Written by Melissa Rossi While many Rio de Janeiro residents, known as cariocas, are looking forward to the exciting games, colorful banners, and renovated stadiums of the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics in the city, other less fortunate Brazilians will remember the event forever with grief and indignation over losing their homes for […]
Better Sanitation Demanded in Rio de Janeiro
By Sara Moreira Sanitation is one of the central issues that will be addressed in the regional hackathon [1] [en] Developing Latin America [2] [en] on December 1 and 2, 2012. The work of one particular project in Brazil could serve as inspiration for the development of new platforms. The initiative Sanitation is Basic! [3] […]
All in the Family: Private Ties behind Vernon Group’s Lucrative Contracts
While Angola’s Vernon Group is a public entity and money-making venture, as exhibited by its luxurious office building in Luanda, Angola’s poverty-stricken capital, insider reports suggest Vernon’s success is partially attributable to close family ties between the company’s partner and the CEO and chairman of Sonangol, Angola’s national oil company. Is Vernon Group a family […]
Brazil: Land reform or deforestation boost for the Amazon?
National land will be donated to Brazilians in a program called ‘Terra Legal’ (Legal Land), a package of measures to boost the government-backed redistribution of land and to establish rules for those who have lived and cultivated national land without being its legal owners. The bill passed through Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies last month and […]
In Sudan, Surviving Without the Help of NGOs
On March 4th, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for President Omar Hassan al-Bashir of Sudan. In retaliation, 13 NGO’s were banished from the country the day after, a number that rose to 16 within the week. As a result, a handful of projects have halted operations: those offering drinkable water supply, […]