Brazil online pressure spurs anti-corruption bill vote

Anadolu Agency

SÃO PAULO – Brazil’s Senate is set to vote on previously-shelved legislation banning corporate election donations after pressure from thousands of ordinary Brazilians, online activist network Avaaz reported on Thursday.

A group of 60 senators signed an urgent vote request for the newly-amended bill after receiving thousands of emails and phone calls as part of an online campaign spearheaded by the network.

“Our politicians have been for sale for far too long, with the World Cup stadiums showing how out-of-control this has become,” Avaaz campaign director Michael Freitas Mohallem said.

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5 June 2014

Thousands march on São Paulo World Cup stadium

Anadolu Agency

SÃO PAULO – A demonstration by the Homeless Workers’ Movement and other aligned protest groups drew crowds of around 15,000 people outside São Paulo’s World Cup stadium on Wednesday, the movement said during the event.

Police estimated 4,000 people had taken part in the protest.

The movement is demanding housing and the legalisation of around 90 plots of land its members have occupied around São Paulo and others across the country.

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