Stories about Brazil from December, 2011
Brazil: Youth Demands for “Real Democracy Now”
Brazilian journalist and blogger Lucas Morais analyzes [pt] the revolutionary movements that have spread throughout the world in 2011 and says that “this youth has increasingly become more aware of the limits of capitalist democracy, and not for nothing, it is fighting for a ‘real democracy now'”.
Brazil: Life of Blogger Ricardo Gama Back Under Threat
Controversial Brazilian blogger Ricardo Gama, who was shot on a politically motivated attack back in April, now informs [pt] he has received new death threats in the last few days on his video-blog. Gama, a prolific blogger from Rio de Janeiro, often criticizes and denounces the government of the state.
Brazil: Constraining Identities Through “Aesthetic Standards”
Brazilian journalist and blogger André Forestieri writes [pt] about the rights of an employer to constrain a black employee if he or she does not fit the “aesthetic standards” imposed by society. He illustrates with the case of a student whose teacher in a school she worked wanted her to...
Brazil: Referendum on the Separation of Pará State
Brazilian blogger João Villaverde writes [pt] about the coming referendum in the Amazonian state of Pará, that could divide the state into three new separate entities. This first-time people's ballot on a matter that had only been decided by politicians, will take place on Sunday, December 11.
Brazil: Anti-Homophobia Bill Suffers a “Death Blow”
Brazilian lawyer Thiago Fiago comments on [pt] the recent changes to the bill PLC122, which originally intended to criminalize homophobia. Fiago says the proposed bill has suffered a “death blow” and criticizes the role of religion, and particularly evangelical representatives, in the parliament.
Brazil: Student Sued by the City Councilor of Natal
In the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Norte, the city councilor of Natal, Julio Protásio, is suing the student and social activist Leonardo Miranda for comments made on Twitter on a criminal case against Protásio and other city councilors linked to misuse of public funds, informs us [pt] the...
Brazil: The Death of Socrates, A Brazilian Idol
Sócrates, one of the greatest Brazilian soccer players, died at the age of 57 on December 4, 2011, a result of septic shock caused by excessive consumption of alcohol over the years. The blogosphere pays a last tribute to this soccer idol whose rare "critical thinking" made him a political leader in and out of the field.
Latin America: Social Networks Bring Recognition to Primary Recyclers
Using various social media, primary recyclers of Latin America, also known as pepenadores, cartoneros, buzos (waste pickers) or simply recyclers, have joined together in search of social inclusion and formal recognition of their work.
Brazil: Picture of President Dilma Sparks “Low-level” Debate
Brazilian journalist Marco Antônio Araújo criticizes [pt] the “low level” political debate that followed the recent release of an unprecedented picture of President Dilma Roussef. The “powerful picture” shows Rousseff during the dictatorship, at the age of 22, under interrogation by military who were hiding their faces. “Shame?”, Araujo asks.
Brazil: Five Cities Without Mobile Phones
Although Brazil has, today, over 231 million mobile lines for a population of around 191 million people, there are still five isolated cities without any mobile signal for connection, reports [pt] the journalist Eduardo Marini.
Brazil: Video-debate on Belo Monte Dam
Brazilian journalist and blogger Lino Bocchini published [pt] the video of a debate on the construction of the Belo Monte Dam, in the Amazonia rain forest. Journalists and experts on the matter participated in the debate, which was livestreamed on the self-managed and participatory online channel #posTV [pt].
Lusophone Heritage of “Portugality” Around the World
A Facebook group and a mapping website called “Portugality” have been created to explore the cultures that result from the “global cultural fusion started by Portuguese navigations of the XVth. century and lasting to this day in places like Brazil, Mozambique, East Timor or Malacca”.
Latin American Hackathon Seeks to Create Web Apps to Solve Social Problems
On December 3 and 4, 2011, developers, designers, academics and other experts from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay, will participate in “Desarrollando América Latina” [es] (Developing Latin America), a 30 hour open data hackathon to develop web applications that help solve social problems related to education, public budgets,...
Brazil: Documentary on Belo Monte Seeks Funds from the Crowd
Belo Monte: Announcement of a War is the title of a Brazilian independent video production about the hydroelectric plant's impact, which has made its way to the top of the most expensive crowdfunding campaigns in the Catarse platform. The short documentary had tried crowdfunding before without success.
About our Brazil coverage
Fernanda Canofre is the Brazil editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
