Here are some columns written since 1995. The subjects include Brazil´s frosty relationship with the US and its muted reaction to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Items on violence, corruption and nepotism appear since these subjects have always been part of Brazilian life and look like remaining so. A look back on the Fernando Henrique Cardoso years asks why Brazilians are so reluctant to make efforts to change their blatantly unfair society. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva´s idealistic campaign to end hunger, social responsibility by companies and private individuals to help the worse off, the position of black people, relations with Argentina, Brazil´s longing for a seat on the UN Security Council and the role of the Central Bank are among other topics. An interview with the late Mario Henrique Simonsen in 1995 contains much which is still relevant today.

Brazilian history is fertile ground and I include an article marking the centenary of the publication of "Rebellion in the Backlands" ("Os Sertões"), an astonishing book by Euclides da Cunha which is still relevant today. There are also pieces on Brazil´s imperialist past (which Brazilians conveniently forget), the mysterious deaths of a suspiciously large number of political leaders and a look back at the life of one of its most charismatic politicians, Leonel Brizola.

There are also several more general articles, including one on the fascination foreign men have for Brazilian women. Sexual attraction is also a mainstay of one of Brazil´s greatest exports - the telenovela soap opera although politics is kept in the background. I also present a review of Peter Robb´s "A Death in Brazil", one of the worst and most mendacious books about the country ever written.

Most of these articles appeared originally in magazines and sites such as infobrazil.com and brazzil.com. Please note that all material is copyright and may not be reproduced without permission.