This week, in What’s Happening in Brazil, we investigate how staffing cuts at the national environmental enforcement agency, Ibama, have been directly linked to a sharp rise in the number of wildfires in the country. Satellite images from NASA show that more than 10% of Brazil’s territory is on fire, and the dire consequences for plants, humans as well as animals continue to pile up.
In our Story of the Week, we take a look at a crisis within a crisis in Brazil’s largest city, São Paulo. A record number of evictions, precipitated by the novel coronavirus pandemic is leaving thousands of families homeless and in vulnerable situations amid an ongoing health emergency. We speak to residents who fear loosing their homes in the months due to unjust predatory policies, in a city where lack of housing is a chronic problem.
In our Culture Talk segment, we analyze the case of Kuikuro people, an ethnicity indigenous to the northernmost part of the Brazilian Amazon, who came up with their own solutions for the coronavirus pandemic. Often ignored by the State, these native communities have been hardly hit by Covid-19, due mainly to a lack of infrastructure, but also to outright discrimination by authorities.
Lastly, we wrap things up with our Brazilianism section, where we play you some local tunes and teach you a delicious local recipe to end things on a delightful note. Enjoy!
All What's Happening in Brazil episodes are available at Brasil de Fato's YouTube channel, where you'll also find a special English-content playlist.
Partners who wish to include a longer version of the show in their schedule may our international team at [email protected] or send a WhatsApp message to +55 11 993 055 156.
For more news about Brazil and our region, visit our website.
