Brazil

30 May 2008 -- Brazilian officials say they have located and photographed one of the country's last uncontacted tribes in the remote western Amazon jungle near the border with Peru.

Of the more than 100 uncontacted tribes in the world, more than half live in the Brazil-Peru area.

Jose Carlos Meirelles from the Brazilian National Indian Foundation said the tribe is threatened by illegal logging which is encroaching on their territory and could force them off their land.

He says they have been monitoring four distinct groups in the area for the past 20 years

Advocates for indian tribes are calling on countries to enforce international law in an effort to protect the people's habitat.

Source: VOA News

05/29/2008 -- The proposed acquisition of National Beef Packing Company and Smithfield Beef Group by Brazilian meat company JBS could have implications for Oklahoma cattle producers, OKlahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson said today.

Oklahoma cattle: Photo by Wade (CC)

In a letter to U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey, Edmondson said by taking over National Beef and Smithfield, JBS will become the largest beef processor in the nation and the new company could have a significant impact on the feedlot segment of the beef industry.    » read more »

Premier International Action Sports Event Will Return To Sao Paulo

May 15, 2008 -- Based on the great success of the first edition of X Games Brazil, ESPN and event partner ReUnion Sports & Marketing have agreed to host the event for a second consecutive year in 2009. More than 43,000 people gathered at the Sambodromo do Anhembi, for the first ever ESPN X Games Brazil in Sao Paulo.

ESPN produced 15 hours of original programming and a total of nine hours of live programming aired on Brazil’s two ESPN television networks, ESPN and ESPN Brazil. Complete coverage of the event was also provided on ESPN Brazil’s news and information programs, and live streaming video was featured on EXPN.com.    » read more »

May 7, 2008 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today submitted written testimony to the U.S. Senate Homeland Security Committee urging Congress and the President to lift an import tariff on ethanol and temporarily waive the federal Renewable Fuel Standards to ease the vise-like pressures of spiraling gasoline and food prices.

“Connecticut families and businesses are getting bruised by the soaring cost of everyday necessities like gas and groceries,” Governor Rell said. “One major factor in this unhappy duet is the price of corn – demand for the crop as a source of ethanol is competing fiercely with demand for corn as food, additives in products such as soft drinks and animal feed.    » read more »

April 8, 2008 - Brazilian civil defense officials report that at least 21 people have died and 82,000 have been driven from their homes by floods and mudslides in the country's northeast.

The Brazilian government is releasing more than $300 million in emergency aid for the states affected by the flooding.

Scene of a 2005 flood in Brazil: Photo by Shelly "Nikki" Montes (CC)

Governors of the affected states met with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brasilia on Monday to request aid.

Officials say 17 of the dead drowned in the state of Paraiba, where 14,000 have become homeless.

Source: VOA News

Microsoft collaborates with strong local and regional partners to expand educational initiatives to reach underserved people in Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Peru and Brazil

MIAMI, April 3, 2008 — At the Government Leaders Forum—Americas in Miami today, Microsoft Corp. announced new and expanded partnerships that will play a strong role in transforming education and creating economic opportunity in Latin America.    » read more »

SAO PAOLO, Brazil, April 2, 2008 -- Westcon Group, Inc., the leading specialty distributor in networking, convergence, security and mobility, announced that it is extending its distribution agreement with Cisco® into the Brazilian market. Westcon Brazil will offer channel partners a full line of Cisco enterprise and SMB solutions effective immediately.    » read more »