simon (07/13/82)
Some of the 'facts' about Brazil given by David@sri-unix are wrong, some are only half true. Clarifications for those who are interested: 1) Brazil, at the moment, is not a military dictatorship run by the army. Although the current president was elected in very indirect elections, where theopposing candidate could not have won, his oponent got a higher percentage of votes than any Mexican opposition candidate in recent history. More importantly,there is a formal comittment, and a high probability that the next presidential elections will be free, direct elections. Meanwhile, there is freedom of the press, and free elections for local government, and for the two houses of Congress.2) There are large import surcharges on some items, mostly on luxuries like Scotch whisky or French parfume. The maximum import tax is 300%, not 500. 3) The role of the military is a bit different than in most developed countries. For example, the Air Force has traditionally offered space in its planes to people in need of transportation. In some areas of Brazil, this is the only emergency transportation, and is available to rich and poor alike. On the other hand, the service is, at times a junket for friends of powerful people. This is what I conjecture that happened to David's uncle. Whether the air force officers bumped from the plane were in fact bumped (i.e. did they have a legitimate reason to fly, or even, were they presented to impress his uncle) is unclear. 4) Brazil has a modest, but active space program. There were plans to launch Brazilian-made communications satelites, an ambitious, satelite-based TV system for educational TV in remote areas, etc. Many of the more expensive projects were abandoned for lack of funds. Given the current economic situation in Brazil, it is very unlikely that the country will have the money (especially the hard currency) to pursue a self-sufficient manned space program. ~v While this may be a long range goal, it is doubtful that Brazil could raise the necessary funds in the next few years. 5) Brazil has several good graduate programs in Physics, and some inNuclear Engineering. There are several toy nuclear reactors, and a couple of power reactors, one in the testing phase, others in construction. Projections of Brazil's power needs, and hydroelectric resources are controversial. There are projections that show energy shortages in the not very distant future in the industrialized southern part. Brazil has little coal and not enough oil, so there is some justification for the use of nuclear power. As for weapons capability, it is certainly there - in fact the 1990 projection is certainly irreal. If the government put enough resources to it (and was foolish enough to do so) Brazil probably could produce a bomb in a year or so. Why it would want to is totally unclear.