Stories about Brazil from March, 2013
Brazilian LGBT Advocates Beaten, One Arrested
On March 27, a protest against the recent election of congressman and controversial evangelical preacher Marco Feliciano as chairman of the Committee for Human Rights and Minorities in the Brazilian Deputy Chamber ended with repression against LGBT rights advocates. On Youtube, Rodrigo Grassi shared the moment when one of the protestors...
Will Brazil Stem New Tide of Immigration?
The global financial crisis, wars and natural disasters have inspired a new wave of immigration to Brazil. The development of successful immigration policies may contribute to Brazil’s reputation as an emerging global power.
Interview: Brazil's Indigenous Before Eviction
Brazilian activist Nayana Fernandez interviewed some of the former dwellers of the indigenous settlement known as Maracanã Village, in Rio de Janeiro, days before they were violently evicted by the state government.
Brazilian Military Enters Indigenous Lands
On March 22, the Brazilian Government deployed [pt] 60 forces of the police and army to the lands of the Munduruku indigenous people, at the Tapajós river basin. Activists and bloggers believe that the mission is to ensure the realization of studies of impact of the construction of yet another...
Brazil Violently Ousts Indigenous Village Ahead of World Cup
Brazilian police violently evicted a group of indigenous people from a building they had occupied in Rio de Janeiro to make way for a sports museum, the latest in a series of evictions that have drawn criticism from human rights defenders as Brazil prepares to host the 2014 World Cup.
Cries of Censorship as Brazilian Satire Blog Ordered Shut Down
A Brazilian court has ruled that satirical blog Falha São Paulo must remain shut down because its name is too similar to the newspaper it mocks, a move that critics decry as a dangerous legal precedent for freedom of expression.
As Brazil's Media Struggles, Magazine Axes Striking Staff
Eleven journalists were sacked from alternative Brazilian magazine Caros Amigos in March 2013 after going on strike against poor working conditions, becoming the latest casualties of Brazil's struggling media industry.
Science and Homosexuality Through the Lens of a Brazilian Pastor
Silas Malafaia, a conservative pastor and bachelor in psychology, is the head of Brazil's Victory in Christ Assembly of God Church and enemy #1 of those who fight for homosexual rights in the country. And despite heavy opposition to the ideas he espouses, Malafaia has a very large following throughout the country.
Anti-Gay Preacher Elected Brazil's Human Rights Committee Head
The election of controversial evangelical preacher Marco Feliciano, known for his vocal hardline views on homosexuality, as the chairman of the Brazilian legislature's human rights committee has earned the condemnation of religious groups and sparked protests around the country.
FIFA Beware! Journalist Teams Up with Brazil's World Cup Victims
British journalist Andrew Jennings joined a group of Brazil's popular movements to discuss the country's preparations for the 2014 World Cup.
The State of Torture in the World in 2013
On January 23, 2013, an excerpt from the annual report of l'ACAT-France, A World of Torture 2013, makes a fresh assessment of the state of torture in the world [fr]: “A report called A World of Torture in 2013, assesses torture practices that continue to be alarming, from Pakistan to...
Former Brazilian Minister's New Party Mixes Sustainability, Social Media
Former Brazilian presidential candidate and famous environmentalist Marina Silva is pushing for the creation of a new political party in the country, one that seeks to use the Internet as a tool for action on sustainability issues.
Carnival Samba Takes Aim at World Cup in Brazil
With forced evictions and competing political interests surrounding the run-up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, a group of concerned Carnival revelers in Belo Horizonte, Brazil have put the discord to a samba beat. Listen to this year's winner of the carnival marches contest, “Imagina na Copa” (Imagine in the Cup), created by a group of citizens recalling who really benefits from the cup.
VIDEO: Brazil Bulldozes Neighborhood Without Warning for World Cup
Video records the moment when Rio de Janeiro officials armed with bulldozers burst into Restinga, intent on demolishing the homes and businesses of 153 families who live in the neighborhood. Francisca de Pinho Melo recalls how she lost her home and business so that city officials could construct a bus lane ahead of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics.
Brazilian Family Loses Home to the World Cup
In this article by Agência Pública, we meet another Brazilian affected by preparations for the 2014 World Cup. This time, it's Elisângela, whose Rio de Janeiro home was demolished without prior notice, leaving her and her daughter homeless.
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