Obama Visit Causes a stir in Rio de Janeiro

Signs read "Get Out Obama"

So Cariocas are supposed to be peaceful people but they definitely have their opinions... and know how to show them.


O Globo newspaper reported:

“I was in the center of the protest when people began to run and I heard shots,” said AFP photographer Vanderlei Almeida. “I had to get out of there because it was hard to breathe.”
According to the Reserved Service of the 13th Military Police Battalion (Tiradentes Square), the protesters threw a Molotov cocktail at the U.S. Consulate. Part of the device reached a vigilante and his vest caught fire. To counter the confusion, MPs threw stun grenades and tear gas.

Almeida was struck by two rubber bullets — one hit him in the leg, and the other in his stomach. Several protesters were detained, Almeida said.

The march began in front of the Candelaria church in downtown Rio, and followed by the Rio Branco Avenue until you reach the consulate. Were displayed banners reading “Obama, go home” and “Imperialism no! Obama, take the jaws of the pre-salt. All the solidarity of peoples in struggle.”

Several protesters were detained, Almeida said.

Translation by and more information at: http://www.theodoresworld.net/archives/2011/03/protesters_throw_molotov_cockt.html

When Obama meets Rachel's Rants

Obama is going to be in Rio de Janeiro and I think it's only fair that he meets with me, Rio's self-proclaimed ambassador.

Now I bet you wonder, what I would ask Obama if given 10 minutes with him.  Well, I have a couple of things in mind.

1. Which Brazilian kind of meat do you like the best? Personally, I'm a fan of the picanha.
2. Are you going to change visa regulations for Brazilians? The big gossip going around Rio de Janeiro is that you are. Personally, I don't believe it.
3. Do you think that making Brazilian bikinis mandatory in the US would boost morale?
4. What was your first impression of our City of God?
5. What is your stand on the immigration process for foreigners married to Americans? Personally, I think the whole process is an absolute bitch.  Planning to do anything about it?
6. Which restaurants have your personnel actually let you go to? Do you need a recommendation? I have some good ones.
7. What have you seen in this country that you would like to bring back to our own?
8. Why visit Brazil, beside the whole look like a nice guy thing?
9. Which Brazilian brand of beer do you prefer?
10. What is one thing you would like Americans to learn from Brazilians?

Obviously I like to mix up the serious stuff with something that gets a giggle. I find conversations are smoother that way. Plus he is the leader of my country. I'm a bit out of my league, don't you think!

If you could ask Obama a question, what would it be? 

A First

Election day completed, more or less, and the first woman president of Brazil has been voted in!  Many are celebrating, and quite potentially, just as many are drowning their sorrow in some chopps.  It happens.

It brings me back to Obama.  I celebrated.  I wanted him in.  Regardless of the happiness and the disappointments I feel in him, it was a needed first.  He was our first black president, and for that I am damn proud! And he has not accomplished everything he promised, and we hoped, but he is merely a man working against a machine.

While that is not excuse, it is something to keep in mind when you bitch. There is a limit to what one person can do.  If we really want to change things, we need to Spanish style protest those bastards.  Sit in the middle of NYC and close the city down for an entire day.  No one go to work in São Paulo and that kind of thing.

But we are also a part of the machine and there is never a day where there's not too much work to be done.  Or you really don't want to miss pilates... wait a minute, is that me?  No, I'd never say that...

So Dilma is our new president.  She is a first and that is something to celebrate. Any breaking down of stereotypes is a reason to celebrate!  And now, what's done is done.  Let's all hope, for the sake of the country we may or may not call home, she does an exemplary job.  Because people, seriously, it doesn't matter if you didn't vote for her. She's there. It's a fact. Her success is ours.

That being said, I have no personal opinion about the matter. I have enough stress thinking about the crap in my country. If I start worrying about corruption here I'm going to die of a heart attack!  Yeah, I know, not even my glass of red wine a day will save me from stressing about politics in both the US and Brazil! I could be a freakin' vegan yoga meditation master and I'd still keel over like a that 4000lb man who asks for the diet coke with his super sized McDonalds.