Stories about Portuguese from September, 2010
Brazil: Mainstream media flaw on Senator's life condition
The politician Romeu Tuma [pt], a candidate for reelection in the Brazilian Senate, was wrongly announced dead by national mainstream media on September 24, “despite the fact he's alive, although, at the hospital”, as Pierre Lucena from blog Acerto de Contas [Getting even, pt] comments.
Brazil: Monitoring the Reform of a Park in Sao Paulo
Though September 21 is a national day to celebrate trees in Brazil, SOS Parque Água Branca [SOS White Water Park, pt] blog called it the “Day of the Dead Tree” this year, criticizing the implementation of a reform project to this green area in the city of Sao Paulo where...
Angola: Meet the Country Through its Windows
Uma janela aos domingos [A window on Sundays, pt], is a series of weekly posts featuring photos from Angolan windows with stories told by their authors. As Gabriel Toureg explains, “it's a way to know more about the country, its culture, remote locations, architecture and people of Angola”.
East Timor: The Past is Present
For many East Timorese families that have lived through the violent Indonesian occupation, the past is still present. The poignant words of Fidelis Magalhães - the son of a slain pro-independence fighter - mark the eleventh anniversary of the UN run Popular Consultation which resulted in the independence of the country.
Mozambique: “Bread Riots” Reflections
Globally and in Maputo, bloggers reflected on the unrest in Maputo and the government's response, addressing the economic, political and social aspects of events. Critiques of "civil society", globalization and Mozambique's economic model were numerous.
Sao Tome & Principe: Reflections of a Foreign Teacher
Raphaela Nazaré reflects about her experience as a Brazilian teacher in Sao Tome and Principe. She says that although the students are more disciplined than what she had seen in Brazil, the ferule is still a practice in Saotomean schools. Raphaela wonders if “this type of educational regime is valid...
Portugal: Monthly “Green” Blogging Competition
Every month, LX Sustentável [Sustainable Lisbon, pt], a blog focusing on “urban sustainability”, runs Green Blogger Awards. The organization nominates the best five posts from Portuguese blogs tagged with #lxsustentavel, and the winner is voted by the online audience. In August the award was given to José Mota from Amigos...
Brazil: Real Estate Speculation Threats the Cerrado
Real state speculation is taking over Brazil and sparking a debate on the environmental and social impact of the ever growing construction sector. In Brasilia, the modern capital of Brazil, this debate involves indigenous rights and the destruction of the Savannah, known as Cerrado.
Brazil: World's Largest Graffiti Inaugurated
Brazil's President Lula da Silva inaugurated the world's largest graffiti at over 37 000 square feet in the area of Foz do Iguaçu. This area; famous for the Iguaçu falls and the triple border where Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina meet will now be home to a decorated highway honouring children and teenager's rights.
Brazil: Jornal do Brasil Quits Print and Goes Online
Jornal do Brasil (JB), one of the country's oldest and most symbolical newspapers, gave up its printed edition in the end of August and is now distributed exclusively online. Bloggers are talking about JB's rise and fall, telling episodes of its history and discussing the future of media.
Guinea Bissau: Bridging Cultures Through Language
The Andorinha [Swallow, pt] project has been promoting for two years the Portuguese language in the region of Cachungo in Guinea Bissau. Macua blog reproduces a text [pt] that describes the community radio and the exchange and correspondence program between schools in Portugal and Cachungo.
Portugal: Students Demand Social Action in Higher Education
Clube dos Pensadores [Thinkers Club, pt] blog comments on the opening ceremony of the Portuguese school year today, with the Prime Minister Sócrates and Minister Gago, when a group of students stormed the stage and read a statement against the 400% increase of tuition fees in higher education, in the...
Brazil: Story of a Free Store and Ethonomia
João Perdigão tells the story of Loja Grátis [Free Store, pt] in Belo Horizonte, a place where “anyone can take something away and not necessarily leave something in exchange”. Brazilian artist Junia May, says that exchange practices reflect a new economic awareness, and introduces the concept of ethical economy, or...
Angola: Market Closed and Merchants Moving
Hukalilile – Don't Cry for me Angola blog [pt] announced that the popular Roque Santeiro market was officially closed down on September 5. Reportedly, many merchants have already been transferred from Sambizanga to Panguila, 30km away.
Brazil: Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden under Discussion
Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden, “one of the most beautiful and best preserved green areas in the city”, has been under political and social discussion between the Government and families that live within the area. Today, besides the old legal fight about the ownership of the land, Rio de Janeiro's...
Angola: Journalist Killed for Unclear Motive
Angolan journalist Alberto Chakussanga was killed on September 5, at his house. The motive behind the killing is not clear. Some bloggers suggest [pt] that there are connections with politics, as Chakussanga hosted a radio programme critical of the Government. Committee to Protect Journalists and French NGO Reporters Sans Frontiers...
Brazil: The Political Spectrum of Narcotics
On Futepoca [pt] blog, Anselmo debates over the possibility of a political spectrum of narcotics. He quotes a cartoonist who believes that “marijuana is left-winger and cocaine is right-winger”.
Brazil: Independence Day and East Timorese Self Determination
“To talk about Brazil, I chose East Timor”, wrote [pt] Leonardo Sakamoto, on the 188th anniversary of the Brazilian “political independence”, September 7. He talks about dignity and self-determination, while reflecting on the lessons learnt from the recent history of East Timor, that voted for independence in a popular referendum in August 1999.
Guinea Bissau: Reconstructing the Puzzle of Colonial War Memory
Collective blog Luis Graça & Camaradas da Guiné [pt] brings together an impressive collection of stories focusing on the experience of the colonial war that lasted from 1963 to 1974. According to the editor, Luis Graça, the blog aims to help ex-combatants, both from Portugal and Guinea Bissau, “to reconstruct...
Cape Verde: Six Cities Become Twenty Four
Net-citizens from Cape Verde have been discussing the recent decision made by the Government to promote eighteen former towns and villages to cities, leading to a total of twenty four. In question is the lack of infrastructures: reportedly, some of the new cities don't have water supply or even streets....
Japan, Brazil: Dirty Hearts, a movie on first-generation Japanese-Brazilians after WW2
Jamaipanese reports [en] that next year will be released in Brazil the new film by Brazilian filmmaker Vicente Amorim titled Coracoes Sujos (Dirty Hearts). The movie is about an underreported conflict that divided the Japanese immigrants in Brazil [en] following Japan’s World War II defeat. The trailer of the movie...
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