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 To be able to build a nuclear bomb was to hold elite status, whether or not they would be used. They are good to have around to prove you can build one, a gaudy display of the international nouveau riche. With time, the atomic bomb lost its luster and it was good just to be the nouveau riche economically.
Such is the case with Brazil, at least wanting to be one of the nouveau riche. Up until this present generation, its history is one not conducive with the first-world, dabbling in Socialism and juntas, with occasional heroic but hero-worshipping dabblings in democracy doomed to fail.
President Lula's effort to pay off the International Monetary Fund was a large step to joining the First World and hoisting Brazil at least into the status of the nouveau riche.
Brazil, however, has a long way to go to escalate from the emerging BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) economies to the G8, or perhaps the G9. On the one hand, it has large strategic oil reserves and all the amenities of luxury. On the other, it is plagued with crime and pollution almost inconceivable.
For instance, anybody who bears the trappings of a tourist is not safe outside the narrow confines of the tourist. If the goal of attracting tourism is to encourage spending, then Brazil is failing miserably.
Crime is not an issue that will go away easily, both from the people as well as the police perspective. It is a leftover from the control economy of the past. As the Brazilian economy grows, many of these problems will subside because of the emerging middle class. In addition, the Brazilian government must learn to resist the need to control the economy and trust its people (as well as quit taking bribes).
The other side of the crime issue is education. Paying families for their children to stay in school only poisons the learning environment for those willing to strive for an education. It amounts to free day care for the future thugs of Brazil.
Paying them for minimal standards might make them more accountable. It is dangerous enough in the public schools of Brazil for both students and teachers. Don't make the schools crime factories.
The more daunting problem is the Dante-like pollution that plagues all of Brazil. Just a short drive from Guarulhos International Airport to downtown São Paulo reveals the horrors of the pollution problem. The Tietê River seems a radioactive-green. Trash is strewn about the rivers and the streets to indifferent excess.
Air pollution is so bad that I can take a knife and cut out a slice to take home. In Guarulhos, a stroll through downtown's shopping district has more trash on the streets than shoppers. Not only does it look poorly to the eye, but shows that Brazilians have no pride for their country.
We need to take ownership of the streets of Brazil for our health and safety as well as our pride. Right now, Brazil seems like an atomic power and a bomb has been dropped on the streets of Brazil. We shouldn't accept third-world status as far as our streets are concerned.
Economic disparity and education woes eventually will take care of themselves as Brazil becomes more affluent and the government takes a lesser role in the economy. If Brazil is to become a member of a future G9, we need to be a more attractive investment opportunity other than natural resources.
We need to take our appearance to the next level as a nation, not only for the sake of others but for a beauty we can call our own, like the people of Brazil.
Pedro Primavera is a freelance writer. You can reach him at pedro.primavera@yahoo.com
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You promised me so many times you were going to jump over that fence into America and then buy me a ticket to join you and start a new life outside the jungle here in civilization.. but it's just been promises so far.. 
You sing well. 
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The Brazilian diplo-MÁ-cia (bad diplomacy) carries on its accelerated course towards the non-acknowledgment of human rights, although sometimes it takes pleasure in saying that it does precisely the opposite. The visit of Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is another example of a diplomatic omission that verges on hypocrisy. 
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The push of vigilante groups in Rio de Janeiro's favelas (shantytowns) in the last three years is the most important and alarming information of the just-released study by the Rio de Janeiro University's Violence Research Center (Nupev-Uerj). 
A dispute over drug trafficking territory in Rio de Janeiro has intensified lately, leaving in its wake unprecedented acts of violence, such as the downing of a police helicopter in the northern zone of the city on October 17. Three policemen died and another two were injured. This event has drawn the attention of the international media, who are raising the issue of public security for the 2016 Olympics to be held in Rio.
you could be like the blogger in irqu sent to jail and then died .
the only way to take ownership of your streets is to take back your government .
teach school kids the right way to do things
and in about 5 genarations you will get there
you had better get ready for costa to start hateing you as you
spell out the truth