My hometown has been marred this year by more than 25 homiides. The latest being death by toilet cover. Happened at the Cowboys bar downtown. Before that, there was a drive by gang related shooting that killed a 21 year old man.
Compared to Rio de Janeiro, Calgary is extremely safe, yet these murders are causing shockwaves through the community. There is talk of hiring 400 more police officers. OK, good idea, yet how are these people getting semi-automatic weapons to kill each other??? I need a permit to buy an airgun!!!
Most of the murders in Calgary have happened in the NE quadrant and have been gang and drug related. Most murders in Rio de Janeiro happen between warring drug gangs in the shantytowns.
Bottom line? Harder penalties for these punks no matter where they are.
I have been a victim of violence (carjacking) in Rio de Janeiro and my friend has had his motorbike stolen on two occasions at gunpoint.The perpetrators were no older than 17 years old.
Hopefully this wiil not become a reality here in Calgary.
Monday, August 25
Friday, August 22
Violence Hits Again Close to Home...
My ex boyfriend was carjacked on his motorcycle yesterday. Luckily he came out of it alive. Stuck in traffic, two little SOB's on another motorbike pulled up next to him, put a gun to his head and proceeded to steal his motorbike and his backpack,which contained cash, credit cards, cellphone and iPod.
I am not going to sugarcoat what happened. This is the second time in less than a year that he has been assaulted by thieves.
If you want to have an idea of really what the reality of Rio de Janeiro is, I suggest two movies, City of God and Tropa de Elite(about the elite police squad in Rio de Janeiro).
Its a far cry from the Girl From Ipanema.....
Thursday, August 21
USA Beats Brazil in Women's Soccer....
Sadness has fallen over Brazil again as the Brazilian women's soccer team was defeated by the aggressive American team. Once again Marta and gang were relegated to another silver medal in the Olympics.
The Brazilian men's team will play Belgium in the bronze medal match, after being pummeled 3-0 by Argentina.
The women's team played their hearts out and really gave the US a run for their money. I personally think that the women's team deserves more attention and respect for their endevours. They play harder and faster than the men, yet they are scraping by on meagre salaries that pale in comparison to the men.
Marta and Cristiane are capable of playing in European men's leagues. They are my heroes of the day!!!!
The Brazilian men's team will play Belgium in the bronze medal match, after being pummeled 3-0 by Argentina.
The women's team played their hearts out and really gave the US a run for their money. I personally think that the women's team deserves more attention and respect for their endevours. They play harder and faster than the men, yet they are scraping by on meagre salaries that pale in comparison to the men.
Marta and Cristiane are capable of playing in European men's leagues. They are my heroes of the day!!!!
Friday, August 15
Vespa Love
I absolutely love this TV advert!! Its very catchy(the music is borderline annoying...Its A Small World is a close second)
I guess I like it because I used to own a Vespa when I lived in Paris.
Saturday, August 9
Back Side of Urca
This photo was taken a while back, but it is a view seen by few. One must rock climb up about 100 m behind the tram station at the Sugar Loaf mountain in Rio de Janeiro. I would have never gotten into rock climbing if it wasnt for the Swiss photographer Hannes Schmid who took a whole fashion group of us rock climbing near the Jungfrau in Interlaken.
Friday, August 8
08/08/2008
In celebration of the Olympic Games in China, here is a picture of my own personal Buddhist monk in all of his robes, my son Caetano when he was 2
Wednesday, August 6
Amazing Creature
Thanks to my blog reader that gave me the name of this falcon who is building a nest for her young. Its called a Caracara
I never was much of a bird watcher, but when you live in the clouds, you share your space with the birds..
Tuesday, August 5
Saturday, August 2
Bullying in Brazil
My son has been a victim of a bully at school since the beginning of the school year.I knew this had been going on, and I had taken steps to avoid confrontation. I asked specifically that my son be moved to the other side of the classroom(the bully sat right behind him since after the first report card) but my request was ignored and sluffed off. Result? My sons marks fell around 10 -15% in the second reporting period, he was stabbed in the back with a compass and was relentlessly attacked and bugged by this kid. The school did nothing. I wish my son didn't need to resort to violence, but in the absence of protection from the school, what other option did he have? Apparently the little $%#@ who was bugging my son finally got his just rewards when my son retaliated and punched him in the nose. They were both suspended from school for two days.
Bullying exists everywhere, and Brazil is no exception. What makes it different here is the attitude towards it. It is bizarrely tolerated here. Barbara Coloroso(author of Kids Are Worth It and Bullying) would have a nervous breakdown.
Bullying exists everywhere, and Brazil is no exception. What makes it different here is the attitude towards it. It is bizarrely tolerated here. Barbara Coloroso(author of Kids Are Worth It and Bullying) would have a nervous breakdown.
Friday, August 1
Great Brazilian Inventions
Forget the Wright Brothers, the godfather of modern aviation is a Brazilian, Santos Dumont.
I love how Brazilians have a creative streak and the inventions they use in day to day life.
One of my favorite items is the 'varal',simply a clothes drying rack that can be lifted up on pulleys so as to not use precious floor space in the laundry room.
The Strong Brazilian Economy
The word is out. I have been saying it for ages, but now it is being written in the NY Times The Brazilian economy is a force to be reckoned with.
The Amazon basin has the most fresh water in the world, Petrobras not only makes weekly discoveries of new offshore oilfields, but also has top notch technology in ethanol production (which IMHO is scaring the USA out of its corn fields)using sugarcane.
When one of the states of Brazil is called General Mines(Minas Gerais), you don't have to be Einstein to figure out that Brazil is a force in the mining world (Vale, Gerdau, Cemig)
The US dollar has tanked from a high of around 3.20 in 2002 to the real to around 1.56 yesterday.
Lula ('Shrimp') has simply continued the financial plans put in place by his predecessor Fernando Henrique Cardoso, and the results are showing.
Now all that is missing is a strong movement to eliminate the insane level of corruption, that has poisoned this beautiful country since Pedro Cabral set foot here in 1500.<
The Amazon basin has the most fresh water in the world, Petrobras not only makes weekly discoveries of new offshore oilfields, but also has top notch technology in ethanol production (which IMHO is scaring the USA out of its corn fields)using sugarcane.
When one of the states of Brazil is called General Mines(Minas Gerais), you don't have to be Einstein to figure out that Brazil is a force in the mining world (Vale, Gerdau, Cemig)
The US dollar has tanked from a high of around 3.20 in 2002 to the real to around 1.56 yesterday.
Lula ('Shrimp') has simply continued the financial plans put in place by his predecessor Fernando Henrique Cardoso, and the results are showing.
Now all that is missing is a strong movement to eliminate the insane level of corruption, that has poisoned this beautiful country since Pedro Cabral set foot here in 1500.<
Times, They Are A Changing....
Am I quoting Bob Dylan?, I have no clue, but one thing is for sure, this world is changing...and fast.
People may think I am nuts but I have my theories.
In the study of Anthroposophy, brought to the world by Rudolph Steiner, it is believed that our development since birth is in seven year sections. 0-7,7-14,14-21 and so on. It does make alot of sense.
This brings me to the moment upon us in the world. It has been seven years (less one month) since the World Trade Centers in New York were imploded to the ground. I remember this day vividly, and I remember where I was in the world and in my life, and how the world was in August 2001.
It was George W Bush's first (and questionable) presidential mandate. The US economy was chugging along, Bill Clinton had left a SURPLUS to the Bush administration.
Little did I know, or did anyone know, was that within one month, the US, along with the rest of the world, was going to change forever.
We all know what happened on September 11 2001 and I don't like to rehash the past.
What has happened to the world in these past seven years is quite amazing...
1. The US economy has tanked. I believe that after 9/11, the federal government allowed the banks to give out sub prime mortgages to keep the economy running smoothly and to buffer the fallout of the true blow to the American economy that happened on that day. Seven years and billions of dollars later, the truth has come to light, a 590 trillion dollar debt to be left for the next US administration.
2. We have all become wary of any man with a long beard, turban, and women wearing headscarves. We have labelled them as potential terrorists, unwillingly and subconciously. Our telephones, Emails and other forms of communication can be heard by the CIA at any time. Our fundamental freedom is eroding.Its an unfortunate result of the 'War Against Terrorism'. Don't even get me started on the Weapons of Destruction scandal...
3. I can't travel with my favorite creams or bring cachaca back to Canada, unless I put it in my checked luggage and risk having it broken during the trip. I have resorted to wearing slip-ons on the plane as I always have to take off my shoes now.
Airport security is an oxymoron....
4. Americans are, unfortunately,seen as war mongers to the rest of the world. I personally have nothing against the American people, I lived in NYC for years and I loved it, and I have many American friends. Its a shame that their government is run by an absolute moron.
5. The US dollar is no longer the currency of choice. Even Giselle wants to get paid in Euros(and who would blame her?)
6. Brazil has a steady economy....if someone had told me this 15 years ago or even 7 years ago , I would have laughed in his face, but its the investors who are laughing now...
7. One of the presidiential candidates for the USA is named Obama....one letter different than the worlds number one enemy. He is African American, middle name is Houssein and was born in Hawaii..Welcome to globalization. I really hope he can improve the USA...
8 The Canadian dollar is almost at par with the US dollar.
9 We have become a world of cynics and the love is gone. The rule of 'Every man for himself' is ruling the world. Even manners and basic etiquette have suffered.
10 The price of oil over $100 a barrel...Time to buy a Honda.
I honestly believe that we have hit the bottom of the barrel and the only way out is up. If we believe it will get better and do our part, the world will become a better place for our children.
People may think I am nuts but I have my theories.
In the study of Anthroposophy, brought to the world by Rudolph Steiner, it is believed that our development since birth is in seven year sections. 0-7,7-14,14-21 and so on. It does make alot of sense.
This brings me to the moment upon us in the world. It has been seven years (less one month) since the World Trade Centers in New York were imploded to the ground. I remember this day vividly, and I remember where I was in the world and in my life, and how the world was in August 2001.
It was George W Bush's first (and questionable) presidential mandate. The US economy was chugging along, Bill Clinton had left a SURPLUS to the Bush administration.
Little did I know, or did anyone know, was that within one month, the US, along with the rest of the world, was going to change forever.
We all know what happened on September 11 2001 and I don't like to rehash the past.
What has happened to the world in these past seven years is quite amazing...
1. The US economy has tanked. I believe that after 9/11, the federal government allowed the banks to give out sub prime mortgages to keep the economy running smoothly and to buffer the fallout of the true blow to the American economy that happened on that day. Seven years and billions of dollars later, the truth has come to light, a 590 trillion dollar debt to be left for the next US administration.
2. We have all become wary of any man with a long beard, turban, and women wearing headscarves. We have labelled them as potential terrorists, unwillingly and subconciously. Our telephones, Emails and other forms of communication can be heard by the CIA at any time. Our fundamental freedom is eroding.Its an unfortunate result of the 'War Against Terrorism'. Don't even get me started on the Weapons of Destruction scandal...
3. I can't travel with my favorite creams or bring cachaca back to Canada, unless I put it in my checked luggage and risk having it broken during the trip. I have resorted to wearing slip-ons on the plane as I always have to take off my shoes now.
Airport security is an oxymoron....
4. Americans are, unfortunately,seen as war mongers to the rest of the world. I personally have nothing against the American people, I lived in NYC for years and I loved it, and I have many American friends. Its a shame that their government is run by an absolute moron.
5. The US dollar is no longer the currency of choice. Even Giselle wants to get paid in Euros(and who would blame her?)
6. Brazil has a steady economy....if someone had told me this 15 years ago or even 7 years ago , I would have laughed in his face, but its the investors who are laughing now...
7. One of the presidiential candidates for the USA is named Obama....one letter different than the worlds number one enemy. He is African American, middle name is Houssein and was born in Hawaii..Welcome to globalization. I really hope he can improve the USA...
8 The Canadian dollar is almost at par with the US dollar.
9 We have become a world of cynics and the love is gone. The rule of 'Every man for himself' is ruling the world. Even manners and basic etiquette have suffered.
10 The price of oil over $100 a barrel...Time to buy a Honda.
I honestly believe that we have hit the bottom of the barrel and the only way out is up. If we believe it will get better and do our part, the world will become a better place for our children.
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