Brazil keeps 1st place in the highest rate of recycling of cans in the world

In 2011, Brazil achieved a new record of recycling aluminum cans. According to the Brazilian Aluminum Association (Abal) and the Brazilian Association of Manufacturers of Highly Recyclable Cans (Abralatas) were reused 98.3% of cans produced in Brazil in the past year. In all, 250,000 tons of aluminum cans were recycled. 

Brazil stays in first place in the highest rate of recycling of cans in the world. That's wonderful for the environment!

Congratulations Brazil! Keep going green!

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Brasil bate novo recorde de reciclagem de latinhas

Palmas para os catadores de latinha de alumínio. O Brasil bateu o recorde de reciclagem de latas em 2011.

A reciclagem ajuda não só a tirar a lata dos aterros sanitários (estamos sem espaço para tanto lixo!), ele também ajuda na questão da mudança do clima. Ainda de acordo com o relatório divulgado pela Abralatas e a Abal, o processo de reciclagem libera apenas 5% das emissões de gás de efeito estufa, se comparado com a produção do alumínio primário. As entidades dizem ainda que para cada quilo de alumínio reciclado, cinco quilos de bauxita (minério que gera o alumínio) deixam de ser extraídas.

Então já sabe, quando aquele tiozinho vir pedir a sua lata para reciclar, não negue se já estiver terminando. Dê o último gole com gosto, sabendo que o trabalho dele é um grande favor para todos nós.

http://blogs.estadao.com.br/seja-sustentavel/brasil-bate-novo-recorde-de-reciclagem-de-latinhas/

Have you ever been to Cataratas do Iguaçu?

The word Iguassu means “large water” in the Tupi-Guarani etymology. The cascades are formed by the falls of the Iguassu River. Eighteen kilometers before joining the Parana River, the Iguassu River gains altitude and then plunges 80 meters down. It can reach up to 2,780 meters wide. Its geographical formation dates from about 150 millions years, but the formation of the waterfall’s geographic characteristics began approximately 200,000 years ago.


There are 19 main falls. Five of them are on the Brazilian side (Floriano, Deodoro, Benjamin Constant, Santa Maria and União). The rest are on the Argentinean side. Since most of the falls are on the Argentinean side and facing Brazil, the best views are for those who observe the scene from the Brazilian side.

On November 11 of 2011, Iguassu Falls was announced as one of the seven winners of the New Seven Wonders of Nature by the New Seven Wonders of the World Foundation.

Iguassu National Park

The Iguassu National Park was established in 1934. It represents an immense area of subtropical forest with magnificent waterfalls located north of the Misiones province. It has great natural importance and ecological wealth.

The Park is directed by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), a federal organ responsible for managing the Conservation Areas of Brazil. Iguassu is an example of the integration between conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources.

The significant biological variability plus the unique landscape with rare scenic beauty of the Iguassu Falls made the Iguassu National Park the first conservation area in Brazil to be established as a World Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986.

Source: www.cataratasdoiguacu.com.br and Wikipedia

Guarana, a Rainforest fruit and a refreshing soft drink

Guarana is a fruit found in the Rainforest of Amazon in Brazil. The word Guarana comes from the Guarani (one of the Native Brazilian Indians Tribes) and it means "fruit like the eyes of the people". It is red and looks like a coffee bean, but its seeds contain about twice the concentration of caffeine found in coffee beans. 

Guarana began to become famous in Brazil a long time ago (about 1920) when a soft drink was introduced in the market, the Guarana Champagne Antarctica. This brand and soft drink is still a great success in Brazil and in other countries in the world. That is so popular in Brazil, that Coca-Cola created its own Guarana brand: Guarana Kuat. Nowadays, there are other important beverage brands in Brazil that have its Guarana drink.

Visiting Brazil, you must try it! It is a little bit sweet, but refreshing! Guarana Kuat is sweeter than the original one, Guarana Antarctica. 

The Capital of Brazil is...

Brasília!!!!

People often say that Sao Paulo is the capital of Brazil or that Rio de Janeiro is the capital of Brazil. They belong to a list of the most important cities in Brazil, but they are not the Capital, Brasília is the one. 

If you say that, it is not too bad! 

Please, never ask (or say) to a Brazilian if the capital of Brazil is Buenos Aires. That's too much!!! Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina, another country located in South America. 

And do you want to know why not to do that? Argentina is the major rival of the Brazilian Soccer Team. That's why!!

Fork, Knife, and Napkins

When it comes to food, Brazilians use utensils to dig in. It’s considered impolite to eat with your bare hands.

Pizza, sandwiches, even hamburgers: you have to eat with fork and knife, or at least use a napkin to hold the food.

French fries may be the only exception to that rule, and only when eating at a fast food place. If you are eating at a restaurant, utensils are the way to go!

Brazilian Soap Operas - Much More than Entertainment for Housewives

Soap operas started being produced in Brazil in the 50s for the radio. Since then, its importance has only gotten bigger.  Over the years, it evolved from being an ordinary entertainment to public service to a powerful marketing weapon.

At the beginning, it used to portrait the Brazilian way of life from the point of view of the middle class. Romantic stories would get the attention of entire families when TV wasn’t even around. With time, soap operas started getting more and more important and started changing its focus to other broad, more important subjects.

Nowadays, soap operas not only tell romantic stories, but also bring current social problems  to light, enticing discussions in the society. Some of the topics depicted in soap operas in the recent years include pedophilia, human trafficking, people with disabilities life, human cloning, etc. It is an efficient way to bring awareness about difficult problems to the society.

MARKETING WEAPON – soap operas are also a very powerful Marketing tool. Throughout the years, some soap operas became so popular that they become a “TV blockbuster”, they were a trend setter in slang, behavior, fashion. Some companies invest in merchandising inside a soap opera story to launch or establish different types of products, such as lipstick, perfume, shoes, cars, beverage, and so on.

EXPORTING PRODUCT – An average of 120 countries broadcast a Brazilian soap opera nowadays. The exported stories are edited to accommodate length and topics that may not be so popular in other countries, but without compromising the story being told.

FAMOUS SOAP OPERAS - The most popular soap operas in Brazil, and exported to other countries, were produced by Rede Globo, the Brazilian TV network that invests the most on soap operas productions. Among them, are:

*Da Cor do Pecado (Joao Emanuel Carneiro, 2004) – 100 countries

*Terra Nostra (Benedito Ruy Barbosa, 1999) – 95 countries

*O Clone (Gloria Perez, 2001) – 90 countries

*Escrava Isaura (1976) – over 80 countries, became a major success in China

Be careful with the "OK" sign!!!

In Brazil, the inverted American “OK” sign is an obscene gesture!