Writer, geographer and former development professional who has lived in Brazil for 26 years. Former directorate member of the Fórum Nacional de Reforma Urbana (National Urban Reform Forum). Has lived in São Luis, Recife, Salvador, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Author of “Os Megaeventos Esportivos na Cidade do Rio de Janeiro e o Direito á Cidade” (CEPR: Porto Alegre. 2016). Editor of "Voices of the Brazilian Left" (Sumare: São Paulo. 2018). Editor of "Year of Lead: Washington, Wall Street and the New Imperialism in Brazil" ((Sumare: São Paulo. 2019) Irregular correspondent for the Chicago radio show This is Hell.
Right wing extremist President Jair Bolsonaro accused Glenn Greenwald of committing a felony but, in a scene captured on the Government’s TV Brasil, his Press Secretary, General Otávio Rego Barros, fails to explain what the crime committed was and, instead, tries to stare down the journalist who asks about it. By Brian Mier In a […]
Brian Mier’s speech at the 2019 Left Forum in Brooklyn, NY. I would like to start by talking about how Brazilian alternative media works to build a space of counter-hegemony to the mainstream media oligarchies like Globo, which is extremely powerful. TV Globo was started by the United States during the US-backed military dictatorship [1964-1985]. […]
In the EU Parliament, PT Congressional leader presents evidence that the US Department of Justice repeatedly violated Brazilian law in its collaboration with the Lava Jato investigation, which damaged the Brazilian economy, opened the door for massive privatization of Brazilian natural resources to American corporations, and led to the illegitimate election of right wing extremist […]
Lava Jato chief Sérgio Moro was never a superhero, despite Anglo media’s tireless attempts to portray him as one. By Brian Mier Now that the Intercept has revealed that the US Department of Justice/Curitiba Public Prosecutor’s cooperative Lava Jato (Car Wash) anti-corruption investigation’s primary goal was to destroy the Brazilian Workers party and usher in ultra-neoliberalism […]
Far right President Jair Bolsonaro’s Education Minister Abraham Weintraub calls on population to snitch on teachers who took part in protests. After the massive demonstrations on May 15, when one million people took to the streets in Brazil to protest against the education budget cuts announced by the far-right Jair Bolsonaro administration, students and professors […]
Hardly spontaneous, the May 30 National Education strike was planned through democratic people’s assemblies which have been taking place in towns and cities across Brazil. Meet some of the groups involved in the organization of this historic protest. By Brian Mier Wednesday’s national student and teacher strike has been democratically organized by a coalition of […]
The clear displacement of power from the executive may be an attempt to remove the royal power from the President, transforming him into another Queen of England. This would be a less traumatic solution than an impeachment. By Paulo José Cunha* Two weeks ago the possibility of Jair Bolsonaro not finishing his mandate was treated […]
Bolsonaro ally Governor Wilson Witzel’s Military Police are now killing 5 people a day. Most victims are Afro-Brazilian youth. Many are being killed execution style with gunshots at close range to the back of the head, or by helicopter snipers. On February 8th, in Fallet Favela near downtown Rio de Janeiro, members of the military […]
Rio De Janeiro Governor Wilson Witzel orders use of helicopter snipers in poor communities and police break 20 year record for killing civilians. On Sunday, May 5, a video appeared on the internet, showing Rio de Janeiro’s right-wing extremist governor, Wilson Witzel, addressing the camera: “Hello people,” he said, “we are starting today, in Angra […]
“I would stay behind bars for 100 years before I traded my dignity for freedom,” says former President in first interview allowed since imprisonment by Brian Mier It is illegal to deny prisoners the freedom of expression to speak with members of the press in Brazil. This, however, did not stop former judge and current […]