Post: #51

(12-04-2015 01:51 PM)PainPositive Wrote:  

(09-23-2015 02:00 PM)gmoneysauce Wrote:  The question here is if this change in exchange rates is real or merely nominal, an adjustment to the local inflation. If you get twice as many Reals for your Dollar/Pound/Euro but the prices have all doubled then the 'real' exchange rate remains unchanged...

This is the real question. I'm in Play del Carmen, Mexico now and the strong dollar has made little difference in overall cost of living since most businesses have raised their prices. Is this true for Brazil as well?

Playa del Carmen is a tourism hotspot so of course things there are going to be 'pegged' to the USD. I can confirm that Rio and Sampa are way cheaper than they were 2-3 years ago.

Inflation is high and prices are rising but not nearly as quickly as the exchange rate, which went from 2.5 a year ago to ~4 today.

Post: #52

Can confirm that it's MUCH cheaper for the traveler in Brazil. I was here in 2011 when the BRL was around 1.5 and then also in 2014 when it was around 2. Everything feels cheaper now with the BRL at 3.75. I am paying under $800 USD for a nice apt that would probably have gone for around $2,000 a couple years ago. I remember in 2011 going to por kilo restaurants and being really careful not to put too much on my plate because it would easily come to over 10 bucks. Now I just go and load up and maybe the meal and fresh juice comes to 20 BRL which is only about $5 bucks. A large Acai is around 10 BRL, which is $2.66. I get that everyday whereas in 2011 it was too expensive to do daily.

Other things in Rio have suddenly become cheaper: a 5 BRL coconut on the beach that was $3 in 2011 is now under $1.5. A large beer on the street for 8 BRL or whatever is nothing. Even the taxi from the airport to town, which is 50 BRL is now just $12. In 2011 I really had to be careful how I spent money here... I remember spending $80 to get into a club in Floripa and spending $50 for a 2.5 hour bus ride. Now I don't even care.

So yeah I would say that Brazil is perhaps cheaper than even China or Thailand now. I don't know how long this will last but I suggest everyone visit Brazil now because you never know when it will go back to being one of the most overpriced places on Earth.

Post: #53

Interesting turn of events during the last two weeks.

NYT: Ex-President ‘Lula’ Joins Brazil’s Cabinet, Gaining Legal Shield

Quote:Ex-President ‘Lula’ Joins Brazil’s Cabinet, Gaining Legal Shield

RIO DE JANEIRO — Faced with multiple corruption investigations, Brazil’s former president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, is joining the cabinet of his successor, Dilma Rousseff, in a move that may offer him increased legal protections but intensifies the political upheaval in Latin America’s largest country.

Mr. da Silva, 70, will become Ms. Rousseff’s chief of staff, said Afonso Florence, the leader of the governing Workers’ Party in the Chamber of Deputies.

Mr. da Silva, a founder of the Workers’ Party and its most towering figure, is thrusting himself into a government that is lurching from one crisis to another. The economy is reeling from a bad slump and major corruption scandals. Ms. Rousseff is struggling for her own political survival, with protesters demanding her ouster and lawmakers pursuing impeachment proceedings against her.

“Vested with the unprecedented function of a de facto prime minister, Lula will oversee an act of political desperation to save what’s left of his project,” said Igor Gielow, a columnist for the newspaper Folha de S. Paulo.

The move could offer Mr. da Silva some practical protection as prosecutors seek his arrest in a graft inquiry involving his ties to giant construction companies. Cabinet ministers are among the 700 or so senior officials in Brazil who enjoy special judicial standing, meaning they can be tried only by Brazil’s highest court, the Supreme Federal Tribunal.

Effectively, this prevents nearly all of these figures from going to prison, because trials at the court drag on for years. Nearly a third of the 594 members of Congress, including the leaders of the lower house and the Senate, are under scrutiny before the court over claims of violating laws.

Mr. da Silva, who was president from 2003 through 2010, is grappling with various investigations into his accumulation of wealth since leaving office. Stunning the political establishment, he was taken into custody for questioning this month in a federal inquiry into renovations of luxury properties by O.A.S. and Odebrecht, two scandal-plagued construction companies.

Mr. da Silva has insisted that he is innocent of any wrongdoing, describing the inquiries as attempts to destabilize Ms. Rousseff’s government and prevent him from returning to the presidency. He has recently begun mounting a bid to run again in 2018, denouncing political opponents and critics in the news media.

But upon taking up his post, he will have to start with damage control. Delcídio do Amaral, a senator from the Workers’ Party, reached a plea deal with investigators in which he accused Mr. da Silva and Ms. Rousseff of obstructing corruption investigations.

“I am a prophet of chaos,” Mr. do Amaral told reporters after the Supreme Federal Tribunal accepted his plea deal, in which he implicated figures across the ideological spectrum in graft scandals, including Vice President Michel Temer and Aécio Neves, a leader of the opposition Social Democracy Party.

While Brasília braces for the return of Mr. da Silva to the daily political fray, others around the country are trying to decipher what comes next. Brazil’s currency, the real, fell sharply against the dollar on Wednesday, and the main index of the São Paulo stock exchange dropped nearly 1 percent on concerns over potential shifts in economic policy under Mr. da Silva.

Post: #54

Installing the previous president as a cabinet minister after he was questioned by prosecutors last week and record protests against the government last Sunday?



The people of Brasil deserve better

Post: #55

Quote:Brazilian president under fire as tens of thousands protest in 200 cities

Tens of thousands of Brazilians took to the streets in cities across the country on Sunday, to protest against President Dilma Rousseff.

Angered by a massive, unfolding corruption scandal, an economy mired in recession and harsh austerity measures, many of the protesters called for the president’s impeachment.

In São Paulo, an anti-government event drew around 135,000, according to Datafolha, a polling institute. Though significant, the numbers were down on a similar event in the city in March this year, which attracted 210,000.

Source: The Guardian

To any forum member in Brazil, how is the situation in the street? Here in Bs As by seeing the TV news it seems shit is hitting the fan.

Post: #56

Well. I would say the situation is quite hot politically, population is extremely pissed off at Dilma. There is tiny support for her, last time they checked the president had a 10% approval rating, but I would say that currently it's more like 5% approval rate (after all the crises on the past few days).

Yesterday the protests were small, but if the situation gets worst it will just get bigger, population is not happy at all. I don't feel it's a great situation for the government. Her decision on allowing the ex-president to be a minister was a shot on the foot. They didn't think people would be this pissed.

Millions of peoples took the streets this sunday to call for a Impeachment (the process to depose the current president through the Congress and Senate) and also for Lula to be sent to prison.

The big thing is that Lula is considered by many to be the leader of he BIGGEST corruption scandal of history of the world so far. Lula, mostly his party, big construction companies, and politics have stole around R$46 billion (it's around USD 12 billion) from brazillian government owned oil company Petrobras. They have recieved money from companies for specific contracts and distributed to many politicians. This is the SECOND time his party has been accused of corruption, the other time was during his government.

It's all a political game now, Dilma is hanging on by a thin thread, her party still have support of a big political party called PMDB (the current vice-president is from that party, and also many ministers of the current government) but they are already talking about retracting their whole support. After PDMB convention and party elections last saturday, they were discussing getting off the government (that was before all this current increased crisis). If this party leaves the government, it's over, impeachment will have a 95% chance of happening.

Yesterday at night a judge released audios conversation from Dilma and Lula (allowed by justice), and one of the audios has caused a crazy stir in the politics crisis (that was after people were already pissed about Dilma making a corrupt ex-president a minister so he could run away from justice):

Quote:Phone recordings
In a dramatic twist Wednesday night, the judge leading the "Car Wash" trial released phone recordings of Lula da Silva, including a conversation he had with Rousseff about the chief of staff post.

In the recording, she says she would send a document confirming the appointment for him to use "if he needed" -- prompting some critics to say it is evidence of a political maneuver aimed at protecting Lula da Silva.

Rousseff's office didn't immediately comment, while a lawyer for Lula said on Globo television that it was an attempt to stir things up politically.

Meanwhile, there has been speculation that Lula da Silva could shake up economic policy and push for more of the social spending that made him such a popular leader. Markets sank in response to the announcement, with the real weakening against the dollar and stocks declining.

But on Wednesday, Rousseff rejected speculation that Lula da Silva's appointment would lead to the ouster of the Central Bank president or would prompt her government to dip into its reserves.

source CNN: http://edition.cnn.com/2016/03/16/americ...index.html

So people are pissed and the Congress is now working on an impeachment. It just the start, it still has to be voted by Congress and Senate. So it will all depend on the level of support from Dilma and her party PT (and the political support).

Good thing is that protests have been mostly peaceful. Not many crazy things happening. But again it seems that most people and population is pissed, the government is treating the population as if they are extremely dumb.

Corruption is everywhere and all the dirt is now coming out. Justice has offered deals to a lot of the politics that are in jail, and they are confessing about crimes and incriminating Top line politics (presidents, senators, congressman, rich billionaire corporations).

Inflation is killing too. Most things are at least 2x more expensive than they were before. So going to a supermarket is becoming extremely expensive. You can't buy that much with R$100 (as you could like 2 years ago). So people that make minimun wage are screwed. And also understand, unemployment is the highest it has ever been... so with unemployment, violence and crimes have increased like crazy.

Post: #57

Seems like the perfect time to run SA game if you're living it up in Brazil.

Post: #58

(03-17-2016 06:04 AM)marinhogomes Wrote:  Well. I would say the situation is quite hot politically, population is extremely pissed off at Dilma. There is tiny support for her, last time they checked the president had a 10% approval rating, but I would say that currently it's more like 5% approval rate (after all the crises on the past few days).

The big thing is that Lula is considered by many to be the leader of he BIGGEST corruption scandal of history of the world so far. Lula, mostly his party, big construction companies, and politics have stole around R$46 billion (it's around USD 12 billion) from brazillian government owned oil company Petrobras. They have recieved money from companies for specific contracts and distributed to many politicians. This is the SECOND time his party has been accused of corruption, the other time was during his government.

Yesterday at night a judge released audios conversation from Dilma and Lula (allowed by justice), and one of the audios has caused a crazy stir in the politics crisis (that was after people were already pissed about Dilma making a corrupt ex-president a minister so he could run away from justice):
Phone recordings
In a dramatic twist Wednesday night, the judge leading the "Car Wash" trial released phone recordings of Lula da Silva, including a conversation he had with Rousseff about the chief of staff post.

In the recording, she says she would send a document confirming the appointment for him to use "if he needed" -- prompting some critics to say it is evidence of a political maneuver aimed at protecting Lula da Silva.

Meanwhile, there has been speculation that Lula da Silva could shake up economic policy and push for more of the social spending that made him such a popular leader. Markets sank in response to the announcement, with the real weakening against the dollar and stocks declining.

I hate to say it but a $12 Billion USD corruption scandal is child's play. When you consider atrocities like the Iraq war, we are talking trillions that was spent on a conflict that we were sold by corrupt warmongering politicians.

From what I can see of the current political situation in Brazil with Lula, it seems to be a case of the media "jury" informally deciding who is guilty before the case actually gets tried before a federal judge. I'm curious to let the process play out and let's see who is really guilty and based on what evidence.

Also from what I've read, Lula will not be immune from this investigation just because he is being appointed in office as chief of staff.

Post: #59

(03-16-2016 08:43 PM)Mekorig Wrote:  To any forum member in Brazil, how is the situation in the street? Here in Bs As by seeing the TV news it seems shit is hitting the fan.

Personally I wouldn't say shit has hit the fan - at least not yet.

To those who were around in 2013 during the Passe Livre protests, the situation escalated way more violently then. There were dozens of protests - sometimes two or three a week in São Paulo and Rio -, confrontations between protesters and the police and some groups of protesters destroyed stores and banks, looted, etc.



Although the protests now are big, in comparison they have been quite peaceful - pretty much a family sunday out.




Whether or not Lula's appointment changes things I'm not sure but so far things have been mild.

Post: #60

It's way more than US$ 12 BN. That may be R$ 46 BN at today's exchange rate, but the exchange was at 2:1 or below for most of the time the corruption scandal was happening.

Direct (overvaluing of contracts for party gain, etc) and indirect (due to fraud involved in these false valuations) total about 5% of Brasil's entire GDP

http://www.bbc.com/portuguese/noticias/2...avajato_ru

As for the leaked audio - qui bono?

Post: #61

Quote:Brazil judge issues injuction to suspend Lula's appointment

A federal judge in Brasilia issued an injunction today suspending the appointment of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as minister, citing the risk that his taking office would derail a judicial investigation.
"In light of the risk of harming the free exercise of judicial power...I grant the request for an injunction to suspend the nomination of Mr. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva," the judge wrote in his ruling.

Source: Bs As Herald

Post: #62

(03-17-2016 11:13 AM)Mekorig Wrote:  

Quote:Brazil judge issues injuction to suspend Lula's appointment

A federal judge in Brasilia issued an injunction today suspending the appointment of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as minister, citing the risk that his taking office would derail a judicial investigation.
"In light of the risk of harming the free exercise of judicial power...I grant the request for an injunction to suspend the nomination of Mr. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva," the judge wrote in his ruling.

Source: Bs As Herald

See this new thread, if you want: /thread-54521...pid1252799

Post: #63

(03-16-2016 08:43 PM)Mekorig Wrote:  To any forum member in Brazil, how is the situation in the street? Here in Bs As by seeing the TV news it seems shit is hitting the fan.

Well as far as game is concerned, my main leads are not being as responsive on Whatsapp right now because they are so suddenly and emotionally entrenched in these protests.

The pre-meditated March 13th, 2016 protests on Sunday were peaceful and planned way in advance. Almost a great way to meet chicks because it was a friendly social event sorta.

The protests after Lula was appointed a minister freeing him from immediate prison time (at least in my city) are in a farther unsafer neighborhood & much more passionate as they were set up last minute with PURPOSE.

Lots of cars honking & not sure when this is going to get resolved. I wish people would be happily celebrating St. Patrick's Day, getting drunk, and looking to hook up with guys like myself tonight. But I guess these protests are justifiably more important eh?

Big party weekend ahead with regards to "game" before Easter arrives next weekend = family time.

Post: #64

hahah. Yeah. Doesn't seem like girls will be responding so much as this protests is going, as this.

Situation politically is quite crazy. It's like you never know what will happen the other day, but now the process for Impeachment has started to develop on Congress, let's see what will happen. It all will depend on the next few weeks. If more crap hits the fan the worst it will get.

The only thing I want is to Brazil to become better. It doesn't seem like that will happen so soon. With this president or not

Post: #65

Big day today.

The impeachment of president Dilma will be voted at 5pm (Brasilia time).


^ Right now in SP.

Thousands are currently gathered on Av. Paulista in SP (live cam here) - and in dozens of other cities - waiting for the vote.

There are 513 deputies voting on the motion for the impeachment; 342 favorable votes are necessary to take her down.

According to the main newspapers in the country (Folha and Estadao) the opposition has amassed 349 votes, so there's a pretty slim 2% margin in favor of the impeachment. (Also worth noting, >30 deputies did not the newspapers polls, so there's a lot of room for maneuvering.)

Live coverage from Estadao: http://politica.estadao.com.br/aovivo/impeachmentcamara
Live coverage from Folha de S. Paulo: http://aovivo.folha.uol.com.br/2016/04/1...id=urgente

Post: #66

(04-17-2016 01:39 PM)Ringo Wrote:  Big day today.

The impeachment of president Dilma will be voted at 5pm (Brasilia time).

It's going down. Live stream:




So far:
22 in favor
4 against

Post: #67

It's already hit bottom, going to rise with the expulsion of Dilma

Post: #68

Real is going to 5. This vote doesn't matter, the VP is equally corrupt, and the country's inflation, budget deficit, and economic contraction are too severe to be resolved without bankruptcy/massive IMF loan.

Post: #69

(04-17-2016 04:00 PM)Ringo Wrote:  

(04-17-2016 01:39 PM)Ringo Wrote:  Big day today.

The impeachment of president Dilma will be voted at 5pm (Brasilia time).

It's going down. Live stream:




So far:
22 in favor
4 against

Currently, we stand at:
190 in favor
48 against

.. looks bad indeed for Dilma and her (barely alphabetized) mentor, Lula

Post: #70

(04-17-2016 05:05 PM)the biggest cheetah Wrote:  Real is going to 5. This vote doesn't matter, the VP is equally corrupt, and the country's inflation, budget deficit, and economic contraction are too severe to be resolved without bankruptcy/massive IMF loan.

All that and the future price of Oil.

Post: #71

It has been done - Dilma has been impeached.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/a...chel-temer

Quote:Dilma Rousseff impeached by Brazilian senate

Michel Temer confirmed as new president after 61 of 81 senators back Rousseff’s removal from office amid economic decline and bribery scandal



Brazil’s first female president Dilma Rousseff has been thrown out of office by the country’s corruption-tainted senate after a gruelling impeachment trial that ends 13 years of Workers’ party rule.

Following a crushing 61 to 20 defeat in the upper house, she will be replaced for the remaining two years and three months of her term by Michel Temer, a centre-right patrician who was among the leaders of the campaign against his former running mate.

Just in time to buy some US Dollars for a trip.

Post: #72

You guys think post Olympic will be good for visiting?

Post: #73

Yes you can, weather is getting nice. Just be more vigilant as criminality is rising, some figures comparing July 2016 vs July 2015:

- Violence resulting in death: 466 cases, +23%
- Street robberies: 4000 cases, +66%
- Theft in groups: 540 cases, +90%

On average, every four minutes and ten seconds a person was assaulted.

Source: http://g1.globo.com/rio-de-janeiro/notic...a-isp.html