Government Structure and Elections in Brazil: A Quick Guide
Brazil’s elections and government structure might seem complex at first, but it becomes clearer with a quick rundown. There are three levels—federal, state, and municipal—with each level handling specific responsibilities. Voting is mandatory for most, and the election system includes two rounds to make sure the winners have solid support. Plus, Brazil uses electronic voting […]
For a Safer Brazil
In late June of 2012, the Brazilian Federal government, in conjunction with the State government of Alagoas, launched the Safer Brazil Program (Programa Brasil Mais Seguro) which aimed at lowering violent crime rates in the country. For the pilot program, the Northeastern state of Alagoas was chosen due to the extremely high rates of homicide there. The government’s own data showed a 420% increase in the murder rate over a period of three decades, arriving at 60 homicides per 100 thousand residents.
Cleaning Up the Tiete
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The Tietê River cuts through most of the state of São Paulo. It’s name in Tupi means “true waters”, but before it first appeared on a map in the mid-18th century, it was known by Amerindians as Anhembi (after a South American partridge). The river itself is said to be ten to fifteen million years old and has been used in the past by Amerindians, Bandeirantes (slave-hunters, and later miners, of the 16th-18th centuries), and clergymen. Historically, the Tietê has been used and abused more than it has been merely traversed.
