Stories about Portuguese from May, 2013
VIDEO: Brazil's Police Intimidate Indigenous
Video [Audio and subtitles in Portuguese] recorded by the native Paygomuyatpu Mundurukku shows soldiers of the National Force verbally intimidating his tribe on the area of Belo Monte dam.
Mozambique's Health Care Workers Strike for Higher Pay
Health professionals in Mozambique have been on strike for ten days leading to the halt of operations in many medical units throughout the country. The dispute with the government is based on demands for wage increase and standardisation, as well as the readjustment of the emergency room prices throughout the country's hospitals.
Brazil: Petition for Slander-Accused Journalist
There is a petition out, in the Brazilian federal state of Bahia, in support of the journalist Emiliano José. Accused of slander by the preacher Átila Brandão for reporting the preach involvement with torture against students during the military dictatorship in Brazil, José published a text in the press in...
Interview: Cartoonist Slams Forced Evictions in Brazil for World Cup
In an interview with Brazilian investigative journalism agency Pública, cartoonist Carlos Latuff criticizes the rash of forced evictions in Rio de Janeiro to make way for the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games.
Brazilian Amazon Struggles to Keep Up with Power Plant Population Growth
An exploding population along the Madeira River in Brazil spurred by the hydroelectric dam construction in the state of Rondônia should have meant the creation of more infrastructure, such as schools, health services, and police units, to keep up. But local officials are far from meeting the need.
President of Mozambique's Medical Association Under Arrest
After a week-long strike by medical professionals in Mozambique, Dr. Jorge Arroz, the President of Associação Médica de Moçambique, was arrested on Sunday night, May 26, 2013, under accusation of “sedition” (incitement of discontent or rebellion against a government). On Twitter and Facebook, @verdademz, @canal_moz and other netizens report.
SlutWalk Brazil takes Brazilian cities
SlutWalk Brazil (@MarchaVadias) protests on the streets of Brazilian federal state capitals such as São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Recife, Florianópolis, Curitiba, Porto Alegre, Belém, Rio de Janeiro and Vitória, and the Federal District, this weekend. They demand an end to violence against women and will be echoing slogans like “my...
Brazil's Indigenous Fight Back Against State Development
As Brazil's economy steamrolls forward on the momentum of mega-construction projects, many of the country's indigenous have found their homelands snatched away for the sake of development. The construction of the Belo Monte Dam in Pará and the Olympic Museum in Rio de Janeiro have been marked by clashes between police and activists.
Guinea-Bissau Youth Calls for Peace
The Guinean movement Ação Cidadã (Citizen Action) [pt] released an open letter [pdf] on May 8 “from a youth who wants to have their place in their own land in peace, with the freedom and progress they are entitled.” The document calls for young Guineans to mobilize peacefully for peace, democracy...
Mozambique: Medical Professionals Announce Strike
Medical professionals in Mozambique have announced they will strike. They consider that they were “humiliated, insulted and disdained” in their last meeting with government. This current strike follows a strike earlier this year by doctors. The video announcement is available with subtitles in English, and a number of languages.
TEDxSão Tomé: More speakers confirmed
Another two speakers [pt] have been confirmed for the event TEDxSão Tomé, in the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe, in 20 June. Mark Richard Shuttleworth [en], a South African founder of the company Canonical Ltd, which develops free software like Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Edubuntu, Xubuntu and Lubuntu and Guilherme Alves...
Catalonia: Caution about Spain's Hostile Ways
A civic statement on Col·lectiu Emma (@CollectiuEmma)'s blog criticizes the way the Spanish government is dealing with the political situation in the region of Catalonia, where 55 % of the population favors independence [ca] from Spain, according to an official poll. The statement explains the “strategy of fear” and other...
Angola Threatens to Shut Down Media
The Ministry of Communication of Angola threatens to suspend the public license of the Radio Despertar station and of the Folha 8 newspaper, despite the measure being unconstitutional. The government says they encourage public disorder. The announcement was made on Wednesday, May 15, as reported the Voz da América [pt]...
Uprooted by Brazilian Power Plant, River Residents Try to Rebuild
Due to flooding caused by the Jirau power plant under construction in the Brazilian Amazon, river dwellers were removed to a village specially built to house displaced victims. Unable to adapt to that new style of life, they moved closer to the river. They worry about what will happen with the community once construction is finished and the jobs are gone.
Brazilian Boy Band Tour Continues Despite Rape Indictments
Despite nine members of the 'pagode' boy band New Hit being indicted for the gang rape of two sixteen-year-old girls, the group has continued with its national tour regardless
Leaked Development Plan Raises Land Grab Fears in Mozambique
Against a backdrop of growing concern about 'land grabs' in Africa, a leak from a controversial economic development plan has raised alarm in Mozambique, as well as in donor countries.
Northern Brazil Peace Rally Pushes Back Against Rising Violence
With posters and banners crying out for peace, and much criticism for the violence threatening the neighborhood youth, hundreds of people - students, teachers, community leaders, artists and supporters - occupied the streets of Canindezinho in Fortaleza for a peace rally.
Mozambique Activist Withdraws Candidacy
Lack of transparency and professionalism when choosing candidates, besides a tendency to determine in advance who will take the institution's positions. Those were the reasons given by the human rights activist, Benilde Nhalivilo, to give up candidacy for a seat on the National Elections Commission of Mozambique[pt], a body responsible...
Turf War Brewing in Brazil Over Corruption Investigations
On the heels of a landmark corruption case in Brazil that saw former members of ex-President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's government convicted of participating in a vote-buying scheme, a proposed constitutional amendment in Brazil would hand over much of the investigative powers of the public prosecutors' office, which prosecuted that case, to police.
TEDXSão Tomé: Event arrives in São Tomé and Príncipe
TEDXSão Tomé pre-registration is opened. The event has “Islands Connected : São Tomé + Príncipe = África Connected to the World” as a theme and is going to take place on 20 June. Speakers already confirmed include: Dynka Amorim, Ismael Sequeira, Professor Robert Drewes e Aoaní d'Alva. Tickets cost €...