· October, 2010

Stories about Brazil from October, 2010

Brazil: Dilma Rousseff elected president

  31 October 2010

Winning 55.7% of the total votes, Dilma Rousseff today became Brazil's first female president [pt]. Voter turnout was also high, with estimates lying between 92 and 96%. We will bring you views from the Brazilian blogosphere as they come in.

Americas: Virtual Memorial for 72 Victims of Migrant Mass-Killing

  31 October 2010

Over the last two months, renowned journalist Alma Guillermoprieto has led an online project in response to the mass killing of seventy-two migrants that took place in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas in August 2010. 72migrantes.com is a virtual memorial for the slayed migrants.

Brazil: Dilma, Cristina and machismo in the media

  28 October 2010

Rodrigo Vianna at Escrevinhador [pt] draws parallels between the rise and leadership of Argentinian president Cristina Fernandez and Brazilian presidential candidate Dilma Rousseff, and slams the often sexist media both women face.

Brazil: satirical voting campaign goes viral

  28 October 2010

A topic that has been making waves throughout the Brazilian Internet is the satirical campanha #votoserrapq (why I will vote for Serra campaign) [pt]. Organised by the blog Grupo Brasil e Desenvolvimento (Brasil & Development Group) [pt], the campaign consists of video footage [pt] of citizens sarcastically explaining why they will vote...

Brazil: the prospect of a female president

  26 October 2010

Veteran women's rights activist Rachel Moreno looks at [pt] what having a female leader would mean for Brazil if Dilma Rousseff succeeds in the second round of presidential elections on 31st October.

Brazil: changes made to digital crimes bill

  25 October 2010

Jomar Silva, of blogging collective Trezentos [pt], speaks out against recent changes [pt] made to a controversial draft bill on cybercrimes in Brazil. The bill, which would require web users to provide identification for online transactions, such as setting up a blog or downloading files, may now see content service...

Brazil: Jose Serra ‘struck’ by paper ball

  22 October 2010

Earlier this week, Brazilian presidential candidate Jose Serra was struck by a ball of paper during a rally in Rio de Janeiro. Eduardo Guimarães at Blog da Cidadania [pt] has accused mainstream media outlets of representing Serra as a “victim” at the hands of the ruling party (PT), and laments...

Brazil: ten days of media fury

  21 October 2010

Over the next ten days, political blogger Eduardo Guimarães at Blog da Cidadania [pt] will chart the tumultuous role played by Brazilian mainstream media in swaying voters’ choices, as the 31st October date for the second round of presidential elections draws nearer.

Brazil: Day by Day in a Favela School

  20 October 2010

Follow Tia Dag's stories on violence, poverty and drugs, in a school in one of Sao Paulo's favelas, Casa do Zezinho, where she educates children, aiming to prevent them from joining Brazilian criminal gangs.

Brazil: Open Call for Digital Culture

  19 October 2010

Brazilian Digital Culture Forum calls all enthusiasts to submit presentations about emerging processes in the network, communities of practice  for the digital age and proposals to support public policies, until October 20.  The 2nd edition of the Forum will take place in November 14-17 in Sao Paulo.

Brazil: Magazine censored by opposition party

  19 October 2010

The magazine Revista do Brasil, produced by the Rede Brasil Atual, has been censored by the opposition party, PSDB and its candidate, José Serra, for allegedly campaigning in favour of rival candidate Dilma Rousseff, informs [pt] Conceição Oliveira, in her blog, Maria Frô. Rede released [pt] a note repudiating the opposition's...

Brazil: gathering outside printers to stop spread of anti-Dilma pamphlets

  17 October 2010

Rodrigo Vianna at Escrevinhador [pt] writes that around 60 people gathered in front of a São Paulo graphic printers in the early hours of this morning to prevent the distribution of pamphlets allegedly commissioned by a Catholic Bishop attacking presidential candidate Dilma Rousseff. Soon after news of the gathering spread, it...

Brazil: It gets better

  17 October 2010

Hugo Lorenzetti Neto posts a moving open facebook note [pt] in support of the “struggle to end intolerance and violence against homosexuals, and suicide motivated simply by being different”.

Brazil: Encounters and Dialogues on Lusophone Cultures

  17 October 2010

From 18-22 October there are “lusophone encounters and dialogues” [pt] with Portuguese language African countries at the Federal University of Ceará. The Brazilian University hosts the 3rd edition of the festival that aims to reflect about cultural influences and common identities. Follow on Twitter. @IIIFestivalUFC.

Brazil: social networking world champions

  15 October 2010

Comunica Geral [pt] reports that a Unisys-led study has shown Brazilians beat the rest of the world in social networking. 19% of Brazilians said they access social networking websites at least once a day for work-related reasons, compared to 3% of Americans, 7% of Europeans and 5% of respondents from...

Brazil: mobile data packages most expensive among developing nations, says study

  15 October 2010

The 2010 Information Economy Report from the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has revealed Brazil has one of the most expensive mobile data packages [pt] among developing countries, at around US $120 for 2.1 megabytes of data per month, according to Rede Brasil Atual [pt]. The report also found that digital technology and...

Brazil: media silent on handouts from state education departments

  15 October 2010

Conceição Lemes at Vi O Mundo [pt] has posted a lengthy interview with web researcher NaMaria News [pt], in which it has been claimed that some of Brazil's major media groups have received substantial funding from São Paulo state's Education Department and the country's Education Development Foundation.

Brazil: The Xingu River is no place for Belo Monte

  14 October 2010

On August 26 the President of Brazil, Lula da Silva, signed a decree that transfers the concession to harness the hydroelectric potential of the Belo Monte Dam on the Amazon Xingu River. Indigenous people and river dweller have been organizing themselves into social and environmental resistance movements against the construction of the dam for their present way of life and means of survival will suffer a disastrous impact if the dam is built.

About our Brazil coverage

Fernanda Canofre
Fernanda Canofre is the Brazil editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.