Brazil

About Lula's statements on Gaza

This article was first published in French by Arguments pour La Lutte Sociale (Arguments for Social Struggle), here . This translation is abridged and lightly edited. —— At the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Brazilian President Lula said: “What is happening in the Gaza Strip with the Palestinian people has not happened at any other time in history. In fact, it has already happened: when Hitler decided to kill the Jews.” It’s important for left-wing activists who want to re-establish a genuine internationalism based on truth and not supporting any geopolitical camp, to give some arguments...

Brazil's coup attempt: botched this time

Lula On Sunday 8 January, thousands of supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro invaded Brazil’s presidential palace, judicial headquarters, chambers of deputies and senate. The invasion lasted about three hours, after which around 300 people were arrested. The right-wing protesters damaged art work and historical items worth millions, and left many worried for Brazilian democracy. The Brazilian left have rightly called it an attempt at a coup d’etat; whether this was an attempt that could have been successful is to be disputed. Bolsonaro supporters have been camped in front of the...

Brazil: workers’ organisation needed against the fascists

On 8 January, in an eerily close re-enactment of the invasion of the US Capitol on 6 January 2021, thousands of far-right activists stormed Brazil’s Congress, presidential palace and Supreme Court. Many right-wing protesters are less bothered about restoring former president Jair Bolsonaro as such and more keen on a military coup. For many weeks before the attack there were protest camps outside army bases demanding a coup. Brazil’s military police allowed the assault to take place, effectively cooperating with it. A Supreme Court judge has suspended the capital Brasilia’s right-wing governor...

Ex-members come out against UCKG

On 29 November the Guardian published an article about ex-followers of the international “evangelical Christian” church UCKG speaking out against the organisation. On 2 December this was followed by a more detailed podcast , well worth listening to. The young people some of whom spoke have accused the organisation of financial exploitation, psychological abuse and threats. They have also organised protests. The “United Church of the Kingdom of God” was founded in Brazil in 1977 by Edir Macedo , still head of the church and now a billionaire capitalist as result of his “religious” activities...

Kino Eye: Another film from Glauber Rocha

Antonio das Mortes (1969) was the Brazilian film-maker Glauber Rocha’s final part in a loose trilogy with Black God, White Devil (see Solidarity 652 ) and Enchanted Earth (1967). The Portuguese title of the film translates as The Dragon of Wickedness Against the Holy Warrior (think St. George and the Dragon, set in Brazil). Antonio das Mortes (who features in Black God… ) is a hired killer whose main targets are the Robin Hood style bandits, the Cangaceiros. As the gangs are steadily eliminated, his “livelihood” begins to disappear. A landowner pays him to kill Coirano, the leader of one of...

Kino Eye: Cinema Novo in Brazil

In the 1960s a number of South American filmmakers, including Glauber Rocha in Brazil, challenged the domination of Hollywood cinema developing a counter movement known as Cinema Novo. His film Black God, White Devil (1964) is one of the best known examples of Cinema Novo, and considered by many critics to be one of the finest Brazilian films ever made. It is set in the 1940s in the arid, parched landscape of the Sertão. Ranch hand Manoel (Manoel Del Ray) is desperate to escape poverty and the never-ending drought. He attempts to buy some land from a local landowner but is cheated. He then...

Brazil: the continuing strength of the right

Bolsonaro has been trying to engineer the conditions for a coup [if he loses the run-off election] for a long time. He has no attachment to any form of democratic process, and I believe he realises that his political programme and his electoral base are narrow.

Letter: Bolsonaro and corruption

Lula’s campaign did have a lot about basic stuff like a higher minimum salary that rises above inflation every year, and a big focus on the “maintenance of democracy” (on which lots of traditionally right-wing figures like Fernando Henrique Cardoso, president 1995-2003, came out in favour of Lula). I think Bolsonaro won’t go down without a fight. He is going to try to discredit the electoral system, the sort of stuff that Trump tried. It’s difficult to say how much traction he’s going to get. If we actually get to a Lula government next year (he’s due to take office 1 January 2023), then Lula...

Support striking couriers in Brazil!

Brazilian delivery riders in São Paulo state have been on strike demanding better pay and conditions from the apps they work for. They have made links with couriers’ union IWGB here. Watch their message of solidarity ("Good morning, English!") As the IWGB says: “The striking riders suffer from the same problems that we do in the UK, from unfair account terminations to low delivery fees and unpaid waiting times… Our unity must be as international as the apps and their investors.” The IWGB is collecting funds to support the Brazilian comrades here . A small donation of pounds goes a long way.

Bolsonaro, Brazil and the left

Luiza Xavier spoke at Ideas for Freedom , the Workers' Liberty summer school 2021. I feel like people in the UK, especially people, are not really tuned into what's going on in South America, are a bit surprised by the mad figure that is Bolsonaro suddenly taking power in Brazil, especially after years of PT government led to massive social reforms. 2013, I think, is a good point to start talking about how Bolsonaro managed to get into power. In 2013 there were massive demonstrations in Brazil all over, and they got kick started because of some protests around the bus fares in Sao Paulo. In...

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