Stories about Portuguese 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...
Angola: Organizer Arrested on the Eve of Protest Against Poverty
Luis Bernardo, the president of MRIS (Revolutionary Movement for Social Action) who organized a protest against poverty [pt] in Luanda today, was arrested on the eve of the event [pt]. A few days before, Bernardo had denounced threats against him by the Angolan regime, as reported [pt] on the blog...
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: “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]...
Portugal: Uncovering Transparency in Parliament
With the backdrop of prolonged economic crisis, which contaminates social and political life, portuguese citizens demand for public governance transparency. Today an important step was taken in this direction, with the launching of Demo.Cratica, a website that lets you learn about portuguese MPs and all their discussions in the parliament.
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...
Mozambique: Portuguese, the Language of Mozambicanness
In Mozambique, while national languages have been introduced into the education system, the decision to ratify the new accord on the Portuguese language is being debated. Global Voices brings together a series of reflections on the role of the language in the construction of a national identity.
Cape Verde: Creole and Portuguese Languages, an Unofficial Pair
On the day that Portuguese speaking countries celebrate the Day of Portuguese Language and Culture, in Cape Verde the status of Crioulo, a mother tongue and unofficial national language, is equal to that of Portuguese.
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: 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...
Portugal: A Proposal to Make Free Culture Illegal
Luis Alves writes about the Socialist Party proposal regarding privacy copies [pt], which says that authors have the inalienable and non-waivable right to the perception of a compensation for their work. Glyn Moody adds “if Creative Commons licenses become illegal in Portugal, this would presumably mean that contributing to Wikipedia...
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...
East Timor: Cartoons on Development and Everyday Life
The website Sapo.TL features a photo album from an exhibition [pt] in Lisbon with a selection of illustrations from the portuguese architect and cartoonist João Baptista. Baptista created the blog Timor Cartoon, five years ago, and has published since then dozens of cartoons about the development and everyday life of...
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.
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