Posts tagged democracy
Veta Dilma: Rio’s State-Sponsored Oil Royalties Protest
Dec 2nd
In a protest organized and funded by the Rio de Janeiro state government–with the right to take off from work to participate–held on Monday, November 26, up to 200,0000 people flooded the streets of downtown Rio to protest a bill that would partially redirect revenues from oil royalties away from the oil producing states of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Espirito Santo, to the other 23 states in Brazil. Already passed by national Congress earlier in November, the fate of the bill was decided by President Dilma Rousseff this past Friday, who gave the final “No,” vetoing the proposed redistribution. The More >
After the House Was Torn Down
Nov 24th
For original story in Portuguese in Pública, click here.
“They don’t destroy just the house. They destroy that person’s entire life, their plans, and projects,” states Elisângela Sena, 38, who has experienced the drama caused by Rio de Janeiro’s planning of future mega-events. Resident of Pavão-Pavãozinho, located in the South Zone between the wealthy neighborhoods of Copacabana and Ipanema, Elisângela witnessed her house literally fall to the ground in 2010. Two years later her story became a documentary, and she is still waiting for a new house, indemnities, follow-up from an aide of the Municipal Housing Secretary, and a phone call from More >
An Interview with Vidigal’s Felipe Paiva
Nov 19th
“I have one rule,” says Felipe Paiva, as my calves start to feel the burn from ascending the streets of Vidigal, “to see the view point at the top of Vidigal, you can’t drive, take a motor taxi, or a van, you have to walk!”
And it was worth the walk as we arrived at a platform high atop favela Vidigal, where there emerged a stunning view of the vibrant community and beyond it, Rio’s South Zone, the white sand stretching from Leblon to Leme.
Felipe’s pride and connection to his native neighborhood are apparent not just in his photographs but also in More >
Composition of Rio’s City Council 2013-2016
Oct 8th
For original post in Portuguese on Meu Rio’s Eleições Cariocas click here.
The elections are over and we already know the names of those councilors who will represent the people of Rio in the City Council (the most expensive in the nation) in the forthcoming mandate.
See below the new make-up of the Council for the coming term (2013-2016). Despite some new names elected, there were few major changes. The base of pro-government supporters remained in the majority, with 39 councilors affiliated to parties supporting the re-elected Mayor Eduardo Paes (PMDB), while there are 11 councilors from opposition parties and one independent councilor.
Two of More >
The Price of Politics: Is a new type of campaign possible in Rio de Janeiro?
Oct 5th
Democracy has strayed far from its origin as a system of governance giving all citizens equal access to decision-making authority and the opportunity to serve in office. Modern day political campaigns not only entail budgets reaching thousands, millions, or even hundreds of millions of dollars, but also require extensive networks of coalitions and connections, all of which completely soil the ideals of democracy. Countries, governments, and democratic systems differ, but in today’s democracies, at least one thing seems to be shared: you need money, and a lot of it, to be elected into political office.
But in Rio’s municipal elections, we are seeing More >
