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Posts Tagged ‘Brazil’

Black History Month: Race and Racism in Brazil

7:11 am By Maegan La Mala · Brazil| Culture| Latin America| race| society · Comments Off

10 Feb 2009

In honor of Black History Month, are a couple more videos focusing on an element of Afro-Latino culture. This time we focus on the plight of blacks in Brazil, and the reality of a nation that on the surface appears to be colorblind, but where the legacy of slavery remains.

The first video, from Al Jazeera, focuses on the hardships still faced by black Brazilians in Bahía. The second, from PBS, follows university students attempting to “qualify as black” in order to gain access to university in Brasilia.

Enjoy!

Via / Al Jazeera

More Martes Musica: Zeca Baleiro’s Bandeira

6:15 pm By Maegan La Mala · Brazil| Music · Comments Off

27 Jan 2009

It’s been too long since there’s been some Brazilian sounds on VL, so to lighten up your Tuesday afternoon, I give you a tune you’re bound to love (though the video could be more compelling): Bandeira by Zeca Baleiro. Lyrics in Portuguese after the jump (beautiful!)

Brazil to Pay for Sex Changes for its Citizens

4:25 pm By Maegan La Mala · Brazil| GLBT| Latin America| society · Comments Off

21 Aug 2008

A major move in the right direction in Brazil with regard to trans rights: the government has decreed that it will subsidize all gender reassignment procedures for its citizens:

The decree was published in the official bulletin and recognizes sex changes as a “right”, as was defined in a 2007 decision which the government denied a reversal, in spite of protests by conservative and religious groups.

The only requirements for the subsidized procedure is that the patient be over 21, and have undergone 2 years of psychological evaluation, which means that the first procedures will not take place until 2010.

Spain’s 20 Minutos reports that the Brazilian Health Ministry projects that without the economic barrier, the procedure might be requested by one out of every 10,000 Brazilians.

Via / 20 Minutos

Brazilian Olympic Hopeful Suspended for Drugs

2:00 pm By Maegan La Mala · Brazil| Controversia| Sports · Comments Off

15 May 2008

Menos%20musculosa%2C%20Rebeca%20Gusm%C3%A3o%20no%20Pan%20de%20Santo%20Domingo%2C%20em%202003.JPG Brazilian swimming star Rebeca Gusmao, widely expected to represent her country in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, has been suspended by the International Swimming Federation from the sport for two years for allegedly using performance-enhancing drugs.

Testosterone was apparently found in Gusmao’s system after a test at the Panamerican Games in November of last year, and her suspension is retroactive to that date. According to Venezuela’s El Universal, as a result, Gusmao has lost the 4 medals she won at the Rio Games, as well as 2 won for the 50 and 100 meter categories, which have been given to her Venezuelan competitor, Arlene Semeco.

Dubbed “the giant” because of her impressive body mass, it is believed that her particular body type and rapid change in appearance (that’s her before, check out her ‘after’ picture after the jump…if you dare) can be attributed to the use of testosterone. Just days ago, Gusmao said that she would go to Beijing and bring a medal back for Brazil, saying “No athlete is psychologically stronger than I am, and no athlete wants to win as much as me.”

Is Ronaldo Being Extorted By Brazilian Sex Workers?

30 Apr 2008

Seems famous people paying for sex is the media story of the moment, with the men involved being made the center of the story and the women/sex workers involved being pushed further into the margins at best, demonized at worst. The latest is futbol player Ronaldo being the latest, claiming that three transwomen are extorting him.

The 2002 World Cup winner picked up three prostitutes.
When they all booked into a motel, the AC Milan striker discovered that the prostitutes were in fact men.
According to Rio police, he alleges that the transvestites then tried to extort money from him.

Timber Mill Raids in Brazil

7:42 am By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Brazil| Environment · Comments Off

14 Feb 2008

Not too long ago , I wrote about the alarming rate of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon. Well finally the Brazilian government has taken some action, raiding 8 illegal sawmills and confiscating 10,000 cubic meters of lumber.

Police began moving in on the sawmills in the town of Tailandia on Monday.

The town, which is home to dozens of sawmills, is in the south of Para state, one of the worst-hit areas by Amazon deforestation at the hands of loggers.

Hopefully this wasn’t a one-off of the Brazilian government and they will continue to make sure that more of this precious resource is not lost.

Via / BBC

Chop Chop : Rate of Brazilian Deforestation Up

9:39 am By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Brazil| Environment · Comments Off

24 Jan 2008

Green is the new black unless you’re the Amazon forest in Brazil which has recently seen a spike in deforestation.

In the last five months of 2007, 3,235 sq km (1,250 sq miles) were lost.
Officials say rising commodity prices are encouraging farmers to clear more land to plant crops such as soya.

Via / BBC

Brazil Gripped by Yellow Fever

2:29 pm By Maegan La Mala · Brazil| Health| Latin America · Comments Off

18 Jan 2008

Yellow Fever might sound like a disease from 100 years ago, but it is alive and well and causing panic and death in Brazil. At least seven people have died from Yellow Fever this year, and the government is investigating additional cases. Meanwhile, Brazilians in the most affected areas are lining up get vaccinated. The most recent victims say they weren’t vaccinated against the acute viral disease.

The video above, though only available in Portuguese, will give you an idea of the mood in Brazil will this current outbreak, including which geographical areas are most at risk. A recurring theme in the video is “there’s no reason to panic”, but I’m sure people in those regions aren’t very consoled by that message.

Via / YouTube

Political and Seismic Waves In Chile

9:03 am By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Bolivia| Brazil| Chile| Politics · Comments Off

17 Dec 2007

These past three days brought three separate earthquakes to Chile. This morning a magnitude-5.3 temblor struck at 6:27 a.m. near Valparaiso. Yesterday a magnitude-6.7 quake rocked northern Chile. And on Saturday afternoon, another quake rattled central Chile causing alarm in several cities, including the capital of 5.5 million people, but there were no injuries or damage.

Yesterday Chilean president Michelle Bachelet was in Bolivia along with Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva pledging to build a highway linking the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean by 2009. Relations between Bolivia and Chile have been historically strained.

Via / International Herald Tribune y Reuters

Chavez and Lula Make Nice Again

11:16 am By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Brazil| Venezuela · Comments Off

14 Dec 2007

392-AME_14col.embedded.prod_affiliate.84.jpg Yesterday in Caracas President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil signed new cooperation agreements including energy, agriculture, and industrial treaties. The Brazilian head of state waxed nostalgic:

la relación comercial entre Venezuela y Brasil era de $400 millones en el 2002, y hoy supera los $4,000 millones.

A jump much needed as Venezuela cut off ties with Colombia after the FARC hostage negotiations with Chavez as mediator collapsed.

Via / El Nuevo Herald

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