Brazil

1. Include a map of Brazil.

Map of Brazil: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/br.html

2. Native peoples -- which major tribal groups (if any) live(d) in Brazil?
 * [|Aché]
 * [|Amanyé]
 * [|Awá]
 * [|Baniwa]
 * [|Botocudo]
 * [|Caingang] ([|Kaingang])
 * [|Guaraní]
 * [|Kamayurá (Kamaiurá)]
 * [|Karajá]
 * [|Kayapo]
 * [|Korubo]
 * [|Matsés]
 * [|Mayoruna]
 * [|Munduruku]
 * [|Ofayé]
 * [|Panará]
 * [|Pirahã]
 * [|Quilombolo]
 * [|Tapirape]
 * [|Ticuna]
 * Tremembé
 * [|Tupi]
 * [|Tupiniquim] (Tupinikim)
 * [|Waorani]
 * [|Xavante]
 * [|Xokó]
 * [|Xucuru]
 * [|Yanomami]
 * [|Yawanawa]
 * [|Zuruaha]

3. Which European country(ies) colonized Brazil (if applicable)? The Treaty of Tordesillas, arranged in 1494, split up the world into two sections, one that could be explored by Portugal, and one that could be explored by Spain. Just to the east of the meridian that separates the two sections, Portuguese’s territory, is the coast of Brazil. The first Portuguese to reach the coast of Brazil were Pedro Cabral and his crew, in 1500. The Portuguese reported that at the time there were about 7 million native Indians.

4. When did Brazil gain independence? From which country? On September 7th, 1822, Brazil officially gained independence from Portugal. Their independence was almost bloodless, and the process did not cause any fighting or did not stir any sort of rebellion.

5. What is the current ethnic makeup of Brazil? White 53.7%, mulatto (mixed white and black) 38.5%, black 6.2%, other (includes Japanese, Arab, Amerindian) 0.9%, unspecified 0.7% (2000 census)

6. What is the infant mortality rate in Brazil? //total:// 27.62 deaths/1,000 live births //male:// 31.27 deaths/1,000 live births //female:// 23.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

7. What is the official language of Brazil? Portuguese

8. What is the adult literacy rate for Brazil? //total population:// 88.6% //male:// 88.4% //female:// 88.8% (2004 est.)

9. What are the main exports from Brazil? Brazil is the world’s leading provider of sugar, coffee, beef, and orange juice. Brazil’s other major exports include soybeans, iron ore, steel, textiles, and footwear.

10. Look for your Brazil's GNI per capita. Compare your country's GNI per capita with that of the United States. GNI per capita of 2005: 7: United States, $43,740 97: Brazil, $3,460 GNI per capita is a statistic that gives a general idea of what the average income of a citizen in a country. However, it does not take into account outliers such as millionaires or those who do not work. The statistic takes the total income of the country and devides that number by how many citizens there are in the country. Brazil's GNI per capita is a relatively low number perhaps because of the large number of people that live in Brazil. There are currently over 180 million people living in Brazil. The Unites States GNI per capita is one of the highest in the world, despite having a total of 300 million people.

11. Look for a current events issue that is important in your assigned country. Summarize (one paragraph in your own words) what a current issue is in this country. In another paragraph, analyze what impact this issue is having on the people in the country or region. (Yes, this sounds a lot like your summer reading assignment!)

In the past ten months, Brazil has netted a total of $34 billion in trade surplus. Official figures show that this total is almost 10% higher than the amount netted last year in the same 10-month phase. So far this year, Brazilian exports have grossed over $130 billion, which is 16.5% more than the same period in 2006. Although in October, imports had increased significantly, Brazilian exports still collected 3.44 billion dollars more. For the year, imports have cost Brazil nearly $98 billion, which is significantly higher than what it was last year. The 15.77 billion dollars that Brazil grossed in solely exports last month was the highest recorded amount of money made in October. Forbes reports that they are projected to collect $41 billion in trade surplus this year, $5 billion less than the record-breaking performance of last year. Brazil has been increasingly successful in their trade in past years, rising from a dismal trade surplus of just $13 billion in 2002. This increase in trade surplus has provided plenty of money for Brazil, and its citizens. Also, the increase in money spent on imports presents many more products and other things for the Brazilian population to buy. Brazil has done an excellent job of jumpstarting their exports in the past decade as well. [|Brazil's Trade Surplus Grows to $34 Billion] [|Forbes] [|2002 Brazil Trade Surplus]

12. What percentage of the population in your country lives on less than $1 a day? $2 a day? < $1 per day: 7.5%

< $2 per day: 21.2%

13. Look for other environmental and health data from the Population Reference Bureau. Compare Brazil's data with that of the United States. CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions per capita (per person): United States: 19.9 metric tons Brazil: 1.9 tons

Number of vehicles per 1,000 people: United States: 774 Brazil: 79

Percentage of the population using adequate sanitation, rural areas: United States: 100% Brazil: 32%

Percentage of underweight children, <5: United States: 1% Brazil: 4%

Brazilian Flag: http://www.v-brazil.com/images/brazilflag.gif The Brazilian flag was officially adopted on November 19, 1889, which was four days after the republic was founded. The green backdrop is meant to represent Brazilian fields, while the gold is meant to symbolize Brazilian gold and wealth. The navy colored sky represents the sky in Rio de Janeiro on the night of November 15, while each star in the circle stands for a Brazilian state. The phrase Ordem e Progresso, means “order and progress”, in Portuguese, the official language of Brazil.

Bibliography: http://www.geographia.com/brazil/brazihistory.htm http://historymedren.about.com/library/text/bltxtportugal23.htm http://www.v-brazil.com/information/flag.html http://www.123independenceday.com/brazil/ http://internationaltrade.suite101.com/article.cfm/brazil_s_trade_buddies