The Brazilian Post - 52 by The Brazilian Post

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Cameron blocks new EU treaty

The Internationalization of Brazil

DEC 12th - 18th 2011

ANNIVERSARY EDITION

ISSUE NO. : 052 | WWW.BRAZILIANPOST.CO.UK

THE LITTLE BRAZIL IN LONDON Every cold British morning is a beautiful one for the small community of Brazilians living and laboring here.

“It is not easy to wake up in the early hours of the day, like four in the morning and get out of the home to face freezing temperatures. But I like the job and the money is not bad. However I have not done anything like that in Brazil and at the beginning I cried a lot” says Flávia Souza, living in London for more than 12 years so far and still working as a cleaner. This edition brings to you stories of people far away from their birth-land and their journeys as they carved out a different future for themselves and their families on the way. Read along to know why they say when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Read more on page 2.

Brazil A HERO'S The Brazilian Post

Is a "Little Brazil" in London possible? Many estimates of the number of Brazilians living in the "Queen's Land" are made. Some figures speak of 160,000, others not more than 200,000 and others go much further yet. The fact is that this number is almost impossible to know exactly, the very condition of Brazilians, many with European citizenship, or just passing through here as tourists, without prior visa approval. Another problem is finding this dispersed community in London. At first the Brazilians had Queensway as a reference, but that changed in the course of time and today most of them live in north London, Brent County. Even so one cannot say that the Brazilian community is fixed there, since lots of Brazilians live in Brixton, Stockwell, Stanford Hill, and still in Queensway, just to name a few neighborhoods. But without a doubt, the north, the region of NW10, Willesden Junction, Harlesden, Kensal Green, Willesden Green and other neighborhoods in Brent concentrate in Brazilian community. Since the 90s, when Brazilian immigrants began arriving at Heathrow, until today, it has become more common to overhear Brazilians in the streets, giving information in Portuguese, or asking what state in Brazil the person is from. However, many people believe that the number of Brazilians living in London has fallen, justified by the economic context that Brazil is going through. And with so many Brazilians, the ones living here and those who are passing through, we can say that it is possible to find a little bit of Brazil in cosmopolitan London. In this One-year anniversary edition of the Brazilian Post, we present some stories that, for decades, Brazilians have won, have lived and are still searching in the British capital. The "Brasuca community" is often dispersed, but when one wants to feel some of the warmth of Brazil, knows where to find it. Early on, the place was right. At the heart of London's Oxford Street, many Brazilians arrived with just information from Brazil that they could look for help from a certain Luis do Feijão, or seek the Luis' Bar for information that would be needed to stay in the cold London. "There were people who came with bags, straight from the airport. They asked for Luis, I introduced myself, had a cup of coffee with them and called to see if someone had a room available for rent, or work to offer," says Luis do Feijão (Bean's Luis), owner of the then Brazilian Touch Coffee, which had its name changed to Bean of Luis by customers themselves. Luis, however, was not the first Brazilian business in London. In 1989, 23 years ago, Regis Juarez opened the Sao Paulo Import Export which was pioneered by the Brazilian company Casa Brasil-SPI. Initially one of the main goals of the company was to bring awareness of Brazilian culture; importing books and other literature, as in the case of magazines of Editora Abril, which they are exclusive distributors of throughout Europe for 17 years. Juarez had been gradually introducing other products in its imports, then opening the Casa Brasil-SPI in the Queensway Market. The initiative attracted other Brazilian business there, and the place gradually became a meeting point for Brazilian people. Juarez died in 2005 and today the business is run by his widow, Itamar Regis Dall Alba, who turned the little shop in a large market for Brazilian products.

The reasons that bring Brazilians here are many: study, work, learning English, knowing another culture, music, making money. And the last reason part listed, making money, is well explained by the value of the pound at that time. Every pound earned by the Brazilians could be reversed for up to six Reais, Brazil's currency. The conversion was beautiful! And to earn pounds did, and still takes work. And as we know, the work offered for a cleaner, courier, kitchen porter, waiter, nanny are common activities for Brazilians working in London. According to Carlos Mellinger, president of Casa do Brasil, a charity to assist the Brazilian community in the UK, "the four main sectors that employ Brazilians are: cleaning, reparation, construction and courier." On page 28 of this special edition, you can gain an insight into the lives of some of those who work as daily couriers. Many of our people do here what they never even thought of doing back at home in Brazil. Such is the case of the cleaners. A great number of Brazilians, women and men, worked and are still working as cleaners. “It is not easy to wake up in the early hours of the day, like four in the morning and get out of home to face freezing temperatures. But I like the job and the money is not bad. However I have not done anything like that in Brazil and at the beginning I cried a lot” says Flávia Souza, living in London for more than 12 years so far, and still working as a cleaner. Another profession that we find a great number of Brazilians doing is hairdressing. This profession, however, has a different status as the professionals in this field are in high demand and carry a very positive reputation. Not only hairdressers, makeup artists and epilators also form the framework of this great vocation. We talked with several of these professionals and many reasons were given to justify such a positive reputation. Unanimously they said that the fundamental difference between Brazilian and British hairdressing is the fact that we are accustomed to all sorts of hair, as our mix of races makes each have a different type of hair even in the same family. Another factor is that the stylists here are concerned about the hair cut, style, whereas for us the hair's health is just as important. Finally, the Brazilian hairdressers say that besides techniques they do work with love and affection, something peculiar to our people, it makes a huge difference in attendance. "Brazilians are detail oriented. [We] have a different view of beauty and people looking for Brazilian hair salons, even among the English, is very big," says Claudia Rocchi, owner of Glamour Salon in Leicester Square. She also says that Brazil has developed its own techniques, both in waxing, hair and makeup. Asked about why this advance in techniques, Claudia says that the aesthetic vision is inherent in the Brazilians and the cult of beauty is part of their daily lives. And Brazilians are known as good workers in the British capital. "Brazilians are well regarded by the English as good workers," explains Duda Piccardo, who in his first job in London was a waiter, then a cleaner and now works with show productions by artists from Brazil, having created a very popular website among the Brazilian community: Achei Londres. More on page 10 >>

HOMECOMING

DEC 12th - 18th 2011

ANNIVERSARY EDITION

EDITOR MARCELO MORTIMER 078 2816 5812 marcelo@brazilianpost.co.uk ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR ASHWINI AGRAWAL ashwini@brazilianpost.co.uk SUB-EDITOR ANA TOLEDO ana@brazilianpost.co.uk

ART DEPARTMENT JIG SARVAIYA ERNESTO KURIACOSE WRITING GASTRONOMIA E TENDÊMCIAS PACO DE LA COBA Paco@brazilianpost.co.uk ANGÉLIQUE BERGÉ angelique@brazilianpost.co.uk FASHION ZAZA OLIVA zaza@brazilianpost.co.uk WHAT’S UP DADA BUENO dada@brazilianpost.co.uk COMPANY/OPINION MARCELO MORTIMER editor@brazilianpost.co.uk SHOWBIZ CARLA MONSORA carla@brazilianpost.co.uk ECONOMY CHRISTIANO HOLANDA cholanda@brazilianpost.co.uk PHOTOGRAPHY FERNANDO TRESSENO MIRELLA TOME THAIS GOMES THIAGO VIANA DISTRIBUTED BY BR JET PRIVATE distribution@brazilianpost.co.uk ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS: EL IBERICO THE INDIAN POST PUBLISHED BY THE BRAZILIAN POST LIMITED

ANNIVERSARY EDITION

DEC 12th - 18th 2011

The Brazilian Post

Brazil's fiscal conditions very favourable: Official With sound fiscal performance and solid public accounts, Brazil can withstand ramifications of the eurozone debt crisis, a top treasury official has said. "Brazil's fiscal conditions are very favourable and will help the country resist the eurozone crisis," Treasury Secretary Arno Augustin told reporters last Wednesday. He added that the government will block any possible spending increase in 2012 that might be approved by the parliament, as part of its efforts to meet public savings targets next year, reports said. Augustin cited the country's efforts to avert effects of the eurozone crisis, including inflation rate controlling and fiscal policy tightening, which he considers a weakness of European countries. "We issued bonds, we had upgrades on the country's rating, granted by international credit rating agencies, and we strengthened the aspects which are still weak in other countries," he said. While saying Brazil can maintain a tight fiscal policy and economic growth, the official also voiced concern over the crisis, which he said, is complex and may take a long time to get solved.

Booze will flow at Brazil's World Cup Fifa has forced Brazil to change its laws banning the sale of liquor at football matches. The world governing body put pressure on the next host of the World Cup and Brazil's parliament has drafted a bill that will allow the sale of alcohol at sports venues. The "2014 World Cup Law", detailing the proposed change, was presented by a commission of politicians on last Tuesday, said Agencia Camara, the news agency for Brazil's lower house of congress. The legislation, which still needs approval at three separate stages, is a pointed concession to Fifa, which wants to protect the commercial interests

of its sponsors. It also allows for 300000 tickets to be sold at half price to pensioners, students and the disabled in a return concession by Fifa to Brazil. If the law were to be passed, selling drinks would be legal at grounds throughout the country, not just those staging World Cup matches. Congressional deputy Vicente Candido, who wrote the bill, described it as a "necessary security measure", Agencia Camara said. The commission will vote on the bill next week and if passed, it will then go to the lower house, which could vote on it before the end of the year, and from there to the senate.

McDonald's fined for including toys in kids' meals The Consumer Defense Foundation in Sao Paulo fined fast-food giant McDonald's 3.19 million reais ($1.77 million) for including toys in children's meals. The organization considered that giving away toys with a "happy meal" creates eating habits harmful to youngsters' health, the official Agencia Brasil news service said. An NGO filed a complaint last year against the company for distributing toys with meals. In spite of that, the company has aired 18 ad campaigns since then targeting kids in which it used the enticement of toys to sell happy meals, according to the news service. McDonald's, which can appeal the fine, argued in a press release that it complies with Brazilian law and follows precise rules of advertising self-regulation. In 2009 Brazilian prosecutors recommended that McDonald's and other fast-food chains stop giving away toys with children's meals so as not to promote unhealthy eating habits.

Brazil

Ecologists fume as senate OKs forestry reform

The Brazilian Senate has passed a forestry reform bill which is backed by the country's powerful agribusiness sector but opposed by environmentalists who see it as a threat to preservation of the Amazon. The legislation, which received 59 votes in favor and seven against in an overnight vote, still has to be approved by the Chamber of Deputies before being submitted to President Dilma Rousseff. The current forestry code, which dates back to 1965, limits the use of lands for farming and mandates that up to 80 percent of the Amazon, the world's largest tropical rainforest, remain intact. "This shameful vote legalizes environmental crime," said Senator Marinor Brito in explaining her no vote. Speaking from Durban on the sidelines of a UN-sponsored climate change talks, Marina Silva, who ran as the candidate of

Brazil's small Green Party in last year's presidential election, also slammed Senate approval of the reform. "The bill that was approved by the Senate undermines protection of the forest, provides amnesty for those who deforest and will increase deforestation", she told a press conference. "Our only hope is President Dilma, who during the election campaign had pledged to veto any measure which might increase deforestation or amnesty those who engage in deforestation," said Silva, who served as environment minister under former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. But the agrobusiness sector, which has a large representation in Congress, defends the reform, stressing the need to extend farm land to bolster Brazil's food security.

Brazil

The Brazilian Post

DEC 12th - 18th 2011

ANNIVERSARY EDITION

Brazil moves to Stadiums to be combat 'crack ready for WC-14 epidemic' The Brazilian government on last Wednesday launched a war on what it called a "crack epidemic", including medical treatment for addicts and a crackdown on trafficking, particularly in border areas. "We are facing a crack epidemic in our country," Health Minister Alexandre Padilha, flanked by President Dilma Rousseff and other officials, said in Brasilia. Between 2003 and 2011, the number of cases of "chemical dependency" in Brazil has increased tenfold, hitting groups and regions which previously had not been affected, Padilha added, without giving further details. The government reacted with a $2.2 billion plan focusing on prevention, care and repression, said Rousseff. The plan involves medical care for addicts, a crackdown on cocaine trafficking from the border areas to the cities and a legal reform to

quickly destroy confiscated drugs to prevent their diversion, officials said. There will be "repression without complacency" said Rousseff, recalling the deployment of 6,500 troops since November 23 in the border areas to combat drug and arms trafficking. A defense ministry official recently said that the governments of neighboring Bolivia, Peru and Paraguay were given advance notice of the troop deployment. Brazil, with a population of 191 million, shares borders with Argentina, Bolivia, Guyana, Colombia, Suriname, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela as well as with French Guiana. A study by the National Confederation of Municipalities showed that crack has replaced alcohol consumption in most Brazilian cities and towns due to "the easy access to the drug and the low cost," less than five reals or $2.85.

Work on stadiums that will host the 2014 World Cup in Brazil will largely be completed ahead of schedule, Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo said on last Tuesday. Brazilian authorities are racing to build or renovate the 12 stadiums in time for one of the world's premier sporting events. "My expectation is that work on most of the stadiums will be ready ahead of schedule. If there is some delay it will be minor because the consortia involved have an interest in finishing early so that they can recoup their investment," Rebelo told reporters in Rio. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is no delay nor any risk that (Rio's famed) Maracana (stadium) will not be ready for the Cup," he added. Maracana, where the World Cup final will be played on July 13 2014, is being modernized at a cost estimated at $660 million. Rebelo said the only delay involves the stadium in the southern city of Porto Alegre. But he quickly added that a decision was made on last Monday "to make up for the lost time and give (the Porto Alegre club) Internacional the possibility to finish its

stadium in time for the Cup.â&#x20AC;? According to a report by the Getulio Vargas Foundation and the consultancy Ernst & Young, Brazil needs more than $11 billion in investment to fix roads, boost hotel capacity, reinforce security and develop its telecommunications network ahead of the Cup. Last month football's world ruling body FIFA warned Brazil anew about over delays in the progress of construction projects expected to be ready for the four-yearly football extravaganza. FIFA, keen to prevent sales of tickets on the black market, also agreed to lower prices of admission tickets for students and seniors in line with a Brazilian government bill on the Cup. Rebelo said he expected the bill to be approved by the Chamber of Deputies before the end of the month and by the Senate next year. The bill gives FIFA exclusive rights to pictures, sound and other forms of expression linked to the World Cup and slaps penal and financial sanctions for any illegal reproduction.

ANNIVERSARY EDITION

DEC 12th - 18th 2011

The Brazilian Post

Brazil

Brazil gets tough on big oil

The Brazilian government needs to put pressure on oil companies now to handle an expected oil boom the right way, an environmental secretary said. The Brazilian Environment Ministry imposed a $27.7 million fine on Chevron for a spill off the coast of Rio de Janeiro last month. The Brazilian National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels added it would hit the super major with additional fines for a lack of disclosure about the accident. Chevron estimated around 2,400 barrels of oil leaked from a so-called seep line near the Frade field. Rio de Janeiro state Environmental Secretary Carlos Minc said that Brazil needed to be tough with oil companies. "Everyone wants to come to Brazil and if we're not strict with (Chevron), this place is going to turn into a pool of oil," he was quoted as saying. An estimated 50 billion barrels of oil lies off the country's coast, a volume that's expected to put the Latin American country on par with some of the world's top oil producers. "We need to be hard now, especially on big companies such as Chevron, which has all the resources to do things the right way but got it wrong," added Minc.

Delta Air Lines acquires minority stake in Brazilian airline Delta Air Lines will pay $100 million for a "strategic" minority stake in Brazil's Gol. Under the terms of the agreement, which is still pending approval by both companies' boards of directors, Delta's investment will be in the form of American Depositary Shares representing preferred shares in Gol, the Brazilian airline said in a press release. The stake purchase is part of a move by Gol, Brazil's second-largest airline by market value, to boost its capital by close to 280 million reais ($156.5 million) by issuing preferred shares at a price of 22 reais ($12.40) apiece nearly a 50 percent premium over Gol's closing price last Tuesday. Gol's board of directors will meet Dec 21 to deliberate on the capital increase, according to the Brazilian company. "In the context of the investment, Gol's controlling shareholder (GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes) agreed to elect a Delta representative to the company's board of directors as long as Delta holds at least 50 percent of the ADSs acquired in the investment, among other conditions," Gol said. It added that Delta

agreed, for a period of 12 months, not to sell the acquired ADSs and not to acquire any further Gol shares without the Brazilian company's consent. The agreement on the stake purchase is part of a larger strategic alliance that also entails expanded code-sharing, colocated airport facilities for easier passenger connections and check-in, coordinated commercial and promotional efforts and frequentflyer programs.Under the terms of the deal, Delta will be allowed "to use its code for more Gol flights in Brazil, the Caribbean and South America", while Gol will be able to "add its code for Delta's flights between Brazil and the United States, and from the US to other destinations, thereby increasing the number of flight options for clients of both airlines and expanding their geographical reach", Gol's press release said. Delta has a fleet of close to 700 aircraft, flies to nearly 350 destinations in 61 countries and transports more than 160 million passengers annually. Gol offers nearly 940 flights per day to 63 destinations in Brazil, other South American countries and the Caribbean.

SÃO PAULO BELO HORIZONTE GOIÂNIA RIO VITÓRIA PORTO ALEGRE FLORIANÓPOLIS NATAL CURITIBA FORTALEZA BRASÍLIA LONDRINA SALVADOR RECIFE Atendemos

Impostos não inclusos. Voos disponíveis para Natal e Ano Novo

Brazil

The Brazilian Post

Brazil's labor minister steps down in corruption scandal Brazil's Labor Minister Carlos Lupi on last Sunday presented his resignation to President Dilma Rousseff, the sixth member of her government to step down amid corruption allegations. "Given the political and personal persecution by the media with which I have had to deal for the past several months; and considering the release of the Ethics Committee findings, I decided to submit my resignation irrevocably," Lupi said in a statement. Last week the Ethics Committee at the president's office recommended that Lupi resign. "I depart with my conscience at ease, with my personal honesty intact, knowing that the truth will always win out," Lupi said in a statement. Allegations against Lupi, who has been at Labor Minister since 2007, include flying in an airplane belonging to a group that later obtained government contracts with his ministry. Rousseff was compelled to launch an anti-corruption drive in July after several key members of her government were accused of corruption including her chief of staff Antonio Palocci, who was forced to resign in June. Agriculture minister Wagner Rossi, transport minister Alfredo Nascimento and tourism minister Pedro Novais also were forced to step down amid allegations of graft and embezzlement.

DEC 12th - 18th 2011

ANNIVERSARY EDITION

DEC 12th - 18th 2011

The Brazilian Post

Made in UK

David Cameron blocks new EU treaty change Prime minister David Cameron said last friday that he blocked the creation of a new European Union treaty because it didn't provide the safeguards Britain wanted on the single market and other key interests. "Without those safeguards it is better not to have a EU treaty within a treaty but to have those countries make those arrangements separately," he said following discussions with EU leaders that lasted from dinner on Thursday through to Friday morning. "What is on offer isn't in Britain's interests so I didn't agree to it." The U.K.'s veto of an EU-wide solution to the debt crisis could isolate Britain from the Continent and triggered a fresh round of questions about its historically awkward relationship with Europe, Alistair MacDonald reports. EU leaders failed to get all of the bloc's 27 members to back a change in the EU treaty to tighten their fiscal coordination as part of a wider effort to solve the euro-zone crisis. Instead some decided they would move to form a pact among at least 23 of the members to tighten rules on national fiscal policy. Mr. Cameron, who had vowed to fight for the U.K.'s interests and its financial sector ahead of the meeting, said it wasn't easy to go against the majority view in the overnight talks and acknowledged that there were risks in other countries forming a separate agreement within the EU. "So we will insist the EU institutions, the court, the Commission, that they work for all 27 nations of the European Union. Indeed those institutions are established by the treaty and that treaty is still protected," he said. Mr. Cameron said the U.K.'s interests within the EU, such as free trade and having a say over the rules that govern how it sells its goods and services remain protected. "So we will not be presenting this new treaty when it's agreed to our parliament—it will not involve Britain," he said. Mr. Cameron said progress had been made on strengthening the euro zone's firewall against contagion and its fiscal rules, but more work was needed on compet-

itiveness in the currency area. He acknowledged the differences between the countries that had the euro and those that didn't had created tensions within the EU. But the U.K. should be relaxed about the apparent split in the EU as there had always been separate groups, he said. "We're never going to give up the sort of sovereignty these countries are having to give up in order to enter a fiscal union, so in some ways the fact they are going to do this in a separate treaty without actually distorting the European Union treaty itself in many ways, given we couldn't get those safeguards, perhaps it's a better outcome," he said.

City hails David Cameron's hard line on Tobin tax The City of London gave a rousing cheer for Prime Minister David Cameron's refusal to sign up to a financial transaction tax - known as the Tobin tax - across the European Union. Cameron's veto means it is now highly unlikely the eurozone will go ahead with introducing a Tobin tax across the 17 countries inside the currency. The tax was set to be levied at 0.1% on shares and bond trades and 0.01% on derivatives but has been widely condemned in the UK because it would drive business out of Europe to America and the Far East. An EU-wide Tobin tax would have had a disproportionate impact on the UK as it is Europe's biggest financial centre, and the hub for the world's financial transactions. London City does business globally but pays its taxes here, so retaining our strong, vibrant, international finance hub here is good for jobs and our economy.” Xavier Rolet, chief executive of the London Stock Exchange said: "The Prime Minister is absolutely right to be defending the UK's interests in Europe. The introduction of a

financial transaction tax would have had disastrous consequences for the UK and all Europe." And Stuart Fraser, policy chairman at the City of London Corporation, said: "This would have been a tax on London and the UK. The European Commission's own impact assessment highlighted that, of the €57 billion (£48.6 billion) it would have raised across the EU, €40billion would have come from the UK." Fraser added: "The Commission also highlighted that between 70% and 90% of all derivatives trading could move outside the EU, together with hundreds of thousands of jobs. Driving that volume of internationally mobile business outside Europe would have defeated the whole purpose of the Tobin tax.” Rolet said: "You only have to look at the recent example of Sweden, whose financial markets all but dried up when a similar tax was introduced. A financial transaction tax would hurt the very fabric of one of the UK's most valuable asset - a world-leading financial services industry powering the growth of 4.8 million small and mid-size firms."

Made in UK

The Brazilian Post

Brit sprinter turns to eBay for Olympic bid A British athlete on last Wednesday put himself up for auction on online giant eBay in a desperate attempt to attract sponsors in the run up to London's 2012 Olympic Games. The eventual winner will earn the right to emblazon its brand on sprinter James Ellington's kit at training and press events before and after next year's Games. "We're putting myself on eBay up for auction to gain sponsorship," he explained. “Currently I have no commercial sponsorship so we looked at different ways to get myself out there and gathering interest from outside companies." Ellington, 26, has been on the track to recovery after four years of serious injury and has clocked this season's fastest 200m time by a British athlete at a non-altitude venue (20.52 seconds). Sponsors have been put off by Ellington's catalogue of injuries and the sprinter, who also competes in the 100m and relay, now says he needs £30,000 ($46,800, 34,900 euros) to cover living and training expenses or face being left behind by his rivals for an Olympic spot. "I'm injury free now, a year before the Olympics and probably one of the biggest sprint hopes for the country next year," he said. "If I want to train full time for the Olympics, I can't get a normal job," he added. "I haven't got a lot of money at all." The lot went online at 0000 GMT with an initial reserve price of £30,000.

DEC 12th - 18th 2011

ANNIVERSARY EDITION

DR Congo protesters clash with police Hundreds of demonstrators opposing DR Congo President Joseph Kabila clashed with police as they protested outside the residence of Prime Minister David Cameron on last Tuesday. Police arrested 17 people on suspicion of obstructing a highway and they are in custody, a Scotland Yard spokesman said. An estimated 300 protesters chanting slogans and brandishing signs reading "Kabila Out" were pushed back by at least 50 police, some wearing riot gear, a reporter at the scene in front of Downing Street said. A woman and another protester, who were apparently injured in the clashes, lay on the ground and were being attended to by police medics. The protesters, who were mainly from the DR Congo diaspora living in Britain, were demonstrating ahead of the expected announcement last

Tuesday of the result of the recent election in the mineral-rich central African country. Police closed the Whitehall thoroughfare in front of Downing Street to traffic as a result of the protest. Kabila, in power since 2001, led a divided opposition pack of 10 candidates with 46.4 percent after ballots from just over two-thirds of polling centres had been tallied, according to latest results issued last Tuesday. One of the protesters in London, Jason Kabuta, in his 20s, said: "We want Kabila to go. There is genocide in our country. “The Western countries are supporting him and that is why we are outside Downing Street calling on David Cameron to stop. "The Western countries are supporting Kabila because they want to steal our resources," said Kabuta, who has lived in Britain since the age of nine.

ANNIVERSARY EDITION

DEC 12th - 18th 2011

Rainforest Preservation Project by BMV

This week, London has been fortunate enough to be visited by the team in charge of the outstanding Brazilian rainforest preservation project, Brasil Mata Viva (BMV). Maria Tereza and her team were in town to visit their European partners, City Project. BMV have an exclusivity agreement with City Project to supply the Sustainability Credit Units that the project produces. These credits are produced as a way to help reward local farmers financially for becoming stewards of the land and helping to preserve the Amazon's outstanding Flora and Fauna. These credits are then sold to businesses to allow them to offset their carbon emissions in a similar fashion to a carbon credit there by making businesses 'carbon neutral'. The credits produced by BMV are of such a high quality that they have now been given their own standard, the BMV standard, to help them differentiate their credits as they provide a host of benefits, both environmental and social, to the communities in which the carbon reductions take place. The visit caps a busy year for the team who has managed to promote the BMV standard into the international carbon markets as well as securing a sponsorship deal with the Maserati racing team. For more information on how their projects are going visit their website at www.brasilmataviva.com. The projects also produce a wide range of sustainably sourced commodities such as Soya, Animal Feed, Cattle, Timber and Rubber (Latex) which has all been produced to the highest and most environmentally friendly standards. The visit marks a cementing of relationships between the two organizations as well as further strengthening business links between the UK and Brazil. Having arrived in the UK a week ago, the team from Brazil have had a busy schedule before they fly back, but have found time to explore London and take in some of the sights as well as sampling some fine British cuisine. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was a real pleasure coming to London. We hope that with the help of English companies we will be able to really preserve the Amazon forest as much as the communities and small farmers, the real stewards of the forestâ&#x20AC;?, Maria Tereza said Greg Hall, CEO of City Project has been delighted by the visit and is looking forward to a reciprocal trip to Brazil early in the New Year to see one of the projects taking place in the Xingu region. Updates and photos of the trip will be posted on the City Project website www.cityprojectgroup.com.

The Brazilian Post

Made in UK

Amy Winehouse album set for UK No.1 A posthumous album by singer Amy Winehouse had sold almost 70,000 copies one day after it went on sale and was on course to reach number one, the Official Charts Company said last Tuesday. "Lioness: Hidden Treasures" was put together following the 27-year-old's death in July and features unreleased tracks, alternate versions of existing classics as well as a couple of brand new compositions by Winehouse. The 12-song album "is on course to be this week's number one on the Official Album Chart," the company said. It said almost 70,000 copies had been sold, and Winehouse's record company confirmed that it was currently the top-selling album in Britain. "The album came out yesterday and it's number one, the biggest selling album in the country," a spokesman for Island Records said. Some of the proceeds from the album will go towards the Amy Winehouse Foundation, set up in the

singer's memory to help fund charities that provide help, support and care to young people. Her father, Mitch Winehouse, tweeted that "my heart is sad but bursting with pride" at news of the album's success, although he admitted to reporters that he could not listen to it because the memories were too painful. "I had to listen to it to approve it in the first place, the whole family did, but after that I can't listen to it. I don't want to bust into tears," he said. Winehouse was found dead at her London home on July 23 following years of alcohol and drug addiction. An inquest in October found that she was more than five times over the British drink-drive limit at the time. Following her death, her second album "Back to Black", first released in 2006, became Britain's highest-selling album of the 21st century, before being toppled by Adele's Grammy-nominated "21" this week.

Trajectory

The Brazilian Post

DEC 12th - 18th 2011

ANNIVERSARY EDITION

GREEN, YELLOW and a sky BLUE

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For other Brazilians, the goal that brought them to London was to study, both to learn the language, and for professional training, often looking for courses that did not exist in Brazil. "I arrived in London in the late 1980s. I wanted to attend fashion, but ended up majoring in Business Administration in Brazil and then came to London to gain expertise in what I wanted, fashion," says Valeria Zilkha living in London for 22 years so far.

ClĂĄudia Rocchi

Marcos Fumagalli

Daniel Martins

Valeria Zilkha

ANNIVERSARY EDITION

DEC 12th - 18th 2011

The Brazilian Post

Francine Mendonça “When I was enrolling in college the person who worked there at the time said that, I was the first South American registering. Today, with a very different economic situation in Brazil, it is common for Brazilians to choose to study in England for the quality of education," said Daniel Martins, a psychologist and director of DMA Legal Services. Regardless of the goals, most Brazilians share a similar background. And after one has arrived, work has already been arranged for, what can be the next hardship to conquer? The climate, the new language, the distance that the English have with people, longing for family - the list goes on. Is the case of Patrícia Giraldo and her husband, William Pineda, both from Bogotá, Colombia, being a part of this mosaic of Brazilian culture in London happened by being keenly entwined with the community. They are an accountant company, Global P&G, and most of their clients (60%) are Brazilians. They came to London 11 years ago. “I used to work as a cleaner, washing up in a restaurant and then as a waitress. About three years later, I had the opportunity to start as an accounts assistant in a very well established English Group. When I got pregnant, we had already started our own business and decided that I should resign from my work, take a part time job, look after our daughter, complete my studies as a certified chartered accountant and learn portuguese. And that's what I did. In 2011, we celebrated our 10th anniversary among our Brazilians and South Americans clients and we are very proud to be a part of this community” says Patrícia. "Every beginning is difficult, especially when it comes to a place of diverse culture, habit and completely different climate. However, I've done several things before owning my own business. I have been a kitchen porter, cleaner, even delivered newspapers on the subway. I had difficulties adapting to the habits and the climate, but I can say that London welcomed me with open arms," explains Marcus Fumagalli, owner of BR Jet and living and thriving in London for 11 years now.

"Waking up before six o'clock in the morning in the cold London was tricky to get used to, besides the language. It is very difficult to cope when the language is not of your birth place. After 30's you will learn to speak wanting to translate it, which complicates things even more. But every day makes it easy to learn, people learn to speak English while washing dishes," says Duda. "Today, if I feel like Brazilian food, I can go to a steakhouse. So what I really miss is the weather in Brazil," says Francine Mendonça, owner of London Help 4U in London for 12 years. Another feature common to the English and a bit tricky for us, punctuality is also part of the adaptation of Brazilians in London. "It is super to not need to wait, you can program your life. Punctuality facilitates the day to day and shows respect between people," says Valeria Zilkha. The Casa do Brasil (Brazil House) adopted the punctuality as a rule for their care. If you make an appointment and get there late, extrapolating a tolerance of 10 minutes will not be accepted. "By taking these measures we discontinued one of the major problems of our community here, which is informality. We have a tolerance of 10 minutes, those who come after that are not answered. You can say it's a way to educate Brazilians in London," explains Carlos. “And as creativity is our characteristic, we searched a way to get a lot of Brazilians to have their citizenship rights. Knowing how complicated and expensive it is to go to Brazil to marry, many Brazilians had their Certificate of Marriage by proxy. They were represented by their attorneys in the civil ceremony. Initially the document was denied by the Home Office but after an appeal a British judge decided to validate the document. In 2005, with other Brazilian lawyers, we did a research that lasted about six months, and forwarded the appeal that was accepted by a British judge. I am proud of this phase of my work in London because it left many other cases possible to regulate”, said Daniel Martins. And the London street fashion? Different or diverse? In Cool Hunter Section (page 22), the Brazilian Post takes a retrospective of trends happening here in London and also seen on the streets of Brazil. Even with the madness of London life, the Brazilians still find time to listen to Brazilian music, dance and have fun, and follow the entertaining schedules the British capital offers. Check out the tips for your special year-end on page 26. Amid all this history that drew in the Land of the Queen, all Brazilians, however different with their diverse objectives are pieces of the same puzzle called a Brazil in London. Sometimes the pace of London made them feel isolated, dispersed, but contributed to their personal growth. "Brazilians have a different focus when they arrive in London. I do not think we have become selfish, but I guess living here makes us more open minded. We began to learn more. And when we are more open, we learn easier ways to achieve our goals," Francine who arrived in London, worked as a cleaner and today owns London Help 4U, a company that helps realize many Brazilians' dream of being in London. The idea of "Little Brazil in London" was built through a series of interviews granted by our beloved characters. Let us note in passing, all interviews could in themselves cover a few editions. The Brazilian Post appreciates the willingness of all for finding time for the nostalgic conversations, that provided the threads from which we tried to weave a little green and yellow of the story in our lovely London. Enjoy the reading!

Itamara Dall Alba

Trajectory

Patricia Giralde and William Pineda upon receiving The 2011 Professional Achievement Award.

Luis do Feijão

Carlos Mellinger

Fun-bytes

The Brazilian Post

DEC 12th - 18th 2011

ANNIVERSARY EDITION

BRAZIL'S IDIOSYNCRASIES O D

ne of our most important multimedia Brazilian icons, Carmen Miranda, also known as the lady in the tutti-frutti hair, was in fact Portuguese-born but was raised in Brazil since her arrival in the country in 1909, when she was only 10 months old which explains her genuine Brazilian spark so evident in her singing, acting and personality. This immortal diva of the theatre, radio and records is the only Latin-American to have feet and hands printed in the Hollywood Walk of Fame. id you know that the "father” of football is from Brazil? Charles Miller learned to play football in England where his parents, a Scottish man and a Brazilian mother of English descent, sent him to Banister Court, a public school in Southampton, Hampshire in 1884. When in 1894 he returned to Brazil, he carried with him in his suitcase - two football balls, a pair of football boots, a book with the football rules (Hampshire FA), a football pump and some second-hand football uniforms. Charles Miller was one of the most fundamental propagators of this sport which is the most loved by Brazilians. The famous Pacaembú Stadium in São Paulo is located in the Chales Miller square, named after him. At the same address is also located the Museum of Football where you can find many other specialties related to football.

he Brazilian old school song Mas que Nada is one of the most played songs in clubs all over the world with a new version recorded by Black Eyed Peas. The original version was written and recorded by the Brazilian singer Jorge Benjor in 1963 but became worldwide famous in 1966 when interpreted by Sergio Mendes. Mendes and his wife, Gracinha Leporace, rerecorded the hit for Black Eyed Peas's cover version in 2006.

my Whinehouse posthumous album Lioness: Hidden Treasures brings the worldly famous bossa-nova (Brazilian jazz) Girl from Ipanema among other treasures recorded by the talented singer before her tragic and premature death. The new album is credited to be one of her best.

here is a Brazilin town called Pomerode, south of Brazil, where the majority of the population, over 90%, speaks German and even more interesting is the fact that some of the elderly people there don't even speak the country's official language, the Portuguese. They inherited their culture from their German ancestry that immigrated to Brazil after it was discovered by Portugal.

f you find yourself in Brazil during October, our tip is to go and visit Blumenau, another Brazilian city also located in the south. Blumenau has its own Oktoberfest, a version of the famous German event which attracts thousands of people every October offering a range of German food, drinks and music but with a genuine Brazilian crowd.

he president of Brazil Dilma Rouseff was the first women in the history of the United Nations to open a debate at the General Assembly this year on 21/09.

Brazilian culture can be noticed in every corner of London. According to data provided by Edgar da Rocha, ABRAS assessor (Brazilian Association in the UK) - it is estimated by the Brazilian Government that there are approximately 200,000 Brazilians living in the UK, of which more than 150,000 live in Greater London. With this huge contingent living in the capital it is impossible to deny the influence that their culture has over local people. Therefore we have decided to show you a glimpse of the mini Brazil within the capital! Here are some Brazilian hot spots for you to visit and enjoy!

ave a dance class with the Brazilian teacher and choreographer Irineu Nogueira. You can pop in at his dance studio to try one of the options in contemporary Afro-Brazilian rhythms like: Orixás, Samba, Brazilian Urban Fusion, also Latin fusion classes or Street Dance, HipHop, Zouk and many more. Tel: 074 0141 3933

T S

ry the Brazilian famous Feijoada - stew of beens, beef and pork - at one of the various Brazilian restaurants you can find around London. See more in the food section.

ome Brazilian restaurants in the city offer, on their menu, the exotic and particularly tasty cashew fruit juice. This succulent yellow and red fruit is widely found in Brazil and has a funny shape of an inverted heart. Each unit concentrates lots of vitamin C, a whopping 1500mg (!) compared to mango (84mg) and orange (40mg). In addition this fruit has a cashew nut which is located outside and on top of the cashew fruit. Brazilian rodizio grill is a tasteful gastronomic experience. It is a unique style of service where passadors (meat carvers) pass from table to table slicing different cuts of all sort of meats you can imagine (if you are looking for an extravaganza try the chicken heart). There are some rodizio's restaurants in London such as Amber Grill, Rodizio Rico and Preto. For around £20 - £30 you can eat as much BBQ, salads and hot dishes as you desire and the passadors will only stop serving till you turn the sign on the table to red.

HIGHLIGHTS: DEC 12th - 18th 2011

GUIDE

Showbiz: HEIGL: I can't be a skinny girl! Page 14

Culture: Gui Tavares: Brazilian maestro in London. Page 27

Sacred Chat: Depression as blessing Page 30

Johnny Depp avoids French tax The 'Pirates of the Caribbean' actor makes sure he doesn't spend longer than 183 days at his home in the South of France to ensure he doesn't have to make a payment on his earnings to the government and he also doesn't want to give up his US citizenship by becoming a fulltime resident in the European country. Page 16

CHRISTMAS AT

LONDON EYE

The brightly lit observation wheel on the South Bank is bound to be a popular destination for many Londoners and visitors to the capital for christmas, so book your tickets in advance. The 300 square metre ice rink will be open for Christmas. Also tickets for the Eye-Skate ice rink will give you access to the state of the art 4D cinema. The short film screenings at the cinema combine 4D visuals with sensory effects that create the illusion of wind blowing and snow falling, and are bound to elicit a few oohs and ahhs from the audience. It is not an experience you want to miss folks!

DO NOT MISS

1st Anniversary Special Issue in Portuguese next week ! To know more about it call Marcelo 078 2816 5812

Showbiz

DEC 12th - 18th 2011

The Brazilian Post

ANNIVERSARY EDITION

Hello beloved readers, Here's your favourite section bringing in hot gossip along with the festive cheer! Love is in the air for the stars too. Hamilton is trying to woo back Nicole; Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively are smitten with each other and George Clooney is just making every outing with girlfriend Stacy Keibler count. Even recently single, Ashton Kutcher is clearing the deck by preparing to move to a bachelor pad soon! For this and more, continue reading folks and send me your love, suggestions and feedback at carla@brazilianpost.co.uk.

Madonna a fan of Duchess of Cambridge's 'elegant' style

George Clooney treats Stacy Keibler to romantic dinner date

George Clooney treated his girlfriend Stacy Keibler to a romantic dinner in Los Angeles on last Tuesday. Grinning broadly, the 50-year-old actor dutifully escorted his companion out of the Craig's restaurant, gently wrapping his arm around the 33-year-old's waist. The couple couldn't wipe the coy smiles off their face even as they made their way back to the car. The WWE star looked both chic and snug in a black coat cinched in at the waist with a gold belt, which she paired with skinny black trousers and a pair of Christian Louboutin pumps. She wore simple silver hoops in her ears and carried a Chanel handbag, while the actor sported a navy leather biker jacket and a pair of casual denim jeans. The couple recently returned from a second romantic holiday together in Mexico.

Madonna has revealed that she is a fan of Catherine, The Duchess of Cambridge's style and said that she has grown even fonder of the young royal. Even though the 29-year-old Duchess wore a frock that the pop queen wore in Cannes three years ago, the 'Material Girl' hitmaker did not get disappointed that the dress looked so good on Kate. "She is a lovely girl with a great sense of style," the singer was quoted as saying. "Her wedding dress by Alexander McQueen was very beautiful... I like her choices. "She's elegant and still knows how to have some fun. I'm a fan of her style. She developed a style and stuck with it whether people were interested or not. I admire her individuality," she added. Although she was wearing very different clothes to Kate's when she was the same age, the singer has developed a more classic style.

HEIGL: I can't be a skinny girl! Katherine Heigl says she's "too lazy" to have a perfect Hollywood-style figure. The 33-year-old, a former child model, revealed she has aspired to look like Jennifer Aniston and Jessica Alba but now embraces her natural curves. "I'm too lazy and I like food and I like my free time too much to spend it working out!" she told Cosmopolitan. "I was 20lbs heavier and wanted to look like those girls with fantastically beautiful bodies like Jennifer Aniston or Jessica Alba, but I just couldn't lose the weight. It's only now that I realise how hard those girls work for their bodies, and what level of commitment they make to do that." Katherine - who shares screen time opposite Jon Bon Jovi, Hilary Swank, Robert De Niro and Zac Efron in New Year's Eve - also said she isn't a fan of one night stands. "I don't like them. I've never met a single woman who has ever walked away from a one-night stand and been like, 'That was awesome! Oh, my god! Best ever!'" she added. The full interview appears in the January issue of Cosmopolitan, on sale now.

ANNIVERSARY EDITION

DEC 12th - 18th 2011

The Brazilian Post

Efron: Kissing Pfeiffer wasn't easy Efron: Kissing Pfeiffer wasn't easy Actor Zac Efron says kissing his "New Year's Eve" co-star Michelle Pfeiffer on screen wasn't easy. Efron, 24, adds that locking lips with the 53-year-old actress didn't go as smoothly as he had hoped. "Those things are best to do spontaneous. Have fun and be in the moment. I definitely thought about how it was going to go down. In my mind, the way I pictured it, it was going to be perfect, very romantic, very leading man," he said. "Then of course, as we went to film it, right when I went to dip her, a huge piece of confetti went straight into my mouth. I didn't want to finish the kiss like that, so I spit and went for it. That's actually in the movie," he added.

PARKER dresses for her age Actress Sarah Jessica Parker says she dresses for her age and knows what looks good on her. "I try to dress appropriately for my age and I'm a realist about what I look like. But if those physical things were my insecurities I'd be thrilled," she was quoted as saying. "My insecurities are more substantial than that. I worry first and foremost about my children and their health. My husband, and his. I worry about what work opportunities will come up. My own creative satisfaction," she added.

Showbiz

The Brazilian Post

DEC 12th - 18th 2011

ANNIVERSARY EDITION

Hamilton

sends love notes to Scherzinger

Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively's romantic getaway Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds were spotted kissing at a romantic weekend away at a secluded bed and breakfast hotel in Utah. The couple headed to the Johnson Mill Bed and Breakfast and were seen sharing a series of lingering looks and passionate kisses as if there was no one else in the world. The two were spotted taking a stroll and were clearly very smitten with each other. Reynolds was seen cradling Lively's hand in his own and putting them up towards his face before pulling his girl in for a big kiss. The couple were first seen out together in October when the Lively was seen leaving the actor's Boston apartment on several occasions. She was also spotted surprising him on the set of his film, presenting her own dog Penny covered in balloons to Ryan, as a special birthday gift. Reynolds divorced his wife of three years Scarlett Johannson in July 2011, after their split in December 2010 and met Lively, who has dated Leonardo DiCaprio, while filming 'The Green Lantern'.

British race car driver Lewis Hamilton has been bombarding ex-girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger with love notes in a bid to win her back and prove how much she means to him. The Formula 1 driver and the "X Factor" judge recently split after four years together but Hamilton is desperate for them to get back together, reports said. “Lewis is on a full-on mission to get Nicole back. He's been having her favourite flowers and thoughtful gifts delivered to her LA home and to the set of 'X Factor'," said a source. "He's also been sending her notes, saying, 'I Love you. I want you back.' He misses her terribly and has told friends he won't stop until he's won her over," he added.

Johnny Depp avoids French tax Johnny Depp has confessed he avoids paying tax in France. The 'Pirates of the Caribbean' actor makes sure he doesn't spend longer than 183 days at his home in the South of France to ensure he doesn't have to make a payment on his earnings to the government and he also doesn't want to give up his US citizenship by becoming a full-time resident in the European country. Speaking about the legal practice, he is quoted as saying: "If I spend more than 183 days in France I have to start paying income tax there. "So I live between wherever I am on location and the States. France wanted me to become a permanent resident for money. "But permanent residency status changes everything. I'm not ready to give up my American citizenship." The 48-year-old star, who has two children, daughter Lily-Rose, 12, and son Jack, nine, with his long-term French partner Vanessa Paradis, has previously admitted he prefers spending time at his French home rather than in Hollywood because he can relax. He said: "We have a great place in the south of France. It's a little hamlet, only about 45 acres, and I don't do anything. “I've not left the property for three months at a time. I literally just wake up, go out, check the garden and see the vegetables growing. It's a pristine existence in terms of simplicity."

ASHTON KUTCHER eyeing $10m bachelor pad in LA

Ashton Kutcher is reportedly scouting for a 'bachelor pad' and has even viewed a plush mansion in Los Angeles that is said to be worth 10 million dollars. The actor recently split from wife Demi Moore after six years of marriage and is expected to battle out a 290 million dollar divorce case amid fresh claims of infidelity. He has reportedly been living apart from Moore and is said to have viewed a lavish five bedroom and eight bathroom 'bachelor pad', which boasts a panoramic view of LA. The mansion comes complete with a floating dining room, infinity swimming pool, hot tub, private screening room and an open sky terrace. “Ashton loved this property. It has bachelor pad written all over it. This neighborhood is stunning," a source said. "It's a trophy house with a view of all of Los Angeles. It's totally the type of place a hot, single Hollywood guy would want," the source added.

ANNIVERSARY EDITION

DEC 12th - 18th 2011

The Brazilian Post

London by Night

LONDON By Night As he does every week, our photographer Fernando Tresseno shows us glimpses of the vibrant Brazilian social scene at the top Brazilian clubs, bars and restaurants in London. Here, we are also sharing some happy memories captured by Mirelle Tome at Adleya's birthday party at Santa Fé. Adleya has plenty to celebrate as she and Duda are expecting their first child. Congratulations to them both!

Michelle and Izzy at Barraco

Saturday evening at Barraco

Aline,Marra and Erica at Barraco

Friends enjoying a happy hour at Barraco

Elton the owner of Canecão

Family celebrating birthday at Canecão

London by Night

The Brazilian Post

DEC 12th - 18th 2011

Football at Canec達o

Elton Carlos and a friend at TV Record's nightout

Franzi, Naoime, Jessy, Tati, Elton, Denis and Guilherme at Canec達o

Guests enjoying TV Record's annual party at Made in Brasil

Friends enjoying a shared cocktail at Canec達o

TV Record team and their guests at Made in Brasil

Three beautiful friends enjoying the night

Vicente from Leros and Marcio from TV Record at Made in Brasil

ANNIVERSARY EDITION

DEC 12th - 18th 2011

The Brazilian Post

London by Night

Adleya and Duda celebrating her birthday

Camila, Cleo, Ana Claudia, Aline, Adleya and Lucinei

Adleya is all smiles

Camila, Eluana and Adleya

TheBrazilianPost 1

ANNIVERSARY EDITION

DEC 12th - 18th 2011

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0203 468 6910 Email: info@ecohousedevelopments.com Website: www.ecohousedevelopments.com

Fashion

DEC 12th - 18th 2011

The Brazilian Post

ANNIVERSARY EDITION

In this special edition we do a recap of what we showed in our first year of Cool Hunter, keeping in context the happenings in London's streetwear and trends going on in Brazil and around the world. Follow our explanations about trends and how to use them without fear of daring but remember fashion becomes futile if we follow it. So 'just be yourself with a lot of personality, confidence and without patterns.'

By ZAZA OLIVA

Spots or polka dots

Cool Hunter

The retro or vintage is really trendy and cool at the moment and so is the spots or polka dots, an inspiration from the 1950s. A lot of fashionistas backstage of the London fashion week were wearing them. This trend can also be seen now on Brazil's streets and around the best fashion capitals. The petit - pois , poa, or polka dots, are some of the names assigned to the charm print that remind us of the femininity of the postwar pin-ups. Tip: Do not get wrong and get the outfit too "square"; mix the "polka dot" with stripes, colourful pieces, and even with animal prints. You can abuse as well with spot dresses + trendy accessories like cool shoes, belts and nice bags.

Shorts jeans + shirt + head band

Boyfriend's Shirt With the busy life of the new woman juggling her many roles, standing out professionally, being a mother, and still always being ready for a chat with her friends or husband in the late afternoon, she has to be ready for everything doesn't she? Maybe that's why the boyfriend's shirt trend is going really well showing the need to be comfortable and practical. The carrot trousers, the t-shirts and even the shirts are really adept for the modern woman. Of course, the most versatile is the boyfriend's shirt; depending on your creativity they can be paired with a skirt, a dress or just be a super trendy 80's shirt. Play around and figure how to use your man's shirt.

Everyone knows that jeans + t-shirt is a classic of the streetwear, never went out of fashion trend and we hope that it never does. Comfortable and very "easygoing", could be used with boots, trainers, flip flops and with whatever you want. To give some charm for your outfit, why not a headband, a hat or even cute or different socks? Tip: Be carefull with the "easygoing", stylish and sexy, don't get vulgar. Avoid dippy and stoopy necklines, and showing too much of your belly. A good option is a boyfriend's t-shirt (see more about boyfriend's clothes ahead). If you want something really sexy to go out use them with super fashion tights.

Long Skirt The super stylish long skirts, worn by hippies in the 1970s, came back for our londoner summertime and now is very visible at Brazilian cool labels - at the shop windows and on the street. A very female piece; can be paired with sandals, flip flops, gladiator sandals, sneakers, and with our lovely Converse for an "easygoing" style. In the winter time, the skirt is very welcome with boots and even shoes like the Underground shoes for a grunge and modern style. Our "sweet" and comfortable Converse are completely bankable, not forgetting the tights or 7/8 socks underneath, to protect from the hard winter. Tip: Do not be too sloppy; choose a shiny, colourful, modern top. Heels don't really match with them but if you really can't live without them, you can use clogs and open boots.

Dr. Martens The English boot created in Germany in 1946 had begun to be used at the end of 1960s by the skinheads. In the 1980s they were very popular among the punks, some new wave musicians and members of other youth subcultures. In 2003, under pressure because of declining sales, all the production moved to China and Thailand. In 2007, Dr. Martens began producing footwear again in England, with the new line Vintage being exactly how the boot was in 1946 and the originals with some details like, flowers and different colours, appealing now not just to the punks but the moderns, grunges, indies and fashionistas. For now there is just one representative in Brazil which is in Sao Paulo and I do believe they should be quite expensive there, nevertheless, it can be found on some fashionistas feet around there. Tip: The boots can be very cute and romantic, being used with a flower short dress, printed dresses, skirts, shorts, as you can see in the pictures. And for our really charm winter time we can use with leggings, tights, skinny trousers and wool coats, cardigans and faux fur. Ps: Be careful with the leather jackets otherwise the visual can be too "heavy".

ANNIVERSARY EDITION

DEC 12th - 18th 2011

The Brazilian Post

Fashion

Havaianas First came the flip flop in 1962, the perfect accessory for the summer months, then came the soul collection, a mix of high pipes shoes, the sandals, and now, to complete the whole year around the "always summer" came the Rain Boots. Everyone knows that "Havaianas" are a big hit outside Brazil. The new collection of the Rain Boots was launched at Selfridges costing around ďżĄ50, without forecast for them to be sold in Brazil by now. The Rain Boots came really cute, very colourful, printed, bicolour and plain ones. They are amazing for the rain and perfect for London residents.

Music x Fashion In our texts and credits we ask our interviewees about the kind of music they listen to. This question has total ground as the music has a BIG influence on each style. So we decided to show you guys what's going on in the Brazilian festivals and a bit of what had happened here, talking about the wellies, indispensable piece at British festivals has also appeared in festivals in Brazil. How the trends turn the world, our Havaianas followed the movement launching the "Rain Boots" and our little sweet Melissa with their delicate boot style. Both utilize material from 100% recycled plastic, are extremely comfortable shaping the feet after little use. I believe their comfort already won the world and will win even more.

Melissa Starting with a simple plastic sandal created in 1979, receiving the name "Spider", the Melissa was identified as the first great example of product placement on television in Brazil. The sandals were worn by most of the cast of the soup opera "Dancin Days" in the same year. Since the 1980s, the brand invites big international names to develop their products, such as Jean Paul Gaultier, Patrick Cox, Thierry Mugler who made their collections and drew attention for its innovation and boldness. In recent years, Melissa has partnered with the Egyptian designer Karim Hashid, the Campana Brothers, and British designers J. Maskrey and Jude Blame. In 2008 two extraordinary women joined the list: Vivienne Westwood and the Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid.

Socks That socks are no longer a hidden detail inside of the pants, we already know, but we may have never imagined that it would turn out to be that big a trend, doesn't matter if they are short, 3/4, 5/8, or 7/8. While the fashionistas have been donning them on the streets for some time now, they really make the difference at the most important catwalks around the world. In the street scene we have seen them more often in London now as compared to the last few years, and in Brazil the fad is carried by the cool and the trendy. Here are some tips on how to use them, adapting them to your body type and transforming a boring look into a super cool visual.

The half 3 / 4 are well below the knees. Use them with skirts, shorts, dresses and jumpsuits. Avoid pieces going to the knees because this will flatten your silhouette. The 5 / 8, just above the knees are ideal for romantic looks but if you want a modern look you can choose different colours, thick socks, prints and stripes. The 7 / 8 is long, reaching the thighs and should be used with short clothes. These socks give charm to any production elongating the silhouette. And the short ones are soooo cute with heels, Oxford shoes, flat shoes, trainers and tights.

Today with more than 500 creations, more than 50 million pairs of shoes manufactured and more than 20 million pairs exported, we can say that Melissa and Havaianas are a great reference of Brazilian fashion abroad. Here are a few models to be used in the days of rains that are very cute and super charming.

Guys, I hope you liked the content as much as I enjoyed putting it together for you. Remember, the true cool is the personality, attitude, confidence, feeling well and comfortable. And the best accessory to go with it is a smile!

Flavours

DEC 12th - 18th 2011

The Brazilian Post

THE

TASTE OF BRAZIL Immigration, multiculturalism and more recently globalisation have all had an important influence on Brazilian food. Through the indigenous Indians, Brazil laid the foundations of this diverse style of cookery with their use of abundant vegetables such as cassava. They also founded the lasting legacy of Brazilian culture: regional variation. Though improved transport, social mobility and access to information has allowed more ingredients to be shared around Brazil, and increasingly exported to meet worldwide demand, each region retains part of its own unique culinary identity. Throughout history, waves of immigrants have introduced their own styles and ingredients creating one of the first truly 'fusion' culinary styles. Whilst dishes are often distinct they have all been incorporated and embraced by Brazilian culture and sit alongside one another on most Brazilian restaurant menus. Sitting in a quiet cul-de-sac in Kilburn, Barraco is a shining example of a classic laid-back Brazilian restaurant and possibly London's only authentic Boteco - an informal bar and cafe that makes a great place to catch up with friends and make new ones. Reinaldo, aka Maha, opened Barraco as one of the first Latin restaurants in the capital twelve years ago and it has enjoyed lasting favour with both Brazilians and Londoners ever since. Originally from the multi-cultural Sao Paulo, married to an Italian-Brazilian and having already lived in Milan and Rome, Maha is very aware of the influence of different groups on Brazilian cuisine.

Maria and Paulo Luis from Tastes of Portugal

ANNIVERSARY EDITION

Ronaldo Camarelli and Ailto Santiago from Camarreli Casa de Carnes

Sometimes a single reminiscent taste or smell can transport us to far off lands, memorable places and evoke vivid memories. There is no better way of getting the flavour of Brazil in London than by visiting one of the capital's many Brazilian restaurants. Whether you come from Brazil, have visited or dream of venturing off to that vast country, the distinct cuisine and friendly surroundings quickly make you feel at home.

Renato from Barraco Restaurant “Brazilian food is the result of changing social history- traditionally fejioada was created by slaves. The imperialists they worked for would only take the good cuts of meat so the slaves took what was left, mixed with simple but good ingredients to make something very special.” The north of Brazil is dominated and characterised by the rich and plentiful Amazon rainforest and often the food incorporates nuts, fruits and other local produce. To the North east territory, including places such as Rio Grande do Norte, stretches the majority of Brazil's coastal region, where fish is abundant and the cuisine has signs of African influence with ingredients such as coconut milk used for the delicious moqueca - a fragrant fish stew. The pampas region of south Brazil may no longer be frequented by heroic gauchos – Latin cowboys, but its inhabitants still largely follow their meat-rich diets, with churrasco, BBQ, the dominant food choice. For many reasons, from sheer necessity through to taste preference, Brazilians have often made far better use of animal products, and their butchery and cooking of meat makes European styles seem very basic. It is not new for Brazilians that their different cuts bring out more flavour in their meat. And with the meat here in England, a Brazilian butchery is always a good option to get the flavour they are accustomed to in their country. “Here in England they use like three different meat cuts. We have many

more. This is making the most out of our meat”, says Ronaldo Camarelli, co-owner of Camarelli Casa de Carne, one of the best if not the best Brazilian butchery in London. With all this diversity in meat cuts, the Brazilian butcheries in London have been an option for the English looking for the special Brazilian flavour as well. “When an English person comes to buy here, they already know the name of what they want. Some Brazilian friend may have told them about the special cut or they may have tried it in some Brazilian restaurant” says Ronaldo. He adds “the ingredients to make a proper 'feijoada' are also in very high demand by all nationalities.” Brazilian Picanha (steak) is not just a choice of rump or fillet as different parts of the animal are used and the final flavour is so good that it leaves anyone who is lucky enough to visit Brazil wanting more. Renato, owner of Camden's 'Made in Brasil' says, “Many Londoners choose the Picanha, and often they have been to Brazil and want to find that taste again. Previously all of our meat was imported from Brazil but as the Brazilian style of butchery is spreading, we are now able to buy our meat from Ireland. You get a real sense that the market for these skills and Brazilian specialities is growing”. Of course although meat is always a Brazilian choice, the Portuguese heritage is much accentuated in our cuisine. At Easter and Christmas many Brazilians opt for fish and a special one at that: Bacalhau (salted and dried cod fish). This deli-

Leo Bankete

ANNIVERSARY EDITION

DEC 12th - 18th 2011

The Brazilian Post

omy have grown, migrants from Italy, Lebanon, Japan and Germany have all introduced fresh approaches and dishes to Brazil. Marco Meneguzzan, HSBC employee from Sao Paulo says that people are often confused when he says that in London, eating sushi or pasta reminds him of home. With thousands of Italians and Japanese inhabitants Sao Paulo has a rich, varied yet uniquely Brazilian approach to food. Like most dishes created in Brazil, sushi of São Paulo and Rio de Janiero incorporates local products and the prevalence of tropical fruit makes for truly special dishes. In the heart of London's ever fashionable Kings Road, it is now possible to enjoy these delicious fusion dishes at Sushinho, a very stylish bar and restaurant with a great selection of Brazilian sushi and cocktails. Known for their fun-loving and party attitude best exemplified by the iconic carnivals and world-renowned music, Brazilians know how to have a good time. While some might associate Camden with heavy metal gigs and teenage Goths, a visit to 'Made in Brasil' on Inverness Street should not be missed. With a vast selection of dishes that incorporate the wealth of Brazil's cuisine traditions this restaurant/ bar is also a fantastic place to party. Having come to London as a textile importer, the owner of 'Made in Brasil' Renato has now found a way to link his knowledge of the world of exports and his love of Brazilian parties through his extensive collection of cachaça - the Brazilian spirit made from fresh sugar cane juice. Much lighter and fresher than rum, cachaça is a perfect base for an endless selection of flavoured caipirinhas- anything from cucumber to banana is on offer at 'Made in Brasil' and with over 200 bottles, Renato boasts of the largest collection in the UK. You can also choose to be in a very traditional English pub but with a Brazilian heart pulsating there. If so, Canecão in Camden Town is just the place to go. Elton Carlos the coowner, like many other Brazilians, arrived here and at the beginning did a bit of everything. He came to try to make his fortune and experience freedom while travelling the world. He started working for Luis do Feijão in his restaurant, then went to another where he became Head Chef. About three years ago he and a friend bought a traditional English pub in Camden and transformed it into the now 'Canecão'. "We try to mix Bra-

Elton Carlos from Canecão cacy is a Portuguese traditional dish and adored by Brazilians. “We have many Brazilian clients buying here throughout the year but during the Christmas season their presence is much more felt. Basically the majority come looking for Bacalhau, as traditional in Brazil as in Portugal" says Paulo Luis. He and his wife Maria manage 'Tastes of Portugal', near Vauxhall, no doubt at all the best shop in London to find specialities from Portugal, the best sea products and delicatessen. The south-east area of Brazil may have the beaches, bustling metropolises and beautiful people that we think of as truly Brazilian but these are all examples of how open to change this region has been. As industry, politics and the econ-

Flavours

zilian culinary with English classics in our menu. And we do the same with our cocktails of which we have a huge range. A good example is the Caipibeer, a caipirinha based in beer instead of cachaça. We adapted not only the pub, but its food and cocktails to the Brazilian way and also brought Brazilian live music with samba and pagode.” “I try to serve my clients with healthy food. Not much oil or salt to let the food be appreciated by its flavour. All the meat and chicken is imported from Brazil” says Leo from Bankete Restaurant close to Liverpool Street. And it is true. The Brazilians used to say that eating there is like eating fresh and delicious homemade food. Bankete's feijoada is undoubtedly one of the most tasteful you can find in London. While those seeking a flavour of Brazil should visit any one of the capital's restaurants, excellent party atmosphere, regular musical events and open friendliness offered at 'Barraco', 'Made in Brasil', 'Canecão' or 'Bankete' combine to make the sweetest tasting Brazilian treat there is.

Renato from Made in Brasil

Desejamos a todos nossos amigos e clientes um Feliz Natal e Um Prospero 2012! Faca suas encomendas de Natal:  Pernil Temperado  Lombo Recheado  Costela Recheada  Leitoa Temperada  Peru Temperado  Picanha Recheada ao Avesso E uma grande variedade de produtos de mercearia e acougue para deixar seu Natal ainda mais especial! Telephone: 020 8986 6215 223 Mare Street, London - E8 3QE

Culture

DEC 12th - 18th 2011

The Brazilian Post

ANNIVERSARY EDITION

Brazilian cultural promotion in London

Today with the phenomenon of globalization, physical and virtual worlds are boundary-free by providing an absorption of several cultures and, as a result, create a global art concept considered so trendy in our current society. Yet for the majority of artists, the greatest difficulty faced today is in publicizing and promoting an international career. For those who live in Brazil and want to work abroad, as well for those artists who are already living abroad and do not find adequate support to promote and to improve the democratization and participation in the international market. Providing marketing tools and disseminating Brazilian art abroad is not an easy task, even the government can not comply with the demand. There are several talented artists struggling in foreign lands and many of them are here in London. However, three years ago this scenario began to change, through the dedication and love for Brazilian art nourished by Braziliality's mentor, Alicia Bastos, and her business partners Bianca Turner and Vanessa Gabriel. Every year their project is expanding and today it is a huge success, offering a platform for artists who want to launch their art internationally and also for foreign artists who are inspired by Brazilian culture to create their work of art. According to Alicia Bastos, the differential of Braziliality is its focus not on art itself or the aesthetics, but rather focus on that art which has a message for the public. In other words, this is a bid to use the high standard Brazilian art scene to develop social projects and promote cultural development. Keep reading to find out more about this unique concept and opportunity in the Brazilian Post's exclusive interview with Alicia Bastos.

An exclusive interview with

Alicia Bastos style or a certain language, that is what creates the identity of what we do and it depends on the people whom we work with. Sometimes we have to say 'no' to some artists, sometimes we go after artists who we have an interest in working together with and other times artists who we would like to work with find us.

Q : What is Braziliality's concept? The concept is to provide a platform to Brazilian artists and foreign artists who are inspired by Brazilian culture. The Brazilian artists, specially those who are not established yet, did not have a specific place where they could find other Brazilian artists or artists inspired by Brazilian culture. Our goal is to help them to communicate among themselves while they can rely on an institution that offers consultation, support and promotes events to show this avant-garde Brazilian art that is exploding.

Q : How does the Brazilian government promote and support Brazilian culture and Brazilian artists in the UK? The Embassy of Brazil supports Brazilian artists but they focus on the more established artists. Differently, the British government has entities and people working worldwide to promote English culture. I do not want to seem too ambitious but, as a reference, that is the role I want Braziliality to play.

Q : What sort of projects are you working on? We do not produce works of art ready to be consumed, wrapped for gifting. Our goal is to

both nice and hard. I can feel butterflies in my belly but what makes me happy is when the message I tried to transmit to the public is understood, I love it!

Q : How is the role of being a mediator of culture between the artist and the public? I personally prefer to work with both. I love to promote educational and social projects. We want to create a foundation for the future. There are other areas we want to work at but we know that it takes time to do things and we have to work hard. Working with the public is deal with social issues and the British public like this alternative thing, they have this curiousity, they want to know what is trendy. It is a way to know what is going on around the the world. However, the important factor is to make sure our shows are accessible to as many people as possible. Our work in partnership with the Hackney Wicked Festival in June, had 3200 people in two days!

Q : Who are the people behind Braziliality? The Braziliality is not only me, we are a team with two more partners: Bianca Turner, art director and choreographer who has being working with me for two years and Vanessa Gabriel, who just joined the team. She specialises in marketing and she manages our social projects. We also count on the participation of Argentine curator, Pier Tosta; he is passionate about our culture. My job is more about the vision. I get in touch with clients and discuss the responsibilities of each one within the project to be developed until we get in accordance.

Q : What is the criteria when choosing an artist? It is very important to maintain a high quality standard but at the same time it has to be an accessible platform. We look for a certain

Q : The Transcience was a cultural project that raised funds that have been applied to protect 11 acres of the Amazon rainforest. Is that true that it changed the focus of your career to projects that promote awareness? Braziliality took three years to be recognized as an organization and only now we can focus more on it. I think art itself is aesthetically interesting but Braziliality likes art that has a story, an opinion. The projects undertaken during the last three years were small projects but they have grown each year. Soon we'll be doing our own productions. The Amazon project is still being carried out and pretty soon something very nice is coming up. We are working hard to create an amazing thing and it will be a very positive experience. That is the function of Braziliality, meet people and promote events with content.

Q : What is your message to Brazilian artists trying for an international career? Get in touch! For me it is a pleasure to know who is doing what, because we can only help if we know who is around and who is doing what. You can contribute in several ways, as a volunteer, doing an internship, there are so many possibilities. Show your face, send me an email.

Alicia is a cultural project manager specialising in contemporary and digital art. To learn more about her projects check out at:www.braziliality.org

ANNIVERSARY EDITION

DEC 12th - 18th 2011

The Brazilian Post

Culture

GUI TAVARES: Brazilian maestro in London There are many Brazilian artists in London. Since we cannot bring all of them to our pages we decided to start with a very well known one, Gui Tavares, and thus pay homage to all of them. Read further and enjoy! In 2003, the musician Gui Tavares, who arrived here as a tourist, decided to live in London. "I wanted to know how it was like to be living here. Since I only came here as a tourist, I felt the urge to feel the day-to-day London. I discovered that time is different here, life goes by faster," says Gui. Demystifying the legend that playing Garota de Ipanema will bring success in any European city, Gui is an example that the Brazilian music conquered its space because of the quality that its musicians, crooners, composers never let aside. "Things are not like people think they are. Just playing Garota de Ipanema will not fill your hat with money. The artist has to be alert anywhere in the world, has to be original and look for his niche" emphasises Gui Tavares. Gui Tavares has developed numerous projects connected to music and theatre. Some solo and some in collaboration with English and Brazilian musicians. Initiatives like these, in addition to strengthening the artistic scene, expand awareness about the Brazilian culture.

Canecão An authentic English Pub with a Brazilian heart Located in Camden Town, Canecão brings a new concept of Brazilian culture and entertainment to the city. The Brazilian venue offers everything in one place. Crafted cocktails are made with precision using the best Brazilian cachaças. Try the Caipibeer, creation of the house. The music is a mash up of Brazilian pagoda and samba rhythms and the food is a mix from Brazilian and English dishes. Come and get to know a bit more about Brazil and see how we celebrate!

WHAT’S UP For this Special Anniversary Edition we take you to the hottest Brazilian attractions in the capital! Here are some restaurants, bars and places of interest to wet your appetite!

17 York Way Camden Town N7 9QG Info: 020 7485 4738

Barraco Restaurant Authentic Brazilian bar & kitchen in London Barraco is the place for traditional Brazilian food and drinks. If you visit the restaurant do not leave without trying the Acai na Tigela. Acai is a berry considered to be a super food, low in sugar, high in antioxidants, good fats, protein, vitamins and carbohydrates. Açai in the bowl (açai na tigela) is the most popular way of eating açai in Brazil. Its a sort of acai sorbet mixed with fruits, nuts and granola. Refreshing and invigorating! 10 Kingsgate Place Kilburn NW6 4TA Info: 020 7604 4664

Among his many projects, Creative Brazil is highlighted by being a catalyst for projects developed in Europe. "Creative Brazil is the “umbrella” of several other independent projects that are being developed in London and other parts of Europe" explains Gui. He stresses that London has hosted projects developed by Creative Brazil, involving the local community and cultural influences from different parts of the world, especially Brazil. They all produced by Creative Brazil, is a show in which comedic actress Laura Arantes masterfully unfolds the roles of four different women. The director of the play is Dudley Ribeiro and Gui Tavares created the music and the production. The comedy is composed of four stories written by Carlos Nunes (Apertura), Carlos Alberto Ratton (Condolences) and Sonia Alves (Shakespeare on that way and for I was not born to be a babysitter) and debuted in the British capital in November and is now touring venues in Brazil. In London, more than half the audience comprised of foreigners.

DADA BUENO dada@brazilianpost.co.uk

with beef, chicken, prawns and almost anything that you can imagine. Stall 734, Camden Stable Market Chalk Farm Road NW1 8HA Info: 07846 62 25 70

Irineu Nogueira Dance teacher and Choreographer A pioneer who became a solid reference within the African and Brazilian rhythm and movements scene. Irineu Nogueira is a whole-hearted dancer who combines genuine passion with contemporary vision. Info: contact@irineunogueira.com

Made in Brazil Always bringing the best of the Brazilian culture, music, food and drink. That is also the address where the Braziliality exhibitions take place. 12, Inverness Street, Camden Town NW1 7 HJ Info: 0207 4820 777

Amber Grill Rodizio Try the delicious Brazilian rodizio

Salsa Bar

47 Station Road Willesden Junction NW10 4UP Info: 020 8963 1588

Learn how to dance samba and salsa at Salsa bar, open seven nights a week with live music and DJs. Salsa also offers an exciting range of tastes and dishes from Brazil and South America.

Bankete Restaurant

96 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0JH Info: 020 7379 3277

Tropicana Taste the most popular Brazilian snack known as pastel. This deliciously light pastry can be filled

If you want to try good and healthy Brazilian food we recommend Bankete. It has a simple but varied menu with a very Brazilian ambience. 03 Bell Lane, Petit Coat Market E1 7LA 020 7247 5479

Spotlight

DEC 12th - 18th 2011

The Brazilian Post

ANNIVERSARY EDITION

Among the professions taken up by Brazilians in London, perhaps the most important and the least discussed is of the courier. Brazilian men and women who venture onto the streets and roads throughout the UK deserve respect and consideration for the work they perform. And they explain it best with : anyone can try to be a courier here. But being a good courier is not for everyone. "When the police stops them, the first thing they ask is if they are Brazilian," says Edinho, owner of Edinho Motorcycles, one of the busiest garages in London. The assumption is logical because 80% of more than five thousand professionals working as couriers in the English capital are Brazilians. Agility is a good explanation for the Brazilian mastery of this work.

COURIER: A way of life

The courier in London, can be contracted in four different ways. The contract is a fixed salary regardless of the service. The delivery you are paid for service delivered, and all work comes from one office only. The warranty is when the courier has a base salary, if the service number does not reach the value, the base is guaranteed and if one gets more than the established, he earns how much gets done. And the one by which most Brazilians work is called the circuit, the courier does not guarantee anything and gets 50% of all the deliveries done. Working in the circuit means that the salary shall be fixed by his own efforts. In addition to making quick service and well done, one must win the confidence of the controller, who distributes the supplies. For this, the Brazilians are willing and know why they are there. This is the motivation to face the daily hectic rush that the profession entails. "To get space within the companies and workers, you have to have commitment. Even without commitment to the company, when working in the circuit works, we are aware that the commitment is with our own goals", explains Aureo Lana, who has been living in London for 10 years so far and began working as a courier exactly three months and three weeks after he arrived here. Those who live and work in London can never say that one week is equal to another; the city is quick and always different. And working as a courier, this is a daily feeling; because of the dynamic work all day trips are different. "In 10 years I've never had one day like another. You work free, loose," said Aureo. and me. It was then when I made a mistake, and suffered the consequences, " laments Karl Marx, who suffered a serious accident in 2009, in the middle of recording a documentary about his life - Karl Marx Way - and now no longer works as a courier.

Meetings

Aureo

Accidents The couriers know the danger of the profession. Stories of mild or severe

accidents are not hard to find. "18 hours a day on the bike, made me think that I knew my bike very well. I had a lot of confidence on the bike

With the hectic day to day, meeting friends in the middle of the week, is only if they cross each other on the street. Or on weekends, when they need to do some repair or wash the bike. The meeting points are numerous, and very common in the garages, which for the Brazilian co riers is a great support to life here. "Every Saturday here in Edinho is more or less like that, drover beans, barbecue

Edinho

and music. While the bike is on the ramp, you socialize and get updates on what's happening," elucidates Aureo. "The whole week is spent working hard. On the weekends we have to gather with friends, laugh, and kill a little homesickness for Brazil," says Karl who has a restaurant next to the Edinho's garage, comprising a number of couriers on weekends.

KarlMax

Stand Ride The bike is also a passion for many Brazilians seeking to become professional couriers. In London, with prices far below the motorcycles in Brazil, it becomes possible to buy a super bike, the dream of many professionals. The Brazilian couriers are regulars of an English pub that brings together all motorcycle enthusiasts on Friday nights. And the Brazilians are an attraction who stand apart because of the creativity with which they make their manoeuvres. "It's like football, we have a different gear. It's nice to see yourself doing it. It's like a prank," emphasizes Aureo, who now receives support from the Edinho's garage to continue with the hobby.

ANNIVERSARY EDITION

DEC 12th - 18th 2011

The Brazilian Post

Spotlight

ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS Road Traffic Accidents, also known as RTA's, happen every day in the UK. “According to the Department of Transports' statistics bulletin, Road Casualties Great Britain 2009, there were over 222,000 road casualties in Great Britain in 2009, and 26,096 were either killed or seriously injured.” It does not matter whether you are a driver, a passenger, a pedestrian, a cyclist or on a motorbike (such as a courier). If you have been involved in a Road Traffic Accident in the UK, which is another person's fault, you will be able to claim for compensation for your injuries against that person's insurance company or if they are uninsured or untraceable, the Motor Insurers Bureau, which compensates the victims of accidents involving uninsured or untraced motorists. Usually you will need the assistance of a personal injury solicitor to conduct your claim but please bear in mind the following points: 1.) Reporting to police:– If you have been driving a vehicle that has been involved in a road traffic accident, you should report the accident to the police immediately and keep a record of the report as you may need to produce this record if it transpires that the other driver did not have valid insurance. If you have not reported the accident to the police within 14 days of the date of the accident or as soon as otherwise possible, then your claim might be dismissed. 2.) Reporting to your insurers:– You should report the accident to your own insurers as soon as possible. If your insurance policy is fully comprehensive, then you should make a claim under your policy for your own vehicle damage. Even if your policy is third party, the accident should be reported to your insurers in case the other party makes a claim against you.

3.) Comprehensive cover:– If you have comprehensive insurance cover meaning your own vehicle is covered, then you will have to provide documentary proof of any insurance excess you have to pay. You will get this from the repairing garage or from your insurer, if the vehicle is written off. 4.) Third party fire and theft:– If your insurance cover is third party fire and theft, then aim to recover your vehicle loss or damage from the other driver's insurers. Urgent action is required. It is essential to establish first, whether or not your vehicle can be repaired or whether the damage is such that it would not be economic to do so. To do this, you need to obtain two estimates as soon as possible from reputable garages. 5.) Storage of vehicle:– If your vehicle is in storage following the accident, it is important not to run up storage charges, which the other side may argue were incurred unreasonably. You must move your vehicle to a place of free storage as soon as possible. 6.) Car Hire:If your vehicle is damaged or written off and you hire a car, the hire must be absolutely necessary i.e. to enable you to get to work or to carry out your everyday activities. The third party insurers will pay hire charges only for the period during which your car is out of use or alternatively, if it is beyond economic repair, for the period from the date of the accident to the date on which you are advised that the insurer's engineer considers it to be beyond economic repair i.e. written off. As a general rule, a car should not be hired for longer than 6 weeks immediately following the accident. The third party insurers will only pay hire charges of up to the amount needed to hire a car of similar size and engine capacity to your own car. Also, say your car is worth around

£800.00, it would be unrealistic to expect the third party insurers to meet hire charges of say £500.00 or more, as it would be more economic to consider purchasing a replacement vehicle. 7.) Time limits:Where the third party driver is insured or uninsured, court proceedings must be commenced within 3 years of the date of the accident or if you are under 18 at the time of the accident, before your 21st birthday. Where the third party driver is uninsured, an application to the Motor Insurers Bureau(MIB) must be submitted within 3 years but the MIB will have expected you to have made various enquiries of the driver and about the owner and made a formal complaint to the police “as soon as reasonably practicable”. Therefore, it is important to instruct solicitors within a few days of the accident. Road Traffic Accidents configure a broad part of a personal injury solicitor's work and a large part of Levenes' work. At Levenes Solicitors we are specialised in personal injury and medical negligence and unlike other firms we offer our services in over 25 languages therefore enabling the provision of a high quality service. Our legal team acts on behalf of the clients on a “No Win No Fee” system, this means that you will receive 100% compensation without any deductions or charges as the insurer of the other party will be responsible for the payment of our costs*. Levenes Solicitors is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), with members accredited by the Law Society, and has a quality hallmark by the Legal Services Community. *Except in compensation claims against drivers who can not be identified. In this case an agreed percentage will be deducted from your compensation if it is successful. For further information about the services offered by Levenes Solicitors contact Michele Richards at 0800 0482349 or mrichards@levenes.co.uk

We are equipped to service all types of

Motorcycles and Scooters No booking necessary

Full Service for 125cc Bikes

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(Includes Oil change and Spark Plug)

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Oil Semi Synthetic Change: 10/40w

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Estimate & Full Recovery Service

We also offer a range of second hand scooters and motorbikes and have over 40 bikes in stock. You are more than welcome to visit us and we are open from the following times:

Monday to Friday 8.30am - 7.00pm Saturday 8.30am - 5.00pm Sunday Closed

MOTOS

34 Quixley Street, London E14 9PU • Tel: 0207 987 9161 • Mobile: 07916 209944 Email: escamaral@hotmail.com • www.edinhomotos.com

Sacred Chat

DEC 12th - 18th 2011

The Brazilian Post

ANNIVERSARY EDITION

DEPRESSION AS BLESSING A recent research study found that traits like sadness and defeatism define depression but it has its positive side, too. The research conducted by the University of Basel, Switzerland, says depressive individuals perform better than their normal peers in decision-making tasks. What is depression? Depression is a sign of mental disturbance. Such disturbance leads to intellectual upheaval and finally, to brainstorming. Why depression? Depression is a symptom of deprivation. When you think that you are seriously lacking in something that you earnestly desire, this thought is bound to lead to depression. Depression is not a physical phenomenon: it is psychological in nature. If you feel that you have gained what you wanted to gain, that will give you a sense of satisfaction. But when you feel that you have failed to achieve your goal, it leads to depression. In the first case, your life very soon comes to a full stop, but in the second case, your life goes on, punctuated by commas. Unpleasant experiences are painful but they make a necessary contribution to advanced intellectual development. Without undergoing this kind of experience, no one can be a super achiever. A survey undertaken earlier entailed studying the lives of one hundred super achievers in order to discover their common features. It was observed that one common trait of all these super achievers was discontent. Discontent not only leads to an unending passion to achieve some prospective goal but it also engenders an unremitting urge to achieve more and more. Thus it becomes the master key for a high degree of success, whatever the field of action. Where contentment puts a full stop to everything, discontent pushes you on a nonstop journey. This is the greatest advantage of depression. History has always shown that those living in carefree comfort, and not therefore a prey to despair, have generally failed to achieve any notable success; in con-

Aries 20/03 to 20/04 This week you have to be strong when dealing with people's criticism of your decisions, especially in your professional life. You will be determined to do whatever it takes to get what you want, even though it may seem like a waste of time to others. However, you are not worried about waiting a little longer to achieve your goals. Go ahead and trust in your abilities to open closed doors.

Taurus 21/04 to 21/05 This week you should have the force to sort everything out you need to by the middle of the week. The energy of the sky is giving you a sense of responsibility that you should finish what you have started. By the weekend you will be free to enjoy time with your friends and take the time out from work that you richly deserve. Give yourself the right to play and blast off into adventures!

Gemini 22/05 to 22/06 Don't you dare run away from your problems again! This week you will have to face up that serious conversation that you have been avoiding for so long. The aspects with your sun should bring you the energy to help you be more straightforward and stop trying to

whaffle your way out of trouble, which is not useful anymore. Firstly, be honest with yourself and you will see that is going to be much easier to deal with things head on. If you succeed, then by the weekend you should feel lighter and free of the weight of these unresolved issues.

Cancer 23/06 to 22/07 It's time to arrange that meeting with that person that you haven't seen for a long time and it's time to call that person that you've been thinking about, but never seem to find the time for. This week you should plan to be surrounded by the friends and family and that you love. After the stressful period that you have been through together, your partner may appreciate being included in your plans for the weekend.

Leo 23/07 to 22/08 You may feel like a stranger in your own nest, as if you don't have a partner with which to share your inspirations. The best thing to do this week is not to count on other people's support. Be confident in your own way of doing things. It doesn't mean that nobody loves you, it is just that they are also trying to find their own path. If you ask for help, they will be there for you. Don't be sad for not feeling like the centre of the

Universe this week. By the end of week you will sense once more how important you are.

Virgo 23/08 to 22/09 You should have lots of energy to share with people around you this week. Show them how determined you are to put your life back on track. Your partner should feel proud of you because you are really accomplishing your promises and your relationship is starting to feel the freshness of happier days. At the weekend be careful not to go over the top with your celebrations because you may wake up with a bad hangover that will undo all that positive energy you have built up over the week.

Libra 23/09 to 22/10 This week you might feel the weight of duty from your family. You will find their demanding attitude difficult to deal with and you may have some difficult choices to make. It will be impossible to please everyone, so take a deep breath and have faith in your judgement. Don't blame your partner for not helping you, it's time to make your own decisions. At the end of week give yourself a break and go out with friends.

Scorpio 23/10 to 22/11

trast to those who, beset by adversity, have fallen into depression only to emerge subsequently as super achievers. You may feel that depression is something that you do not want to experience, but this phenomenon is produced by the law of nature and, when it comes to the law of nature, you have no option but to accept it as it is. If, according to the law of nature, the journey of super achievement pursues a painful course, you are bound to keep to that course. In this case, you have only two options: either achieve super success by paying its natural price, or die without ever knowing super achievement. Nature has demonstrated this fact in several ways. For example, if you want a glass of apple juice, you have to crush an apple. Without crushing the apple, you cannot have the desired fruit juice. This applies to anyone who wants to be a super achiever. He is obliged to tread the thorny path prescribed by nature because, without fulfilling this condition, no one can reach his desired goal. It is a fact of life that one who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth is fated to live out his life as an average person, whereas those who are born without this silver spoon contrive to achieve great success. In the beginning, depression seems to be a curse but, in the end, depression turns out to be a blessing. In fact, depression is only a temporary phase of life. It is in no way permanent. Depression is like a tedious journey. During this journey, you may be tired or bored, but when you reach your destination, you experience total happiness and satisfaction.

This week you should take advantage of the entry of the Moon into Capricorn by putting your theories into practice and creating something real. At the beginning of the week make that call about that work opportunity or even take the time to finish that essay you've been putting off. By using your strong will, you will see that even the smallest step can bring you great results. Instead of worrying about your financial life, come up with a good plan in order to improve it.

Sagittarius 23/11 to 22/12 Your social life may be of full of nice people, but you still have the sensation that something is missing. There is nothing wrong with those around you, but you need the excitement of new ideas, fresh input and inspiration all the time. Take a moment to reflect and try to employ some of the ideas that you already have into something useful. Be aware that your partner may feel resentful about your lack of recognition about his or her efforts.

Capricorn 23/12 to 21/01 It is time to deal with certain emotions that you've been avoiding. You may feel upset without any logical reason, but something deeper in your unconscious wants to come to the surface. Your relationship

with your parents, especially with your mother may be the key to find out what's going on. Open yourself up to this experience and you will see that so many things become clear.

Aquarius 22/01 to 20/02 Whatever duties you have this week, they will be hard to achieve. What you really want to do is lose yourself in your imagination and explore your playful side. The Moon is in conjunction with Neptune in your sign at the end of the week and this is pulling you away from reality. You can use this energy in two different ways. You can either create wonderful things or just put your feet up and party. It's up to you.

Pisces 21/02 to 19/03 Don't waste your time reminding yourself of all the negative experiences of the past. Now is the time to move on and enjoy what life has in store for you. Meet up with friends, ask that crush out on a date or even leave town this weekend. Remember that the more you dwell on your sorrows, the more you will feel them. Understand that pain can become a habit, but so can happiness. Make your choice! RF Coaching www.renatafornari.com

ANNIVERSARY EDITION

DEC 12th - 18th 2011

Chinese go online to vent anger over pollution Millions of Chinese went online last week to vent their anger over the thick smog that has blanketed Beijing in recent days, raising health fears and causing hundreds of flights to be cancelled. Sales of face masks were reported to have surged as residents of China's heavily polluted capital sought to protect themselves from the air, which US embassy figures ranked "very unhealthy". Beijing's main airport cancelled hundreds of flight due to the poor visibility on last Sunday and Monday, angering passengers at the world's second-busiest airport. Visibility had improved by Tuesday, but 80 domestic and 10 international flights had been cancelled by midday due to light snow. Users of Sina's weibo, one of China's hugely popular microblogging sites, expressed frustration at the delays to their journeys, with one saying it had taken him 24 hours to travel to Beijing from the southern city of Shenzhen. "I'm exhausted. All of this was because of the thick smog," wrote Hu Yueyue in one of 4.4 million comments on pollution posted to Sina on last Tuesday. "Today is another fine smog day in Beijing. I wore a mask this morning. I don't know how long I can live if I breathe this hazardous air all day long," posted another. One online retailer reported selling 100 face masks fitted with air filters to a single customer in Beijing, according to the Global Times daily. Taobao.com, China's biggest online retailer, sold 30,000 masks on last Sunday, when the US embassy in Beijing rated the air as "hazardous", the official Xinhua news agency said. The US embassy conducts its own air quality measurements, measuring the finest particles, which experts say make up much of Beijing's pollution. The official government figures are based on measurements of larger particles and often give a less severe assessment of air quality, leading to accusations the authorities are downplaying how serious the pollution is. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are always huge differences between the public data and weather broadcasts and the feelings of people," said one weibo user under the name 'Xuxuaimingxuan'. "Sometimes, I suspect that what we're breathing isn't air, but politics."

China fears global crisis may ignite fire at home China's internal security chief fears that the global economic slowdown will hit the Chinese economy and result in widespread unrest in the country. Zhou Yongkang, a member of the Communist Party of China's ninemember politburo standing committee and one of the top security officials here, also said that the government is not prepared to handle social unrest on a large scale. "The party and the government have always paid a lot of attention to social management. But it still can't keep up with the changes in economic and social development," Zhe told party officials. The party usually describes public unrest as social issues instead of giving them political colour. "Faced with the negative impact of market economy, we still have not established social management system ," he told the official New China News Agency. Worrying about the growing disparity in incomes , Zhe said, "It can cause great harm to society's ethics and trust." This is first time a top party functionary has vented tensions within the party and the government over slowdown.

The Brazilian Post

World

US aviation chief on leave for drunk driving

The head of the US Federal Aviation Administration took leave of absence last Monday after being charged for drunk driving, officials said. FAA Administrator Jerome Randolph "Randy" Babbitt, 65, was arrested late Saturday after police on patrol spotted him driving on the wrong side of the road in a Virginia suburb of Washington, Fairfax City police said in a statement. Babbitt, who was alone in the car and was not involved in a traffic accident, was taken to the adult detention center, where he was charged before being released on his own recognizance. Police said he cooperated fully with the authorities. Babbitt himself requested a leave of absence from the FAA, according to the Department of Transportation, which oversees the federal agency. It said DOT officials were in talks with legal counsel about Babbitt's employment status. White House spokesman Jay Carney said President

Barack Obama only learned of the arrest on Monday afternoon along with the rest of the administration, and declined to say whether the president would ask for Babbitt to resign. Deputy FAA Administrator Michael Huerta, an experienced transportation official who served as managing director of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah, will take up the agency's reins in Babbitt's absence. Fairfax police do not release the blood-alcohol level of people charged with driving while intoxicated, but Virginia law defines drunk driving as having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or more. Babbitt is due in Fairfax City General District Court on February 2 for a hearing, Fairfax City Police spokesman Captain Mike Artone said. A veteran pilot who flew for Eastern Airlines for 25 years, Babbitt was sworn in as the 16th FAA administrator in June 2009, according to his official biography.

World

The Brazilian Post

DEC 12th - 18th 2011

ANNIVERSARY EDITION

Afghan shrine blasts toll rises to 58

Twin blasts at Afghan shrines on the Shiite holy day of Ashura left at least 58 people dead on last Tuesday, with one massive suicide attack in Kabul ripping through a crowd of worshippers including children. The attack in the capital and another in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif came a day after an international meeting in Germany aimed at charting a course for Afghanistan, 10 years after US-led forces drove the Taliban from power. The Kabul blast alone killed 54 people, in the deadliest strike on the capital in three years. The Taliban condemned the attacks as "inhumane" and instead blamed the bloodshed on the "invading enemy". The explosion erupted at the entrance to a riverside shrine in central Kabul, where hundreds of singing Shiite Muslims had gathered to mark Ashura, with men whipping their bare backs as part of the traditional mourning. "I was there watching people mourning when there was suddenly a huge explosion," witness Ahmad Fawad said. "Some people around me fell down injured. I wasn't hurt, so I got up and started running. It was horrible," he said. Men and women at the scene sobbed as they surveyed the carnage, and screamed slogans denouncing al-Qaida and the Taliban. A young girl, dressed in a green shalwar kameez smeared in blood, stood shrieking, surrounded by the crumpled bodies of slain children. One person wounded in the attack, Sayed Gharib, described the horrific scenes in an interview from his hospital bed. "There was a huge bang close to where I was standing, I felt a pain in my legs and hands and fell down. I saw a lot of people covered in blood around me," he said. Health ministry spokesman Ghulam Sakhi Kargar Noorughli said 54 were dead in the Kabul attack and another 150 were injured. Separately, four people were killed in Mazar-i-Sharif when

another blast struck a shrine in the northern city. It was not immediately clear whether Shiites were the target. The explosion was caused by a bicycle bomb, said Lal Mohammad Ahmadzai, a police spokesman for northern Afghanistan, adding that another four people were injured. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for either of the attacks, which were condemned by President Hamid Karzai who is still in Germany following the Bonn conference. When the Sunni Taliban ruled in the 1990s, minority Shiites from the Hazara group suffered brutal persecution, but in recent years sectarian violence has been rare and the Kabul blast is thought to be the worst attack of its kind. During the 10-day Ashura ceremonies, which peaked on Tuesday, Shiites beat themselves with knives and chains in religious fervour as they mark the seventh-century killing of a grandson of the Prophet Mohammed. Shiites were banned from marking Ashura in public under the Taliban. An Afghan security official speaking on condition of anonymity said it was believed the bomber at the Kabul shrine had arrived with a group of Shiite pilgrims from Logar province, south of Kabul. Another security official said the capital was now on high alert, with extra security forces deployed in case of any follow-up attacks. Kabul has been hit by an increasing number of spectacular attacks in 2011, including the September assassination of former president Burhanuddin Rabbani at his home, which hit hard any hopes for Taliban reconciliation. In the southern city of Kandahar, the Taliban's heartland, police said another five people were wounded in a motorcycle bomb but that it was not connected to Ashura. The blasts came the day after delegates at the Bonn conference agreed to extend international support for Afghanistan to 2024 following the scheduled withdrawal of all foreign combat troops by the end of 2014.

Japanese cities most costly for Asia expats: survey

Obama regrets killings, but no apology

Expatriates in Japan have the highest living expenses compared to their counterparts working elsewhere in Asia, due largely to the Japanese currency's recent sharp rise, a global survey said last Tuesday. Human resource firm ECA International's latest survey of expatriate living costs showed Japanese cities occupied the top four most expensive locations in Asia, with Tokyo ranked first followed by Nagoya, Yokohama and Kobe. The Japanese capital also topped the global list of most expensive locations for expatriates, according to the survey carried out in September. The yen has risen by about 20 percent against the US dollar in the past 12 months and expatriates who are paid in currencies such as the greenback are feeling the impact, said Lee Quane, ECA International's regional director. "It is not because prices have risen in Japan, they are still benign," Quane said. "Although we had a tsunami and the impact on the supply chain, that has had very little knock-on effect on the price that people pay in the supermarkets. Expatriates who are paid in yen won't feel much difference but for those who are paid in other currencies such as the US dollar, they will be the ones who are most affected." In recent months, investors have flocked to the Japanese currency as a safe haven amid volatile markets stirred by eurozone debt fears and concerns for the global economy. Rounding up Asia's top ten list of most expensive locations are fifth-placed Seoul followed by Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Busan. While living costs have risen by more than eight percent on average in Asia, this has not dented the appeal of the region to foreign companies, ECA International said. "People still want to move here, companies still want to expand their operations here," Quane said. The ECA International survey is carried out twice a year in March and September by measuring a basket of common items purchased by expatriates in more than 400 locations globally, such as dairy produce, vegetables, clothing and meals out. The survey does not include housing, utilities, car and school expenses as these items can make a significant difference to costs but are often compensated for separately in expatriate packages, the firm said.

President Barack Obama on last Sunday called Pakistan's president to offer condolences over a Nato air strike that killed 24 Pakistani troops and provoked a crisis in relations between the two countries. Obama told Asif Ali Zardari that the soldiers' deaths were "regrettable" and accidental, according to a White House statement. The comments stopped short of a formal apology but were aimed at soothing Pakistani fury over the November 26 incident. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Earlier on Monday the president placed a phone call to Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari to personally express his condolences on the tragic loss of twenty-four Pakistani soldiers this past week along the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan," the White House statement said. "The president made clear that this regrettable incident was not a deliberate attack on Pakistan and reiterated the US' strong commitment to a full investigation." The Nato air strike has added to strains in relations with Islamabad, whose cooperation Washington views as crucial to helping to stabilize the region before foreign combat troops leave Afghanistan in 2014. US-Pakistani relations were already frayed after the secret raid in May that killed al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden. Obama's phone call came on the eve of an international conference in Germany on the future of Afghanistan. Pakistan is boycotting the conference because of Nato air strikes. On last Saturday, secretary of state Hillary Clinton spoke by phone with Pakistani prime minister Yusaf Raza Gilani to offer condolences.

Australia minister supports uranium sales to India

Strongly favouring Labor Party decision to export uranium to India despite it being a non signatory to the Nuclear Non proliferation Treaty, Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith has said that he did not support the similar treatment towards Pakistan. Smith said he did not support uranium exports to Pakistan. Smith said he was a strong supporter of uranium export to India, calling it an exceptional case. "India brought itself under the governance of the international nuclear regulators, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Nuclear Suppliers Group," Smith said. "That has not occurred with Pakistan. There has never been a suggestion of (nuclear) proliferation from India," he said adding, "Regrettably, over preceding years, there have been serious concerns about proliferation from Pakistan." He expressed hope that Pakistan would understand the decision and that it would not affect military ties between the two nations. "Pakistan would understand the decision and that it would not affect military ties between the two nations, especially in their cooperation in the war in Afghanistan," he said adding, "I don't see this decision as having an adverse outcome, so far as the Australia-Pakistan relationship is concerned." â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nor do I see it in any way as being relevant to suitability in South Asia. We have a very good military-to-military and defence-to-defence relationship with Pakistan."

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ANNIVERSARY EDITION

DEC 12th - 18th 2011

Dozens of bodies dumped in Syria, activists say A surge in violence in the restive Syrian city of Homs has killed up to 50 people in the past 24 hours, leaving dozens of bodies in the streets, activists said last Tuesday. The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights cited witnesses as saying 34 bodies were dumped in the streets of Homs on last Monday night. Homs-based activist Mohammed Saleh said there was a spate of kidnappings and killings in the city earlier on Monday. The activists' reports could not be independently confirmed. Syria has banned most foreign journalists and prevents the work of independent media. For nearly nine months, the Syrian government has been trying to crush an uprising against President Bashar Assad. But there are growing signs of an armed insurgency and mounting sectarian tensions that could push the country toward civil war. Homs has emerged as the epicenter of the uprising, and the government has laid siege to the city for months. On last Monday, Syria said it would agree to allow Arab League observers into the country as part of a plan to end the bloodshed, but placed a number of conditions, including the cancellation of deeply embarrassing economic sanctions by the 22-member organization. Arab League chief Nabil Elaraby swiftly rebuffed Damascus' demands, and the Syrian opposition accused Assad's regime of wasting time and trying to trick Arab leaders into reversing punitive measures against Damascus. "Any announcements made by the Syrian regime while the military crackdown continues has for us zero credibility," said Bassma Kodmani, a spokeswoman for the Syrian National Council, an opposition umbrella group. Syria has already failed to meet several Arab League ultimatums to end the crackdown which the U.N. says has killed more than 4,000 people since the uprising against Assad erupted in March.

The Brazilian Post

World

Clinton calls Russian election unfair

Issuing new warnings to two U.S. partners last Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton criticized Russia for a parliamentary election she said was rigged and said election gains by Islamist parties must not set back Egypt's push toward democracy after the fall of autocrat Hosni Mubarak this year. She acknowledged the success of Islamist parties in Egyptian parliamentary voting that the U.S. has praised as fair. But many of the winners are not friendly to the United States or U.S. ally Israel, and some secular political activists in Egypt are worried that their revolution is being hijacked. Islamist parties are among the betterknown and better-organized in Egypt, and while they were expected to do well in the recent first round voting, a hardline bloc scored surprisingly large gains. Clinton addressed head-on the fear that the hardliners will crimp human and women's rights. "Transitions require fair and inclusive elections, but they also demand the embrace of democratic norms and rules," she said. "We expect all democratic actors to uphold universal human rights, including women's rights, to allow free religious practice." Speaking to the election-monitoring Organiza-

tion for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Clinton repeatedly criticized Russia's weekend elections, in which Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's party won the largest share of parliament seats. Opposition politicians and election monitors say the result was inflated because of ballot-box stuffing and other vote fraud. "Russian voters deserve a full investigation of electoral fraud and manipulation," Clinton said. Russia's top diplomat was present at the meeting in the Lithuanian capital, but the two did not plan to meet separately. Later, Clinton met with activists from Belarus and encouraged them to continue opposing a recent crackdown by President Alexander Lukashenko's regime. "It is inconceivable that in Europe today, in December of 2011, the Lukashenko government is behaving the way it is behaving," she told lawyers, educators, bloggers and others. Speaking at a museum dedicated to the lost Jewish culture and history of Lithuania, Clinton again criticized Russia. "Regardless of where you live, citizenship requires holding your government accountable," she said. Efforts to bar election monitoring by a Russian organization have undermined public faith, she said.

Thousands gather in Russia to protest legislative elections Tens of thousands of Russians took to the streets in Moscow on Saturday shouting “Putin is a thief” and “Russia without Putin,” forcing the Kremlin to confront a level of public discontent that has not been seen here since Vladimir V. Putin first became president 12 years ago. The crowd overflowed from a central city square, forcing stragglers to climb trees or watch from the opposite riverbank. “We exist!” they chanted. “We exist!” Opposition leaders understood that for a moment they, not the Kremlin, were dictating the political agenda, and seemed intent on leveraging it, promising to gather an even larger crowd again on Dec. 24. Saturday's rally served to build their confidence as it united liberals, nationalists and Communists. The event was too large to be edited out of the evening news, which does not ordinarily report on criticism of Mr. Putin. And it was accompanied by dozens of smaller rallies across Russia's nine time zones, with a crowd of 3,000 reported in Tomsk, and 7,000 in St. Petersburg, the police said. The protests certainly complicate Mr. Putin's own campaign to return to the presidency. He is by far the country's most popular political figure, but he no longer appears untouchable and will have to engage with his critics, something he has done only rarely and grudgingly. In Moscow, the police estimated the crowd at 25,000, though organizers said there were more than twice that many. The government calculated that it had no choice but to allow the events to unfold and granted a license. There was a large police presence, including helicopters, troop carriers, dump trucks and bulldozers, but remarkably when the crowd dispersed four hours later, no detentions were reported at the scene. Older participants were reminded of the oceans of demonstrators who marched on the Kremlin in the early 1990s, heralding the collapse of the Soviet Union. Younger protesters — so digitally connected that they broadcast the event live by holding iPads over their heads — said this was a day when a group that had been silent made itself heard. “People are just tired, they have already crossed all the boundaries,” said Yana Larionova, 26, a real estate agent. “You see all these people who are well dressed and earn a good salary, going out onto the streets on Saturday and saying, 'No more.' That's when you know you need a change.” Calls for protest have been mounting since parliamentary elections last Sunday, which domestic and international observers said were tainted by ballot-stuffing and fraud on behalf of Mr. Putin's party, United Russia. But an equally crucial event, many said, was Mr. Putin's announcement in September that he would run for the presidency in March. He is almost certain to win a six-year term, meaning he will have been Russia's paramount leader for 18 years. Yevgeniya Albats, editor of the New Times, a magazine often critical of the government, said that the gathering was the most striking display of grass-roots democracy that she had seen in Russia, and that the involvement of young people was a game-changer. When Mr. Putin revealed his decision to return to the presidency, six months before the election, she said, “this really, really humiliated the country.”

“Today we just proved that civil society does exist in Russia, that the middle class does exist and that this country is not lost,” Ms. Albats said. The authorities had been trying to discourage attendance, saying that widespread protests could prove as destabilizing as the Soviet collapse, which occurred 20 years ago this month. Officials have portrayed the demonstrators as revolutionaries dedicated to a violent, Libya-style overthrow. Mr. Putin last week said that Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton had set off the wave of activism by publicly criticizing the conduct of the parliamentary elections. “She set the tone for some actors in our country and gave them a signal,” Mr. Putin said. “They heard the signal and with the support of the U.S. State Department began active work.” Protesters laughed at this notion. One speaker asked the crowd, “Are we here because Hillary Clinton texted us?” Sergei Y. Zhidkov, 50, who identified himself as a Russian nationalist, gave an expectant smile in a conversation with an American. “I'd like to know when we are going to get your money,” he said brightly. There were notes of humor, some of it barbed, about vote tampering, like a sign that said “146 percent of Muscovites are for free elections!” Some protesters carried badminton rackets, a sly reference to a pastime of Mr. Putin and President Dmitri A. Medvedev. At metal detectors near one entrance was a pile of chocolate bars brought by protesters for the police on duty. A photographer circulated photographs of a riot police officer holding a white flower, a symbol of the protest, behind his back. The protest's organizers have made several demands: the immediate release of prisoners arrested last week in connection with the protests; the scheduling of new parliamentary elections; the ouster of Vladimir Y. Churov, who runs the Central Election Commission; an investigation of election violations; and the registration of socalled nonsystem opposition parties, ones that have been unable to win seats in Parliament or put forward presidential candidates. It seems unlikely that the authorities will accede to the protesters' demands. A deputy chairman of Russia's Central Election Commission told the Interfax news service that the final report on the election results was signed Friday, and that he saw no reason to annul them. “The elections are declared valid, and there is no reason for any other assessment,” said the official, Stanislav Vavilov. “There is no reason to revise the results of the elections.” Aleksei Navalny, a popular blogger who has helped mobilize young Russians over the past year, sent an address from the prison where he is serving a 15-day sentence for resisting the police. Mr. Navalny was arrested Monday night after the first of three demonstrations. “Everyone has the single most powerful weapon that we need — dignity, the feeling of self-respect,” said the address, which was delivered by a veteran opposition leader, Boris Y. Nemtsov. “It's impossible to beat and arrest hundreds of thousands, millions. We have not even been intimidated. For some time, we were simply convinced that the life of toads and rats, the life of mute cattle, was the only way to win the reward of stability and economic growth.”

World

The Brazilian Post

DEC 12th - 18th 2011

ANNIVERSARY EDITION

US firm reverses 1-way flow of shoes from Asia Most shoes bought in the U.S. were likely made in China. Now an American shoemaker wants to put the shoe on the other foot, by persuading the Chinese to wear shoes made in the U.S.A. The Allen Edmonds Shoe Corp., whose high-end shoes have been worn by U.S. presidents for generations, is preparing to open stores in China while keeping the manufacturing work at home. The plan marks a reversal of sorts in a footwear industry that has flowed almost entirely from East to West. Nearly 99 percent of shoes sold in the U.S. are imported, with China accounting for about 88 percent of the total, according to a report by the American Apparel & Footwear Association. Allen Edmonds is hoping to become a larger player in the world market. So the Wisconsin-based shoe company announced last Tuesday that it has signed a licensing agreement with a Shanghai-based company to sell its shoes in China, Hong Kong and Macau. The first store is slated to open in Shanghai by the end of June. Conventional wisdom might suggest that the cheapest way to sell to the Chinese is to assemble the products in China, thereby minimizing labor and shipping costs. But Paul Grangaard, Allen Edmonds' top executive, wouldn't hear of it. He said a significant part of his company's appeal is that its products are US-made. "We sometimes forget in this country what a strong reputation 'Made in America' has around the world," said Grangaard, the president and CEO of the privately held firm. "If we started making shoes in China, we'd be just like any other company." Allen Edmonds shoes are handmade at the company headquarters in Port Washington, about 30 miles (50 kilometers)

north of Milwaukee. Its 330 production workers crank out 2,000 pairs of shoes a day, and Grangaard predicted that if sales in Asia take off, the manufacturing staff could double in the next 10 years. There's room for his optimism. China has about 1.3 billion people, or as Grangaard sees the market, 2.6 billion feet, and its expanding upper and middle classes can increasingly afford pricey shoes. Capturing even a small fraction of that market could be lucrative. The company thinks it's possible to do so, given recent trends in the U.S. Allen Edmond shoes range in price from $120 to $600, with the more popular styles in the $300 range. That might be out of

the price range of many Americans, especially during a recession, yet Grangaard said domestic demand has surged within the last year or so. He attributed the trend to several factors. Men are dressing better, he said, trading in the beat-up tennis shoes they might wear on weekends for a pair of comfortable, classy business-casual shoes. Customers also want quality, preferring to spend $300 on a pair of shoes that last five to 10 years rather than pay half that price for a pair that has to be replaced in a year or two, he said. He credits those factors with putting Allen Edmonds on pace for $100 million in sales this year. That would be about a 20 percent increase over last year. It would also mirror a national trend, as U.S. sales of footwear jumped 14 percent from 2009 to 2010. But some of the company's most notable customers have been loyal for years. Every U.S. president from Ronald Reagan to George W. Bush wore Allen Edmonds on the dais for their inauguration ceremony, Grangaard said. Although that trend ended with Barack Obama in 2008, Grangaard said the current commander-in-chief has been spotted wearing them since then and even bought two pairs in recent months. While Allen Edmonds has always touted its American workmanship, Grangaard said the message didn't resonate as much as customers stopped looking for "Made in the USA" tags. But with renewed demand for US-made products, the company is now being rewarded for keeping all its jobs on US soil, he added. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It took dogged determination to stay an American manufacturer during the '90s and the first decade of this century," Grangaard said. "Now the pendulum is coming back."

ANNIVERSARY EDITION

DEC 12th - 18th 2011

The Brazilian Post

Economy

The Internationalization of Brazil

By cholanda@brazilianpost.co.uk

SPEED NEWS: Tesco suffers UK sales drop

Tesco reported a further fall in third-quarter U.K. same-store sales, although international sales continued to rise.

Everything everywhere plans network investment

The mobile operator that runs Orange and T-Mobile in the U.K. said that it will spend ÂŁ1.5 billion over the next three years on improving its network, as consumer demand for smartphones and tablets surges.

US regulators examine welds in Volt fires

U.S. safety regulators are combing over five Chevrolet Volts to determine whether welded parts near the 400-pound battery contributed to fires that occurred following government crash tests.

BOE leaves rates, asset buying unchanged

The Bank of England kept its key interest rate on hold at 0.5% and the size of its stimulus program unchanged, but is expected to step up its efforts to support the U.K. economy early next year.

Sesa Goa ups stake in Cairn India to 20%

Sesa Goa said it acquired 28.8 million shares of Cairn India from the Indian explorer's parent at 325 rupees ($6.34) per share through a block deal.

MPX: Brazil Bank accepts financing request for power plants

MPX Energia SA, the electricity company controlled by Brazilian billionaire Eike Batista, said last Thursday that national development bank BNDES accepted its request for 1.6 billion Brazilian Reais ($890 million) to finance the construction of power plant.

The emigration of Brazilians is something new for a country historically formed as an immigration destination especially for Europeans. More than an exclusively demographic fact, this represents a social, economic and political phenomenon, which is being progressively recognized in the Brazilian statistics. Brazil, a country that few years ago was drowned in debts with absurd inflation rates that capped 85% per month, is now not an emerging but an emerged economic potency. There is a big gap between the parent generation that used to suffer from cabalistic economic plans imposed by the government and the new generation experiencing the new economic boom. In the recent past, for Brazilians, to travel abroad was very expensive and considered an adventure made by not many. Few flights, depreciated currency, tight belts in a huge country totally dependable on the Arab oil, made it a far dream for the majority of them. For centuries Brazil absorbed the exterior world but had few contacts with it. Things have changed completely. Brazilians are not

only aware of the world; they are a part of it. Many companies and flights, a stable and strong currency, good jobs, better salaries, all of those factors allied with a natural and genetic tendency to look outwards is encouraging Brazilians to be everywhere in the whole world. United States was a preferred stop for its proximity and pioneering Brazilian settlement there for a long time and the only country that you could say had a Brazilian community abroad, is still the main destination. Due to large-scale Japanese immigration to Brazil, it has the biggest Japanese community outside Japan. Hence, Japan is another country that concentrates many Brazilian Japanese descendants. But Europe as well is now home for a big number of Brazilians. In 2010, the amount of Brazil investments abroad was for the first time in its history bigger than the foreign investment in. The internationalization of Brazil also shows a country beyond being an exporter of mineral and agricultural commodities, able to conquer its space on the international scene.

The trajectory of the Brazilian transnational companies Although the majority of large corporations in the world originate in Europe, United States and Japan, a significant change in this scenario has been observed in recent years. In fact, there is a significant increase in the number of companies from developing economies in the list of exporters of capital. In Brazil, this internationalization happened almost a century later behind the European and American companies, which had begun its process after the First World War. However, this process has been growing strongly in recent years, driven mainly by domestic and international economic scenarios and the favorable performance of the Brazil currency (Real). Later or not, the fact is that we can say that the border no longer represents a barrier to the expansion of Brazilian companies. Rather, it is a market strategy and perhaps even a matter of survival especially due to the increasing pressure for liberalization of international trade. The strengthening of economic blocs formed by rich countries and international acquisitions has made the market more competitive. In many markets, global presence and the size of the economic groups can decree its success or failure. Brazil was the 19th largest recipient of investment in the world. Only in 2010, Brazil received $ 19 billion in investments, an increase of 20% compared to 2009, emerging as a major destination for international investment. But besides being a major destination of international investment, Brazil has also become a strong exporter of capital.

The success strategy Internationalization is a process that requires planning. However, a study from the University of SĂŁo Paulo, showed that in a group of entrepreneurs, in which 96% have plans for internationalization, only 43% claim to have carried out detailed investigations of the country that they are going to. The opportunities are many and include reduced costs of logistics and work power, obtaining financial resources in more favorable conditions, the conquest of new markets etc. On the other hand, we have to manage cultural differences, different language, and in some countries, exchange rate instability and political and economic insecurity. Issues such as professional recruitment, training, flexibility in management, among others, should be considered before the implementation of the investment. An important task for the entrepreneur, is raising funds for expansion. The options are many and include financing with ones own resources or bank loans, including lines of credit provided by banks operating credit and capital market funding.

LONDON -

the land of entrepreneurs Given the increasing number of young entrepreneurs in Brazil, what could be a better place to find inspiration? Brazil is a leader in entrepreneurship and, after China, has the largest number of entrepreneurs among the nations of the G-20. It is estimated that 1 in 8 adults is an entrepreneur, and about 15% of the population owns the company. In fact, individual entrepreneurs selling homemade goods or providing a service make many of the trades in Brazil. Increasingly, companies outside the UK are looking for Britain to grow their business globally. These are not just attracted by the strength and stability of the UK market, but also by the recognition because it is a spring for international growth. And not just established companies that are going to the UK. A growing number of young companies consider Britain an ideal base to launch their business. First, the United Kingdom is the easiest

place to find and run a business - taking just 13 days, compared with a world average of 35. It also has the right mix of business environment, with its highly developed intellectual property protection, valuable network of investors and consultants, and research and development leaders. Britain also has the fewest barriers to entrepreneurship. In fact, entrepreneurs are vital for economic growth in the UK, and that is why the British government launched a visa for investors and entrepreneurs in order to facilitate the establishment of the best and brightest in the region. Brazil is clearly the lead in terms of entrepreneurship. In the coming years, expect to see more young and dynamic Brazilian companies choosing the UK as the basis for its foundation, establishment and overall growth, while it will become an indelible part of the rich British tradition of innovation and success.

Economy

The Brazilian Post

Moody's downgrades top french banks In another sign of how Europe's debt crisis is rippling through the banking system, Moody's Investors Service on Friday downgraded the three largest banks in France, saying there was a “very high” probability that the French government would step in to support them if conditions worsened. Moody's cut various ratings for Société Générale, BNP Paribas and Crédit Agricole by one notch, citing the problems each faced recently in raising money on the open market. The ratings agency said the banks could face further losses on their holdings of Greek and Italian government bonds should the crisis deepen. Just a day earlier, Europe's main banking regulator said that all French banks had passed a test designed to see whether financial institutions had enough capital to weather unexpected shocks. And on Friday, Goldman Sachs upgraded its recommendation for holding shares of European banks to neutral from underweight. It said a decision Thursday by the European Central Bank to lend troubled banks dollars for longer periods under eased terms would help the banks weather the effects of the crisis and an economic downturn. But the Moody's assessment includes more dire assumptions about the future of the euro than the European Banking Authority used. Moody's also repeated a warning that Greece and several other countries could default on their debts and exit the euro zone if politicians failed to find a solution to their problems. The French government has a long history of stepping in to support its banks, considering them integral to the economy. French officials have said they are ready to backstop the banks if the markets force their hand, but they insist the banks are sound. Many banks in Europe have had trouble raising money in recent months and have had to turn to their national central banks and the E.C.B. instead.

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Banks prep for life after euro Some central banks in Europe have started weighing contingency plans to prepare for the possibility that countries leave the euro zone or the currency union breaks apart entirely, according to sources. The first signs are surfacing that central banks are thinking about how to resuscitate currencies based on bank notes that haven't been printed since the first euros went into circulation in January 2002. At least one, the Central Bank of Ireland, is evaluating whether it needs to secure additional access to printing presses in case it has to churn out new bank notes to support a reborn national currency as per sources. Outside the 17-country euro zone, numerous European central banks are eyeing defensive measures to protect against the possible fallout if the euro zone were to unravel. Several, including Switzerland, are considering possible replacements for the euro as the external reference point, or peg, they use to try to keep their currencies' values stable. The central banks' planning is preliminary, according to the people familiar with the matter. It doesn't represent an expectation that the euro zone is headed for dissolution. But the fact that central bankers are even studying the possibility, which until this fall was considered unthinkable, underscores how swiftly conditions have deteriorated. Policy makers, central bankers and investors around the world have pinned their hopes on last week's

Brussels summit to forge a long-awaited solution to the continent's two-year financial crisis, which was ignited by doubts over countries' abilities to pay their debts. The stakes are high. A failure of Europe's leaders to defuse the crisis would fuel already growing doubts about the viability of the euro zone. Many policy makers, bankers and other experts fear the monetary union's unraveling would not only reverse a decade of economic integration but also would trigger financial chaos. J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. put out a report last Wednesday that advised investors and companies to hedge against a collapse of the euro zone—though the bank said the likelihood of that happening was just 20%. It said many corporate clients were buying currency derivatives to place bets against the euro. Before the formal launch of the euro in January 2002, an army of planners spent years choreographing the logistics of the currency's debut, including the minting of billions of bank notes and coins and the distribution of the new currency to banks and businesses across the Continent. Disassembling the bloc would be messy at best. Among the many challenges, loans and deposits currently denominated in euros would have to be switched to new currencies. And individual countries would need to decide whether to dust off their old currencies and, if so, how to quickly produce large quantities of paper money.

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Economy

Cleaning the Brasília pork factory In a never-ending soup opera of sleaze, Dilma Rousseff is tackling the excesses of patronage politics but not yet the underlying system. By now Brazil's president, Dilma Rousseff, must be finding the script wearily familiar. First come the corruption allegations, then the indignant denials, more evidence, equivocation and retractions—and finally another of her ministers has to walk. Since June Ms Rousseff has lost her chief of staff and the ministers of transport, agriculture, tourism and sport, variously accused of influence-peddling, bribe-taking, signing fraudulent deals with shell companies and diverting public funds into party coffers or their own pockets. Now Carlos Lupi, the labour minister, has become the latest to head for the exit. He is accused of presiding over a department that charged kickbacks for government contracts, of personally accepting free flights from one of those contractors and of siphoning off public money to semi-phantom non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Mr Lupi's response was pugnacious. He did not know the man in question and had never flown with him, he said. The only way to get him out of his ministry, Mr Lupi added, would be to shoot him (“and it would have to be a big bullet, because I'm a big guy”). Then came photographs of him with both businessman and plane. His defenestration seemed to be a matter of time. Barring new revelations, he had to go in a wider cabinet shuffle expected early in the new year. The faxina (“housecleaning”), as Ms Rousseff's removal of allegedly light-fingered ministers has come to be known, is popular. The latest opinion polls put her and her government's approval ratings at record highs. But it merely scratches the surface of a problem with roots in the way that politics has developed in Brazil. All presidents since democracy was restored in 1985 have had to form variegated coalitions to obtain legislative majorities. But, complained Fernando Henrique Cardoso, a former president, earlier this

Tweeting without fear

How three companies have built their twitter strategies. Who would have thought typing such short messages could be so tricky? By now, even the stodgiest companies have found their way onto Twitter. They have discovered it isn't just another marketing channel with a funny name, it's more like a conversation they need to join or risk losing influence over how consumers view them or their brands. The service, which lets users send 140-character texts, or "tweets," to people who have signed up to follow them, has proved to be an effective way to reach younger consumers and to help build a brand. But there's a flip side. The nearly 6-yearold medium has become a very public complaint line, and ill-considered tweets or hacked Twitter accounts have caused plenty of embarrassment. In March Chrysler Group LLP cut ties with an agency that handled its Twitter account after the agency sent a tweet that read: "I find it ironic that Detroit is known as the motor city and yet no one here knows how to f— drive." Kenneth Cole Productions Inc. apologized after making a joke on its Twitter page suggesting the

Egyptian protesters who toppled the country's government earlier this year were really clamoring for the company's fashions. "Millions are in uproar in Cairo. Rumor is they heard our new spring collection is now available online" the tweet read. An April tweet on American Express Co.'s account that urged support of Planned Parenthood was sent after the account was compromised, the company said. Last week AMR Corp.'s American Airlines found itself caught in a public spat after actor Alec Baldwin vented on Twitter after being removed from an American flight. "Flight attendant on American reamed me out 4 playing WORDS W FRIENDS," Mr. Baldwin tweeted, referring to a Scrabble-like online game. American replied via Twitter asking for his contact information. A day later, American tweeted, "UPDATE: Facts about yesterday's removed passenger" along with a link to a statement giving a less-flattering account of the passenger's behavior without mentioning Mr. Baldwin's name. Mr. Baldwin deactivated his Twitter account after the incident and apologized to his fellow passengers.

month, a “system” has now developed under which parties demand ministries in return for their votes, and then use the public funds they thus gain control of to expand their membership. The 513 seats in the lower house of Congress are now divided between 23 parties. Ms Rousseff's governing coalition comprises ten of them, commanding 360 seats (an 11th, with 40 legislators, left after the transport minister was sacked). Several of its smaller members have no discernible aim other than to grow fat on public money. The biggest, the Party of the Brazilian Democratic Movement, an alliance of regional power brokers, switched to join her predecessor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, after he won in 2002 and will stay only as long as it suits. “We have a strong president who is unable to do anything without support in Congress,” says Sylvio Costa of Congresso em Foco, an anti-corruption watchdog. “And that support must be bought.” Some 25,000 jobs, including board and managerial posts at state-controlled firms and pension funds and in ministries' regional offices, are also in the president's gift. A senior official points out that 20,000 of these go to career civil servants, not party hacks. But the two are not mutually exclusive, points out David Fleischer, a political scientist at the University of Brasília. The test comes when a new party takes the presidency, as when Lula took office, he says. Then there was a wholesale clear-out. By the end of Lula's second term a big share of senior managers in the federal administration and at state pension funds were trade unionists or members of his Workers' Party (PT). Officials insist that the government needs a large political base to be able to approve important legislation, such as a new oil-royalty law. They talk, too, of tax and pension reform. But much of Ms Rousseff's political agenda—improving education and health, eliminating extreme poverty, and investing in infrastructure—does not require congressional approval. She could afford to be more radical in her political clean-up.

Sport

The first ever soccer World Cup was held in the year 1930, which was won by the host country, Uruguay. The number of spectators was 300. Mexico is the only country to host the soccer World Cup event twice. Brazil has won 5 World Cups whereas Argentina has won 2. An interesting fact is that European countries have always been in the World Cup finals, except for the years 1930 and 1950. India pulled out from the 1950 World Cup because the players were not allowed to play without shoes. The 1950 World Cup game between Uruguay and Brazil at the Maracana Stadium, recorded the highest number of spectators, 199,854. From the year 1962 to 1996, the World Cup was won alternatively by the Europeans and South Americans. The first player to be red carded was the Chile player Carlos Caszely, during the 1974 World Cup. The Brazilian star player Ronaldo, became the all-time highest goal scorer in World Cup events in the year 2006, when he outnumbered the German legend 'Gerd Müller'. He was honored as the most valuable player of the 1998 World Cup, despite the defeat of his team to France. German international player, Oliver Kahn became the first goalkeeper to win the most valuable player of the World Cup in 2002. He was the first goalkeeper to do so.

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Messi is better than Neymar

Ronaldinho and Muricy shared the same opinion, for both Messi is the best player in the world but one day it'll be Neymar. Once the star of the Catalonian club, the Flamengo midfielder told Spanish newspaper, Mundo Deportivo, about the great threat that Neymar will pose to his former club at this year's Club World Cup in Japan if both sides can reach the final. "They have to pay close attention to Neymar. He's a fantastic player with great quality and impressive dribbling," said Ronaldinho. Despite the praise for his fellow countryman, the Flamengo captain admitted his former Argentinian team mate is better than the Santos forward. “Neymar and Messi are two great players, but Leo is number one, he's the best in the world," said Ronaldinho. The Santos coach, Muricy has the same opinion. ''Today Messi is the best. There's no need to discuss this. Even by age, Messi (23 years old) has played more, he has more experience. Neymar (19 years old) is still emerging.'' Neymar agreed with the Santos boss saying, ''He (Messi) is the best with Cristiano Ronaldo close behind."

The Incredible Hulk Hulk, 25, is one of the most powerful strikers on the continent. He scored 36 goals last season that helped Porto to win the Europa League, Portuguese League and Portuguese Cup and because of his success many clubs have offered for him but Porto did not accept. However with Carlos Tevez likely to leave the Etihad Stadium; Manchester City's boss, Roberto Mancini, has declared his preference for the Porto star as a replacement. The Portuguese Champions could have problems in holding the Brazilian International but before City completes their dream they have to meet the £88 million buyout clause.

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