Excluded Headlines: Good news from Brazil overlooked, migrant camps, Peru protests, and more
Stay up to date on the global news stories the US- and Eurocentric media overlooks, with journalist and author, Tamara Pearson.
From resistance, to hopeful policies and repression, big things are happening in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, but the BBC and CNN, for example, have focused on Russia and Ukraine, the British monarchy, the arrest of El Chapo’s son, the new year tragedy in Uganda, storms in California, Pope Benedict, and China and Covid, while downplaying these stories, and many others:
Brazil: In days, numerous pro-environment and pro-people actions taken - Lula assumed office for his third, non-consecutive term on Sunday. Just days in, the new government has already begun implementing important measures, though of course the proof will be in how the policies are implemented. The mainstream English media has covered, very briefly, a few of the following changes, but ignored most of them, despite the hope they offer:
The government created a minister of Indigenous peoples and appointed Sonia Guajajara, an activist, environmentalist, and Indigenous person. She sees the position as part of “historic reparation” to Brazil’s Indigenous peoples.
The Brazil Indian Foundation was renamed to the National Foundation for Indigenous Peoples.
Lula and Colombian president Gustavo Petro met to discuss joint measures to protect the Amazon.
Lula also issued six decrees to protect the Amazon, including annulling mining on Indigenous lands and in protected areas, combating deforestation, and resuming the Amazon Fund where wealthy countries finance programs to support the Amazon.
The new environment minister is Marina Silva. She is an environmental activist, and is committed to setting up a National Climate Authority, and a climate change council.
Philosopher Silvio Almeida, of African descent, is the new minister for human rights. He has promised to reverse the policies by the far-right previous president, Bolsonaro, which he said were full of hate and prejudice. Almeida wrote a book called Structural Racism.
The Minister for Women is Cida Gonçalves, a women’s rights activist for over 40 years. The Women’s Ministry is also new.
Brazil will resume its health program More Doctors, eliminated by Bolsonaro. The program involves tens of thousands of Cuban doctors living in poor communities and providing free, local healthcare.
The sister of a murdered councilperson will be Brazil’s Minister for Racial Equality. Anielle Franco, 37, is a journalist, writer, educator and rights activist for people of African descent and for women. Her sister was persecuted for reporting on violence against Black and poor people.
Lula has removed the state owned petroleum company, Petrobras, from a list of companies due for privatisation.
Lula also signed measures to provide financial support to people who collect and recycle rubbish, and for poor families, as well as a decree to include people with disabilities in education. Source, source, source, source, source, source, source, source, source, source, source, source
Mexico: As US continues to expel refugees and migrants, tent cities develop – Shelters in Tijuana are full, and thousands of migrants near Mexico’s southern border have set up informal camps as they wait for permits to travel through the country. This comes as US president Biden announced today that he will expand Title 42 expulsions, which block migrants from their human right to seek asylum. Source, source, source
Peru: Protests continue – After the coup against the left-leaning president last month, protests have continued as the new year begins. On December 15, the army shot at protestors in Ayacucho, during a national strike and mobilisations, killing ten people and injuring many more. The US, which supported the coup, has stayed quiet about the massacre. On Wednesday, protests continued around the country, while a general strike was held to demand a constituent assembly, the shutting down of congress, and the release of former president Castillo. Today, Thursday, the protests and roadblocks continued. Source, source, source
Syria: Water scarcity exacerbates cholera outbreak – Drought in Syria has led to farmers losing 80% of their harvest. On top of that, drinking water is rationed, and overexploitation of water and contamination of rivers has left the country in a water crisis. Since August, there have been increased cases of cholera in the country, as people have less safe water to drink. Source, source
Somalia: Protestors and bystanders killed – There have been mass killings in Somalia in two separate events. Al Shabab claimed responsibility for two suicide bombings that killed 35 people on Wednesday. And at least 20 protestors have been killed by police forces after they demanded their disputed town of Lasanod be run by the semi-autonomous state of Puntland Source, source.
Bolivia: Far right attacks continue – Racist and far-right groups in Bolivia have been protesting and attacking public infrastructure after one of their leaders and state governor, Luis Camacho, was arrested. Camacho was arrested for his role in the coup against then president Evo Morales. People armed with molotov cocktails and firecrackers attacked a police headquarters. Source, source.
Excluded Headlines is on TikTok.