· October, 2010

Stories about Portuguese from October, 2010

Brazil: Dilma Rousseff elected president

  31 October 2010

Winning 55.7% of the total votes, Dilma Rousseff today became Brazil's first female president [pt]. Voter turnout was also high, with estimates lying between 92 and 96%. We will bring you views from the Brazilian blogosphere as they come in.

Brazil: citizen coverage of election runoff

  29 October 2010

As Brazil gears up for the second round of presidential elections, 48 Horas Democracia [pt] will again provide citizen-produced videos, news reports and bulletins of the event to offer non-mainstream coverage.

Brazil: Dilma, Cristina and machismo in the media

  28 October 2010

Rodrigo Vianna at Escrevinhador [pt] draws parallels between the rise and leadership of Argentinian president Cristina Fernandez and Brazilian presidential candidate Dilma Rousseff, and slams the often sexist media both women face.

Cape Verde: draft law passed to regulate Council of Communities

  28 October 2010

Olhofuturo [pt] reports that a draft law regulating the Council of Communities has been approved by Cape Verde's national assembly, with the aim [pt] of better tackling issues of migration and diaspora. One result looks to be improved efficiency of administrative consular tasks for Cape Verde citizens living abroad, according...

Brazil: satirical voting campaign goes viral

  28 October 2010

A topic that has been making waves throughout the Brazilian Internet is the satirical campanha #votoserrapq (why I will vote for Serra campaign) [pt]. Organised by the blog Grupo Brasil e Desenvolvimento (Brasil & Development Group) [pt], the campaign consists of video footage [pt] of citizens sarcastically explaining why they will vote...

Brazil: activists, bloggers defend freedom of expression

  28 October 2010

In an act of solidarity [pt] in response to the censoring of Revista do Brasil magazine, a host of Brazilian activists, bloggers and other independent media joined yesterday in collectively criticising the country's mainstream media and lack of freedom of speech.

Brazil: changes made to digital crimes bill

  25 October 2010

Jomar Silva, of blogging collective Trezentos [pt], speaks out against recent changes [pt] made to a controversial draft bill on cybercrimes in Brazil. The bill, which would require web users to provide identification for online transactions, such as setting up a blog or downloading files, may now see content service...

Brazil: Jose Serra ‘struck’ by paper ball

  22 October 2010

Earlier this week, Brazilian presidential candidate Jose Serra was struck by a ball of paper during a rally in Rio de Janeiro. Eduardo Guimarães at Blog da Cidadania [pt] has accused mainstream media outlets of representing Serra as a “victim” at the hands of the ruling party (PT), and laments...

Brazil: ten days of media fury

  21 October 2010

Over the next ten days, political blogger Eduardo Guimarães at Blog da Cidadania [pt] will chart the tumultuous role played by Brazilian mainstream media in swaying voters’ choices, as the 31st October date for the second round of presidential elections draws nearer.

Angola: Journalist Murdered: Repression or urban violence?

  21 October 2010

On the 5th of September, journalist Albert Graves Chakussanga lost his life at the hands of strangers who in cold blood shot him down inside his house, in the neighbourhood of Viana in Luanda. According to Reporters without Borders, Chukassanga was killed from behind with a gun equipped with a silencer....

Brazil: Day by Day in a Favela School

  20 October 2010

Follow Tia Dag's stories on violence, poverty and drugs, in a school in one of Sao Paulo's favelas, Casa do Zezinho, where she educates children, aiming to prevent them from joining Brazilian criminal gangs.

Brazil: Open Call for Digital Culture

  19 October 2010

Brazilian Digital Culture Forum calls all enthusiasts to submit presentations about emerging processes in the network, communities of practice  for the digital age and proposals to support public policies, until October 20.  The 2nd edition of the Forum will take place in November 14-17 in Sao Paulo.

Brazil: Magazine censored by opposition party

  19 October 2010

The magazine Revista do Brasil, produced by the Rede Brasil Atual, has been censored by the opposition party, PSDB and its candidate, José Serra, for allegedly campaigning in favour of rival candidate Dilma Rousseff, informs [pt] Conceição Oliveira, in her blog, Maria Frô. Rede released [pt] a note repudiating the opposition's...

Brazil: gathering outside printers to stop spread of anti-Dilma pamphlets

  17 October 2010

Rodrigo Vianna at Escrevinhador [pt] writes that around 60 people gathered in front of a São Paulo graphic printers in the early hours of this morning to prevent the distribution of pamphlets allegedly commissioned by a Catholic Bishop attacking presidential candidate Dilma Rousseff. Soon after news of the gathering spread, it...

Brazil: It gets better

  17 October 2010

Hugo Lorenzetti Neto posts a moving open facebook note [pt] in support of the “struggle to end intolerance and violence against homosexuals, and suicide motivated simply by being different”.

Brazil: Encounters and Dialogues on Lusophone Cultures

  17 October 2010

From 18-22 October there are “lusophone encounters and dialogues” [pt] with Portuguese language African countries at the Federal University of Ceará. The Brazilian University hosts the 3rd edition of the festival that aims to reflect about cultural influences and common identities. Follow on Twitter. @IIIFestivalUFC.

Brazil: social networking world champions

  15 October 2010

Comunica Geral [pt] reports that a Unisys-led study has shown Brazilians beat the rest of the world in social networking. 19% of Brazilians said they access social networking websites at least once a day for work-related reasons, compared to 3% of Americans, 7% of Europeans and 5% of respondents from...

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Manuel Ribeiro
Manuel Ribeiro is the Portuguese editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write here.