Paraguay+(Madison)



Paraguay

**General Information **
 * Capital: Asuncion
 * Population: 6.4 million (July 2011)
 * Demographics: Average age of Females is 25.6 years. Average age of Males is 25.1 years. Average yearly death rate is 4.57 deaths. Average yearly birth rate is 17.48 births.
 * Religion: Catholicism. Around 90% percent of the population are Catholic.
 * Official Language: Spanish and Guarani
 * Major exports: cotton, soybeans, meat, edible oils, wood, and leather.
 * Monetary system: Guarani is their currency

**Geography **
 * Land: In the west are marshy lands while in the east are grassy plains.
 * Geography and effect in the economy: Paraguay is 407,000 square km. It is almost exactly the same size as California.
 * Weather and Climate: Paraguay is a subtropical country with an Avg. temperature in Asuncion between December-February is 80 degrees. Avg. temperature between March-May is 72 degrees. Avg. temperature between June-August is 65 degrees.

**Brief History ** There is not much that is documented of Paraguay's colonization, but we do know that the Guarani speaking people were a big part in the population of Paraguay back then. There have been evidence that states that the Guarani people had a very cultivated culture because of their communities. In 1537, spanish adventurers established Nuestra Señora Santa María de la Asuncion because it was the day of honoring the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. In 1516, Juan Diasde Solis and his men voyaged to find Rio de la Plata. Sadly this voyage failed and Juan lost his life. One of Juan's men was curious when it came to Guarani people. His name was Aleixo Garcia, and he was a Portuguese adven- turer who later discovered the Iguassu Falls.
 * Independence: May 14, 1811 (from Spain)

**Government/current political situation ** > **Culture **
 * Type of government: Paraguay is Constitutional Republic. Their constitution was finalized June 20, 1992.
 * Current Leader: Fernando Lugo is the current leader. His win was special because it ended the Colorado Party victory of 61 years.
 * Food: Important ingredients popular in Paraguay would be soy, corn, cassava, and rice. Most meals are made from these ingredients that are found in many households.
 * Clothing: Paraguay is a strongly conservative country in how they dress.
 * Sports: Soccer, basketball, tennis, and chess are main sports in paraguay.
 * Holidays/Celebrations:June 12 is Chaco Armistice and it is celebrating the end of the Chaco War. The Chaco war was fought between Bolivia and Parauguay for the northern part of the Gran Chaco region. This region was once thought to be rich in oil.



**Tourism ** **Current Events ** **Barking dog thwarts jailbreak in Paraguay** Posted: 02/17/2012 07:02:15 PM PST
 * Art: During the Chaco War, people went to the theatre to see Julio Correa's Guerra Ayaa.Also Augusto Roa Bastos who is a novelist poet won Spanish government Cervantes prize.
 * Places you could go if you are a tourist are the national parks.
 * Iguassu Falls is one of the top sites to visit.
 * Museo del Barro is one of the top museums to visit. [[image:hstspanishspeakingcountries4th/national_parks.jpg]][[image:hstspanishspeakingcountries4th/iguassu_falls_3.jpg width="445" height="310"]][[image:hstspanishspeakingcountries4th/museo_del_barro_2.jpg]]

February 18, 2012 3:2 AM GMT Updated: 02/17/2012 07:02:16 PM PST

ASUNCIÃ"N, Paraguay (AP) -- A stray dog is getting credit for thwarting a prison break in Paraguay. Officials say three dangerous inmates dug a tunnel about 26 feet (eight meters) from their cell to the street, and were about to break free just before dawn when the dog began to bark and alerted a guard. Authorities at the Tacumbu prison on the southern edge of the capital dragged the unlucky prisoners before the media on Friday to tell the tale. "Because of a stray dog we couldn't escape," complained Hilario Villalba. "When I reached the street, sticking my head out, the stupid dog barked and alerted a guard." Villalba, who is serving a 30-year double-murder sentence, vowed in his native Guarani language that he'll keep trying to escape because he said his sentence isn't fair. Meanwhile in neighboring Argentina, a yellow Labrador named Tiza alerted border guards to a motorist trying to smuggle $110,000 in $100 bills into Uruguay. The driver denied carrying any money, but the dog sniffed out the bills hidden in the glove compartment, another compartment and inside the rear seats, Argentina's tax collection agency announced Friday. **In this article, a stray dog alerted the guards at a prison of prisoners escaping by digging out a tunnel. When the two prisoners were brought to court, one said that he would keep trying to escape no matter what because he thought that his sentencing was unfair. This man is in prison on a 30 year double murder sentencing. Also in this story a lab alerted border guards of a man who was trying to smuggle money into Uruguay. The man denied having the money and the dog was proof that he did by sniffing out the $110,000 in $100 bills. **

`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` =Major soy producer in Paraguay apologizes for comments on women, farmworkers= By Associated Press 1:52 p.m. EST, February 19, 2012 ASUNCION, Paraguay (AP) — The head of Paraguay's largest soy producer is scrambling to apologize for remarks that outraged women and farmworkers. Tranquilo Favero took out ads in national news media on Sunday to ask forgiveness for telling a Brazilian newspaper that Paraguayan farmworkers are lazy and that "you have to treat them like a bad woman, with a stick." **Resources **
 * In this article, the head of a soy producing company is apologizing for saying to a Brazilian newspaper that women, farmworkers are lazy. From an article from February 7, 2012 I learned that Paraguay is one of the largest soy producing countries in the world, and recently their soy production has decreased by a great amount due to droughts. I think that the company head is aggravated with the decrease in production and is blaming it on the workers. **
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 * [|www.mapsoftheworld.com]
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 * Bernhardson, Wayne, and María Massolo. //Argentina, Uruguay & Paraguay: A Travel Survival Kit//. Hawthorn, Vic., Australia: Lonely Planet Publications, 1992. Print.