· March, 2011

Stories about Brazil from March, 2011

Brazil: On Opening the Archives of the Dictatorship

  31 March 2011

A collective blogging was called to demand the opening of the archives of the Brazilian military dictatorship (1964-1985), responsible for torturing of thousands and for killing 380 Brazilians. Of these, 147 remain missing and nothing is known about the fate of their bodies. Until now their families are suffering without knowing their stories.

Brazil: More Poetry, Less Money

  27 March 2011

Following the discussion on The Cost of Financing Culture in Brazil, blogger Paulo Rená introduces [pt] a new project – “More Poetry, Less Money” (@maispoesia) – where “any person can pick up a poem, record it for a video platform” and post it using the hashtag #MaisPoesiaMenosDinheiro.

Côte d'Ivoire: Where Are the African Personalities When They Are Needed?

  27 March 2011

A few months ago,  Marième Jamme asked Bono and Bob Geldof to take less prominent roles as speakers for Africa in the media and leave space for Africans to speak for themselves. Today on the Africa Rising blog,  bloggers  wonder where have the African personalities gone when they are actually needed to get the world's...

Spanish-Speaking Bloggers React to Earthquake in Japan

  27 March 2011

The 8.9 magnitude earthquake which shook Japan on March 11th has provoked reactions from Spanish-speaking bloggers from all over the world. After reviewing news of various disasters around the world and most recently in Japan, the question which arises is: faced with a disaster, would you abandon your home?

Brazil: The Cost of Financing Culture

  26 March 2011

Recent news that the Brazilian Ministry of Culture has authorized famous singer Maria Bethânia to raise R$ 1.3 million tax free (Brazilian reais - approximately US$ 777,000) to create a poetry blog, has aroused the anger of bloggers, Twitter users and other cultural activists.

Brazil: Critical Mass, a month later

  26 March 2011

One month after “a reckless madman ran over a group of cyclists in Porto Alegre”, during the Critical Mass event, Brazilian blogger and journalist Cristina Rodrigues writes [pt] about some concrete developments in the city, as a result of the social movement that has been created.

Global Voices’ translator: Jean Saint-Dizier

  25 March 2011

Jean Saint-Dizier, aka "Juan", is a volunteer translator for Global Voices in French. Madly in love with Brazil, his second homeland, and with Portuguese, Juan translates from Portuguese to French every post about Brazil published on Global Voices because "Brazil is a chance for the world, and I want to share it".

Brazil: Racism against Federal Judge

  25 March 2011

Blogger Renato Rovai regrets [pt] that Júlio Campos [pt] – a Federal Deputy from the Brazilian Democratas right wing party- has referred to the Minister of the Supreme Federal Court, Joaquim Barbosa, as the “dark brown of the Supreme”. Campos later apologized [pt] for what were considered racist words.

Brazil: Satirical Video pokes fun at famous singer's blog

  24 March 2011

The Javipior blog has made video spoof on the upcoming poetry blog [pt] by Brazilian singer Maria Bethânia, estimated at R$ 1.3 million tax free (Brazilian reais – approximately US$ 777,000). The poem recited at the video criticizes using tax incentives to cover the blog expenses, “I know I'm taking...

Brazil: Criminalization of Guarani-Kaiowá Leaders

  20 March 2011

Israel Sassá comments [pt] on the criminalization process that is taking place against the leaders of the indigenous Guarani Kaiowa community in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. According to him, members of the community are accused because they have been camping along federal roads after illegal farmers have stolen their...

Brazil: Gay federal deputy threatened

  20 March 2011

Blogger Paulo Lopes denounces [pt] life threats on Twitter directed to the federal deputy Jean Wyllys – the first assumed homossexual to enter the Brazilian Parliament. Rudá Ricci, on the blog De Esquerda em Esquerda (From Left to Left) compares [pt] Wyllys with the US activist Harvey Milk.

Latin America: Getting Ready for President Obama's Trip

  17 March 2011

Mike in Central American Politics lists several links to blogs and other sources (in English) discussing President Obama's upcoming trip to Latin America. President Obama will travel to El Salvador, Chile and Brazil at the end of March 2011.

Brazil: Great Fishing Against Belo Monte Dam

  17 March 2011

Traditional populations of the Brazilian Amazon forest ran the “Great Fishing Action” from March 11 to March 14. The campaign, which urged against the Belo Monte Dam while calling for the protection of the Xingu river, gathered around 600 fishermen in the city of Altamira . The Xingu Vivo Committee...

Brazil: Two more cyclists get hit in Porto Alegre

  16 March 2011

Two cyclists were run over on March 13 in Porto Alegre, informs the blog Massa Crítica (Critical Mass) [pt]. Just a few days before, Global Voices had reported on a controversial “accident or attempted murder”  of 12 to 20 cyclists in a bicycle event in the same city.

Brazil: International Women's Day and Amnesty

  16 March 2011

As part of the celebrations of the International Women's Day, on March 8, six former political prisioners received the offical amnesty by the Brazilian Government, says [pt] Rogério Tomaz Jr, from the blog Conexão Brasília-Maranhão. These six women were  honoured for the persecution they suffered during the Military Dictatorship (1964-1985)

Brazil: Reactions to Egyptian and Middle Eastern Crises

From January 25, 2011, the world followed the course of the Egyptian revolutionary conflict, awaiting the fall of Hosni Mubarak, which finally arrived on 11 February after weeks of protest. In the wake of Egypt's crisis, the Brazilian blogosphere was filled with analysis, celebrations and prognoses for the future.

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