America's challenges.

• Position: SOUTH AMERICA 2013 - Brief article

BRAZIL

The largest economy in South America and one of the biggest democracies in the world, Brazil is gearing up to host the 2016 Olympics. With its recent discovery of significant offshore oil reserves, Brazil is increasingly becoming a major player on the world stage.

THE AMAZON

Stretching across 2 million

square miles in nine countries--including Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, and Venezuela--the Amazon rainforest is the largest tropical rainforest in the world. Because it plays a key role in mitigating climate change by soaking up carbon dioxide, its ongoing shrinkage to development is a big concern.

VENEZUELA

In December 2012, President Hugo Chavez (below) had America and one of the biggest democracies in the world, Brazil is gearing up to host the 2016...