Comments - Latest Popular Stories, Instablogs Community by Celsoldc

Grace Calderon

Grace Calderon — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Such is the reality with narco-states. Drugs bring on billions of dollars, and in places of great social deprivation and poverty, drug money is hailed by some as saving force.

Of course, to protect organized crime, the element of guns is of vital importance.

And who else would have the legal privilege of ownership and distribution of firearms than the state.

But narco-states have a way of not perpetuating. Because of greed, brought about by tons of money, the players in the game eventually eliminate one another.

Also, the drug trade has now become a transnational crime. Which means that the whole world is, in effect, running after organized drug syndicates. The globalization of law enforcement in heinous crimes is one proof that globalization does some good.

Celso Camargo

Celso Camargo — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

You are right and only with cooperation between countries will be possible to do some good, but again, what should be done when a country deny to help another?

Grace Calderon

Grace Calderon — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

You mean Brazil does not accept the help of other countries?

Celso Camargo

Celso Camargo — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Brazil accepts (most of the time), but some countries around here don’t. And the current administration is colluding with many wrong things that happen in this region.

I know that this problem will not be solved through the use of force, but I think that would be the case for strengthening the border of Brazil, but it lacks political will.

Grace Calderon

Grace Calderon — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Hey, Celso, how can Brazil insulate itself from the other countries in South America? Isn’t there a move to create a one-passport for the entire South America?

Yeah, political will is the elusive solution for many, many ills. Corrupt countries need incorruptible leaders. But, then again, that’s like wishing that the Easter bunny is real!

Celso Camargo

Celso Camargo — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Yes, there is a move in this direction among Mercosur countries (there are countries here that don’t want be part of Mercosur, they prefer ALCA).

Grace Calderon

Grace Calderon — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

You mean the one-passport proposition has something to do with trade agreements such as Mercosur and ALCA?

Celso Camargo

Celso Camargo — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

”There is no free lunch” sounds very appropriate now, hmmmm...

Mercosur is very different from ALCA. ALCA only wants to down trade barriers, while Mercosur seeks political integration.

Of course that US don’t appreciate Mercosur very much because they see the whole thing as a ”hegemonic competition” with Brazil. On the other hand, Brazil sees US the same way because it is impossible to not have this kind of rivalry here.

Grace Calderon

Grace Calderon — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

That’s an exciting time, then!

The countries of South America want to be their own hegemony. Great! Well, you’ve got the ethanol, so you may not need to follow the trail leading to the Dubai crude! Hehe...

Celso Camargo

Celso Camargo — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

If you like that, I guess you would like to know that Brazil wants to include countries like India and South Africa in Mercosur. That would make the richest nations very angry hehehe...

Grace Calderon

Grace Calderon — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

That would be nice, of course. Without competition, the G8 can implode. LOL

Madhuri Katti

Madhuri Katti — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Celso, your posts did take us thro’ Brazil’s journey into hell...it was insightful

I hope future will lead Brazil further away from crime and corruption...

I also hope we are reaching saturation point of crime, corruption, violence, drugs etc and collective people’s will to have better normal life will turn things around...

Celso Camargo

Celso Camargo — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Thank you. I’m glad that you can now understand more things about Brazil.

Jaiyant Cavale

Jaiyant Cavale — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Celso, the problems of drugs and violence are more in countries in Latin America and southern Asia. We grow all the drugs and we also become the suppliers and if not growers and suppliers, we at least help in providing a route for trafficking. However, Brazil is definitely one of the more developed countries amongst us all, developing countries. It’s sad to hear such things are still happening in Brazil

Celso Camargo

Celso Camargo — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

”What don’t kill, make us stronger” is that the expression?

The fact is that Brazil is a very uneven country and the social apartheid is a sad reality here. Therefore, while poverty exists, all this kind of problems will continue too.

G

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Wow... there goes the Brazilian tourist industry...

On the topic of prisons, I heard the Governor of Louisiana explaining how people who looted during the recent hurricane would go straight to the ”big house” - Angola prison, and ”god help them” as they would be put into ”general population”. It seems to underline the fact that although people are sent to prison as punishment, they are punished when they are there and this demonstrates the fallacy of the reform prison concept. (North) America has some of the most rapine prisons in the world.

I shed a tear for Brazil. I have, as the song goes, cried a river for all the sadness and cruelty in this world...

Celso Camargo

Celso Camargo — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

2006 was one the worst years for those who live in Sao Paulo.

But this state is not known by international tourists, Rio and Salvador are more famous because of their beaches. Sao Paulo is more a place for business and cultural travels.