Latin America

In the eyes of the international community, Mexico has remained active in promoting actions and agreements related to gender equality; the promotion of renewable energies; actions to combat climate change; and marine life. However, inside the country, there is a series of disagreements.

Poverty, inequality and the challenges arising from climate change require a high level of cooperation in international arenas such as the G20 and the United Nations. This paper analyzes the coherence of Brazilian commitments on addressing climate change and fostering development in these international arenas.

The Guanabara Bay is one of Rio de Janeiros postcard symbols and venue for the regattas of the Olympic Games 2016. This book by journalist Emanuel Alencar shows that the Olympic Games passed without fulfilling one of its important promises: the clean-up of the bay.

The Brazilian non-governmental organization Justiça Global, partner organization of the Heinrich-Böll-Foundation, released this publication, that intends to be a tool that allows journalists to know the other side of this mega event, which resulted in the aggravation of processes of segregation, control and privatization of public spaces, and extermination of the black, poor population in the city.

What is the relationship between expropriations, removals, new housing developments, security policies and large-scale projects in the Olympic city Rio de Janeiro?

The private security industrie is definitely among the sectors that most benefit from mega events. Within a dubious relationship the security industry does not only supply the Brazilian State with surveillance systems and weapons, it also influences the organization of federal police and military forces.

The City of Rio de Janeiro is the stage for several projects, now at the preparation of the city for the 2016 Olympic Games. The population of the city has already realized that the project Rio Olympic City, which comprises the developments for the 2014 World Cup, and the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as large projects such as Porto Maravilha, will not bring the promised benefits.

The Rio Olympics have already cost more public money than official numbers show. An analysis by Julia Bustamante and Caio Lima, Instituto Políticas Alternativas para o Cone Sul (PACS).

Democracy is under pressure today in many parts of the world. Institutions of democracy assistance and pioneers of political freedom have been struggling against a significant headwind for some time now. The present publication “For Democracy” outlines and analyzes the state of democracy worldwide as well as the possibilities of democracy assistance.

The football World Cup in Brazil cost the country at least €8.5 billion euros but did not stimulate economic growth. In 2016 the Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games are coming to Rio de Janeiro once again. Dawid Danilo Bartelt illustrates how sporting mega-events have established themselves as a business model. The losers are often the host city’s most vulnerable people, democracy and human rights.