Latest posts by Melissa Mann
21 June 2013
Social Media Plays Crucial Role in Brazil's ‘Vinegar Revolt’ Protests
Citizens all across Brazil are collaboratively covering the street protests that erupted nationwide this June. A number of new websites, tools and blogs have emerged to help publicize complaints and...
20 March 2013
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...
20 February 2013
Matisse Bustos Hawkes, Witness and the Power of Video
We spoke with Matisse Bustos Hawkes, communications manager at Witness, an international non-profit organization that uses the power of video and narrative to open the world's eyes to human rights'...
30 January 2013
Tens of Thousands Affected by Heavy Rains in Mozambique
In Mozambique, the rains that have been falling since early January devastated populations in the country's center and south. Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated, and 45 deaths...
30 December 2012
Promiscuity: The Image of Brazilian Women Abroad?
On a television program in Portugal, the president of the Portuguese Bar Association claimed "one of the things Brazil has most exported is prostitutes, among other things." Online responses have...
7 December 2012
Brazil Bids Farewell to Niemeyer, Revolutionary of Modern Architecture
Remembered primarily as the architect who designed Brazil's capital city, Brasília, and for having remained faithful to his communist ideals throughout his entire adult life, Oscar Niemeyer passed away on...
4 December 2012
Brazil: Humanities Students Claim Right to Study Abroad
The announcement to exclude the humanities in the new government notice outlying the official rules for application to the federal program to send Brazilian university students abroad, Ciência Sem Fronteiras...
23 November 2012
Afro-Brazilian Women, Tight Curly Hair and Black Consciousness
On November 20, Brazil celebrated Black Awareness Day; in honor of the day, we invite you to watch the documentary Raíz Forte (Strong Roots), "start a discussion about hair in...
24 September 2012
Brazil: Misogynistic ‘Humor’ in MTV-Sponsored Blog
A complaint was filed against the blog Testosterone, a blog sponsored by MTV Brazil that constantly posts misogynistic content. Now, online campaigns are calling for MTV to end the partnership...
26 April 2012
Brazil: Activists Protest in Memory of Military Dictatorship
A number of cities throughout Brazil held both real and virtual events to remember Brazil's Military Dictatorship (1964-1985). Activists held protests to push for punishing the Dictatorship's criminals and to...
17 February 2012
Mexico: Citizen Initiative to the Clear the Streets of Election Trash
Every three years, the streets of Mexico are plastered with a thick layer of unending advertisements sporting images of smiling candidates for a variety of elected positions. But after the...
9 February 2012
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...
3 January 2012
Brazil: Military Police Strike and Looting Cause Panic in Fortaleza
On the eve of the New Year's festivities, the population in the state of Ceará, Brazil, was taken by surprise with a strike by the military police and firefighters. Propagating...
30 October 2011
Brazil: Police Restrain Students at the University of São Paulo
Military police launched a blitz operation at the University of São Paulo after approaching three students smoking marijuana on the night of October 27. Adriano Rangel reports.
10 September 2011
Spain: Intense Political and Social Debate on the Constitutional Reform
Political and social debate in Spain has been intense these past few months. The latest news that has once again caused thousands to take to the streets in protest has...
9 May 2011
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.
2 May 2011
Argentina: Reactions to Mario Vargas Llosa's Keynote Address at the Book Fair
Winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature Mario Vargas Llosa was invited to give the inaugural speech at the 2011 Book Fair in Buenos Aires. The invitation to be the...
6 March 2011
Brazil: Female Officer Strip Searched by Male Investigators
The Brazilian blogosphere reacts to a video recently released online in which a female desk officer with the state police of São Paulo is strip searched by male investigators from...
30 January 2011
Brazil: Exclusive Internet Interview with the Founder of WikiLeaks
Brazilian netizens were invited to participate in an exclusive and collective interview with Julian Assange, founder and editor of the polemical WikiLeaks. Assange explains why he works with mainstream media...
