Latest posts by Melissa Mann
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 rights in the country. And despite heavy opposition to the ideas he espouses, Malafaia has a very large following throughout the country.
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' abuses.
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 have been reported. While the number of victims continue to rise and damages continue to increase, the online community has called for solidarity and expressed its indignation in the face of the vandalism and pillaging that has occurred.
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 been fierce, and the polemical statement is raising questions about the images and stereotypes of Brazilian women abroad.
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 the night of December 5 in Rio de Janeiro after succumbing to a respiratory infection. He was 104 years old.
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 (Science Without Borders), published November 20, 2012, infuriated a number of students who have created an online campaign to reverse the decision.
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 terms of belonging to and explaining our African ancestry." The film depicts social prejudices and how black women in Brazil have historically dealt with their hair.
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 with the blog's writer.
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 fully open the still classified files.
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 elections, the advertisements remain for days, weeks and even months. #QuitaUnAnuncio ["TakeDownAnAd"] is a citizen initiative to clean up Mexico City during the election period.































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Hi, "Black Heart." Not sure I follow your meaning. Is your second sentence paraphrasing the...
What? A persons private sexual preference is unacceptable (who cares, and why would you)...