Coronavirus has wreaked havoc on Brazil. Over 1.6 million have been infected and more than 65,000 have died as people are suffering deep economic pain with the country’s millions of domestic maids especially hard hit. Our World: One Virus, Two Worlds, BBC 2020
Brazil: a country that in just twenty-five years has gone from widespread discrimination against gays to full legal equality with its straight citizens. Stephen Fry, Out There II, BBC 2013
Typical of homophobes I’ve met all over the world with their mantra that gays are out to take over society, recruit children or abuse them. ibid.
‘Day turned to night in Sao Paulo today. The sky became so dark that many people got scared.’ The Boys from Brazil: Rise of the Bolsonaros, BBC 2022
Jair Bolsonaros was elected president of Brazil in 2018. He’s become notorious the world over for some offensive views. And for his mission to exploit the Amazon whatever the cost. This is the story of a remarkable rise from the political fringe to one of the most powerful positions on Earth. A tale with Bolsonaros’ family at its heart. ibid.
A military dictatorship had ruled Brazil since 1964. The regime had justified itself by invoking the threat of communism. ibid.
‘Bolsonaro entered the debate and defended Pinochet: “He killed a few; he should have killed a lot more”. ibid. news
Struggling at home while embattled in Congress, Bolsonaro took solace wherever it could be found. ibid.
In the Rio elections of 2000 Bolsonaro asked his sons to run against their mother. ibid.
‘He seemed like this anachronism, this clown, basically.’ ibid. observer
A turn of events that until recently had been considered unthinkable. ibid.
‘The main reaction when Jair Bolsonaro declared his candidacy was laughter.’ The Boys from Brazil: Rise of the Bosonaros II, dude
The key to his success loyally at his side. One family with the fate of the world in their hands. ibid.
In the first six months of the campaign Bolsonaro went viral attracting a new kind of activist. ibid.
Brazil’s 65 million evangelicals could be the answers to his prayers. ibid.
The ‘Not Him’ campaign fired people up. It was something that took over the streets across the world. ibid.
116 million voters went to the polls for the most important election in Brazil’s history. ibid.
On January 1st 2019 Jair Bolsonaro was inaugurated as Brazil’s 38th president. While his supporters cheered in adulation, millions of Brazilians felt only fear at the prospect of President Bolsonaros. The Boys from Brazil: Rise of the Bolsonaros III
Jair Bolsonaro is one of the world’s most controversial leaders. An ardent admirer of Brazil’s military dictatorship. ibid.
Bolsonaro’s policies [burning Amazon] led to outrage across the world. ibid.
Bolsonaro now used a speech to the UN to defend his policies. ibid.
His presidency was about to be put in peril by scandal involving those closest to him: his sons. ibid.
‘… At most just a little flu or a little cold’ ibid. Bolsonaro
Bolsonaro was now being investigated for misinformation, corruption and genocide. ibid.
The Amazon: the greatest rainforest on planet Earth … The first new cases of what we now call Covid has just been reported in Brazil … 300 indigenous tribe still live in Brazil’s forest. Simon Reeve’s South America II, BBC 2022
Now the Amazon is being destroyed at the fastest rate for fifteen years. ibid.
Brazil: where huge areas of wilderness have been turned over to farming … When it comes to farming, Brazil is a global superpower. Simon Reeve’s South America IV