Stories about Brazil from May, 2011
“Shame for Brazil” Forest Defender Couple Murdered
Six months after he predicted his own murder in TEDx Amazônia, the environmentalist José Cláudio Ribeiro da Silva was assassinated together with his wife in an ambush possibly articulated by loggers of the region. Bloggers mourn the loss on the eve of the approval of the new Forestry Code.
Brazil: Photos from the “Different People's” Big Barbecue Protest
It is unclear whether the Higienópolis subway station will become a reality after Brazil's barbecue protest, but the issue has stimulated the creativity of web users. In this post, see a selection of the best photos and videos from the big barbecue.
Brazil: New Forestry Code Approved in Chamber of Deputies
The Brazilian Chamber of Deputies approved the controversial new Forestry Code with 410 votes against 63 in an open session. As citizens knew each deputy's choice [pt], they used Twitter to regret the support for the ruralist project, as well as to mourn the murder of the forest defender Zé...
Brazil: Forest Defender Shot Dead
As the Brazilian Congress debates a new Forest Code, and as the Environment Ministry launches new raids on illegal deforestation in Brazil, forest defender José Cláudio Ribeiro da Silva was shot dead [pt]. He had announced his life was under threat in the TEDxAmazonia conference, last November.
Brazil: Crowdfunding Potential
Interest in crowdfunding, a form of online fundraising, has exploded in recent months in Brazil. We survey the scene and the potential of crowd fundraising in a country known for world-renowned social organizing, and creativity.
Brazil/Palestine: Football Player Removed from Facebook and National Team
The blog Palestinian Field Negro denounces that the Facebook account of the Brazilian football player from Real Madrid (Spain), Marcelo Vieira, has been deleted due to his support of the Palestinian cause. Later on Marcelo was also cut from the Brazilian national team [pt].
Technology for Transparency: Final Report
The Technology for Transparency Network is proud to announce the release of its final report, "Global mapping of technology for transparency and accountability". The report is being published by the Transparency and Accountability Initiative (@TAInitiative) along with a over a dozen other reports on the global transparency movement.
Brazil: “The City's Most Beautiful Band” Wins the Internet
A musical love “prayer” was one of the hottest topics of the week on the Web in Brazil. A Banda Mais Bonita da Cidade‘s video, (the name means “The City's Most Beautiful Band”) released on May 17 and recorded in a long take, has already thrilled more than 700,000 people [pt]...
Brazil: Future of Forests at Stake
Across the past few weeks, the Brazilian National Congress has been abuzz with the pressure to vote on a new Forestry Code. The project based on proposed changes of the existing Code is backed by a coalition of Deputies of the so-called “Ruralist Front”. Environmentalists have mobilized against the new Code, and scientists demand more time to analyze the project.
Brazil: Special Coverage on Sounds and Colours
During the month of May, Sounds And Colours dot Com - an online magazine dedicated to southamerican music and culture – is focused on Brazil. A good opportunity to learn about the “importance of music in Rio de Janeiro” and the “unmistakable tarde and flavour of cachaça“, among other cultural...
Brazil: Poisoning Homeless People
Luana dos Santos denounces [pt] several attempts of killing homeless people in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, with poisoned food and drinks.
Brazil: Police Crackdown on Street Performer
Hugo Albuqueque from the blog O Descurvo, posts a video report [pt] on the police crackdown against a street performer in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The local Mayor's decision to prevent the happening, undersigned by Grupo Disparada, was considered by many as discriminatory.
Brazil: Alert as 473% jump in deforestation is confirmed
“Events are moving quickly in Brazil's epic battle over a new national Forest Code. The struggle has has reached a critical stage full of both danger and opportunity. Please take action“, asks Lou Gold, as Brazil's national monitoring agency confirms 473 percent jump in deforestation.
Brazil: Barbeque as Protest in São Paulo
A new kind of protest has become a hit in Brazil: the barbeque. Those behind it are part of a "new" social class in Brazil: so-called "different people". To understand why public transport users in São Paulo would organize on Facebook and invent the barbeque-protest, read this post, collaboratively written by the Global Voices in Portuguese team.
Brazil: How a Blog Post Ended Up in the Cannes Festival
A brazilian blogger, Alê Felix, unintentionally made it to the Cannes Festival, after writing [pt] about a moving and random conversation she had had with a boy in Rio de Janeiro. Her post was picked up by the film-maker Felipe Joffily who is presenting a short film on it today...
Brazil: Young Man Recycles Wood by Building Instruments
David Rocha, a talented young man from São Paulo outskirts, has been building instruments from any kind of used wood, as the video in this post illustrates. Some of his accomplishments so far are a cavaquinho, a Brazilian rebec and an acoustic guitar made with wood from a cod box, all with...
Brazil: “Different People” Mobilize Massive Street Barbecue in Higienopolis
The São Paulo State government decided not to build a subway station in #Higienopolis [pt], after 3500 residents of the upscale neighborhood signed a petition against the construction since they don't want #gentediferenciada (“different people” – the poor) coming into the area. This led to the organization of a massive...
Brazil: World Tour to Research on Motivation, Talent and Enthusiasm
The brazilian couple Luah Galvão and Danilo Espanã started an expedition tour around the world in February to find out “what motivates and makes human beings enthusiastic”. On their blog, Walk and Talk [pt], they share stories, photos, videos and podcasts about what they learn from the five continents.
Global Blogging Competition on Water Issues
The European Journalism Centre has launched a three month international blogging competition focusing on water issues called TH!NK5. Bloggers from 40 different countries joined the contest, aiming to win the final prize: a trip to Lisbon, Portugal. Here are some of the most popular and original posts written by some of the winners.
Brazil: Internet Users Commemorate Legal Recognition of Gay Civil Unions
On Thursday, Brazil's Supreme Court recognized civil unions for same-sex couples. The historic decision, which brings an end to the legal discrimination of homosexuals, dominated conversations both virtual and otherwise.
Brazil: Soccer Analysis with Twitcam Tactics
Every Monday at 10 pm (GMT), brazilian journalist Marcelo Costa hosts the Twitcam Tatica event on his blog Esquemas Táticos (Tactical Schemes) [pt] and Twitter (@esquemastaticos). The Twitcam Tatica live sessions are an online space to interactively analyze the main soccer games of the week.
About our Brazil coverage
Fernanda Canofre is the Brazil editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
