Brazil’s Lula Announces Anti-Crisis Plan Posted by Rachel on Mar 26, 2009
Brazil’s President Lula announced an ambitious plan this week to stimulate the economy and to ward off the global crisis. The plan is to invest R$34 billion (US$15.1 billion) into constructing homes for working class families. The plan also aims to create 1.5 million jobs and to increase the country’s growth rate. However, 6.5 billion…
Video Learning Series: Nelson Rodrigues Posted by Rachel on Mar 25, 2009
This week, we’re going to practice listening comprehension by watching a three part interview with one of Brazil’s greatest writers and playwrights, Nelson Rodrigues (1912-1980).
Amazon Turtle Rescue Posted by Rachel on Mar 24, 2009
A group of volunteers in a remote corner of the Amazon, on the Japurá River near the Colombian border, helped save nearly 8,000 endangered turtles. Run by the Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, the project required volunteers to carefully watch and monitor nearly 300 turtle egg nests for six months. Later, the eggs…
Airfare Deals to and around Brazil Posted by Rachel on Mar 23, 2009
Though the world economic crisis has wrecked havoc around the world, one of the positive effects has been the sharp decline in airfares to Brazil. In addition, Azul Airlines recently began operating in Brazil and now offers very competitive fares within the country. If you live in the US and want to travel to Brazil…
Brazilian Portuguese Slang: Good Times Posted by Rachel on Mar 20, 2009
Today we’re going to learn slang phrases to talk about having a good time. 1. bombar This means something is successful, in the sense that it is fun or great. A festa vai bombar! The party is going to be awesome! O filme bombou no Brasil. The movie was a hit in Brazil. 2. show…
The Amazon’s Bioluminescent Mushrooms Posted by Rachel on Mar 19, 2009
Brazilian biologist Ricardo Braga-Neto was driving on the highway from Manaus to Porto Velho when he noticed something glowing in the forest. When he stopped his car to inspect the source of the light, he discovered that it was a mushroom. Although there are 64 known species of bioluminescent mushrooms in the world, and the…
Brazilian Economic News Posted by Rachel on Mar 18, 2009
Let’s take a look at what’s going on with the Brazilian economy, one of the most resilient in the world against the global economic crisis. The One Country that Might Avoid the Recession is…, Time Petrobras talks oil, biodiesel with Sao Tome & Principe, Energy Current Once solid, Brazil’s big food companies now wobbling, CNN…