Yara Aquino
Reporter Agência Brasil

Brasília – It is possible that Brazil will be able to reach, and even exceed, some of the eight UN Millennium Development Goals by the target date of 2015, says Anna Peliano, the director of Social Studies at the Applied Economic Research Institute (Ipea).

Peliano points out that Brazil is trying to exceed the official goals. It has already achieved universal elementary education (up to the eigth grade, rather than just the official goal of the fourth grade) and cut extreme poverty in half.

Patrus Ananias, minister of Social Development, says Peliano is right. The government is working to do better than the official Millennium Development Goals, he says, adding, "The target is to eliminate absolute poverty and hunger by ensuring that each and every Brazilian has food every day. Good food, every day."

Translation: Allen Bennett