Brazilian Problems

July, 16th, 1979
“Petroleum Crisis: a Problem that can be overcome”
Folha da Tarde

This article is aimed at showing Brazil’s privileged position in the face of the world oil crisis, basically due to its vast natural resources, which could allow the development of alternative energetic solutions, and to its subterranean and submarine oil reserves. The instability political instability in the Middle East is pointed out as a factor urging Brasil’s necessity to get ready for a new crisis, mainly because of the recent Iranian Revolution and the threat of Palestinian operations against Saudi oil ships in the Persian Gulf.

As other alternative measures, the author suggests that rural vehicles in Brazil be adapted to synthetic combustibles such as those used by Germany in WWII, which according to him did not have oil reserves and nevertheless managed to keep the war effort during more than 5 years. Other suggestions are the production of sugarcane ethanol, methanol from eucalyptus, oil shale and mineral coal. These alternatives could be enough no eliminate the need of oil derivatives in Brazil, where there is no reason for panic because of the oil crisis.

March, 3rd, 1983
“The ‘FIRD’ can balance world’s economy”
Folha da Tarde

The first six paragraphs in this article describe the world oil crisis in and its consequences. According to the author, even bankers and oil exporting countries had been strongly affected, in a cycle that apparently had no way out. His suggestion to overcome the situation from an international standpoint is the creation of the “FIRD” – International Fund of Available Resources. The fund would administer the exchange of natural resources between countries, so that international debts could be paid in a new currency created especially for international trade based on a country’s natural resources.

April, 4th, 1980
“Abandoned minor: a problem of all of us”
Folha da Tarde

This article advocates for the engagement of the whole Brazilian society in order to solve the problem of abandoned minors, which according to the Brazilian Congress mount to 25 million, out of the 62 minors existing in Brazil in 1976. Ben Abraham argues that this is not simply a social problem, to be solved only by a small public department but requires action by the whole of Brazilian community.

Oct, 10th, 1979
“Agriculture, a Brazilian option”
Folha da Tarde

In this article, Ben Abraham tries to find solutions for the world oil crisis, which he compares to the 1929-1933 Great Depression. According to the author, Brazil could follow the example set by USA, taking advantage of its own vast natural resources in order to become a great agricultural exporter. This objective would be achieved by means of previous planning of the country’s agricultural production, as well as with the construction of silos and roads. Ben Abraham says that differently from USA, Brazil was not interested in meddling with other countries’ economic or political affairs, and therefore could concentrate to solve its own problems.

Dec, 3rd, 1995
“Jail for all who deserve it”
O Mossorense

This article opens with a summary of the penitentiary situation in Brazil, which lacked room for those sentenced and worked like a graduate crime schools, some of which controlled by organized crime, rather than places for reeducating inmates. The author suggests two solutions. Recently released criminals could be sent to agricultural colonies supervised by the government, where they would have the opportunity to work and be close to the family, as a good means of rehabilitation. The second suggestion is to transfer more dangerous criminals to mobile penitentiaries in remote regions in Brazil that had the necessity of infrastructure works, such as the construction of roads. These units, however, could not be confounded with Nazi concentration camps, and the inmates should always be treated as human beings.