Marina Silva and Green Politics
By Sibel Tinar, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – In the last of the three profiles of the leading presidential candidates, The Rio Times looks into the life and achievements of world-renowned environmentalist Marina Silva of Partido Verde (P.V., Green Party). Despite being consistently ranked in third place behind Dilma Rousseff and José Serra, Silva [...]
2014 World Cup City Focus: Cuiabá
By Robbie Blakeley, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – Situated right in the very middle of South America lies the capital city of the state of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, also known as the “Green City”. More famous for its excellent museums and beautiful rural landscape than its football, it will nonetheless come into its own [...]
Surf World Tour Hits Rio in 2011
by Robbie Blakeley, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – The Association of Surfing Professionals (A.S.P) has revealed it will return to Rio next year for the Brazilian leg of the World Tour, taking over from Santa Catarina where it has been held for the last eight years. With huge prize money to be made available, [...]
Furnishing Your Home in Rio
By Sibel Tinar, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – Relocating to Brazil can be daunting regardless of where one is coming from, and for anyone used to the resources that facilitate essential errands such as renting an apartment, finding roommates, and furnishing a home, Brazil, and especially Rio de Janeiro, also pose great challenges. The [...]
Dilma’s Road to the Top
By Sibel Tinar, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – According to the recent opinion polls, Dilma Rousseff, the candidate of Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT, Workers’ Party), now appears closer than ever to becoming Brazil’s next president. In the first of three profiles of the leading contenders, The Rio Times looks at her path from imprisoned [...]
Keeping Rio’s Roads Safe
By Sibel Tinar, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – The safety of the roads and highways in Rio is again in the headlines following the recent death of eighteen year-old Rafael Mascarenhas, the son of actress Cissa Guimarães, who was killed in the Acústico Tunnel in Gávea after being hit by a car while skateboarding. [...]
First of Four Debates for 2010 Elections
By Sibel Tinar, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – The first televised presidential debate prior to elections took place in São Paulo on August 5th, organized and broadcast by Rede Bandeirantes, with the participation of the four candidates whose parties are represented in the Câmara dos Deputados (Chamber of Deputies); Dilma Rousseff (PT), José Serra [...]
Electoral Pollution Afflicts Cities
By Sibel Tinar, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – As President Lula signed the Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos (National Policy on Solid Waste) bill on Monday, creating a law regulating the recycling of trash and to reduce pollution, the ongoing electoral campaigns prove to be environmental hazards of their own, as legal and illegal [...]
Britons in Rio for Cultural Exchange
By Sibel Tinar, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – Thirty high school students from the United Kingdom visited the Santa Marta favela in Botafogo last week, to witness first-hand the operations of Unidade de Polícia Pacificadora (UPP, Police Pacification Unit) within the community, through an exchange program sponsored by The British Council. Part of the [...]
Brazil Offers Refuge to Iran Stoning Case
By Felicity Clarke, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – In a surprise move, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has offered refuge in Brazil to an Iranian woman sentenced to death by stoning in her own country. The appeal to the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and offer of asylum to Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, whose [...]