h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hello,

Without wanting to be rude, I took the liberty to take your entry and give it a thorough polishing. The framework of the original entry is fine, but it mainly lacks up-to-date data. For instance: The gap between rich and poor, is, when you compare the data with first world western countries big, but 46% of almost 200 million people is still more than the population of Holland. So, I think that this gap-difference is a cliche that is often used to describe Brazil. The real problem is not the 'relatively' small percentage of people living in 'middle-class' conditions, but the high percentage of people living under the poverty line.

Take a look at my suggestions, and tell me what you think.

(This is part one, part two will follow soon)

See you later.

HELL

My suggestion:

Brazil was discovered in 1500 by Pedro Álvares Cabral a Portuguese explorer. Of course there were many native tribes
(delete the word 'peacefully' - they had many brutal wars against each other, the portuguese used that to incite wars
between them in the beginning phase of the colonization) living out their lives, and the typical friction (eventually
ending up in the usual ‘pillage, rape, burn!’) took place. Apart from exploiting the natives
and gathering Brazil-wood (Pau-Brasil) wood from which they made a reddish dye and ships, the Portuguese did little
to their new territory until the late 1500s. Finally the king, afraid someone would take Brazil away, started a more
intense colonization (most coastal cities, like Salvador, Recife, Santos, Paraty, Angra dos Reis, Sao Paulo and Rio de
Janeiro were founded in that period).

Brazil became an independent Empire on September 7, 1822 - without a revolution, as in other countries in Latin America.
Brazil became a Republic in 1889, the period between 1930 and 1954 is marked by dictator Getúlio Vargas, and from 1964 to 1985
Brazil was governed by a military government. In 1985 a civilian government was again restored. Thus began "The New Republic"
which is basically the same system used in western democracies, with direct elections, many political parties. All literate
citizens between 18 and 69 must vote, those ages 16-17, 70+ , illiterate, and in jail may vote if they wish.

The Indians

Almost all of the 220,000 Indians in Brazil live in the Amazon. (they were not made slaves! or mass-killed except in the
initial phase of the portuguese colonization). Some, like the Xingu, are integrating themselves into the new civilization.
Some tribes however continue to fight for their own customs despite the new ideas and diseases being forced upon them by
settlers and gold miners. One of these tribes, the Yanomani, backed by great international support, won their claim to a
reserve. It is three times the size of Belgium; the nation is helping.

Culture

Languages, Races and Religion

Brazil is the only Latin-American country to have Portuguese as the official language. Many words in Brazilian Portuguese have
Tupi or Guarani (two native Indian languages) origin. A few of these words, like Jaguar, have even made it into English.

Racial discrimination is thoroughly prosecuted, and Brazilians are proud of its absence. However, with the abolition of
slavery between 1870 and 1888, the black part of the population was off to a rough start in poverty. For that reason the
black segment of the population is still living under inferior conditions. Instead of a pronounced racial discrimination
a social discrimination is often overlapping with racial prejudices. This still leads to tensions in Brazil.

Brazil is the worlds largest Catholic nation, where 9 out of 10 Brazilians are Roman Catholic. Though over the years many
Indian and African traditions have found their way into the Christian practices. African religions are still practiced among
the lower class Brazilians, and Indian religions are, of course, still strong in the remaining tribes.


The Rich, The Poor, and The Brazilian Outlooks

There is a large gap between Brazilian rich and poor, and a comparably small middle class (5% elite class, 46% middle class,
23% poor, and 24% very poor; data from 1999). While the wealthy live in luxurious mansions, the poor live in humble
conditions, in the big cities the cardboard and tin shacks slums are called favelas. The favelas evolved from a huge migration
process where rural population moved to the cities in the search for fortune. Sadly a big part of them failed. The favelas are
in need of sweet water, light and sanitation. After age 10 many favela children do not continue school. By age 13 most children
from favelas are on the streets shinning shoes, selling gum, begging, or stealing.

In spite of these conditions Brazilians still amaze outsiders with the way they look on the bright side of life. For example a
family that lived in a shack under a highway over pass was once interviewed. The family made a living by rummaging through garbage
cans for old newspapers and bottles to sell. When the interviewer asked the father how he was doing he replied that they were
happy, and added "thanks be to God". The interviewer of course asked what he had to be happy for, and he replied that his family
could play cards and sing and dance together in the evenings, and they had a radio to listen to soccer games with.

Brazilians also have a marked ‘we’ll find a way’ attitude (the famous 'jeitinho'). They believe laws and authorities to be
flexible, and they usually are. The word 'jeitoso' describes a person masterful at squirming out of difficult situations.

Furthermore, you seem to concentrate on certain stereotypes, which also have changed within the last decade. (When was the book on which you based the entry published?)

Here comes the second part with my modifications (few, but IMO very important ones):


Family and Friends

Brazilians have strong family ties, comparable to the southern European cultures, because a great part of the
population consists of immigrants from this area. Often three generations will live together, and children live
at home at lest until they are married. Brazilians are also in touch with more distant relations, second and
third cousins for example, will be at family gatherings. Brazilians have a custom that a relative, no matter
how distant, is always welcome to stay no matter how long, however, this custom is vanishing.

If the host even suggested they pay rent or help with food money, it would be extremely rude, and taken as a
sign the host could not fulfill their duty, however if the guest offers financial help, it will not be declined.
Generally the average Brazilian is fast in becoming friends on a superficial basis. Often when a Brazilian
offers you to visit his house ('Passa lá em casa.') this is not to be taken too seriously, it is to be taken
more like 'I like you, if our relationship goes on like this for the next two years, you can setp by.' Two
Brazilians will not become close friends until they have known each other for many years.

Outside the big cities men play dominant role in Brazilian society. Despite this, men do not feel compelled to
act tough or hide their emotions. Men are expected to court the woman, but they must uphold a strict code of
chivalry to retain their honor (in principle). Woman play the passive role in society, their place is in the
home, their job is to look attractive, get married, do the cooking, and raise the children (in principle). In
the cities (which concentrate more than 65% of the total population) the division between the roles is not as
pronounced. Most women work, partly because of the high level of poverty in the cities, to make some extra money.

Brazilian children are treated very leniently, boys more so then girls. They are not disciplined strictly, and
are rarely alone from infancy due to the large amount of relatives around. Everyone helps to bring up the children
and babies, a stranger on the street will stop to help a mother with a crying infant. Sadly, the TV is taking a
major role in the education of children, while in most families both parents are working. Infant TV shows do
often have a highly sexualized component. There are many people in Brazil concerned with the neglecting of
children education.


Parties and Carnival

Brazilians, like most human-beings, love all sorts of parties, and also love to be around people. The party starts
when two people come together, but the number of people tends to increase exponentially. Big parties are definetly
not an exception, and not everyone must have an explicit invitation ('Bring your friends', 'Your friends are my
friends'). Parties have an official starting time, but usually it only starts two hours later. People arriving
in time are likely to find no one else there, possibly not even the host.

The biggest event of the year is Carnival (a subject for an Entry itself), a four day national holiday. Carnival is
different from region to region the most well known being the Carnival in Rio. Here, during the main ceremony the
mayor gives the keys of the city to King Momo, an ancient Greek god of mockery and jest. After that a parade competition
between carnival-schools, or better Samba-schools ('Escolas de Samba') where virtually all citizens are involved starts.

Carnival is a time for enjoying your self to the maximum and eating as much good food as you can, for Carnival also
celebrates the last chance to feast before the beginning of Lent. During Carnival there are many dances and parades, and
thousands flock the streets to dance and sing all day and night.

In the Northeastern part of Brazil Carnival has a totally different flavour, here, the parades are not as organized
as in Rio, where special parade stadiums were built. In the Northeastern Part carnival is much more like a huge
street-party, with the typical amplified band-trucks ('Trio elétrico'). In rural parts of Brazil Carnival can even
have a more melancholic touch.

Hey Hell,

Thanks for the input! I didn't realize so much was out of date. I will go through and work on it! It will take a while though. Maybe if I add you to the list of contributing researchers you will be able to edit it? That would be helpful, not sure if it would work though. What do you think?


Athena

If you add me (which I think is OK) I will still not be able to edit the entry, however, I think we could continue on that basis. You update the entry (by copy and pasting my input) and I skim it over, and post my suggestions right here. I think we should be done with a brilliant entry by the end of this week.

In the meantime I would suggest you to remove the entry from the peer review (by clicking on the Remove link right next to the thread info in the PR page) and we resubmit it when it's ready. What yould you say?

Thanks for accepting my help.

HELL

Of course!

I already removed the entry from peer review, I will try to get time to start work on it today or tomorrow, life is a little hectic right now.


Athena

Cheerio,

It's a pleasure for me to work with a Greek godess.

As to the entry: We don't have to hurry, I think. My life has somewhat hectic too in the last few days... (two small kids @ home, ie no sleep, lots of work in the lab, you know how things can get...)

I'll be posting the last two parts Monday.



HELL

Hiya Hell!

Sorry about that looong delay replying, I coundn't log on to h2g2, there was some sort of problem, this is my first day back! I am leaving for a month in a couple days, but when I get back I really want to work this entry into something good. See you around!

Athena

Alright.

I will be waiting here.

Bye, see you then.

HELL