One of the most interesting/frustrating/funny (cause it has to be or else you go insane) things about living in Brazil is what is in my opinion a misuse of resources. Especially government resources. Which, admittedly, happens everywhere but in this case there's an extreme...
I'll give you an example. We have some friends who have shipped a container of household goods including a few food items to Brazil, for personal consumption. One of these people happens to be employed by a company which is affiliated with the food and beverage industry. Somehow the name of the company was put on the shipping label with the names of our friends. Now, because of the "food contents" (which is apparently like 2 jars of peanut butter), the shipment has been held up in customs for months, because customs figures that the company our friend works for is trying to get into the peanut butter import business. Which they are not. (2 jars? Come on).
Meanwhile, the illegal arms and drug trafficking trade is booming here in Brazil. Kids in favelas have access to AK-47's and grenade launchers, none of which are apparently manufactured here in Brazil. According to many sources it is easier for a child in Rio de Janeiro to get their hands on a gun than a meal. Scary. And yet a couple cans of peanut butter are tying up precious resources in customs for months on end...
If you read my recent entry about my allergic reaction, you'd know that a couple cans of peanut butter are for me just as deadly as an AK-47, however, it's my understanding that for the majority of the population, this is not the case.
When the peanut butter is the priority, and customs officials are more concerned about a couple cans of skippy than drugs & guns, it really makes you wonder.
An AK47 is a great Christmas gift for a child of any age. Who doesn't remember their first semi-automatic weapon with tears of happiness?!
Now peanut butter on the other hand is just EVIL! It is a silent killer not only through allergies but also its fat content! Kudos to the Brazilian government for saving its people from this family sanctioned bit of murder.
Up with guns!! Down with PB&J!
(Please note that this entire comment was written by someone hyped up on Coke Zero and sarcasm.)
Posted by: Typ0 | October 21, 2008 at 10:53 AM
Peanut butter is no laughing matter. Have you ever seen a dog trying to eat it?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG-F1mak6v0
Posted by: Adam | October 21, 2008 at 12:47 PM
haha
Posted by: DRL | October 23, 2008 at 01:38 PM
Why did your friend send you peanut butter if you are so allergic? Just wondering.
Posted by: brandy | December 16, 2009 at 05:12 PM