Recession and the future of Brazil

So as you are all aware recession is in full swing at the moment and “making ends meat” is a hard task and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. But let’s not get our knickers in a twist... why... because it’s not all doom and gloom.

 Brazil is considered a third world country by many but I think this is a wrong assessment. Let me explain why I think Brazil will be one of the dominating countries in the coming eight to ten years.

One thing people must look at is “self sustainability” and Brazil has EVERYTHING within its own borders. Let’s take a look at them up close.

What do you need to be “self sustainable” Fuel and food, and while they are the main priorities Brazil has much more to offer.

American President Obama just donated over 2 billion dollars to a Brazilian petroleum company as an investment because they found over 8 billion barrels of oil, that’s not inclusive of the oil that is already been drilled right now.

Also something that is huge right now is “Green fuels” such as Ethanol. 

And low and behold Brazil again is one of the top contenders. Together with the United States, Brazil lead the industrial production of ethanol fuel, accounting together for 89% of the world's production in 2009. (6.57 billion gallons in one year) Brazil’s 30-year-old ethanol fuel program is based on the most efficient agricultural technology for sugarcane cultivation in the WORLD. The 1979 Brazilian made Fiat 147 was the FIRST modern automobile launched to the market capable of running only on hydrous ethanol fuel.

So as far as fuel is concerned... CHECK

So the next we will look at is food.

Brazil in 2005 produced around 8.7 million tonnes (19.1 billion pounds) of beef. Brazil also became world leader in beef exports in 2003 after surpassing Australia. The cattle herds are concentrated in the states of Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás and Minas Gerais, together they account to over 46% of Brazilian cattle with more than 87 million head of cattle.

Coffee:

Coffee production in Brazil is responsible for about a third of all coffee, making Brazil by far the world's largest producer, a position the country has held for the last 150 years. In 2007, 2,249,010 metric tonnes was produced, 80% of it was arabica. Although Brazil is the world's largest coffee producer, Brazilian firms do not dominate the international coffee industry.

Corn:

In 2005 Brazil produced 36 million Metric tonnes of corn. Brazilian corn production is concentrated in the state of Paraná, which has since 2000, produced on average 26.75% of the corn in Brazil.

Rice:

Productivity per hectare has surged 61% since 1990 but production remains highly concentrated on the state of Rio Grande do Sul, which grows on average 48% all rice in Brazil and in 2005 was estimated to have produced 13.20 million metric tonnes.

Soya bean:

Brazil is the world's second largest producer of soybeans. Brazilian soybean production has increased more than 3000% in the last 35 years. The states of Mato Grosso and Paraná together grow on average since 2000 over 49% of all Soya bean in Brazil. Per hectare productivity has increased 37.8% since 1990. Soya bean and soybean derivatives exports in 2005 alone earned over US$ 9 billion for Brazil and in 2005, production was at 52 million metric tonnes.

Wheat:

Brazil’s tropical climate is not very suitable for growing wheat, this problem is reflected in the fact that two of Brazil's coldest states, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul, account for over 90% of wheat production. Despite the internal production Brazil has to import around US$700 million in wheat every year BUT in 2005 produced an average of 4.70 million metric tonnes.

Sugarcane:

Today Brazil leads the world in sugarcane production. Sugarcane production is concentrated in 6 Brazilian states: São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás and Paraná. Those 6 states are responsible for 82% of the total production. Brazil harvested 558 million tonnes of sugarcane in 2007. This represented a growth of 17.62% over 2006. For 2008 Brazil should harvest at least 607 million tonnes, of that total 89% or 540 million tonnes of sugarcane will used for sugar and ethanol production, the other 11% will be used for cachaça and rapadura production, as animal feed and as seeds. Ethanol production in 2008 is predicted to reach at least 26.4 billion litres.

Production in 2007 558 MILLION METRIC TONNES.

FOOD... CHECK.  

Not to mention the millions of tonnes of fruit and vegetables

So for now and the foreseeable future, Brazil looks to be a world contender and shouldn’t be ruled out as a country that will strive in riches and wealth in the coming years ahead.

Stay tuned for part two. - Fight Diary

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

From my last post you will see some of the great points about Brazil, but lets not think that its just smiles and sunshine here. Here, like anywhere has its bad points. So lets look a little closer at them.

Image via Wikipedia

For one there is the price of EVERYTHING... I regret to say it, but, it's to high... at least in comparison to the average national wage. Take electronics for example, lets say computers and cell phones. Back in Europe you can get a top of the line Nokia for 99 euro and get 99 euro credit free. So in essence the phone is free. It's a
clever marketing ploy to get the user to use that particular phone service, and it works.

HERE in Brazil you will pay R$600 ( around 250 euro) for a mid range phone and that includes IF YOUR LUCKY, R$15 credit.

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Lets take a look at clothes now... for an average Adidas top, you could be expected to fork out R$200 for it, without certainty that its the real deal. Now, you may be thinking that R$200 is not a lot of money, its just about 75 euro, but in comparison to the average wage here.. its SUPER HIGH. So if you want to have sporty clothes here and dont have a lot of money, forget about it. There are however local clothes designers that are very modern and up to date with fashion and don't cost a lot at all, and that's a good thing because not only is it not as expensive but you also support the local economy.


Automobiles such as cars and motorbikes here they are, after you take into account the rate of exchange, not that bad, but if you compare it to the average wage here, again its very expensive and monthly installments are the norm. Monthly installments are nothing new in regards to cars all over the world, but here its for everything, from your shoes that you are wearing to the car your driving to the new bag you just bought and the holiday you just came back from, and expect to pay monthly installments from 6 months for clothes to 78 months for bigger things such as cars.

Image by gomezzz via Flickr

One last thing is the amount of toll bridges here and the prices. After you have visited the bank to pay one of your monthly installments for your car, top it off with high costing gasoline, or alcohol if your running flex.. (will post more on that in the future) the toll bridges in Sao Paulo state are many. Costing anywhere from R$2.60 all the way up to R$8.50 or more and you could be looking at 8 to 10 toll bridges to get to Sao Paulo city from your country home to see a concert of your favorite singer, that will cost R$100 for a ticket.

Image via Wikipedia

So at the end of the day... Brazil is beautiful, EXTREMELY beautiful in fact... but with a bitter taste that is not going away anytime soon without some reform.

As always it was a pleasure having you by.

Welcome to Brazil

So, your a "Gringo" and thinking about coming to Brazil but all you know about Brazil is, Samba, Big Ass and Soccer... oh and of course the slums and thieves that thrive on every street corner.

Image via Wikipedia

Let me just say that YOUR view and impression of Brazil is distorted, it's incorrect. There are not thieves on every corner neither does everybody live in a shanty town. Sure there are some, but your idea of how much is disproportionate. People here are of rich culture and even some (a lot in fact) live very well. Some apartments in Rio and Sao Paulo are fetching $5,000,000 US. or MORE.


Please stop thinking that Brazil is just jungles and poverty. It's beautiful and really needs to been seen to be believed.

Image via Wikipedia

Or maybe even you are thinking that because you are so fair skinned that you will be a target for kidnapping or robbed on the street. OK, lets not under play the fact that you are Caucasian and stand out more than others but it's not that bad... there are white people here to as hard as it is to believe. I have found since living here since 2008 that I am welcomed with open arms and with warmth. People here like someone different and don't see you as a danger. they are curious about your culture and the place from which you come.

Image via Wikipedia

The transport here is diverse and varied and ranges from your average Subway system to Moto Taxi (Motorbike taxi)
Services on hand again are diverse and varied and you can find or do anything you want here the same as home.
And lets not forget the place to see, some of note are Christ The Redeemer in Rio, The Sugar Loaf also in Rio and in Sao Paulo places of note are Parque do Ibirapuera (a beautiful park in Sao Paulo city) Museu Do Ipiranga (great museum) and of course the Baladas (Night clubs)

Image via Wikipedia

Lets not forget also about the food here... its wide and varied and absolutely delicious.
One of the most popular of course been Churrasco (BBQ) This BBQ is probably the nicest on earth and really needs to be eaten to understand what I'm talking about.

Açai also is great. It's a fruit thats found in the Amazonas but availability is found in every city. There is a few ways you can eat it, the most common been in a desert form and is unbelievable in its divinity. Again this like the BBQ needs to be eaten to be understood. It is the best food on GOD's earth and when you come here you can't go home without trying it.

I really can't stress it enough, Brazil (Brasil) is the most beautiful place on earth and at least worth a visit from you.
I have more about Brazil to follow in future posts.

Image by Kleinz1 via Flickr

Bem Vindos ao Brasil

First update in aaaaaaaages

Whats up dudes...

Just got around to my blog now after a.... eh... well... looong time. I have been busy.
Now I have a youtube channel also sowhy not check it out.
www.youtube.com/user/FightDiary
It's great and would love to see you over there.
Anyway, when i havemore I will let you know.
Peace,
FightDiary

My first Post.

So this is my first post and one thing I want to clear up is this blog is not about Paradise per say but it is about my ventures in Brazilian in all manner of things.

I have a youtube channel with some videos there, I hope to make better ones in the future. Stay tuned.

www.youtube.com/user/FightDiary
So I guess thats it for now. When I get the time/chance I will post some training I have been doing and maybe a video or two if i can figure it out.