Emerging South

When I came living in Brazil in 2003 the first big potential I notice was the country's ability to be self-sustaining.
Brazil has plenty of food (it's the second biggest food exporting country in the world), is self-sufficient in petrol, has 80% of it's electricity coming from renewable hydro-plants, has iron ores and exports steel, makes its own cars, is the biggest meat exporter in the world, exports clothes and shoes,...
It mainly is depending on natural gas (although that might change in the future) and machinery and electronics imports.

I know, the military tried that route in the 70/80s and failed, yet I believe that this crisis is so fundamental that increasing protectionism could be a good choice for Brazil in the long run.  And I'm not alone, why else would Mandelons by screaming so loud to Brazil to never regard its frontiers as the boundary.

Yestedray George Soros warned that the UK might have to seek IMF rescue.  Brazil still has the IMF rescue of the 90s fresh in its memory.  This time they have nothing to do with the causes of this economical crisis and this time it's "the others" who are in trouble and having to seek IMF aid.  Don't expect too much mercy and understanding of Brazil towards the "white people with the blue eyes".

This other article from Soros on the UK is also a must-read.