as bad as they were in Great Britain before Margaret Thatcher's election in 1939. Crime is at least as bad as in the big American cities; poverty is a lot worse. Corruption is rampant.
Here then is a picture of Brazil today, and it is a rather faithful reflection of a vast country in the throes of growing from pre-industrial to industrial eras. There is, however, another facet to and other voices in Brazil today and Brazil always.
The Latin American Index of January 30, 1992, titles its article "Brazil Chalks Up an Unexpected Good Year" (6). Economic growth in 1991 compared to 1990 showed an unexpected burst. GNP had been expected to decline 4.3%, but 1991 showed a modest growth of 1% over the previous year. This may have been due to a surge in industrial activity in the last trimester of 1991, and to a booming informational sector. The stock market reflected optimism: according to the World Bank, it took first place over Argentina and Columbia. There was a growing confidence. President Collor had wrested approval of tax reforms from the Brazilian Congress in December 1990, which immediately led to a signed letter of intent with the International Monetary Fund for a $2.1 billion standby facility. A final Agreement was reached with the Paris Club in February 1991. Some creditors continued, however, to express reservations about the Government's commitment to economic reform and did not expect to be making any new loans to Brazil in the immediate future. After all, they had been badly burnt not so long before. A more aggressive privatized program seemed to be the key to regaining the confidence of foreign bankers.
More recently, Brazil has received a setback in her attempt at obtaining funds to help conserve the Amazonian rain forest. An article in the Latin America Index dated 14 February 1992 notes that Brazil's proposal, hailed internationally, has been given a very mitigated reception in Geneva in late Janua...