According to president of Capes, Jorge Guimarães, there is mutual interest in drug discovery, at the University of Nottingham, and areas such as agriculture, water and environment.

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brasilobserver.co.uk | November 2014

BRASILIANCE

What changes with President Dilma Rousseff’s re-election Political reform, renewing economic growth and fighting corruption are all among the priorities of the new government, which will not have an easy life in the National Congress By Wagner de Alcântara Aragão

Re-elected with more than 54.5 million votes, president Dilma Rousseff (Workers Party) took over in her first public statement after the polls closed, with her mission to address the historical challenges of Brazil. She recognized that some course corrections should be made in her new government and pledged to take appropriate measures for the necessary changes. In her assessment, she said the message of the election was clear: Brazilians want changes and most of them have given her another vote of confidence to lead this process. After a fierce electoral process the tightest since the 1989 elections - the first challenge of the incumbent president is to heal open wounds. In her statement on October 26, as soon as the victory was confirmed by the Electoral Court, Dilma Rousseff gave Brazilians a call-to-arms. “I urge, without exception, all Brazilians to unite in favour of the future of our country. I do not believe that these elections have divided the country in half. I believe it mobilized ideas and emotions sometimes contradictory, but moved by a common sentiment: the quest for a better future,” she said, to further state she will be open to dialogue. “My first word is union. A mature democracy does not mean unity of ideas nor monolithic action, but, first, a willingness for dialogue. This president is open to dialogie,” the president said.

Political reform In the words of Rousseff, a priority reform being undertaken by Brazil is the political one. During the electoral period, social movements from different areas fostered, between September 1-7, the Popular Plebiscite for an Exclusive and Sovereign Constituent for the Political System. Nearly 8 million Brazilians voted and 97% of them said “yes” to the proposal to elect a Constituent Assembly which shall be responsible for preparing a draft of the national political reform. During the campaign, Rousseff received social movements and pledged to encompass a pro-reform process.

Re-elected, Rousseff stressed that, under the constitution, it is up to congress to draft the reform. However, she reiterated her commitment to lead a movement to make political reform work. The president advocated the convocation of a plebiscite so that the population define crucial points to change. It is not clear, for now, how this plebiscite would take shape or what exactly it would encompass. But, judging from what was stated in debates, it signals the end of corporate campaign financing, the end of the coalitions in elections to the legislature and implementation of run-off for these positions must be defended by the government.

Combating corruption Political reform is, in fact, crucial to another challenge to the re-elected president: the fight against corruption. The issue was among the most debated in the election process this year, being extensively explored mainly by opposition candidates in the first round and reiterated by Aécio Neves (Social Democrats) in the second round campaign. On one hand, the opposition tried to paint Rouseff ’s Workers Party (PT) as a “corrupt party”. On the other, Rousseff defended herself, saying that in the 12 years of PT governments, all cases of corruption were investigated. Dilma Rousseff repeated after re-election her campaign promise for the next term: submit to congress projects that toughen punishment for corruption and those that are implicated in it. For her, impunity is the “protector” of corruption. She desires that the practice of keeping campaign money and the unjustified enrichment of public officials to become a crime, setting rules to accelerate the completion of legal proceedings.

National Congress For both challenges of political reform and the fight against corruption, Dilma Rousseff will have to face another obstacle: the relationship with the National Congress. Although it has lost seats in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, the

coalition of parties supporting the government is still the majority in the legislature. However, both opponents and allies elected by the parties theoretically have a more conservative profile. If the last four years Rousseff had problems with the parliamentarians, the next four will be even more difficult. According to a survey from the Inter Parliamentary Advisory Department (DIAP), which has monitored and analysed the activity of the national legislature since 1983, the congress elected in October is the most conservative of recent times. The caucus agribusiness, for example, managed to re-elect 139 of the 191 existing members and, more importantly, will have the addition of 118 rookies linked to the sector. The block could reach 257 of the 513 deputies. There will also be a significant inflow of retired military and ex-police officers who preach drastic measures in the area of public safety. The group, already being called “safety bench”, will have at least 20 deputies. In contrast, the direct representation of workers in the congress has fallen. The union bench has shrunk from the present 83 to 46 representatives from next year. “This is the most conservative congress since the return to democracy,” said the political analyst of DIAP, Antônio Augusto Queiroz. “Some achievements of the civilizing process, such as the guarantee of human rights, can be stopped with the election of an extremely conservative bench. It is worrying, especially in a strong employer assault on labour, social security and trade union rights in the congress environment,” the analyst added. In the Chamber of Deputies, Rousseff ’s government could face problems with the main ally party, the Democratic Movement Party (PMDB) and its vice President Michel Temer. The PT and the PMDB have the largest number of seats in the House and, according to tradition in recent years, have alternated in the presidency, currently occupied by a PMDB congressman, Henrique Alves. For next year, the natural thing would be an agreement of the coalition that drove PT to post.

brasilobserver.co.uk | November 2014

Fabio Rodrigues Pozzebom/Agência Brasil

FAST TRACK g

Reform in politics What needs to be modified? And who will define the changes: the current congress elected in October or an exclusive constituent assembly? Which points can be brought to a popular plebiscite? For most of the social movements gathered in the Popular Plebiscite conducted last September, the key to political reform is to end corporate campaign financing. Candidates funded by contractors, banks, multinational agribusiness and other ventures become hostage to the interests of economic power. At the same time, under current rules, a politician who gives up business financing has a smaller chance to win - after all, campaigns with private funds are the stronger ones. The campaign expenses would thus be borne by the party fund – the source of public resources. Of course, the campaigns would spend well below the millionaires’ levels of today. There are radical positions that defend exclusively public funding. Others consider tolerable releasing private financing to individuals, provided with limits. The subject is controversial, as it is the discussion of the form of representation in the Chamber of Deputies. Centre-right parties tend to support the so-called district voting, i.e. each state would be divided into districts and these districts would have their elected representatives. Critics warn that the format of this process would lose the House function of representing different segments of society and become a space of representation of electoral districts.

Re-industrialization, a necessity Since the 1990s, with the opening of the Brazilian economy, the domestic industry is in a process of disintegration. There are exceptions in some sectors and in some periods - the shipping industry was recovered in the last ten years as well as the automotive and construction industry, which has also undergone significant ‘boons’. As a rule, however, the industry has lost strength in the Brazilian GDP. For the challenge of driving the economy back to the growth cycle, president Dilma Rousseff has a need to make more effort in re-industrialization. The latest GDP data, available up to press time, show that industrial activity has decreased. In the first half of 2014, the fall of industrial GDP was 1.4% over the same period of 2013.

Dilma Rousseff (Workers Party) had 51,64% of the valid votes, against 48,36% of Aécio Neves (Social Democrats)

However, one name can emerge as a candidate: congressman Eduardo Cunha, the federal deputy from PMDB that received the most votes in this election. Current party leader in the House, Eduardo Cunha stood out during the Rousseff government to oppose and complicate the passage of important projects sent by the executive power. The reformulation of the regulatory framework of the Brazilian ports and the creation of the civil mark of the internet are two examples of projects that relied on massive resistance from the congressman of PMDB.

Economy Besides worrying about the partisan political negotiations between the executive and the legislative, the re-elected president has another hea-

dache in the late first and early second mandate: to drive the economy back to the growth cycle. Despite important indicators on employment generation and family income, industrial production and the growth of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) are unfavourable. The inflation that fluctuates very close to the target limit also makes Rousseff ’s government face a difficult test. In the post re-election speech, Rousseff included the recovery of the economy among eminent challenges for the new term. “I will promote localized actions to resume our growth momentum, ensuring continuing high levels of employment and also ensuring the recovery of wages. Let’s give more impetus to economic activity and sectors, especially the industrial sector and follow rigorously the fight against inflation and advancing

the field of fiscal responsibility,” said the president, citing the willingness to again have “dialogue” with society. “I encourage more dialogue and partnership with all the productive forces of the country. Before the start of my next government, I shall continue in this task”. Rousseff said that she leaves the electoral process renewed and aware of the “responsibility that rests on her shoulders”. She said that the expected popular support at the polls demonstrates there is energy to face the challenges to which she has been delegated. “The affection and love I have received in this campaign gives me energy to go on with much more dedication. Today, I am much stronger, calmer, and more mature for the task you have delegated me. Brazil, once again, your daughter will not flee the fight,” she added.

brasilobserver.co.uk | November 2014

CONECTANDO

Curitiba/PR

Innovative citizen policy A square in the centre of Curitiba, Southern Brazil symbolises the capacity of popular mobilisation for the right to the city By Guilherme Santos

brasilobserver.co.uk | November 2014

Guilherme Santos

Despite its fame of being model of city planning Curitiba, the capital of the State of Paraná has the same problems of any large metropolis. A major concern is the densification of the urban centre which is discouraging socialisation. But recently an important step was taken in the opposite direction and demonstrated that the innovative potential is also present in popular initiatives. It started with the movement of Cyclists Association of the Upper Iguaçu (Cicloiguaçu), which realised the potential to reclaim an area of 128 square meters located in the city centre. The space, owned by the Municipality of Curitiba, was claimed for the construction of a plaza for cyclists, which would later become the ‘Praça de Bolso do Ciclista’, or ‘Cyclists’ Pocket Square’. More than an exclusive symbol of the bikers’ activism, the site now marks the victory of the public over

the private. This discussion, moreover, could not have come at a more propitious time for Brazil, which has just come out of the stresses of the most ferocious presidential race in the country’s short democratic history. Unlike the aggressive confrontations generated by political partisans, which unfortunately has brought shameful hate speeches across the country, the citizen policy of the Cicloiguaçu group is guided by the union between people. It was precisely from this union that the project gained momentum and energy to stop being just a possibility and become part of collective history. After the agreement with the mayor, who secured the space and material resources for the construction of the square, it took a number of different volunteers to finalise the project. A fixed group of 20 people, aided by many more collaborators managed to build the first public work of Curitiba

held in a partnership between government and citizens. Officially open to all members of the public since 22 September, anyone can know the square, which is located in the heart of the historic centre of the capital, on the corner of São Francisco Street, one of the oldest in town. One of the goals of those involved is to extend the “social space” of the square for the whole block, with the closure of the road for cars. The next step, however, depends on a process of awareness about the importance of building a more friendly and receptive city. For many, booking a space for public interaction, leisure and culture can be seen naively as an obstacle that causes inconvenience to those who have difficulty seeing life in society. There are situations that have been recently experienced by São Paulo, where the bike lanes are gaining more and more space. The initiative, howe-

ver well received by the majority met with fierce resistance from those who felt individually harmed. But Curitiba square goers gathered more than 800 signatures in favour of the pathway for pedestrians. The Pocket Square seems to have also pleased the shop owners in the city, who perceived a change in the space that tends only to benefit the city as a whole. The support and the impact of labour even received an artistic contribution that helped complete the cultural vocation of the square. Between the shades of grey that contrast with the graffiti on the walls surrounding the square, the highlight is a work of Swiss artist Mona Caron. Made during the third World Bike Forum in the city in February this year, a huge tulip in yellow and orange, from which a bike emerges enlivens the square and its patrons. Continued >>

brasilobserver.co.uk | November 2014

Guilherme Santos

Social capital Equally or more important than the symbolic value that the young square represents, is its value as a generator of social capital. The success of the area as a new space for interaction and socialisation already generates new fruits. The union and the activism that were present during the entire construction process of Pocket Square now help others to flourish beneficial initiatives for the population. Among the initiatives is the organisation of weekend task forces to solve issues in the city. These include composting, bio -building and community garden projects. The urban farm, incidentally, only came into existence after a group started using idle land located next to the plaza for the creation of a “collective garden”. Another supplement space, still underway, is the installation of an air pump so that cyclists can fill the tires of bicycles. The idea is to reinforce the importance of bikers’ activism in the square, which has become a meeting point for those who see the bikes not just a means of transportation, but also a lifestyle.

Art and activism

Street artists, poets, musicians and many other meet every week at the ‘Praça de Bolso do Ciclista’ in Curitiba to produce, exchange and disseminate culture

Even people not linked to cycling can freely enjoy the space. To date, a brief history of the plaza is being constructed through artistic writings. Graffiti artists, poets, musicians and many other gathered weekly to produce, exchange and disseminate culture. The exchange has also started to involve academia. Students of Fashion Design at the Pontifical Catholic University (PUC-PR), customised different styles of cycling accessories. The project took shape and resulted in a public exhibition of selected products such as baskets, bags adapted to the curves of bikes and backpacks with rain covers. The cultural potential of the square is further strengthened with the promotion of events that attract a large audience, such as concerts and film screenings. Without a doubt, this is a space that exudes culture. It is ideal for the emergence of new initiatives that will bring humanity as basic precept environment. Hope remains that spaces like the Pocket Square will multiply throughout Curitiba. It is a movement that has started to spread throughout Brazil, reminding us to reclaim the cities.

This article was produced by Guilherme Santos, a fourth-year student of the Journalism course of FacBrasil (Faculdades Integradas do Brasil), in partnership with the CONECTANDO Project, developed by Brasil Observer with Brazilian and European universities. To participate and have your article published in this newspaper, write to conectando@brasilobserver.co.uk

S I L V E R

brasilobserver.co.uk | November 2014

Divulgation/Visit Brasil

DESTINATION: BRAZIL

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brasilobserver.co.uk | November 2014

GUIDE

Brazilian Holidays Showcased in London Tourism Minister Vinicius Lages tells Brasil Observer that the “World Travel Market is a great opportunity to expand knowledge about the country’s cultural diversity and attractions” By Gabriela Lobianco

One of the main meetings of the tourism sector, the annual World Travel Market (WTM) held in London celebrates its 35th edition between 3 and 6 November. The event, which is aimed at tourists, along with operators and companies in the industry, features more than a hundred events showcasing the best that the world travel industry has best to offer. Embratur, the organisation responsible for promoting tourism to Brazil abroad is participating in the World Travel Market for its 19th time this year with the presence of 46 co-exhibitors. If in 2013 Embratur’s main focus of was the World Cup, this year, this has shifted to the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Their job has been helped by the success of the World Cup in Brazil when according to to the Ministry of Tourism, more than one million foreigners travelled to the country across 491 municipalities. Of these tourists, 95% said they would to return to the country, citing the Olympics as the main reason. “We have great expectations for the Olympics, especially if we can take the opportunity to make the 2016 an Olympic year for tourism. That means taking advantage of the 365 days of the year around that Olympic spirit. The whole country stands to win by planning themed events, fairs and a cultural olympiad geared to tourist attractions like sports, wellness, technologies, and more. Brazil is a major producer of food and can associate sports, health and wellness into this strategy,” Vinicius Lages, Brazil’s Minister of Tourism, told Brasil Observer. The minister argued, however, g

that fairs like WTM alone will not solve the whole strategy of positioning the Brazil as a top holiday destination, nor are they the only channels of market relations, although they occupy an important space. “The World Travel Market is one of the most important tourism fairs in the world and we have a fruitful partnership. Brazil was chosen to host the WTM Latin America, which will have its third edition in Sao Paulo in April 2015. This year, the event raised expectations of businesses of £213 million”. Vinicius Lages concluded by saying that “World Travel Market is a great opportunity to expand knowledge on the countrie’s cultural diversity and attractions”.

Improvements for All The Ministry of Tourism indicates that the achievement of hosting the World Cup was a big boost for the tourism sector in Brazil and has accelerated a number of investments in urban mobility, airports, ports, security and telecommunications. Regarding specific improvements for the Olympics in Rio, there are 27 projects with a total projected expenditure of the £6 billion funded by the public and private sectors. These works include the revitalisation of the port region, a major extension of the metro system, implementation of a tram system, improved sanitation, specialist sports training centres, laboratories, accommodation and others. The Minisitry of Tourism has also made investments in the city, providing £3.66 million to provi-

de the city with bilingual tourist signs to help the large number of foreign visitors expected in the city in two years.

Highlights Brazil’s nomination as one of the best destinations in 2014 by specialised social network Minube, is promising news and should help promote domestic tourism before the Olympics. However, promoting tourism for the Games will be a more challenging task as the event does not take place across the country. With the numerous World Cup host cities, it was easier to publicize and promote the diversity of many regions to different audiences. Although most travellers to Brazil like to visit the iconic tourist sites of Rio, agencies have also been keen to remind travellers that during the Olympics, cities like Brasilia, Belo Horizonte, Salvador and São Paulo will also put their new and improved stadiums to use by shooing Olympic football. It is with this idea of rejuvenation and continuity that a lecture, “Brazil: the ongoing mega events legacy” will be held at the WTM with the aim of outlining the impact and benefits that the World Cup brought the country and the goals for the Olympics. In all, there are 51 stands representing Brazil at the WTM. Exhibitors offer varied packages including cruises in the Amazon rainforest, rural expeditions to cultural city breaks. Beaches, ecotourism, culture, sport and business are the main themes to attract tourists.

If you love to travel, don’t miss our special Brasil Observer guide to Iguaçu Falls, a major destination in the country on page 30

brasilobserver.co.uk | November 2014

ÂŁ 3.4 billion

ÂŁ 1.5 billion

was spent by foreign tourists in Brazil from January to September 2014 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; this number is 7.76% higher than that recorded in the same period last year.

was spent by Brazilian tourists abroad in September 2014, a figure 11.1% higher compared to the same month a year ago.

Divulgation

Embratur, the organisation responsible for promoting tourism to Brazil abroad is participating in the World Travel Market for its 19th time this year with the presence of 46 co-exhibitors

brasilobserver.co.uk | November 2014

CULTURAL TIPS

BOOKS

EXHIBITIONS

Nowhere People

Observations in Brazil

Porto Alegre, southern Brazil, 1989. After enjoying the euphoria and the promises of political democratisation in Brazil, Paulo feels disillusioned with the political militancy of the Workers Party. Disenchanted with life, he is unable to maintain stable relationships, and his job at a law firm overwhelms him. Until a chance encounter with Maína, an indigenous teenager standing by the roadside who immediately catches his attention, clutching newspapers and magazines tightly to her chest, under a heavy rain. When Paulo decides to give her a lift, his life takes an unexpected journey and alternatives open up before him. This is the starting point of Nowhere People, a novel by the Brazilian writer Paulo Scott that has just been released in the UK (published by And Other Stories and translated by Daniel Hahn). First published in Brazil in 2011, the book won the prestigious Machado de Assis Prize the following year. From the encounter between Paulo and Maína, the story follows the emancipation of Brazil after the dictatorship, addresses the unresolved problem of indigenous heritage, shows the reality of life for an illegal immigrant in London and reveals that the possibility of a promising future may not be enough to control our own lives. Born in Porto Alegre in 1966, Paulo Scott has published four books, two novels and two of poetry. Last month, he was in the UK for the launch of Nowhere People and to participate in the second edition of FlipSide, British version of the Brazil’s Paraty International Literary Festival (FLIP). Speaking at the event, Scott said this book “is the first in Brazilian literature to give voice to the indigenous”.

There are few days left to enjoy a rare collection of 50 photographs taken by Sir Benjamin Stone during an expedition to Brazil in the 19th century. Part of the Library of Birmingham’s Archive, this collection is being exhibited for the first time, thanks to a partnership between the Embassy of Brazil in London and Lucid-ly. Curated by Rodrigo Orrantia and Pete James from the Stone archive at the Library of Birmingham, the photographs were taken during a Royal Astronomical Society expedition set out to observe a full solar eclipse in the Brazilian Amazon in 1893. Stone also documented his journey by sea, photographing people and places he discovered. The exhibition reveals some of the Brazilians who were at that time striving to forge an independent nation. A keen observer of individuals and customs in England, Stone captured images that portray different sections of Brazil’s already diverse society towards the end of the 19th century: recently freed African slaves, indigenous tribes in the Amazon, and European settlers of greatly differing economic circumstances who had ventured across the Atlantic to start a new life. In many of these images his subjects’ quizzical gaze suggest that Stone was as much the observed as the observer. Stone’s photographs are an invitation to travel back in time and witness a nation on the cusp of modernisation where there was a stark contrast between the untouched wilderness of the Amazon and the industrialisation taking place in cities such as Manaus, the capital of the rubber trade. Many of those contrasts persist and help us form a more faithful interpretation of the contemporary conjuncture. \\ Embassy of Brazil in London until 7 November

Paulo Scott

Sir Benjamin Stone

The Mystical Rose: Selected Poems Adelia Prado

Adelia Prado is one of the most renowned poets of Brazil. Honoured with The Griffin Trust for Excellence in Poetry’s Lifetime Recognition Award in 2014, this November she makes her first trip across the UK, to launch her first book in Britain, The Mystical Rose: Selected Poems. With translations by Ellen Doré Watson, the collection was published by Bloodaxe Books. In London, Prado will be reding from the book at Kings Place, on 10 November, alongside the American poet Thomas Lux, who is also releasing a collection of work. Born in 1935 in Divinópolis, Minas Gerais, Adelia Prado was 40 years old when she began to write poetry seriously. Her work combines passion and intelligence, wit and instinct, with poems that address human concerns, especially those related to women. Among her main features as poet are the spirituality and the belief in the transcendent qualities of objects and everyday experiences. “Discovery” by Brazil’s greatest modernist poet Carlos Drummond de Andrade, who described her poems as “phenomenal”, Adelia Prado published her first collection, Baggage in 1976. Since then, seven subsequent anthologies were published. But despite her almost immediately and continued success, she prefers to stay out of the limelight, travelling to Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo only occasionally to participate in literary events and book launches.

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brasilobserver.co.uk | November 2014

MUSIC

Plot

Metá Metá

Starting from the peripheries of vision for regular users of Holborn Livray, Plot draws visitors deeper into the building on a disorienting journey. Works are found in different parts of the working public space, from co-habiting areas used for reading and research, to a series of linked encounters towards a former auditorium on the top floor. This journey is not unlike those we take in the reading of classic literature, to imagined lands and places of allegory and satire, shifting our perspective, transforming the familiar into something alien. Inspired by the artist’s research into London’s architecture and social history, along with seemingly disparate influences that range from Jonathan Swift to Hammer Horror, Holborn Library becomes the departure point for an excursion into a realm where two dimensions become three and one time is transposed onto another. José Damasceno was born in Rio de Janeiro in 1968, where he continues to live and work. The critic Gerardo Mosquera has described Damasceno’s work as offering “a succession of adventures and surprises.” His versatile approach encompasses sculpture, drawing and collage, creating a rich interaction between these various methods which informs the scope of his installations. Damasceno represented Brazil at the Venice Biennale in 2007 and he was also invited to create installations for various public spaces in Madrid’s Museo Reina Sofía, presented as the exhibition Coordenadas y Apariciones (2008). Plot is the artist’s first major solo show in the UK, following his 2010 exhibition ‘Integrated Circuit’, which took place at the Thomas Dane Gallery. \\ Holborn Library until 23 November

Over a squalling mass of improvised guitar and sax, a twisted, almost broken female vocal cries out to Exu, the gatekeeper of the Afro-Brazilian religion Candomblé. This is the ‘Afro-punk’ sound of Metá Metá - vocalist Juçara Marçal, saxophonist Thiago França and guitarist Kiko Dinucci – a trio of São Paulo’s most sought after musicians, struggling to survive the sonic schizophrenia of their home city. Metá Metá’s second album, and first with the Mais Um Discos label, MetaL MetaL launches itself from the ancient chants of the orixás into a dirty brew of psychedelic samba, distorted jazz and Afro-punk. The band integrants are all followers of candomblé yet they do not use the orixás to preach certain beliefs but to provide a framework within which to tell their stories. On MetaL MetaL they mix these spiritual and rhythmic foundations with influences ranging from Afrobeat to Afrosambas, punk rock to bebop to create chaotic, life-affirming music that explodes with the rage of The Stooges and Sonic Youth, the spirituality of John Coltrane and Sun Ra and the wild, avant-garde instrumentation of contemporary experimental-psychedelic outfits such as Melt Yourself Down and Goat. As the band’s own description says, “the trio works with the diversity of Brazilian musical genres, using economic arrangements that highlight melodic elements and signs of African influence in the world music, exploring the silence and the counterpoint, running from conventional ideas, either the aesthetic features or alternative way to share their art”. \\ Cafe OTO (1/12)

José Damasceno

Stefano Bollani & Hamilton de Holanda The duo formed by the Italian pianist Stefano Bollani and Brazilian Hamilton de Holanda – considered the Jimi Hendrix of the bandolin – radiate irresistible enthusiasm with a repertoire of samba and tango songs and the pair will be performing at the Barbican, on 20 November. Considered a virtuoso in Brazilian music and with international recognition, Hamilton de Holanda has his origins in the choro music, but since the release of his first album, Destroçando a Macaxeira, in 1977, he has constantly experimented with new ways of playing to jazz, samba, rock, pop, lundu and choro. His main innovation was to add two extra strings to the bandolin, which reinvented the instrument and earn him the nickname of Jimi Hendrix of bandolin in the US press. In 2012, de Holanda recorded the live album O Que Será with pianist Stefano Bollani. For the critic Thom Jurek, the album brings an intense dialogue between two musicians who understand music as an adventure, “they completely deliver and bring a sound full of warmth and intimacy.” The album certainly represented a high point in the careers of two musicians who will have the opportunity to show London their partnership in global music. \\ Barbican (20/11)

brasilobserver.co.uk | November 2014

COLUMNISTS

FRANKO FIGUEIREDO

All the World’s a Stage By giving us the necessary space to see and listen patiently to each other, and then being able to talk, we’re starting to build a real and ongoing democratic space

Theatre is not only a playful, fun and extremely enjoyable activity, but it also provides a basis for many other professions. Beyond art and culture, theatre enlarges and develops creative and imaginative abilities. It can teach us how to live, to speak, to discover one another and to discern critically. It promotes democratic debate and reveals a rich and valuable knowledge for life. Theatre and all cultural activities can be the door to great knowledge and wisdom. The first thing you notice in developed countries is the cultural engagement of the population. Recent research in the UK at the request of the National Theatre and the Society of London Theatre shows that there are 541 professional theatres in the country and more than 1,000 theatre and dance companies registered in the British Performing Arts Yearbook (2012/2013). In London alone, In London alone the report recorded 241 professional theatres with over 110,000 seats and a public of 22 million people. This is great news for the industry, and when you compare it to the audience numbers at games the English Premier league which stands at 13 million, we note that the society of the country, without distinction of classes (many have free access to tickets), regularly attends and takes pleasure in seeing, sharing, discussing and being part of the arts and the theatre more than in other countries. If you compare the more developed countries to the developing ones, such as Brazil, you can very easily understand that government support and cultural engagement is much smaller for the second group. Research done in 2012 by PISA (which evaluates education systems worldwide) showed that Brazil ranked 53rd in education. But, in my view, education is not only that which is provided in school

but the civic duty of every society. We must, as individuals and communities, embrace the responsibility to educate children, youths and adults! We can do this in our everyday actions - in the supermarket queue, walk the parks, numerous ‘malls’,restaurants, in our socialising with neighbours, in our fellowship with others, in our respect for others - that the real education begins. School is just a continuation of that education. Theatre is very important to our development as individuals: the arts provoke self-assessment, learning and mental development. In theatre, a social space is shared with a group of people. It creates an agreement and a dialog. By giving us the necessary space to see and listen patiently to each other and talk we can start to build a real and ongoing democratic space. Recently I was in Brazil’s North-Eastern State of Bahia, invited to participate in the 7th edition of Fenatifs - the National Theatre Festival for Children and Youth from Feira de Santana. There were over 50 theatrical performances and educational activities in theatres and alternative spaces in the city and across the region. From 1 to 12 October, children and young adults performed in eight States. During the festival, I noticed that people were constantly taking photos on their phones or cameras. Even though the request to switch off devices had been made before the beginning of each performance, it even reached the point where some artists stopped their presentation to plead to certain audience members to respect the rules. Treating the performers with respect seemed to be a big problem for many of the audiences, which perhaps reflects the general social life in Brazil, where many social rules are disregarded. I also saw how the whole theatre work done by Cia Cuca de Teatro, including the festival, is very

valuable to a region and a city like Feira de Santana, which is in full economic development, but where the socio-cultural environment has yet to advance much in relation to financial progress. The cultural development work done by the company is an example that needs to be replicated across the country. Companies such as this bring the other side of education. In Fenatifs I saw how children need a more playful education that is not tied to the classroom, the television and the computer. Children’s theatre is a very important part in fostering creativity and critical thinking, from how to behave in public, conquer the word and develop the dialogue to the discovery of the responsibility of each one has as a citizen. The company also has a Sunday Theatre program, in which parents and children discover worlds and stories together. The initiative has been going for over ten years and is creating a new generation. Children who went to the meeting a decade ago have grown up and today are asking for more theatre in their category. I hope the secretary of the State of Bahia and the Ministry of Culture can see the true value of the model that the company proposes: projects with strong social engagement and that will form our future society. It is inside the theatre we see stories about others and ourselves. In theatre you have several voices, places that serve as a mirror to the community. A population without mirrors is a population that does not see, does not develop, does not seek to grow - and gets lost in consumerism, with that values only extol divisions and differences. As Thomas Kidd wrote, “Where words prevail not, violence prevails”. g

Franko Figueiredo is artistic director and associate producer of StoneCrabs Theatre Company

brasilobserver.co.uk | November 2014

SHAUN CUMMING

I’m back in Brazil. Things have changed around here… What we have now is very high levels of political engagement. Families and friends are rowing over who should lead their country. I understand why it was such a difficult decision

It was four years ago exactly since I was last living in Brazil. Well, now I’m back! I’ve returned to my first Brazilian love – Vitória, Espírito Santo – with my Capixaba wife. It feels great to be back in the warm embrace with old friends and family in this beautiful beach city. The last time I visited was during the 2010 elections in which Dilma Rousseff was elected for her first term. I remember the relative non-engagement of the public. It seemed a foregone conclusion that Dilma would win, so there was a lack of passion. Brazil was riding the feel-good wave following years of positive economic news and a successful Lula term. Plus, the World Cup wasn’t far away. With an able candidate challenging for the Presidency like Aécio Neves, things were really different now. Yes, he lost, but by the tiniest of margins. President Dilma has an enormous amount of work to do to reunite deep divisions – and she must do it urgently to ensure her amazing work on social improvements is not disrupted. What we have now is very high levels of political engagement. Families and friends are rowing over who should lead their country. I understand why it was such a difficult decision. The choice was either a government under Dilma with a great record of lifting people out of poverty, but a bad economic record, or a government under Aécio that makes far better economic sense, but could have been a step backwards socially. Corruption was widely debated in the final days of the race. It turned out both sides were much the same. Dilma, I believe, has her heart in the right place on this issue, and I

very much doubt she has any personal dealings in corruption. However, the PT party (which she represents) is involved in many serious corruption scandals – some of which are ongoing. On the other side, Aécio (as an individual) has some big question marks over his personal dealings throughout his political career. So, I can understand those who take the view that, considering all of the corruption on both sides, there was little to decide between the two. What I think the vote ultimately came down to is welfare. Of the many challenges Brazil faces, the single biggest and most urgent is poverty. It’s great to see how millions are being lifted out of poverty – and for that, we can heap full praise on Dilma and Lula. I think it’s sensible that these policies are allowed to continue to make sure this aspect does not fall backwards under any circumstances. Some rich Brazilians are now complaining about welfare and the percentage of their tax that goes to the poor. Some are even saying they will now leave Brazil because it’s moving towards extreme socialism of the type seen in Venezuela or Argentina. This is absurd as any country in the developed world these rich Brazilians wish to relocate to is likely to have a far advanced welfare system that take a far greater proportion of tax than the current levels that currently exist in Brazil. An example of this is the UK. I do understand Dilma has had a disastrous four years economically due to some ridiculous decisions during her tenure. She must correct these, and avoid at all costs any inclination towards protectionism. It’s no wonder

international investors were not amused when she was re-elected. Investors do not have a natural dislike for the PT (workers) party – and this is proven due to the fact they were delighted under Lula. International investors dislike losing money, and they have lost a lot over the past four years. Dilma must regain their trust by taking a more sensible economic approach. Reconciling the divisions within the population will be a difficult task for Dilma, but is essential if she is to avoid social unrest as was seen in 2013. Dilma must recognise that a substantial percentage of the electorate disagree with some of her policies, and must now work to make changes for all Brazilians. This includes the continuation of the good work done to benefit of the poor, stabilising the economy, encouraging growth, cutting bureaucracy, and absolutely stamping out corruption wherever it exists – whether that is within her party or others. Arriving in Vitoria was great, because my wife’s friends and family prepared a surprise for our arrival. They even made banners for us at the airport – this does not happen in London. Then they threw a huge surprise party for us. As we drove off through the city I noticed everything looked new. Loads of new shiny buildings had popped up, while the beachfront pavement looks as new and welcoming as it could possibly be. And Vitoria is one of those cities almost isolated from the World Cup – so it’s really good to see these positive changes. Brazil – my new home and first love – it is very good to see you again. Viva democracy!

brasilobserver.co.uk | November 2014

COLUMNISTS

BIANCA BRUNOW & MARIELLE MACHADO

Flowery day Flowers cheer me up in many ways. Not only do they make the house look even more beautiful, they make me forget a bit of how hot the day is outside while I prepare the arrangements, and they also inspire me with how I get dressed. I live in the middle of the city, and all that I see most of the time are pavements, streets, passing cars, not to mention endless road works. So I try to bring more colours into my house and into my life. Every Thursday, near my house, the first two stalls of the street market are like windows of the most beautiful shops in the world. And there, I’m like a kid in a playground. As a result of this good mess, I compensate the love my house has given me, by giving it some love back. Today, the street market was a bit empty – not a lot of people selling and

not a lot of people buying. It is at Iêda’s stall that I find the flowers that make my weeks so much more beautiful, and as a loyal customer, she already knows what I like. Sometimes I’m surprised with the unconventional coloured carnations and other different flowers that are often rejected by her usual customers. Today’s choice was a bunch of green hydrangeas, carnations in a wonderful orange-pastel colour and a few daisies (the China Aster kind) in white, blue/light purple and peach. I don’t usually make many bunch arrangements with these particular colours, but I can say I’m proud with the ones I came up with today. I spent the day under the influence of these colours combinations and as a result, I chose my clothes, my makeup and my accessories all in those same shades. Is that normal? I don’t know if it’s “normal” or not, I just know I had some fun.

T his conversation continues on www.musicaparavestir.co.uk

KATE RINTOUL

If Brazil were a Cake… Since I’ve been back in London, I’ve been continuing my journey into Brazilian baking in a project called Marvilhosa in which I hope to celebrate the country’s appetite for life, unique flavours and sweet culture. I’ve been making jams, creating a range of porridges with Brazilian fruits and also creating a range of cakes inspired by my time in the Cidade Marvilhosa. This week, as the dust settled after the election and I read over the analysis of the results that had highlighted the deep rifts in Brazil, I wanted to try and design a cake that would honour the distinct regional differences of Brazil but show that by bringing them together as one you can end up with a more stunning and special result. So I created the North to South Cake, with four layers to take you on a flavourful journey of Brazil in every mouthful. I wanted to try and get as many quintessential ingredients into one cake without overloading it and crucially I wanted all the flavours to marry together for a cohesive and delicious result. The top tier has the tastes of the north which includes pum-

pkin, coffee, chocolate and of course - beans. When I told my English friends about this they had a look of horror but the result was really flavoursome as the cake didn’t contain flour so the beans added body but made sure the cocoa the shining star. This rich cake was offset perfectly by a layer of sharp jam, had I still been in Brazil I would have used Jabuticaba jam but as I was on a deadline and in South east London I had to improvise with black currant, which I have to say was a good anglo stand in! This was topped off with a light Brazilian sponge with pumpkin incorporated like the bolo de cenoura. For the bottom layer, I wanted to salute the wonderful southern

Brazilian tradition of Erva Mate, drinking this iconic tea was pretty much my first food experience in Brazil as I was staying with a young gaucho during carnival and again I really think more non-Brazilians need to discover the joys of this drink, especially the Brits who are world leaders in tea consumption. So the south tier of the cake really focused on this flavour with a Erva Mate sponge and buttercream. Had I had a little more time I planned to make a pale genoise sponge in a nod to the European influences in the south but annoyingly I had to go to work rather than spend a morning baking as I would have preferred! The resulting cake certainly had the scale and gusto to show it’s Braziliality - it was pretty big, co-

lourful, packed full of flavour and hopefully made people smile. The layers worked really well together, especially the contrast between the deep chocolate with the ever so slightly bitter mate and the different textures. I hope in some way, this cake is a little way of showing that all the differences of Brazil can be brought together without conflict to compliment and showcase one another. After all, it is all the little quirks, eccentricities, variety of experiences that make Brazil so incredibly special and remarkable, but only if they work in unity with each other. For the Full Recipe and to see more of my adventures through Brazil’s sweet side visit marvilhosa. wordpress.com

brasilobserver.co.uk | November 2014

RICARDO SOMERA

Cinematic Holiday I visited São Paulo’s 38th International Film Festival to learn more about how the world is watching itself, and here I bring my recommendations for the movie connoisseurs Brazilian moviegoers had nothing to complain about in October. Well, not all Brazilians, it’s true. But those who found themselves in Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo last month could enjoy international film festivals in each city. In my case, the 38th International Film Festival of São Paulo had an extra special flavour because I was on holiday! Nothing better than being able to go from one movie to another in the afternoon, without having those typical concerns of work the next day. I took my time to see some of the 330 films on display, to learn more about how the world is watching itself and to see the reality

through the the directors of classics and new films. The honouree of this year’s event was the Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar, who earned a retrospective with 15 films on display. But the films that most caught my attention were the Norwegian documentary Ballet Boys, directed by Kenneth Elvebakk and the Brazilian A Despedida (Farewell), directed by Marcelo Galvão. At first sight, Ballet Boys is a documentary that follows three Norwegian boys who wish to become professional dancers. But in the course of the story, it goes far beyond this to portray an early moment of responsibility, surrou-

nded by doubts about the future in an industry that is still predominantly female. Farewell, has already made it onto my list of great Brazilian ways of looking and interpreting the world. The film tells the story of Almirante, played by Nelson Xavier, who is 92 years old and feel that the end is near. So he decides to bid farewell to the world and enjoy one last moment of pleasure with his lover Fatima, played by Juliana Paes. Without doubt one of the best films I have seen this year. It’s worth keeping an eye on it because it would not surprise me if the film goes on to be shown in the UK... I hope so indeed!

Besides these two highlights, for the film hunters who follow me here, I would recommend the Greek movie The Blast, by the director Syllas Tzoumerkas, and the two Americans Beautiful Somewhere, directed by Albert Kodagolian and Night Has Settled, by Steve Clark. To finish, I must remind you that you Brits and Brazilians living in London also do not have any reason to complain! After all, last month you also had the BFI London Film Festival, which is always a big event in the city. Did you watch any movies at the festival? Tell me how it was at @souricardo and give your recommendations to @ brasilobserver.

brasilobserver.co.uk | November 2014

TRAVEL

Memories to last for a lifetime By Kate Rintoul & Michael Landon

Divulgation

Foz do Iguaรงu

brasilobserver.co.uk | November 2014

Spanning the border between Brazil and Argentina, the Iguaçu Falls are one of the most visually and acoustically stunning natural wonders of the world. Taller and twice as wide as Niagara Falls, the waterfalls are created as the almost three kilometre wide Iguaçu (Spanish: Iguazú) River drops vertically some 80 meters in a series of spectacular cataracts, producing vast sprays of water. The river, aptly named after the indigenous term for “great water”, forms a large bend in the shape of a horseshoe that is shared between the Brazilian Iguaçu National Park and its Argentinean sister, the Iguazú National Park, before flowing into the mighty Parana River less than 25 kilometres downriver. For an unforgettable experience, visitors can either witness the awesome power of the falls up close at the Devil’s Throat (Garganta do Diabo), or enjoy a more panoramic view of a series of cataracts and the surrounding subtropical rainforest on a hike across the breadth of the natural wonder.

Where to stay Even though the Design Concept Hostel has only been open for less than a year, this exceptionally designed residence is already gaining fans from all corners of the world. The considered interior design, variety of room configurations and slick furnishings make this no ordinary hostel. Add to that a high spec modern kitchen, plunge swimming pool and well stocked bar (with some fantastic world and Argentine beers and wines) this really is a wonderful place to stay that will keep your spirits high after you return from the waterfalls.

Where to eat The border city of Foz do Iguaçu is a melting pot of different cultures and influences and there are some great ways to experience this through food. With a Lebanese population of over 20,000, Foz has some lovely Middle Eastern restaurants, with Castelo Libanês one of the best. Highlights include the flatbreads, kibes and mini lamb esfihas. Truly authentic in its style and menu, the restaurant abides by Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) and does not serve alcohol. In its place are delicious fresh juices, with Turkish coffee and tea. If you are a traveller that abides by the ‘When in Rome philosophy’ then you need to head to the best Brazilian churrascaria in town - Buffalo Branco. With a steady supply of different

meats and cuts (with some creative cooking techniques on display), this is a great place to enjoy what Brazil is known for. Far from being a sideshow, the extensive salad bar is a cabinet of beauty, with amazing locally inspired dishes including tabbouleh, sushi and regional vegetables.

Things to do The incredible Iguaçu National Park offers many ways of seeing and experiencing the falls, here’s our top choices. - Bike Ride: With limited car access to the park, the only means of entry are by one of the lovely custom-designed electric buses or bicycles with the Iguassu by Bike company. The latter gives a great first impression to the expansive park - undulating hills and quiet paths mean you can really connect with the joy of riding and arrive at the falls full of energy. - Trails: There are several trails throughout the park, all with different lengths, intensities and vantage points. The trail beginning at Cataratas Hotel is the most popular as it isn’t too taxing and has the most impressive views. With paths that take you right into the falls, the platforms are perfect for capturing selfies against the stunning backdrop of the falling water. - Macuco Safari: This is the most high-octane way to experience the spectacle of the falls at close range. The three-part trip starts off with a woodland safari via jeep, followed by a short trail down to the waterside, and then climaxes with a bumpy journey upstream and directly into one of the cataracts - incredible fun but not one for the faint hearted! - Have a meal to remember: With more of us cooking at home, we demand more drama and theatre from dining out and Porto do Canoas certainly delivers on this. The panoramic balcony and dining room overlooking the falls without doubt offer one of the best dining views in the world. The plentiful buffet means that everyone can eat what they love great if you are travelling with family and the service is warm, fast and unobtrusive, allowing you to pay full attention to enjoying the experience.

- Helicopter Ride: This is the best means of fully appreciating the great expanse of forest in the national park and seeing the full expanse of the waterfalls in all their glory. Delivered by Hellisul - (the same company that provides great tours of Rio de Janeiro) the excellent pilots make the 20 minute flight an exhilarating experience as they angle the chopper specially so you can get some jaw-dropping birds-eye views from above.

Design Concept Hostel

- Parque das Aves: The forests of the national park are so dense that they are pretty impenetrable, so you can only imagine the variety of bird species that live there. Luckily, just across the road, Parque das Aves gives you the chance to get up close and personal with an amazing variety of tropical birds including flamingos, parrots and three species of very confident Toucan.

Other attractions As it is home to so many cultures, Foz do Iguaçu has an impressive Mosque for the Islamic population and also a Buddhist Temple with an astonishing collection of gigantic religious statues in its impressive manicured garden overlooking Ciudad del Este in Paraguay. In addition to seeing one of the greatest natural wonders in the world, a visit to Foz also means you can experience one of the seven modern man made wonders - the Itaipu Dam. The mind-boggling construction harnesses the power of the Parana River that divides Brazil and Paraguay. Taking over 30 years to complete, this is one of the largest man-made structures on earth and produces enough energy to meet 17% of Brazil’s needs and 90% of Paraguay’s. Even if you haven’t previously given much thought to hydroelectricity, the sheer scale and ambition of this human project is very interesting to learn about on a tour of the dam. While the dam has drawn some controversy, chiefly because of the destruction of the Guaíra Falls, Itaipu actively seeks to make social improvements to the region and holds itself as now being focused on social responsibility for the surrounding area. The technology centre created in the old worker’s barracks gives free space to student start-ups and the Oscar Niemeyer designed Federal University of Latin American Integration (or UNILA) is being built on the site, making Itaipu a beacon of the soft power Brazil is so renowned for.

Buffalo Branco, the best in town

Trail to the waterfalls

Parque das Aves

Itaipu Dam

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