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Portugal's Constitutional Court has struck down austerity measures considered necessary by the government to meet the conditions of its 78-billion-euro (101 billion US dollars) bailout program, opening a billion-euro gap in the country's 2013 budget.
Austerity-weary Portuguese feeling shut out of the country's decision making are giving laughter a try, protesting against the government's tough tax hikes and spending cuts in creative, non-violent, and funny ways.
Thousands of Portuguese people have promised a massive anti-austerity protest on March 2, 2013. Leading up to the date, demonstrators have led a campaign to interrupt government ministers during their public appearances by singing a historic song used by revolutionaries who toppled the country's dictatorship in 1974.
Following a series of demonstrations against austerity in Portugal, the country's national police force and the prosecutor general's office have faced heavy criticism for their decision to bring legal action against several protesters and activists. Among them, three women activists face justice: Myriam Zaluar, Mariana Avelãs and Paula Montez.
While people in Spain celebrated “El día de la Toma de Granada”, those in the Arab world debated whether it was an Arab occupation of Iberian Peninsula or not.
The recent acquittal of a police agent who shot and killed a 14-year-old boy named Kuku in a neighborhood of the outskirts of Lisbon in 2009 reignited the debate about racism and marginalized communities in Portugal, as well as multiplied the number of social media commentary repudiating the Portuguese judicial system.
The idea that every voice counts is one that is very close to the notion of Global Voices as a platform and as a community. As netizens unite to have their voices heard when the world's authorities argue on who should run the internet, we decided to ask our diverse community speak out on issues that matter to them and look back at issues we have covered over the year bearing in mind that every voice counts.
Whereas the subject has long been debated in Europe and the USA, the issue of immigration has only recently gained prominence in Brazil. This new Brazilian reality throws up a series of new challenges both for Brazilian society and the government.
November 14 witnessed the first strike of its kind, including all the southern European countries most affected by austerity and financial crisis. Events were covered by citizens on the street in realtime, including acts of solidarity, creativity, and reports of police brutality.
Portuguese is the sixth most-spoken language in the world, and there are about two million Portuguese speakers in France. Geneviève Fioraso, the French Minister of Higher Education and Research, said that having rare disciplines such as Portuguese in all French universities may not be efficient.
Screw the Troika Protest and Police Agression. Video by Ministério da Verdade on Youtube
An anti-austerity flashmob called by “Screw the Troika” [pt] in front of the the Ritz Hotel in Lisbon, on April 16, 2013, ended with the detention of a 49 year old woman. The protest against the visit of the IMF, ECB and European Comission representatives in Portugal, was recorded in video by the activist platform Ministério da Verdade.
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Photo from the album “Contemporary Portugal with São Tomé e Príncipe” from Pantalassa's Facebook page (used with permission).
Until March 1, 2013, Pantalassa, a cultural association working with Portuguese language countries, is organizing a multidisciplinary program of artistic residences in the “marvelous islands” of São Tomé and Príncipe, together with CACAU. The mutual sharing of experiences and affections is presented in a photo-album, which is being updated throughout the project [all links in pt].
Paula Garrido's avatar reads “Europe staring back at itself!”
The Portuguese website Variações Sobre a Europa (Variations on Europe) [pt] invites one thousand citizens to create a digital avatar and to participate with their opinions for the construction of a democratic Europe.
Whether you agree with its content or not, it is unacceptable that the only available version is in English.
The author of the Portuguese blog Aventar refers [pt] to a recent report released by the IMF, ‘Rethinking the State – Selected Expenditure Reform Options', which “may be the basis for many governmental decisions that will have an impact in the life of Portuguese citizens”. The blog has launched a call for collaborative translation of the document.
“Happiness is to find an old friend”. Illustration by Tiago Albuquerque on Felicidário
A collective of Portuguese artists has come together to illustrate practical daily definitions of happiness for the elderly. The online calendar can be found on Felicidário.
Blogs of the Year 2012 Competition. Banner from Aventar.eu
Around 380 blogs have already registered on the ‘Blogs of the Year 2012′ competition launched by Aventar.eu. The most interesting citizen media initiatives from the Portuguese and Portuguese language blogosphere can register until January 4, 2012. Voting starts on January 7.
Pls help me to open my message in badoo I cant read bcoz is blockpls...
I mourn the Croat people. Joining the bureaucrat New Soviet Union is a terrible mistake....
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