Brian Mier
McDonald's Is Violating Labor Laws in Brazil
Last year, there were 1,790 cases against the company in the state of São Paulo alone, for claims ranging from firing pregnant women in order to avoid paying maternity leave, to overtime violations and failure to pay the minimum wage.
Rio 'Pacifies' Its Favelas with the Help of Military Occupation
Constant gang battles don't make a great background for the Olympics, but the cost is high.
Rio Militarizes Its Favela Slums in Preparation for the 2014 World Cup
I have been in all kinds of crazy situations in my life, but I am always afraid of going to the Maré. Last time I was there I got stuck in the middle of a crowd of people running for cover as a machine gun was discharged directly outside the doorway of...
A Bike Ride to the Top of Rio's Oldest Favela
In preparation for the upcoming World Cup and Olympics, the Rio de Janeiro city government is in the process of evicting thousands of residents of Providência, the oldest favela in Rio de Janeiro. Favela is the Brazilian word for a neighborhood that is...
Rio+20 Was a Predictable Bust
By 2012 the global warming crisis was supposed to be resolved. What a bunch of bullshit.
Stuck in Bahia
The army was sent in to surround striking police officers and to protect the rich neighborhoods, leaving the rest of the city and state vulnerable. At least I had some chicken heads and piranhas.
Scabies: 384 cases; Diarrhea: 411; Worms: 465. Hmm maybe the Brazillian floods aren't so fun after all
Pedreiras, home of legendary Baiao composer João do Vale, is one of the towns in Maranhão that was hardest hit by the recent floods that have left 100,000 people homeless in the state.