The hybrid event was co-sponsored and organized by the Atlanta Global Studies Center, GSU’s Office of International Initiatives, GSU’s Center for Human Rights and Democracy and GSU’s Center for Latin American and Latinx Studies.

Vanessa Ibarra, Director of the Atlanta Mayor’s Office of International Affairs, opened the event citing that Atlanta is home to over 75,000 Brazilian nationals who contribute to the economic vitality and diversity of the city. Dr. Wolfgang Schlör, Associate Provost of International Initiatives at GSU, introduced the ambassador, who began by remarking on the warmth of Atlanta’s southern hospitality.

The ambassador’s visit coincided with the COP26 climate meetings in Glasgow, Scotland, and as such, the ambassador affirmed Brazil’s commitment to environmental action. Ambassador Forster indicated that Brazil has more than doubled federal funds for environmental enforcement and forest fire prevention and firefighting. In addition, Brazil anticipates reaching its climate neutrality objective ten years earlier than expected, by 2050, rather than 2060.

In addition to combating climate change, Brazil is making strides to reduce global food insecurity through innovations in science-based sustainable agriculture, which the ambassador endorsed  as “playing a great role in food security around the world using about 7% of its territory.” 

On the educational front, the ambassador recognized that the U.S. plays an important role in hosting 16,000 students from the Brazilian diaspora. He expressed that interest in studying STEM is increasingly on the rise and will fuel innovation in Artificial Intelligence, hydrologic monitoring in the Amazon, and biotech fields. He noted the potential to “increase Brazilian students in higher education studying at Georgia State and Georgia Tech,” and was enthusiastic about the universities’ commitment to teaching introductory Portuguese at their institutions.

Moderators Anthony Lemieux, Ryan Carlin, and Leslie Marsh asked tough questions about political tensions and criticisms of Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro and his administration. READ MORE

Photo: From left to right: Dr. Wolfgang Schlör, Dr. Ryan Carlin, Ambassador Nestor Forster, Jr., Dr. Anthony Lemiuex, Consul General of Brazil in Atlanta Carlos de Abreu e Silva, Dr. Leslie Marsh