Stories about Brazil from April, 2006
Brazil: Portuguese and Indigenous Languages
While Portuguese is Brazil's official state language, M. Bichuetti of The Brazilian Way of Life says that around 180 native tongues are still present. Quoting a linguistics professor, Bichuetti says that some of the languages “are ‘on the verge of extinction,’ [while others] are ‘very vigorous.'”
Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador: “Abstinencewatch™ Scorecard”
Bob Kellet explains why the Brazilian football club will be happy in Germany this World Cup whereas Costa Rica and Ecuador won't.
Brazil: Islam
Comings Communiqué, a weblog by a Christian missionary, is dismayed by the rise of Islam in Brazil.
Brazil, Mexico: Landless Workers Movement and Zapatistas
The Western Hemisphere Policy Watch blog cites a meeting between the Brazilian NGO, Landless Workers Movement (MST) and the Zapatistas in Southern Mexico as proof “that the international left's designs on the Americas are quite real and very much alive.”
Quotas in Brazilian Universities: The Online Debate
This post is also available in Portuguese. There is an important public conversation going on in Brazil. Affirmative action quota policies are being implemented in some Brazilian universities*. The debate will heat up in the coming weeks as Congress considers a new law (law project nº 3627/2004) that would establish...
Brazil: Workers Party Corruption
Luís Afonso Assumpção lists his 40 “corruption nominees” from Lula da Silva's Workers Party.
Brazil: Free Software Forum
Andy Oram writes about Brazil's unique IT history and explains what a bunch of free software enthusiasts are doing in Porto Alegre.
Brazil: Lucio Sanfilippo
Daniela Thompson describes the “extraordinary voice” of famed Brazilian vocalist, Lucio Sanfilippo.
Brazil: A Correspondent Reflects
Jared Goyette, a foreign correspondent living in Bahia, reflects on his latest piece for Brazzil Magazine. “When I changed the article, I cut out a lot detail I had recorded on the show …”
Brazil: Bossa Nova Star Normando
Blog.bossanova.fm introduces Normando Santos, one of the many giants of Brazilian bossa nova.
Brazil:Varig Airlines Bankruptcy
Brazil's Varig has joined Mexico's Aerocalifornia and Bolivia's LAB on the growing list of Latin American airlines struggling to get by according to Made in Brazil.
Mexico, Brazil: Creative Commons Creativity Contest
Eduardo Arcos introduces (ES) the first contest of “Mexicommons creativity (ES),” which solicits new works of music, video, animation, and podcasts. The top three winners of each category will be included on the DVD of iSummit '06 to take place this June in Rio de Janeiro.
Brazil: Pontes Touches Down
Brazilian bloggers’ reactions to the space flight of Marcos Pontes, the first Brazilian astronaut, run the gamut along a scale from enthusiasm to cynicism. At the “unqualified joy” end of the scale an amateur radio operator in the northerneastern state of Piauí was positively effervescent over a Piauense's ham radio...
Brazil: Former Economy Minister Indicted
Luís Afonso Assumpção says that a corruption scandal by former economy minister, Palocci is representative of the “status of this ‘ethical’ government from Worker´s Party.” Randy Paul compares it to the Scooter Libby scandal in the United States.
Latin America, U.S.: “Border Wars and Truces”
Commenting on the U.S. immigration debate, “Sangroncito” notes that Americans can easily take for granted that they are warmly received around Latin America without the costly and invasive process that visiting Latin Americans must endure.
Venezuela, Brazil: “A tale of two scandals”
Francisco draws a comparison between a recent bribery scandal in Brazil that was caught on video with another one in Venezuela of which there is also allegedly incriminating video.
About our Brazil coverage
Fernanda Canofre is the Brazil editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
