Panel to consider Brazil's economic, environmental concerns

'Brazil's Balancing Act' symposium to be held March 5 in Usdan Student Center

How do we reconcile the demands of economic development, environmental protection, and indigenous rights in emerging economies? A panel of experts working in diverse fields – including economic development, international business, environmental protection, international law, human rights and indigenous rights – will explore the case of Brazil Tuesday, March 5, at "Brazil's Balancing Act."

The panel, moderated by International Business School Dean Bruce Magid, will be held at the International Lounge in Usdan Student Center from 2 to 5 p.m.
Brazil faces many of the conundrums faced by other developing economies:
•    Brazil has the largest economy in Latin America – one of the most dynamic economies in the world – yet 21.4 percent of population lives below the poverty line.
•    Brazil has a plethora of natural resources. Yet development of these and other resources can threaten the environment. Brazil is home to world’s largest intact rainforest – but government restrictions that in recent years significantly reduced deforestation have been relaxed.
•    Brazil is also home to the largest number of uncontacted indigenous tribes. The Brazilian constitution recognizes the rights of indigenous people to live in traditional territories according to traditional lifestyles, and states that the government is responsible for demarcation of indigenous lands and for providing bilingual education and health care adapted to indigenous needs and beliefs. Yet the government has not provided the funds for education and health care, and indigenous people have low literacy rates and high child mortality rates.

The “Brazil’s Balancing Act” symposium will provide a forum for dialogue about how Brazil might best fulfill its local, national, and international obligations. 

The panelists are:
•    Mr. Fernando Ribeiro Delgado, lecturer, Harvard Law School
•    Professor Cristina Espinosa, The Heller School, Brandeis University
•    Dr. Daniel Luis Gleizer, Banco Itau BBA - vice president (Saõ Paulo)
•    Dr. Moises Lino e Silva, lecturer, International and Global Studies and anthropology, Brandeis University
•    Dr. Biorn Maybury-Lewis, executive director, Cambridge Institute for Brazilian Studies (CIBS); Institute for International Urban Development; University of Massachusetts, Boston

This event is organized by the International Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life and the Brandeis International Business School's Perlmutter Institute for Global Business Leadership. It is free and open to the public. For more information, email the Ethics Center.

See the event webpage and Facebook page for details and links to resources related to the conversation.