I’m Brazil’s First Female President!    [12-11-2010] Brazil, the largest country in South America, will welcome its first female president soon. On October 31, 62-year-old Dilma Rousseff of the ruling Workers’ Party won the presidential election. She beat her rival, Jose Serra of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party, by taking 58 percent of the vote. Nicknamed as the ‘Iron Lady’, Ms. Rousseff was a former Marxist guerrilla. She was heavily involved with the resistance to her country’s military dictatorship, which ruled Brazil from 1964 to 1985. She was even sent to jail for two years from 1970 to 1972. After her release, she studied economics and joined the Workers’ Party in 2000. From 2005 until earlier this year before winning the election, she served as energy minister. She also served as the chief of staff for current President, Lula da Silva. People in Brazil are very excited about having their first female president. The streets of major cities were jam packed with people celebrating her monumental victory when this result was announced the day after the election. Ms. Rousseff will take office as the 40th President of Brazil on January 1, 2011. “I’m very happy. I want to thank all Brazilians for this moment and I promise to work hard for my country,” said Ms. Rousseff after winning the election. “I am very proud to be Brazil’s first woman President.” The next president is expected to work hard on the equality of opportunities between men and women. She will also work hard to make Brazil a better country for everyone, narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor. Congratulations and good luck with your presidency, Ms. Rousseff! I’m sure all Brazilians will support you!     출처: 어린이 영자신문 키즈타임즈 (www.kidstimes.net)