Stories about Brazil from February, 2012
Brazil: Dispute Over the Falklands Opens Debate on Economic Perspectives
The 30th anniversary of the start of the Falklands War and the recent public statements by Argentine President Cristina Kirchner cause us to evaluate those events from new perspectives, including their current implications for Brazil as the largest economy of Mercosur.
Video Highlights: Defending Human Rights
A selection of Global Voices' recent and interesting stories on video advocacy including indigenous rights and recent news from Latin America, East Asia, Western Europe and Sub Saharan Africa selected by Juliana Rincón Parra.
Brazil: Visually Impaired Dancers Become Ballet Professionals
Pierre Larose, on his blog Discovering São Paulo, shares a video report on ‘a ballet school in São Paulo which has developed a method of “teaching by touch” in order to develop professional ballet dancers who are blind or visually impaired’. He adds that in 12 years approximately 300 dancers...
Brazil: The Deficient Prison Systems of the Americas
Under the Brazilian Sun is a documentary on the current state of the Brazilian penitentiary system. In the aftermath of the tragic prison fire in Honduras that killed 350 inmates, prison escapes in Peru and riots in Mexican jails, coming up with solutions to this situation becomes more relevant than ever.
Brazil: Quilombo Community in Bahia About to Be Evicted
One of the oldest slave descendent communities in Brazil, Quilombo Rio dos Macacos, has a date for its eviction: March 4, 2012. The claim for the land comes from the Navy of Brazil, that intends to broaden a condo for its officers in that territory, in the state of Bahia.
Brazil: Global Act “We Are All Pinheirinho”
A global act in solidarity with the population expelled from their homes at the Pinheirinho community has been called on Facebook for Thursday, February 23. The idea is to demonstrate in front of Brazilian consulates and embassies all over the world.
Brazil: “Massacre of Pinheirinho”, One Month Later
Blogger Giambatista Brito recalls [pt] the one month anniversary of the “Massacre of Pinheirinho“. On the morning of Sunday, January 22, 2012, thousands of families where expelled from their homes with violence by the military police, in the city of são José dos Campos, state of São Paulo, Brazil.
The “Brazilebanese”, or Brazilians from Lebanon
The return of Lebanese immigrants and their Brazilian families to Lebanon has resulted in the creation of an important community of "Brazilebanese". This community has been making efforts to keep ties with Brazil through the Portuguese language, which has more speakers than Arabic in some villages.
Brazil: LGBT AIDS Prevention Campaign Excluded From TV
Marcelo Gerald, from the blog Eleições Hoje, comments [pt] on the alleged censorship by the Brazilian Ministry of Health of a recently launched campaign on AIDS prevention, focused on the LGBT public. He posts some of the videos that were excluded from the TV a few days after the campaign...
Brazil: “We Are All Pinheirinho” Spreads Around the World
Brazilians all over the world, as well as citizens from different countries, have mobilized in support of the community of Pinheirinho recently evicted from their houses in São José dos Campos. Protests were held in various cities around the world.
Brazil: Is the Weather Wacky?
Talking about the weather may be mere elevator chit-chat but, come rain or shine, there is no honest conversation that does not make some reference to the weather. Obviously the online community could not remain silent on the issue. Especially not in the face of Brazil's readying for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20.
Brazil: Comments On A New Wave of Privatization As Airports Are Sold
Blogger Mauricio Caleiro comments [pt] on a new wave of privatization – “masked” as “concessions” – led by Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff who, during the electoral campaign, said she was against this instrument. So far three of the biggest Brazilian airports were sold to private companies.
Brazil: New Minister Denounces Torture Against Her Daughter
Blogger and writer Antônio Mello reproduces a denouncement [pt] by the new Minister of the Special Secretariat for Women, Eleonora Menicucci, in which she says that her 1 year old daughter was tortured during the Brazilian military dictatorship (1964-1985) in 1972, in front of her.
Latin America: Energy Podcasts in English
Setty recommends the Institute of the Americas’ English-language podcast series on energy in Latin America.
Brazil: Folha, The Second Best-Selling Newspaper
Teacher Chico Bicudo [pt] and journalist Lino Bocchini from the blog Desculpe a Nossa Falha [pt] comment on the fact that the newspaper Folha de São Paulo still declares itself as the number one newspaper in Brazil while the country's institute that verifies the circulation of newspapers denies it.
Brazil: Indigenous Guarani Kaiowá's Letter Asks for Survival
Blogger Sonia Matuscelli posts a letter [pt] written by the leaders of the Guarani-Kaiowá people of the Ñanderu Laranjeira-Rio Brilhante settlement, in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, saying that they “want to physically and culturally survive as a Brazilian original people”, in face of the genocide they...
Brazil: Footage of violent removal of homeless by São Paulo police
The first video footage came out from this morning's forceful removal of families awaiting assistance from city hall on a São Paulo sidewalk. A police officer peppersprays the woman filming. Then a citizen reporter interviews Manoel del Rio, lawyer for the social movement, who has an gaping wound on his...
Brazil: Homeless families awaiting help from São Paulo city removed with force
Homeless families evicted from a disused building in São Paulo city center last week had been camping on the sidewalk, waiting for negotiations with authorities to produce a long-term housing solution, when city police expelled the group including women and children with pepper spray, sound bombs and batons this morning....
Brazil: Pinheirinho Videos ‘Cover-Up’ Leads Activist to Hunger Strike
The violent eviction of thousands of poor residents from their homes in Pinheirinho, Brazil, has been documented by activists. One of them, Pedro Rios Leão, is on hunger strike in protest against the alleged concealment of the severity of the "massacre" by the mainstream media.
Brazil: Homeless squatters await eviction in São Paulo city center
In the aftermath of the Pinheirinho eviction in São Paulo state, police will be evicting a homeless squatter settlement in a disused building in downtown São Paulo this morning. According to the Frente de Luta por Moradia, a social movement (@LutaMoradia), a court ruled the city must provide for ‘basic...
Cuba: What's on President Rousseff's Agenda?
Brazil's first female president is in Cuba on a visit intended “to strengthen bilateral ties especially in the economic and commercial spheres”, according to the Cuban press. Bloggers are very interested in her agenda.
About our Brazil coverage
Fernanda Canofre is the Brazil editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
