· June, 2012

Stories about Portuguese from June, 2012

Africa: Celebrating Humanity through Photos and Videos

An article highlighting 21 pictures that will restore your humanity recently went viral. Unfortunately, Africans and Africa were absent from all of them. Yet, there is no shortage of great testimonies of human spirit from the African continent. Here are a few photos and videos that show, 'Africa's got Heart' too.

Brazil: Fortaleza City Dwellers Demand Liberation of Green Area

  25 June 2012

Inspired by the massive “Veta, Dilma” campaign to protect the Brazilian forests, Fortaleza city dwellers launched “Libera, Luizianne“ urging Mayor Luizianne Lins to free a green area for the creation of Rachel de Queiroz Park [pt]. On June 24, supporters planted wooden crosses on the site, symbolizing the death of...

Brazil: Anti-Corruption Bill Revoked

  24 June 2012

The Brazilian anti-corruption bill known as Ficha Limpa (No Criminal Record), had its immediate effect revoked by the Supreme Federal Court with 6 votes against 5, as Marcos Bahé, from the blog Acerto de Contas, informs [pt].

Brazil: Second Round of Occupy Belo Monte Started

  24 June 2012

Marcelo Salazar, a Brazilian engineer who works for the [river] Xingu Program of the Instituto Socioambiental, posted on Facebook a series of photos from the second round of “occupy” Belo Monte, which started on June 22, 2012, in the construction site of the hydroelectric power plant.

Brazil: Is There A Clear Foreign Policy for the Middle East and Africa?

  22 June 2012

The twenty-first century has brought important changes to the balance of power which had been in place until then, with obvious ramifications for the international economy and politics. In this context, Brazil has come to dispute its influence in recent years in two regions which were formerly dominated by the central countries: the Middle East and Africa.

Mozambique: Need a Ride? Take the Chapa

  18 June 2012

Lucas, a Brazilian journalist in Mozambique, on his blog A voz de África (Voice of Africa), wrote a story [pt] that describes peculiar and funny situations one may come across while travelling with the local transport called chapa. A photo report on Demotix illustrates these over-busy minibus taxis in the...

Angola: Rhythms of Resistance, Past and Present

  18 June 2012

While international human rights organizations and bloggers are calling attention to the escalation of violence and repression against Angolan activists and musicians in the run up to this year's elections, in Lisbon, recently a tribute was paid to the Angolan music of resistance from the 1950s and 60s - N'Gola Ritmos. We invite you to time travel to the past of Anglola's rhythms of resistance and reflect on the country's political present.

Mozambique: NGO Launches “Corporate Interests” Transparency Platform

  13 June 2012

Mozambican NGO Centro de Integridade Pública (Public Integrity Center) [pt] released on June 12, 2012, the transparency database Interesses Empresariais (Corporate Interests) [pt]. This participatory platform aims to make the profiles of corporations and public figures more accessible, as well as to show their connections with the so-called Nomenklatura and national...

Brazil: Online Impressions of Brazilian Identity

  13 June 2012

Since the declaration of Brazil as an independent nation in 1822, Brazilian identity has gone through several changes spurred by economic, social and cultural transformations. But is there a common Brazilian identity for every citizen? Fernando Sapelli reports some online impressions of what it means to be Brazilian.

Brazil: Deeper Media Coverage of Belo Monte Dam Needed

  10 June 2012

A lot of information is shared daily around the world about controversy surrounding the construction of the Belo Monte dam in the Amazon. At the same time, however, it is unclear how well circulated the concerns of those to be directly affected - the river-dwellers, 'caboclos' and indigenous peoples - by what some have labeled 'pharaonic' construction work.

Equatorial Guinea: Dictatorship Seeks Entry in Portuguese Language Community

  8 June 2012

In July 2012 the Maputo Summit will take place in which a decision will be taken on the possible entry of Equatorial Guinea into the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP). On the one hand there are various initiatives which condemn Teodoro Obiang's 33 year regime, hostile to the orienting principles of the CPLP. However, there are also those who support the country's admission.

Brazil: Magazine Gives Homeless People a Chance

  6 June 2012

Ocas Magazine, handed out on the streets of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro since 2002, is one such publication that contains information that sets it apart from the mainstream press in Brazil. But it goes even further than that. It also provides a new start and work opportunities for the homeless and people who are at social risk.

Brazil: Facebook Censors Photos of the ‘SlutWalk’

  2 June 2012

Not long after the SlutWalk which took place in several Brazilian cities, photos in which some women appear bare-breasted in protest against male chauvinism were deleted by Facebook for “violating the declaration of rights and responsibilities.” The social network has found itself at the core of the debate about the distinction between “gratuitous” nudity, pornography and social activism.

Brazil: Expropriation Approved for Slave Labor Properties

  1 June 2012

In order to combat slave labor, the Brazilian Congress recently approved Bill 438, which guarantees the immediate expropriation of rural or urban areas, without the right to compensation, where one proves the existence of slave labor or similar forms of exploitation of manpower in them.

Brazil: Government Cuts on Public Healthcare System

  1 June 2012

The Brazilian President, Dilma Rousseff decreased [pt] by 50% the salaries of physicians in the Healthcare System (SUS) through a ‘provisory measure‘, in May, 2012. Conceição Lemes, from the blog Vi o Mundo, reports on the new measure that affects 48,000 doctors and quotes the President of the Regional Council of...

Brazil: Most Violent State in the Country Protests for Peace

  1 June 2012

The population of a Brazilian state capital has begun to protest online and in the streets due to growing numbers of homicides. Alagoas State ranks first on the 2012 Map of Violence in Brazil, but despite this its dilemma remains virtually invisible to the national mainstream media.

About our Portuguese coverage

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