Category: Journalism

Brazil Faces Methanol Poisoning Crisis: 14 Dead and Dozens Hospitalized

Posted on by Jonathan

Since last August, Brazil has been recording numerous cases of methanol poisoning due to illegal additions to beverages, resulting in several deaths. Beverage fraudsters add the highly toxic alcohol to reduce the costs of counterfeit drinks. Authorities continue to investigate  other possible hypotheses. In the last week of October, the Ministry of Health reported 59 cases and 14 deaths.

Methanol is an alcohol used by the industry as a solvent but never as an ingredient in beverages for human consumption. Recently, several countries around the world have experienced criminal poisonings due to methanol being added to alcoholic beverages. In 2024, the case of three British friends who died after consuming methanol-contaminated drinks in Laos made headlines in major newspapers worldwide. Until 2025, Indonesia was the country with the highest number of methanol poisoning cases, totaling 335 since 2019. In second place, India reported 140 cases, while Russia, with 121 cases, ranked third in methanol poisoning since 2019, according to data provided by Médecins Sans Frontières.

It is impossible for someone drinking a cocktail or even pure distilled and fermented beverages to know if methanol has been added to their glass. Both highly toxic methanol and ethanol, which is normally present in distilled and fermented drinks, are alcohols, making it difficult to identify them by odor or the colorless appearance of both.

After having three caipirinhas at a bar in São Paulo, in the upscale Alameda Lorena area, architect Radharani Domingos, 43, lost her vision in both eyes. Ophthalmologist Dr Fábio Ejzenbaum from the Santa Casa Hospital in São Paulo explained that the architect lost her vision permanently and emphasized the difficulty he had in delivering the news to the patient and her family. 

Dr. Ejzenbaum underscored  that abdominal cramping is one of the symptoms that go beyond what we know is expected after alcohol consumption, acting as an important alert to seek medical attention urgently. He also noted that early recognition and treatment, sometimes including hemodialysis, ICU admission, and acidosis control, are crucial.

Methanol added to drinks is metabolized differently from ethanol, as methanol is metabolized by the liver and turns into formaldehyde, which is highly toxic to the optic nerve and other organs and structures, such as the central nervous system, and  the kidneys. Formaldehyde is the substance used to embalm (preserve) deceased bodies, being very toxic to living beings.

The police are investigating several hypotheses, not ruling out the possible use of vehicle fuel alcohol, intentionally contaminated with methanol. That is, two offenses:

  1. Using fuel alcohol to add to counterfeit alcoholic beverages
  2. Adulterating fuel with the addition of highly toxic methanol, which is harmful even to car engines.

In the state of São Paulo alone, 66 people have been arrested for allegedly being involved in the counterfeiting of beverages with methanol. In early October, a clandestine factory was shut down by the São Paulo Civil Police in the ABC Paulista region, near the city of São Paulo. Brazilian lawmakers are evaluating changes in legislation to make the adulteration of food and beverages a heinous crime.

Earwax Test Developed in Brazil Can Detect Cancer Early, Study Shows

Posted on by Jonathan

A study conducted by the Federal University of Goiás (UFG), a Brazilian public institution, shows that earwax-based tests can help indicate the presence of cancer in patients. The initiative, named Cerumenogram, received an honorable mention at the 2025 Capes Award.

The main advantage of the research lies in its ability to diagnose cancer early through a non-invasive, low-cost, and highly accurate approach.

“For oncology, we hope this helps improve people’s quality of life by preventing them from even developing cancer. It’s a simple, inexpensive, practical, and painless method,” said the study’s coordinator, Nelson Antoniosi Filho.

For these researchers, the earwax that accumulates in the ear canal holds enormous value. When removed and analyzed in the lab, it allows for the identification of changes in a person’s health.

“If our body is healthy, the chemical composition of earwax looks one way. If something is off, possibly indicating disease, that composition changes. So today, earwax is like a fingerprint of our health condition,” Antoniosi explained in an interview with Jornal Nacional.

The research began with diagnosing diabetes and detecting drug and pesticide intoxication through earwax analysis. The method was later adapted for veterinary medicine, allowing the identification of intoxications and even cancer in dogs.

The project has been ongoing for ten years in partnership with Amaral Carvalho Hospital, in Jaú (São Paulo), a cancer treatment center. Over time, results proved promising, and the test began detecting cancer in humans.

In 2025, a new discovery further excited the scientists: earwax experiments can identify pre-cancerous stages, enabling earlier and less painful treatment for patients. This breakthrough reinforces the importance of early diagnosis: the earlier cancer is identified, the greater the chances of a cure.

During testing, samples from 751 volunteers were analyzed, with 531 already undergoing cancer treatment. Among these, the test returned positive results for the disease. Of the 220 without prior diagnosis, only five showed atypical substances; all five were later confirmed to have cancer through conventional exams.

In an interview with Yuvoice, Nelson Antoniosi Filho explained that there is still no timeline for the test to become available for free in Brazil’s public healthcare system (SUS) due to regulatory processes. Therefore, it is expected to first reach private healthcare providers and public educational institutions.

“I want every public teaching and research institution in Brazil to offer this service to their communities. That’s how it should start, and then it can expand to the public healthcare system,” he said.

Nelson also emphasized the importance of public universities in achieving this milestone. He noted that funding and support from Brazil’s public education system are essential for revolutionary research, as such backing is rarely seen in private institutions.

“If it were a private university, I would never have approval for a project involving earwax. Do you think any private university would fund earwax research? At best, I’d lose my job for being insane!” he joked.

Currently, Antoniosi and his team are exploring the potential to detect neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s through earwax analysis.

“We’re studying neurodegenerative conditions, like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other dementias, which are also metabolic processes, to see if diagnosis is possible,” he told Yuvoice. “These studies aren’t finished yet, but we expect to conclude them within a year.”

This study highlights the strength of Brazilian science, especially research developed in public institutions, in driving scientific innovation. With new studies underway, the Cerumenogram project stands out as one of the most promising scientific initiatives in the country.

Former President and Brazilian Generals Arrested for Attempted Coup for the First Time in Brazilian History

Posted on by Jonathan

The former President of Brazil, Jair Messias Bolsonaro, has been definitively sentenced to 27 years in prison by the Supreme Federal Court on the afternoon of this Wednesday (25), in Brasília, the Federal Capital ( where the military resided). There, the former parliamentarian and retired captain of the Brazilian Army will initially be held in a Federal Police superintendent’s office., There are no further appeals available for the defendants in this case.

Former President Jair Bolsonaro had already been preventively arrested by the Brazilian Federal Police at sunrise last Saturday, November 22, at his residence in a luxury condominium in the capital of Brazil, Brasília. The former president attempted to tamper with the electronic ankle bracelet that monitored him, using a welding iron, which led to his preventive arrest and the subsequent suspension of the house arrest he had been serving since August 2025, due to the alleged escape risk. Until then, the convicted could appeal the conviction in the process, but the deadline ended this Tuesday.

In addition to the former president, Generals Augusto Heleno and Paulo Sérgio Nogueira, participants in the former Bolsonaro government, will also begin serving their definitive sentences (21 and 19 years, respectively) in a military barracks. Admiral Almir Garnier will be held in a military radio station of the Brazilian Navy. General Braga Neto, who ran for vice president in the 2022 elections, had already been in preventive custody for 11 months in a barracks in Rio de Janeiro, where he will remain. Former Minister of Justice Anderson Torres, who is not military, will go to the Papuda prison in Brasília.

The definitive arrest order was issued by Minister Alexandre de Moraes, the rapporteur of the judicial process that had already sentenced former President Jair Bolsonaro and others involved in an attempted coup at the end of 2022. At that time, Bolsonaro and the other convicted did not accept the electoral results of that year, which indicated the victory of the current president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the unelection of thenPresident Jair Bolsonaro. It was the first time in Brazilian political history that a sitting president was unable to be re-elected to continue government. 

It is also the first time in Brazilian history that military personnel have been convicted for attempted coups. Brazilian historians point to up to nine coups since the end of the Brazilian monarchy. It should be noted that, whilst there is controversy among scholars regarding the counting of coups against the Republic, no fewer than nine coups have been cited.. In the 136 years since the abolishment of the monarchy, seven coups were successful, each with varying degrees of military participation.

In recent interviews with The Washington Post, three researchers paid attention to the unprecedented nature of the punishment of Brazilian military personnel. According to historian Lilia Schwarcz from the University of São Paulo, “Brazil carries two pacts of silence: the silence about slavery and the violence it produced, and the silence about the military. That’s why this case is so symbolic.” Carlos Fico, a professor at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, emphasized the aforementioned numerical issue concerning historical coups and, despite the high number, the absence of punishment: “For decades, I have studied more than 12 coups and coup attempts, and all resulted in impunity or amnesty. This time will be different…” Finally, political scientist Matias Spektor from FGV (Getúlio Vargas Foundation) points out the seriousness of the leniency against public officials who have the right to use weapons: “The country has never imprisoned anyone who had access to state weaponry. This is revolutionary.”

Uber and Bolt Face Mounting Safety Concerns in South Africa

Posted on by Jonathan

Ride-hailing services Uber and Bolt, once hailed as safer and more affordable alternatives to traditional taxis, are under mounting scrutiny in South Africa. Riders and drivers are increasingly reporting incidents of violence, hijackings, kidnappings, and assaults linked to the platforms have raised urgent questions about safety gaps, weak verification systems, and sluggish emergency response mechanisms.

The recent shooting, arson and execution-style murder of 27-year-old Siyanda Mthokozisi Mvelase in Soweto, is of the many cases that have drawn public attention and the reemergence of the on-going violence between e-hailing drivers and taxi owners in South Africa. In Johannesburg, drivers have been lured to remote locations by fake ride requests, only to be ambushed and hijacked. Riders, meanwhile, have reported kidnappings in which they were driven off-route and held until relatives or friends paid a ransom. Police confirm that such incidents, once sporadic, have become worryingly frequent. Whilst no verified stats on the number of e-hailing related hijacking, it is worth noting that between January and March 2025, SAPS recorded 4,533 car hijackings nationally, down from 5,338 in the same period in 2024. Gauteng saw 2,488 hijackings which is about 55% of all hijackings in the country.

Despite these threats, Uber and Bolt continue to market themselves as safe and convenient. Both companies have rolled out safety features, such as in-app emergency buttons, ride-sharing with trusted contacts, and driver identity verification. However,  drivers and riders beg to differ, arguing that these measures have done little to close dangerous loopholes. Verification of drivers remains inconsistent, background checks are often cursory, and when users trigger the in-app emergency function, response times from security teams or law enforcement can be slow.

Drivers say they are increasingly vulnerable. “Drivers are screened but passengers are never screened… That’s how drivers get hijacked and beaten and some even get killed.” – said a Gauteng based Bolt driver, who has been working in the industry for the past two years. Many drivers operate late at night to maximize earnings, which exposes them to higher risk areas. Others complain that fare structures do not account for danger zones, forcing them into hotspots without adequate compensation or protection. In Cape Town, several drivers have begun refusing trips into informal settlements or poorly lit areas, a move that has left many commuters stranded.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has acknowledged the surge in ride-hailing related crimes but insists that platforms must also take responsibility. “Law enforcement can only do so much. Companies have the data and technology to predict risks and alert us in real time. That isn’t happening.” Furthermore, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, SAPS national spokesperson, said: “We have noted with concern the rising number of violent incidents targeting e-hailing drivers and passengers. SAPS is intensifying operations in known hotspots and working closely with stakeholders to ensure that perpetrators are apprehended and communities can feel safe using these services.”

Globally, Uber and Bolt have faced similar controversies. In London, Uber temporarily lost its license in 2019 due to safety failings, while Bolt has faced regulatory scrutiny in several European cities over passenger protection but in South Africa, where crime levels are already among the highest in the world, the risks are magnified. Both companies insist they are investing in safety. Uber South Africa says it has expanded partnerships with private security firms to ensure faster emergency responses, while Bolt has introduced a “driver selfie verification” system aimed at reducing account takeovers by criminals. Yet riders and drivers argue that these measures are piecemeal, leaving them exposed to daily threats.

Civil society organizations are now calling for tighter regulation of the industry. The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco), which has long clashed with ride-hailing platforms, argues that Uber and Bolt must be subjected to stricter licensing and safety compliance. Others have suggested creating a central registry of vetted drivers accessible to both police and users.

For now, however, fear persists on both sides of the ride-hailing equation. As one Durban-based driver put it: “We want to work, but every trip feels like a gamble with our lives.”

Until systemic gaps in safety are addressed, Uber and Bolt’s promise of safe, reliable transport in South Africa will remain under a dark cloud of mistrust.

Young refugees in Britain find joy in theatre

Posted on by Jonathan

On a warm evening earlier this year, actors from Britain’s acclaimed National Youth Theatre joined forces with young refugees to present a new play, “The Flip Side”, in a small theatre on a busy North London road. The play showed both the weekend partying and the miserable weekday existence of young students and low-paid workers trying to get by in Britain today.

The performance was a rare chance to give voice to young refugees in Britain, who are at risk of becoming increasingly marginalised as political parties of left and right speak out against immigration. As The Flip Side was being performed, protests took place outside a hotel accommodating immigrants in Epping, east of London. Several similar protests took place in subsequent weeks, and the ruling Labour government is tightening immigration rules.

Overcoming this hostile climate, the refugee actors – members of arts charity Compass Collective –  find joy in performing.

The Flip Side actor Shanzay Dilshad, 24, originally from Pakistan, had never acted before joining Compass in 2022.

“That was the first time where I felt like this is something I definitely want to do. I want to share the stage, I want to be on the stage,” Dilshad told Yuvoice in an interview.

Dilshad said she has performed her own poetry on stage and had even overcome stage phobia to do so, and that Compass gave her “a feeling of home”.

Compass Collective was formed in 2018, becoming a registered charity in 2021. “Our ultimate vision is that young people seeking sanctuary in the UK are welcomed, and that they are able to access provision and meaningful progression, in order to live fulfilling lives”, the Compass executive director Dorothy Hoskins told Yuvoice. Compass trustees include Harry Potter actor Toby Jones.

In addition to drama, music, film and writing programmes, which Hoskins said help build confidence and communication skills, Compass also provides online English classes for young refugees and asylum seekers aged from 14-26. It also has a professional development programme from which Dilshad, co-chair of Compass’s Youth Board, has benefited. Future Compass plans include a project at prestigious London drama school Guildhall.

When young refugees were facing protests outside their hotels on one particularly febrile day this summer, Compass offered online access to games and a safe space.

Dilshad said The Flip Side showed young people’s struggle. “People have that kind of stereotype about young people, their weekend life that they get to live instead of their actual life. Like ‘I’ve been doing this waitress job, but I hate it’.”

Frank Mukisa Nsubuga, fellow The Flip Side actor and co-Youth Board chair of Compass, first got involved with the group in 2019. Mukisa Nsubuga, 27, originally from Uganda, enjoyed online sessions with Compass during the pandemic:

“It used to help me a lot. It was like my therapy,” he told Yuvoice, adding that, coming into a Compass session, “you know that there are people who care”.

Through Compass, Mukisa Nsubuga discovered a love of improvisation. The Flip Side, written by Shireen Mula, built up much of its script from the daily lived experience of its actors. Mukisa Nsubuga’s life story showed that he was burning the candle at both ends, studying and working, with little time to sleep.

“You are kind of having a conversation about your life,” he said. “I didn’t know I have a long day…for the first time I realised I really have no time.” Mukisa Nsubuga said he would like to change the frantic way he lives, “but right now, I can’t”.

Brazilian Actress Pre-Selected for the Oscars Had No Idea What It Was

Posted on by Jonathan

2019. Caicó, in the sertão of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The sertão (semi-arid backlands) is Brazil’s harsh and poetic hinterland—a land of cracked earth, faith, and endurance, where time moves slowly and people survive between drought and devotion. It’s a vast, dry region marked by small rural communities, strong traditions, and a history of resilience amid social inequality.

A team of filmmakers sets out under scorching heat—temperatures never below 32°C even in winter—in search of extras for the film Bacurau. They head toward neighboring Parelhas, to the district of Cobra, 25 km from the city of 63,000 inhabitants chosen as the filming location.

They decide to stop at a house for a snack. A voice breaks the silence:

— Good evening!

The phrase echoed with such force that the filmmakers said:

— That’s it! No need for casting tests. That’s the voice I need. She’s hired.

And that’s how rug artisan Tânia Maria, now 78 years old, became an extra in the drama directed by Pernambuco born Kleber Mendonça Filho. Little did she know she was beginning a journey toward the world’s most prestigious film award—the Oscars—which she admits: “I don’t even know what that is.”

To reach the filming set in the neighboring city, the newly hired actress had to travel by bus for an hour every day. During one lunch break, Kleber and casting director Leonardo Lacca (Leo) invited her to join them and co-director Juliano Dornelles at their table.

— Tell us a bit about your life.

Once again, Tânia’s words enchanted the team. She was later invited to act in a documentary-fiction hybrid about “Seu Cavalcanti,” Leo’s grandfather. Juliano didn’t waste time either and invited Tânia to act in Delegado, which recently wrapped filming and is set to premiere in 2026.

The youngest of five siblings (only one sister is  still alive), the artisan is a single mother. Today, she lives with her daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter in Cobra, a district of Parelhas, 240 km from Natal (capital of Rio Grande do Norte).

But it wasn’t always like this. Long before fame, she made wedding dresses—and not just dresses.    

— I made all the clothes for a wedding. I made an entire wedding. Dresses for flower girls, bridesmaids, mothers of the brides. I just didn’t make jackets for the men. I lived in the brides’ homes for months. I lived in Natal, João Pessoa. I took my little daughter with me.

She explains why she left her career as a seamstress:

— I also made many uniforms for bus drivers and fare collectors, but 20 years ago I decided to change. Brides were too much work—they needed fittings and dress trials. So I started making rugs from used sofa fabrics. Today my daughter helps me. I want to make films, but I don’t plan to stop making rugs. I sell them wholesale to stores in Parelhas.

Welcoming Spirit

In the film O Agente Secreto, officially Brazil’s submission for Best International Feature Film at the 2026 Oscars, Tânia plays Sebastiana, who rents apartments in Recife (capital of Pernambuco  Province) to the character Marcelo, played by internationally acclaimed actor Wagner Moura (Narcos, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Civil War).

— I’m welcoming, just like Sebastiana. I welcome everyone into my home.

In an interview with Brazilian site C7nema in May 2025, director Kleber Mendonça Filho described Sebastiana’s refugee shelter as a “bunker of affection.”

Sebastiana smokes, but Tânia quit.

— You know I didn’t go to France with the film because I couldn’t handle the flight without smoking? I used to smoke two packs a day, but I quit. The film will be shown in Natal and São Paulo, and I’ll go by plane.

In fact, the plane took the first resident in Parelhas’ history to visit the Palácio da Alvorada, the official residence of Brazil’s president. Not just to visit—Tânia watched the film in a private session with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and First Lady Janja Lula da Silva.

— Lula shouted and patted my back every time my character appeared. He’s a simple man, you know? Lula is “sweet.” And Janja—don’t even get me started. I’m grateful to Kleber, Juliano, and Leo for all of this.

At the end of the film, the president asked Tânia: “What do you need?”

— Films!, said the septuagenarian with an energetic voice, also over the phone in an exclusive interview with The Sentinel by Yuvoice. She surely repeated the line with the same authenticity she used with the president.

She said the president agreed:

— There will be lots of films!

Neighbors had told Tânia to ask for paved roads and a soccer field. But she said she doesn’t drive and doesn’t play soccer—so she asked for opportunities in acting.

And she’s already getting them. Tânia is currently starring in Seu Cavalcanti, will premiere O Agente Secreto in Brazil on November 6, Delegado in 2026, Yellow Cake (already presented at Cannes’ Marché du Film 2025 and filmed in Picuí, Paraíba), and Almeidinha (shot in Caicó and Chile).

Full of Mystery

O Agente Secreto has no clear synopsis on film sites. The directors’ interviews are evasive. The official trailer is inconclusive.

The director says he doesn’t like labeling his films with adjectives. So the atmosphere of mystery isn’t limited to the film. Tânia lets slip a detail about her character’s political alignment—but quickly regrets it.

— You’re not going to publish that, right? They’ll get mad at me!

How could anyone ignore the request of someone so kind, simple, and authentic—still new to dealing with journalists?

I ask: what’s it like seeing Brazil’s Northeast on the world’s screens? Seeing Pernambuco and Northeastern actors rising to such success, even being considered for Oscar nominations?

— It still hasn’t sunk in!

Tânia reveals that Marcelo, Wagner Moura’s character, searches for his son in Pernambuco but doesn’t find him—or his documents.

— You’ve seen the film, right?

— No, Dona Tânia, not yet.

Unfazed, she doesn’t offer any more clues about the plot. Since I couldn’t uncover any secrets, I turn to reality.

— You were in your twenties during the start of Brazil’s military dictatorship. Do you remember what the country was like?

— Yes. Back then we didn’t have electricity. TVs were only near big cities. We got the news from Voz do Brasil on the radio.

— Could you tell what was happening in the country?

— Not really, but we knew something strange was going on. My own father had to hide in the swamp because of political alignment—he was on the run.

We reached the end of the conversation (which she called a “lecture”), and the actress didn’t reveal the political content of O Agente Secreto or any other spoiler . 

The film takes place in 1977, when Brazil still had eight more years under a regime that didn’t honor democratic rights and duties, led by General Ernesto Geisel, the second-to-last general to govern Brazil.

Want more details? Dona Tânia won’t tell us… We’ll just have to wait eagerly for the premiere.

COP30 in the Brazilian Amazon: Expectations, Infrastructure, and Price Controversy

Posted on by Jonathan

The city of Belém (the capital of Pará state in Brazil), in the heart of the planet’s largest tropical rainforest, is preparing to host the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in November 2025.

The United Nation’s annual climate meeting plays the crucial role of reviewing climate mitigation and adaptation targets.

The gathering is expected to bring together leaders, negotiators, and activists from nearly 200 countries, placing Brazil, the Amazon, and its people at the center of international climate diplomacy.

However, alongside the anticipation for investment and visibility, tensions are rising due to the increase in accommodation prices during the event’s days.

The Amazon at the Center of the Debate

The choice of Belém as the host city is not random. Far from Brazil’s traditional economic hubs (São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro), the city carries symbolism: it brings the COP directly to the region most strategic for the planet’s climate balance.

Holding the meeting in Belém is a symbolic act and an opportunity to give due focus to the environmental issues experienced in the world’s most important natural reserve.

Professor Silvia Helena Ribeiro Cruz, director of the UFPA School of Tourism, emphasizes the location’s relevance.

“I ask, how can we discuss sustainability, climate change, and socio-environmental justice without being in the Amazon?”

For Brazil, COP30 is more than a large gathering: it’s a chance to transform global discussions into concrete actions, attracting investments in innovation, environmental policies, and sustainable development.

The expectation is that the event will leave lasting results for both the Amazon region and the country as a whole.

Construction Work and the Infrastructure Legacy

According to the Transparency Portal, the Federal Government has allocated more than R$ 4 billion (about US$ 750 million) to prepare Belém. The investment covers structural and logistical improvements that are intended to remain as a legacy for the city.

This funding aims not only to ensure the conference’s logistical success but also to leave a lasting legacy for the city and the region.

Among the projects nearing completion are the re-qualification of the Belém International Airport and the revitalization of Porto Futuro 2, a leisure and social complex on the capital’s waterfront.

Despite the progress, Professor Silvia Cruz warns of an inequality in the allocation of resources.

“The structural legacy will be mainly for the central urban areas, and little for the peripheral neighborhoods, where the socio-environmental problems, like lack of basic sanitation, are located.”

Belém (PA/Brazil), 02/14/2025 / Photo provided by Agencia Brasil, (Ricardo Stuckert/PR)

Hotel Sector, Prices, and the Government’s Response

The international visibility has also brought side effects.

Reports of inflated values for hotels and short-term rentals have multiplied, with extreme cases: a 118 m² apartment advertised for R$ 151,000 (about US$ 28,000) for the 11 days of COP30.

This practice generated a government reaction. On September 24, 2025, the Minister of the Civil House, Rui Costa, confirmed that the Union will take legal action against establishments that are abusing prices.

The justification is clear: to seek “reasonableness” and protect Brazil’s image. “It is not right, it is not fair that hotels are charging stratospheric prices,” declared Costa, highlighting the effort to “deconstruct this narrative, including internationally.”

The ultimate goal, according to him, is for the “great legacy” of the COP to be “the image of a welcoming, warm people, with wonderful cuisine.”

Accommodation available on Booking during COP30. Accessed 09/31/2025.

The Critique of the International “Alarm”

For Professor Silvia Cruz, the media’s excessive focus on Belém’s problems distorts reality.

“In every COP, there is a price increase. This is nothing new. I’ve never seen this level of scrutiny in other cities,” she argues.

She believes the disqualification of the city is unfair and may even be a political maneuver.

“In my perception, the alarm regarding Belém, with media outlets concerning themselves with the city’s inner workings, is a novelty. I never saw this done with other cities where a COP was held, even though all of them have structural problems.”

“This seems to me more like an orchestration to destabilize the event’s organization and remove it from the Amazon,” she adds.

Another point raised by Silvia is the presence of foreign capital.

“The hotel network in Belém is currently comprised of over 60% of hotels belonging to international groups. I haven’t yet seen anyone ask how the daily rates are priced, and these groups are European and American.”

Despite the city facing challenges such as the need for improvements in public transport and the major bottleneck in basic sanitation, Professor Silvia Cruz emphasizes that hosting large-scale events is not new for Belém.

“Belém hosts the Círio de Nossa Senhora de Nazaré every year, an event that attracts, on average, two million people to Belém,” the professor reminds.

She points out that “any major event, in any city, presents challenges,” and that Belém has the capacity to receive large volumes of visitors, overcoming adversity.

Círio de Nazaré, photo by Fernanda Lima, available on pexels

An Invitation to the World

Despite the challenges and controversies, the main goal of COP30 remains to fulfill the global environmental agenda and bring the world’s real demands to the forefront.

The event should also serve as a platform to promote regenerative actions and sustainable tourism in the region, setting the stage for new public policies that envision a development agenda valuing local populations.

The professor argues that the true legacy goes beyond infrastructure: “education actions through socio-cultural actions and environmental policies alongside local populations would be the great legacy.”

She bets on the cultural strength and the welcoming nature of the people of Pará as a differentiating factor.

“The human warmth of the people of Pará will be the differential, that warmth that not only works hard but also welcomes and always offers the best they have to visitors.”

She concludes with an invitation to the world: “We are capable of welcoming so well that even the difficulties will be overcome. My message is don’t be afraid. Come see a bit of the Amazon up close, come see how we live and survive.”

Canoeing on the Amazon River in Belém, Brazil / photo by Gabriela Ally, available on pexels

Grandma goes to uni

Posted on by Jonathan

“You’re lovely. You remind me of my grandma.” It wasn’t quite the sort of welcome I was hoping for at my first social event as a mature student two years ago. Remind me of my mother – I’ll accept it. Grandma – seems a step too far. However, doing the maths, it does figure. As a (very) mature student of over 60, I could indeed at a pinch have been grandma to the mostly 22-year olds on my humanities master’s at a top British university.

Being a mature student at such an elevated age was a strange and daunting experience. Technology has zoomed at quite a pace since I did my undergraduate degree. I wrote my undergrad dissertation on a typewriter – I was proud that it was an electric one, oh so advanced. Goodness only knows how I did referencing – if I even did any. I’m too scared to look back at that dissertation, which is gathering dust in my attic. Did I put any quotations in my essays I wonder? I would have had to copy those quotes down in longhand from books or journals in the library which I often couldn’t even withdraw. My fave hangout in those days was a library section called “dead periodicals”, and I was usually the only person there. No wonder the younger generation look at me today like someone just out of the Ark. I lived it, but even I find it hard to believe it.

Of course we’ve all had to get to grips with technology in our jobs, and as a news agency journalist I was used to reading fast, thinking fast and typing fast, all helpful attributes for academic study. But I have to admit now, though didn’t want to admit then, that I wasn’t too familiar even with basic programmes like Word, as we used a proprietorial editing system at work. I didn’t even know how to highlight PDFs, for example. Those 22-year-olds were streets ahead of me.

On the master’s, we were reading theoretical papers by people who often hadn’t even published when I was first at uni. Or if they had published, my university was not avant-garde enough to have us reading them. And as for the language they were written in…it took me the two years of the course, which I did part-time, to understand that there is a whole jargon of literary and cultural theory being used on the assumption that you’ve already read a bunch of theorists and understand their language. Michel Foucault, RIP, was one of the main culprits – genealogy, discourse, anyone?

 It’s hard to say quite why I chose to do a master’s when I did. The costs are high to study in Britain these days, even for domestic students. I’m trying not to think about how many luxury holidays I could have had for the price of the fees. However, after years of French evening classes I felt I wanted to delve more into the study of literature and history, and more broadly than into French studies alone. I felt the need to write essays which would require me to read books I would never normally read. I wanted to get feedback – though after the return of nine assignments with criticism of anything from my (arguably?) incorrect use of the comma to complaints that my sentences were too short, I may have got less keen on that. I did find the course constantly demanding and stimulating, however, and it’s whetted my appetite for more – I’m starting evening classes at another uni soon.

However, I wonder whether universities are doing enough to attract mature and part-time students. In Britain, fees may not be as high as for private U.S. universities, but they are high compared with elsewhere in Europe, and of course they are even higher for international students, often a mainstay of British master’s programmes. Academics tell me that the high fees, particularly for students from the European Union post-Brexit, along with the geopolitical climate and an increase in visa restrictions in the UK are deterring international students. Meanwhile, young domestic student numbers are also expected to fall due to demographic changes.

So maybe mature students could be filling that gap. Richard Hebblethwaite, head last year of the award-winning mature, part-time and carer student network at University College London, told Yuvoice he found starting a master’s in his 50s intimidating. But he soon settled in, and says that particularly as the British population gets older, universities should be making a commitment to lifelong learning. Mature students have a lot to offer, Hebblethwaite says:

“They’re a little bit more experienced in terms of life and perspectives. Many of them are not backwards in coming forward with ideas and opinions, they work well with other students in terms of project teams, and often they can initiate conversations and discussions within lectures or seminars.”

Lots of my friends and former colleagues, many much younger than me, say they would like to take a master’s degree when they retire, or before. But they are shocked to hear the cost.

So for anyone out there who would like to attract more part-time and mature students to their universities, here are my ideas, mostly based on good practice I’ve discovered around the place:

–          Provide catch-up classes ahead of the start of the year for those who’ve been away from studying for a long time.

–          For a master’s which would be full-time over one year, offer a part-time programme over three years, rather than two. It’s particularly hard to do a master’s dissertation, which usually counts for at least one-third of the course, when you are working part-time. Studying part-time while working is hard work but makes it more affordable. More time to complete would be a bonus.

–          Put modules all on one day and make it clear which day that is, so people know when they need to take time off from work for the course.

–          Spread compulsory modules evenly over the course, so part-time students in particular aren’t faced with too many modules bunched up together.

–          Masters’ degrees are expensive, so consider offering stand-alone modules, rather than the whole degree. Some universities are doing this already.

–          Offer extra-curricular short courses, ideally with some essay-writing and feedback built in. Again, this is already on offer, but not very much.

I’m sure there are all sorts of logistical reasons why these ideas aren’t feasible for many universities, but if even some of them were put into practice more regularly, I think you would soon see more than one “grandma”, or even grandpa, in a student seminar near you.

Brazilian public university makes breakthrough that could reverse spinal cord injuries

Posted on by Jonathan

In September, a study presented by the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), in Brazil, revealed a discovery that could change the lives of patients with spinal cord injuries. The research, conducted at the public university, uses a protein extracted from the human placenta called polylaminin. 

The study represents hope for those who suffer from spinal cord injuries, a condition that can cause partial or total loss of limb mobility and, until now, has had no treatment capable of reversing the damage.

It is expected that, when applied to the injured area, polylaminin will stimulate nerves to create new pathways and enable partial recovery of movement. The experiment has already shown promising results in animals and small groups of volunteers.

The research is coordinated by the Carlos Chagas Filho Foundation for Research Support of the State of Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ) and has been ongoing for over 20 years. It is currently in the testing phase but already raises great expectations for the future of medicine. The study also received support from Cristália Laboratory, which invested R$31 million (about US$5.6 million) in the project.

The goal is to recreate the natural protein laminin, produced during embryonic development and responsible for communication between neurons. The lab-produced medication aims to replace this protein, which becomes scarce in adulthood.

Researchers discovered that it is possible to recreate it from proteins extracted from the placenta, forming a kind of mesh that reestablishes communication between nerve cells. Polylaminin is applied directly to the injured area through a single surgery, preferably performed within 72 hours after the accident, which increases the chances of recovery.

Researchers are optimistic that, as the study progresses, people who have been paralyzed for years may also regain movement and mobility.

Recent studies have also shown that polylaminin, when combined with other therapies, can be effective in chronic spinal cord injury cases.

Researchers from UFRJ conducting studies on laminin repolymerization
Researchers from UFRJ conducting studies on laminin repolymerization. Photo by Luciana Sposito.

Results 

The research is led by Tatiana Sampaio, biologist and researcher. In an interview with FAPERJ, she explained that the choice of polylaminin was due to its better cost-effectiveness, ease of production, and safety regarding the predictability of the cellular reaction, compared to stem cell therapies, which are more complex.

“We are simply imitating nature, since this protein is naturally produced by the body during the development of the nervous system,” she explained.

In August, a study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science tested polylaminin on six paraplegic dogs. Even after surgeries and months of physiotherapy, the animals remained unable to move their legs.

After applying the protein directly to the lesion, four dogs showed improved balance and managed to take a few steps, while the other two had more modest progress. All were monitored for six months and showed no side effects.

In addition to animal testing, the medication was applied to an experimental group of Brazilian volunteers. In total, eight people participated in the study, carried out under academic protocols.

Among the patients, some fully recovered mobility, something considered unlikely without intervention, while others reported significant improvements, such as trunk control and the ability to walk with assistance.

Among the volunteers is Bruno Drummond, a banker who, in 2018, suffered a severe cervical injury after an accident that crushed part of his spinal cord. With his family’s authorization, Bruno participated in the experiment using cells extracted from the human placenta.

Initially, he had no movement in his limbs, but only two weeks after the procedure, he was already able to move a toe. Years later, Bruno regained much of his mobility and managed to resume an independent life.

In an interview with TV Globo, he said:
“Nowadays, I can move my whole body—of course, with some limitations. My leg is moving. I can stand, walk, dance, fly. I’ve regained my independence.”

Expectations

The National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) reports that there is still no request for approval for the clinical use of polylaminin. So far, the results presented correspond to non-clinical stages, that is, laboratory tests and preliminary observations.

Among those following the progress with hope is Alexandre Costa, 51, who was shot in the shoulder during a robbery in 2018 and became paraplegic. After seven months in the hospital, he began his so-called “real battle,” the process of rehabilitation and adaptation to a new life.

Even with family support, he faced difficulties accessing treatment and public healthcare. The pandemic interrupted his rehabilitation efforts, and new health complications forced him to pause therapy more than once. “There are many problems that come with the ‘spinal cord injury package,’” Alexandre says.

Costa reports not only physical but also emotional effects of the injury: “I sank into depression, lost the will to live, and just let life carry me.”

In 2024, a new health complication led to the need for an ileostomy, which he makes a point of mentioning:

“These are different disabilities, but it’s important that people are aware […] the second can be avoided in some cases.”

Because of this, he now runs an Instagram profile (@falailesionado), where he seeks to raise awareness, share his experience, and receive feedback from other people with spinal cord injuries.

In an interview with Yuvoice, he says he watches research like UFRJ’s polylaminin study with caution but also hope:

“I’m hopeful that maybe I can be one of the volunteers. I haven’t signed up yet. I’m waiting for things to advance a bit more. But I’m optimistic, because even a small improvement in your condition, any gain in quality of life, is already a big step forward.”

The road to making the medication publicly available is long. First, laboratory studies must be completed and safety proven in animals. Then, with Anvisa’s approval, large-scale human trials can be conducted, evaluating both acute and chronic injuries. Only after full regulatory approval can the drug be marketed.

The progress observed in animals and volunteers provides an optimistic outlook for improving quality of life and the future of medicine. However, until the research is complete, there is still no definitive treatment for spinal cord injuries.

Explaining the strength of European populism

Posted on by Jonathan

Why does right-wing populism appear so strong in Europe?

In a recent sign of its success, a populist party led by billionaire businessman Andrej Babis won parliamentary elections in the Czech Republic in October. Other European Union (EU) countries Hungary and Italy also have populist leaders.

In France, the government of centrist president Emmanuel Macron narrowly survived a no-confidence vote. The government has been flip-flopping after Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resigned after 26 days, only to return four days later. Macron faces a challenge in the polls from the far-right National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen.

The populist Reform UK is also doing strongly in opinion polls, while Germany’s right-wing AfD party has won state elections in the past year.

The rise of European populism is hard to counteract, because of the continent’s economic performance. Europe is lagging in both technology and  manufacturing, says Ronen Palan, professor of international politics at City St George’s, University of London.

“The fundamental problem that Europe faces is that the fourth industrial revolution skipped it,” Palan told Yuvoice in an interview.

“You have the American companies,  the Magnificent Seven – Meta, Apple etc. There is nothing in Europe remotely like that. Manufacturing excellence is now in China – China is far advanced. Europe is squeezed in between. Without a solution to that problem, we are talking about economic stagnation – Europe becomes a tourist attraction.”

The first industrial revolution started in Britain in the eighteenth century with inventions such as the steam engine.  The second industrial revolution of the late nineteenth century got a boost from the expansion of electricity, while computers led the third industrial wave of the late twentieth century.

The Magnificent Seven U.S. tech companies have stormed ahead in the U.S. stock market in recent years, helped by their role in the development of artificial intelligence.

Populist parties are offering little practical to address these economic concerns, but are playing on people’s sense of the precariousness of their lives, according to Palan.

Laggardness in Europe is also nothing new, he adds.

“Similar events took place in the 1970s. The European car industry was buffeted by the Japanese, the Americans were pulling ahead, the Americans and the Japanese were competing with one another. The answer was the common market and the single market, the creation of European champions, European competitors – we are in the same situation now.”

It has become harder for Europe to pull together as one force since one of its biggest economies, Britain, left the European Union following the Brexit vote, although Britain and Europe continue to collaborate on geopolitical issues, Palan says.

“Brexit created an institutional gap. The fact that Britain is out weakened Europe and weakens Britain,” he said, though he added that: “it doesn’t mean that if Britain were part of Europe, they would find a solution.”

The mood is not all going one way. A pro-European Union party won elections in September in the eastern European country of Moldova. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni faced a general strike and major protests in September and October following her refusal to recognise the state of Palestine, in contrast to other EU countries such as France and Spain. Left-wing as well as right-wing parties are also popular in France.

However, Palan points out that the rhetoric of both left-wing and right-wing parties is often similar, as right-wing parties such as France’s National Rally and Reform UK also promote strong intervention by the state. British think tank Chatham House said in an October report, that the National Rally’s economic policies were “closer in tone to French Socialist icon Jean Jaurès than to the Iron Lady (former Conservative British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher)”.

These right-wing populist groups are taking their lead from U.S. President Donald Trump, whose language comes straight from the Marxist playbook, according to Palan.

“The Deep State is a Marxist concept, the idea that there is a small cabal of people – the bourgeoisie – controlling the state, and that Trump represents the working class against the entrenched state,” said Palan, adding that Reform UK leader Nigel Farage “is also adopting Marxist language – it’s very confusing.”

Francesco Rigoli, a political psychologist at City St George’s, University of London, says Europe’s biggest economies, Britain, France and Germany, could all have populist parties in government in a few years.

“The level of polarisation remains extreme,” he told Yuvoice. “There’s a feeling that the traditional parties have disappointed, that they have not fulfilled expectations. There’s a feeling that Europe is in crisis.”