Stories about Portuguese from June, 2011
Brazil: 40 Cities Make the Freedom March
Forty Brazilian cities had their streets taken over by the Freedom March on Saturday 18 June. A multitude of groups, collectives, movements, entities and outraged people rallied around the country dreaming and fighting for freedom.
Angola: The City Evolves and the “Icons” Vanish
“Some people claim that the city should evolve, others say that Luanda should not keep the traces of colonialism”, writes Menina de Angola, while regretting the demolition of “one more icon” of the capital city, the building Cuca.
Cape Verde: A Story of Accessibility
Daivarela, on his blog, tells [pt] the story of how a capeverdean journalist, Maria Zinha, has successfully received a diploma in Cinema and Audiovisual, despite the accessibility barriers she constantly faces in the island of Mindelo to do her job, where “stairs are the main difficulty”.
Brazil: Despite Protests, Government Insists on Belo Monte Dam
There are recent developments in the controversy regarding Belo Monte Hydroelectric Plant and its dams, the world's third largest project in terms of energy capacity, which is to be built in heart of the Amazon. On June 1, Belo Monte's license for construction was approved. On the web and on the street, citizens call "Stop Belo Monte".
Mozambique: The Controversial Basket Against Poverty
In Mozambique, one of the measures proposed by the Government to mitigate the impact of the increases in the cost of living for Mozambicans has generated controversy with citizens. In spite of all expectations, the Basic Needs Basket Subsidy “abortion" was pronounced on June 16.
Brazil: “SlutWalk” Throughout the Country in Images
Holding banners, posters and mottos, "sluts" from cities throughout Brazil rocked the streets and made the society think about gender opression. The movement is inspired by the SlutWalk in Canada last April, to stop exploitation of the female body and the culpability of women for being sexually assaulted.
Angola: President's Daughter with a Handful of Business
Considered by Forbes one of the nine richest women in Africa, Isabel dos Santos, the eldest daughter of the angolan President Eduardo dos Santos, is satirically described by journalist Orlando Castro as the “Mona Lisa of Angolan Kingdom“, for the mysterious “unfolded wealth and ease of doing business”.
Brazil: Denouncement on Belo Monte to OAS
The journalist Leonardo Sakamoto analyzes the petition [pt] sent to the Human Rights comission of the Organization of American States (OAS) concerning the Belo Monte dam, in Brazil. The country may be judged for illegalities in the licensing process that “disrespected the right of consultation and access to information and...
Angola: Past Meets Present in a Series of Photo-Chronicles
Throughout the month of June, António Trabulo, a portuguese doctor retired from work, on his blog De cá e de lá (From here and from there) [pt], has been publishing a series of photoposts and chronicles about the past and the present of Angola, following a trip he did three...
Brazil: The Chilling Beauty of the Green Desert
Where jungle was once seen, green woodland can now be seen. Bloggers comment on the beauty, environmental impact and the social consequences which are being brought to the country by the eucalyptus monocultures - the so-called green deserts.
Guinea Bissau: A Step Forward Towards Women's Rights
On June 6, the Parliament of Guinea Bissau passed a bill that forbids female genital mutilation [pt], known as “fanado”. For journalist and blogger Helena Gouveia [pt] “although the law alone is insufficient, this is an important step to combat a barbaric ritual that violates the basic rights of women.”
Sao Tome and Principe: Hip Hop to Provoke Thought
Abri os olhos São Tomé (Open your eyes Sao Tome) [pt] is an intervention mixed song with “controversial lyrics” by santomean rapper PekaGBoom. On the blog Nação hip Hop (Hip Hop Nation) [pt], PekaGBoom's message is described as an invitation “to meditate”.
Brazil: Rio Wears Red in Support of Firefighters
Since mid-April, a movement started by a group of military firefighters from Rio de Janeiro demanding for better working conditions had been gaining increasing support. With the occupation of the headquarters by thousands of demonstrators last week, which lead to a shock reaction by police forces, Rio wore red in solidarity with the firefighters.
Cape Verde: Capital City Without Water
Since water stopped running from the taps of the capital city of Cape Verde, Praia, more than two weeks ago due to improvement works, at first, and then to a breakdown at the central distribution point, bloggers have been demonstrating with poems in portuguese and creole, and posting satirical and...
Brazil: Jokes About Rape and the Limit of Humor
Rafinha Bastos, a famous Brazilian stand-up comedian, has raised significant controversy by declaring in a show that women who claim they have been raped are often ugly and should be thankful. The blogosphere has been discussing the limits of humor and political incorrectness.
Brazil: Firefighters from Rio on Strike for Wages
On June 3, a clash between the Brazilian Special Police Operations Battalion (BOPE) and firefighters from Rio de Janeiro who were demonstrating against the lowest wages for their class in the country – R$ 950 (approximately $600 USD) – took hundreds to the prison. On Youtube, several videos by guardavidarj...
Equatorial Guinea: A Language That Ignores Human Rights
In June the membership of Equatorial Guinea to the Countries of the Portuguese Speaking Community will be considered. Bloggers discuss the weakness of historic and linguistic arguments and the country's wealth of natural resources. They also recognize the constant human rights abuses that go against the orienting principles of the Community.
Brazil: Transport Price Increase Leads to Protest
Brazilian students have demonstrated [pt] against the increase on the price of public bus tickets and have blocked the streets in the centre of the city of Vitoria. Outraged with police repression on protesters, many college students have joined the movement, which has spread through the city and also on...
Brazil: After All There is a Place for Belo Monte Dam
Despite the disastrous social and environmental impact in the Amazon, the brazilian government has allowed for the construction of Belo Monte dam. Netizens are raising awareness by sharing a photo of the indigenous leader Raoni, but the association of the image with the recent news is false, as Candido Cunha...
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