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Israel: Modern Day Exodus, on African Refugees and their Right for Medical Care

Gilad Lotan · 13:47

Around 6,000 African refugees escaped the horrors in their countries, and seek refuge in Israel. Many of them live in harsh conditions and can be spotted shivering cold on the streets of southern Tel-Aviv. Earlier this month, the Physicians for Human Rights clinic was forced to shut down, leaving many with no access to healthcare. The insensitive behavior from the side of the Israeli government comes only tens of years after the holocaust, when Jews came to the same plot of land, seeking refuge from the horrors of Europe.

An active internet campaign has been stirring the Hebrew blogosphere, aiming to raising public awareness for the African refugee's basic rights for healthcare among other basic services in Israel. They call for the government to allocate immediate funding for a medical clinic run by the Physicians for Human Rights association, which was forced to shut down earlier this month. The clinic provided foreign workers and refugees with free healthcare services, but ever since the surge in numbers of African refugees seeking medical care, the clinic could no longer bear the heavy burden. It shut its doors in hope that the Ministry of Health and the Israeli government would be forced to publicly recognize the refugees basic right for healthcare.

Internet Campaign

Over 95 bloggers have already joined the campaign advocating for refugee healthcare, requesting the Ministry of Health and Israeli government to take responsibility. Bloggers have been writing about the topic, sending letters to political delegates, raising public awareness, expressing public solidarity and joining forces with the goal of influencing. The list of bloggers and links to their articles can be found in Shuki Galili's post. In addition, a Facebook group has been created, aimed at raising public awareness.

Shooky (Hebrew) has been organizing Israeli bloggers and encouraging them to express their opinions and and send letters to the government. He writes:

A defining characteristic of the time and place we are living in is people's disbelief in the possibility of change; that they can make a difference. The purpose of expressing your opinion is not only for reasons of change. There are cases when taking a stance is a moral duty!
Ten days ago the refugee clinic in Tel-Aviv closed down. The Physicians for Human Rights association who operated the clinic is demanding from the State of Israel to recognize this problem, and provide refugees (and foreign workers) with healthcare treatments…
In order to keep this topic on the agenda, I asked a group of selected bloggers to write a few words and express an opinion. I am asking every blogger who reads this post to act in the same manner. Even if you do not think you will have an effect, even if you think you have nothing to say, add your opinion.
And ask others to do the same.

Bloggers are encouraged to use the image below. Its text translates to: ‘diseases do not discriminate between humans'… *doctors statement: refugees are humans too!'
pills

Elishva Milikovsky writes in the Israeli political blog, Black Labor:

Physicians for Human Rights, one of the most amazing organizations in Israel, opened a clinic in Tel-Aviv ten years ago. The clinic began its operations after one of the volunteer doctors met a working immigrant who suffered from a simple injury which developed into a serious infection, as it was not treated in time. The immigrant later died from this infection.

The PHR clinic offered services to any person in Israel who did not have health insurance, but throughout its time of service, the clinic made it clear that it did not have the financial means to provide medical support for every uninsured person. The organization's goal was to point to the fact that there exists a population in Israel under serious threat because of lack of medical insurance, and to fight for people's right and entitlement to healthcare services…

Muhammad, a Sudanese refugee in his 20s, suffers from a brain tumor. It is not cancerous, but its position in the brain makes it impossible for him to control his swallowing muscles - thus he cannot eat. His situation is becoming more and more critical. He drastically lost weight in the past weeks. An operation will cost tens of thousands of NIS, which of course, he does not have. If he had health insurance he could have already been healthy. But since he does not, he may die soon.

The Ministry of Finance stated that allocation of a budget for the refugees will have to wait until 2009. But these people's health cannot wait until then! We must not forget that the right for healthcare - is actually the right to life.

Arguments

The arguments against providing refugees with medical care are diverse. One claims that the State should make the refugee's lives difficult in order to signal others not to come. Another common voice calls for the use of the word “infiltrators” instead of “refugees”, portraying their lack of rights. This way, those asking for help are turned into criminals, making it is easier to for the State to withdraw its responsibility, as it is responsible for refugees but not infiltrators. The decision makers did not take into account that the refugees never had the possibility to enter Israel legally. For obvious reasons, they had no choice but to “infiltrate” into a secure country while seeking protection.

Following the closure of PHR Israel's Open Clinic, Health Minister Yacov Ben Yizri asked the Director General of the Prime Minister's Bureau Ra'anan Dinur for an immediate of a NIS seven million budget, designated for treating Africans who have infiltrated Israel illegally, many of whom suffer from contagious and chronic diseases. The purpose of the requested budget is to treat African infiltrators and refugees, vaccinate them, test them for HIV and AIDS, hospitalize those suffering from tuberculosis, hepatitis and cancer and to deliver babies. The Health Ministry estimates that among the infiltrators currently in Israel, some 100 of them suffer from AIDS, and dozens have cancer.

Personal Accounts

city blond describes a personal account and connection to a group of these refugees. She begins her post with a moving email that her mother had received three weeks beforehand. It was a personal email from a friend, describing the dire refugee situation in her neighborhood in central Tel-Aviv:

I want to confess. Like everyone else, I had heard about this topic, the refugees from Darfur and its neighbors in Africa. I acknowledge that I heard it on the radio, read every piece of text in the papers and saw it all on television. And yes, I shifted uncomfortably on my couch, but thought to myself that Africa is far away (even when it lives in moldy cellars in the south side of the city near the central station). And… I continued onwards. Even though I am usually one who cares, am active and volunteer in various places. But c'mon, how much can we handle?

It all changed last week.

A few days ago, someone spilled (literally!) one hundred Africans from buses (from Eritrea and the Ivory Coast) into my street and disappeared. They were all led to an old, unutilized building down the street. The middle of Tel-Aviv, 2008, center of hip Tel-Aviv culture, and one hundred young African refugees aged 18 to 45 are there, when all they have are ragged clothing and the good-heartedness of the neighbors. They have nothing! They have no food, no water, no blankets. They sleep on the floor. No clothes. Nothing!!

It took us several days to realize that they were simply abandoned and that nobody was taking care of them. It took us three days to understand. Three days they did not eat!! And they, with their charming politeness and venerated behavior, sat quietly, and looked at all the passers-by in the street.

Ever since then, we are doing everything we can to help them. Neighbors bringing food and picking up clothes. But for the long-run, it is difficult to feed one hundred people every day. I thought that a hungry refugee's eyes is something my mother left in Europe 60 years ago. But I found this right in front of my eyes, literally in my house; and I cannot take it.

I cannot sleep in a comfortable bed and eat my daily breakfast when 50 meters away, one hundred people are hungry and shivering.

The Hebrew blogger continues to describe how this letter touched her and led her to volunteer with this group of refugees. She tells of a personal connection formed with an Eritrean refugee who was caught in a bureaucratic mess while trying to receive his temporary work permit. She contemplates the hardships of getting close and personally involved:

I am concerned about this. I try to shake this feeling, it has no use. I need to believe that this situation will resolve quickly. My spontaneous volunteering which started unplanned after that email, turned into a deep personal involvement that caught me completely by surprise. I have no doubt that I am lucky for having this chance to help. I am sure that in the future I will be thankful for every moment that I spent with the wonderful refugees and the fantastic volunteers whom I met in the park. I am certain that my acquaintance with Moses will last many years, and I am hopeful that he will live here happily and securely - at least until the situation in Eritrea will change and he could go back without facing prison or death.

But at this moment I am worried. Concerned what will happen if he will not receive his work permit.

And yes, there is the annoying little voice in my head, saying “why did you need all this? Why did you take this matter so personally? Was it not better to leave the help on a general refugee group level? Such that would end when they were taken from the park? Why do I need this hurtful worry towards a specific person?

I could not avoid it. It's easier to stay distanced, to help, give, volunteer, but without being sucked into personal acquaintance…

I am staying away from all the dumb arguments on ‘why we need them here', and ‘we have enough problems of our own' and ‘they are not refugees but illegal immigrants', and other offensive comments I read. The UN recognizes them as refugees. They are running away from a harsh daily reality of political persecution, torture, imprisonment and death. And above it all, fact is they are here. In the meanwhile, our country is not banishing them. We cannot be indifferent to the hunger and repulsive living conditions in the central station. They are humans, in distress. They are here right in front of our eyes.

How can we ignore all this?

Another personal perspective is shared here:

A Sudanese refugee has recently started working in my company… Michael. A great guy, whom one of my work colleagues picked up hitch-hiking in Tel Aviv. After their conversation, he decided to help find Michael a job in our company… Great guy, smiling and laughing constantly. Even through all that he has gone through, and the fact that he is here alone. In my department, we decided to adopt him and care for anything he might need. He has already picked up words in Hebrew and can read bits here and there. If those opposing the support for Darfur refugees would meet Michael, they would quickly understand that it is not an “enemy of the State” that we're dealing with. I wish there were more people like him in this country.

Resources

One of the refugee makeshift basement shelters (source)

walking
Refugees marching from the park to the central station in Tel Aviv (source)

300 African refugees celebrate an alternative Passover Seder (source: activestills.org)

Video on the refugee situation in Tel Aviv.

Anyone who can help is asked to get in touch through the following email - laplitim@gmail.com

The following materials would be happily accepted: mattresses, blankets, towels, games, toys, pampers, cooking utensils and food - rice, pasta, any canned foods.

Additional GVO article on African refugees in Israel - Israel-Sudanese Refugees: Like Darfur, as Auschwitz

7 comments · »»

Korea: Roh Moo Hyun and Japanese Netizens

Hyejin Kim · 13:10

lingua → sq

The previous Korean President, Roh Moo Hyun, as I wrote a previous post, ‘ Roh Moo Hyun Syndrome (March 30, 2008)’ has become famous even after his retirement due to his casual life style. While he generated hyeom-han gam-jeong (Japanese antipathy against Korea) during his governance, his life has been introduced by a major portal site of Japan, 2ch. A Korean netizen introduced Japanese netizens’ reactions to the photos. It is interesting to observe how he is still an issue and even in other places (newspapers in other countries introduced the Roh Gan Ji Wave [Roh Moo Hyun syndrome] after retirement).

노간지 시리즈를 본 일본 2ch의 반응.

퇴직 후 고향인 김해 봉하마을에서 생활하고 있는 노무현 전 대통령이 자전거 뒤에 설치한 차에 손자를 태우고 마을길을 달리고 있다. 이 사진은 13일 노 전 대통령의 홈페이지에 게재되었다.이 사진을 본 사람들은 이 사진을 인터넷에 유포하며 노 기사 운전해 등으로 제목을 붙였다

The responses from Japan 2ch after watching ‘Roh Gan Gi Series.’

After retirement, the previous President Roh Moo Hyun living in his hometown, Bongha village in Kimhae, rode his bike that he adapted especially for his grandchildren on the street. This photo was posted on his homepage on the 13th. Watching this photo, netizens spread the photo over to other internet sites and put the title, “Driver, Roh, Bike.”

정말 천진난만하다

He’s really unsophiscated.

이런 생활, 동경한다

This kind of life, I am envious.

아름다운 사진 아닌가

Isn’t it a beautiful picture?

아 웃었다 서민적이고 좋잖아

I laughed… He’s like a common person. It looks good.

왠지 미워할 수 없다 이건 평소 안 좋게 보던 불량배가 조수석에 할아버지 할머니를 태우고달리는 모습을 봤을 때 같은 느낌이다

It’s hard to hate him. It’s like the feeling I would have if a gangster of whom I didn’t have a good impression usually put an old gentleman and lady in the backseat of his car and drove for them.

재미있는데

It’s interesting.

뭐랄까 이거야말로 천직이라고 생각될 정도로 빠져있잖아

Hm… it seems that he is indulged in what he’s doing like it’s his natural job.

결국 혐한인 나조차 노무현만큼은 미워할 수 없었다

Even to me, Korean hater, it’s impossible to hate Roh Moo Hyun

호소카와 전 수상도 은퇴 후에는 허허로운 느낌의 아저씨가 되었지

Hosokawa, the previous Prime Minister, also became a common uncle after retirement.

귤 훔치는 사진 수준으로 웃기다www

He’s stealing a tangerine. It’s funny.

저건 몇 번 봐도 웃겨w

Watching the photo so many times… it still makes me laugh.

뭘 해도 재밌다
더 계속했으면 좋겠다

Whatever he does, it’s funny. I hope I can see more these kinds of things.

난 몇 번을 봐도 그저 손버릇이 나쁘다고 밖에 생각 안 되는데, 진실은 어떤 상황이야?

For me, watching the photo several times, it just looks like he has a bad habit. What kind of situation was it?

서민의 생활을 찍은 한 장이라고 생각하면 실로 좋은 사진이다.
피사체가 전 대통령이라는 사실이 황당하지만.

If it is a photo to show a common person’s life, it’s a really good photo. It’s a little bit fabulous to know the object is the previous president.

문제는 그게 아냐. 왜 정장을 입고 있어?

That’s not the issue. Why does he wear the formal clothing?

놀이터에서 한가롭게 그네를 타고 있는 아저씨도 정장을 입고 있지. 마찬가지.

Even an uncle who sits in a swing with leisure in a playground wears formal clothes. It will be same.

후쿠다 총리는 시골에 내려간다고 해도 그림이 안 나올거야. 과연 노씨라고 밖에는 말할 수 없다

Even though Fukuda goes to the countryside, he is not going to be photographed like Roh Moo Hyun. Roh Moo Hyun is the only one.

노무현은 타고난 엔터테이너야

Roh Moo Hyun is an innate entertainer.

노무현은 일본에 와서 코메디언이 되어야 한다

Roh Moo Hyun should come to Japan and become a comedian.

행복해 보인다

He looks happy.

노무현은 정치를 빼고 생각하면 좋은 사람 같다

Except politics, he seems to be a good person.

이 사람이 나쁜 사람은 아닐거야. 일본을 비정상으로 싫어하는 점을 빼면

He must not be a bad person, except he abnormally hated Japan.

노무땅(역주: 최근 노무현 전 대통령의 전원생활이 소개된 이후 우리나라에서 노간지 등의 별명으로 불리는 것처럼 2ch쪽에서는 노무땅(ノムたん)이라는 애칭을 많이 사용하고 있습니다)은 정말로 귀엽다

Roh Moo Ttang (interpretation: recently since Roh Moo Hyun’s country life was introduced, he has been called Roh Gan Ji. In 2ch, they call him Roh Moo Ttang as the nickname) is really cute.

점잖지 않아w

He doesn’t look respectable.

웃겨wwwwwwwwww

That’s funny.

조금 친근감이 생기는데w이명박도 해라

I feel friendly. Lee Myung Bak should also try.

어째서 이렇게까지 웃기려는 거야?

How come he makes us laugh so much??

어? 그냥 좋은 사람 아닌가. 농촌 출신인 나는 친근감이 든다. 아이랑 놀아주는 것도 좋은 느낌이고.

oh? Isn’t he a good person? I, as a person from the countryside, feel close to him. That he is playing with kids looks good too.

아 진짜wwwwwww
오늘 제일 심하게 웃었다wwwww

Wow…. I laughed the most today.

노무땅은 어째서 이렇게 사진빨이 좋냐w 후쿠다는 어떻게 찍어도 재미가 없어

How come Roh Moo Ttang photographs well? Fukuda doesn’t have this kind of interesting photo.

전통적인 코리안 컨츄리 스타일의 체현자라는 평가를 얻고 싶은 것이겠지, 노무땅. 미국에서도 은퇴한 뒤에 목장에서 소를 치는 생활을 하는 것이 성공한 남자의 증거인 것처럼.

He must want to be judged as someone who experiences traditional Korean country life, Roh Moo Ttang. In America, living to raise cows in a stock farm is the evidence of a successful man.

이건wwwwwwwwwww
정말로 한때 대통령이었던 사람이라고는 생각되지 않아w

Wow… it is really hard to imagine he was the President of a nation once.

어째서 이렇게 노무현은 화제꺼리가 풍부한거야

How come there are always so many interesting topics about Roh Moo Hyun?

좋은 사진이구나. 저장했다. 인간적인 냄새가 나니까, 이 사진은 좋아.

There are good photos. I saved them in my computer because I can smell humanity from those photos.

이 블로그에선 쓸데없는 정치논쟁을 피하기 위해 가급적 국내정치에 관한 내용은 다루지 않고 있습니다만 한때 혐한들의 표적으로서 2ch에서도 무수한 비난에 직면했던 노무현 전 대통령이 이렇게 전원생활의 모습으로 따스한 반응을 받는 것이 재미있어 또 우리나라에서 화제가 된 노간지 열풍이 2ch에서도 화제가 된것이 재미있어 모처럼 소개해 보았습니다 다만 그러한 관계로 이와 관계없는 쓸데없는 정치적 리플은 자제해주시길 부탁드립니다

In order to evade unnecessary political arguments in this blog, I tried not to include political issues and messages. I just wanted to introduce it because I know the previous President Roh Moo Hyun faced numerous criticisms from 2ch, especially from Korean haters, but even there, Roh Ganji Wave has been introduced and Japanese netizens have given interesting and warm responses to him. But please don’t put unnecessary political opinions.

4 comments · »»

Brazil: Making a child murder into a media show

Daniel Duende · 05:56

lingua → pt · mg

Isabela Nardoni On the night of March 29, 5 year-old Isabella Nardoni was found dying in the front garden of the apartment block where she lived with her father, her stepmother and her two half-siblings, in a middle class neighborhood in São Paulo. The caretaker found Isabella after she apparently fell out of her room window. Moments later, her father is said to have rushed into the garden, saying that someone must have thrown her through the window while he was downstairs helping his wife, Isabella's stepmother, bring their two sleeping children from the car in the garage to the apartment. Minutes later, Isabella died in the ambulance.

A criminal investigation followed, and police questioned the father's and stepmother's versions of the story. There is conflicting evidence. The case has received nonstop coverage[Pt] on Brazilian blogs and big media. There is still a long way for the investigation to go before a verdict, but many suspect Isabella's father and his wife may be the young girl's murderers.

This version of the facts has been repeated over and over in the last few days by Rede Globo, Folha de São Paulo, Estado de São Paulo and many other Brazilian TV stations and newspapers, not to mention on thousands of blogs around Brazil.

In the past, major Brazilian mainstream media groups haven't always been careful when branding this or that suspect guilty of a crime. The Brazilian police and investigation bureaus have often been pressured into giving the media information and statements designed to make individuals under investigation look guilty in the eyes of the public before the investigations are concluded. If, at the end of the official investigation, it is revealed that the real culprit was someone else, the same newspapers have rarely bothered to correct these mistakes, quickly moving on to the next playoff goal, political scandal or horrible death.

And the media circus and finger pointing is ramping up yet again in the case of Isabella Nardoni. Guilty or innocent of the horrible crime, Isabella's father and stepmother have already been declared guilty under the spotlight of Brazilian newspapers and TV shows, and one of the greatest supporters of these statements is the public prosecutor working on the case, Francisco Cembranelli, who has given many interviews suggesting that he does believe the investigations will establish the couple guilty of the murder.

Let's check in on what the Brazilian blogosphere thinks about the case.

C.Fagundes, from e-esquina [Pt], came up with this image, linking Rede Globo's coverage of the crime with the Big Brother Brasil reality show, aired on the same station:

The image reads “Big-who-killed-the-girl-Brother-Brasil”.

Ismael, from O Malfazejo 2.0 (”The Evildoer 2.0″), also makes a joke about Rede Globo's “reality-show interactivity” coverage of the crime [Pt]:

“Breve nos programas do horário nobre da Globo nova enquete interativa: Se você acha que o assassino de Isabela Nardoni é o pai, ligue para 0300-703-584-01. Para votar na madrasta, ligue para 0300-703-584-02. Para votar na mãe da menina, ligue para 0300-703-584-03. […] A ligação é gratuita.”

“Soon, during Globo's prime time program grid, a new interactive poll: If you think Isabela Nardoni's murderer is the father, call 0300-703-584-01. To vote for the stepmother, call 0300-703-584-02. To vote for the girls mother, call 0300-703-584-03. […] The call is toll free.”

On April 9th, Ricardo Noblat, a journalist who writes a blog hosted by Globo.com - Rede Globo's Internet portal - wrote a post with breaking news [Pt] about the case:

“Foi o pai, Alexandre Nardoni, que jogou pela janela a filha Isabella Nardoni, de 5 anos. A informação foi dada esta tarde pelo promotor Francisco José Cembranelli em conversa reservada com um grupo de jornalistas. No passado o promotor foi professor de Alexandre. Refere-se a ele como “um vagabundo, que sempre viveu às custas do pai, um playboy”.”

“It was the father, Alexandre Nardoni, who threw his daughter, 5 years old Isabella Nardoni, trough the window. The information was given this afternoon by the prosecutor Francisco José Cembranelli in a private conversation with a group of journalists. In the past, the prosecutor had Alexandre as one of his students. He refers to him as “a slob, who always lived on his father expenses, a playboy”.”

Next day, when asked by reporters about the statements Noblat quoted him as saying, Cembranelli denied having said anything like that, and made personal attacks to the blogger-journalist Noblat. Right after this, more than 200 comments were made on Noblat's post - most of them accusing Noblat of fabricating news or standing over dubious sources to make his statements. Up to now, Noblat has been answering patiently to all comments, keeping his faith in his sources and in what he stated before, and accusing Cembranelli of denying falsely what he had effectively said before, in that conversation with journalists.

About prosecutor Cembranelli, Academia Brasileira de Idéias Confusas (”Brazilian Academy of Confused Thoughts”) writes the words below in their post entitled “which the biggest tragedy?” [Pt]:

“Já restou mais do que evidente a vontade de Francisco Cembranelli de ter a imagem associada ao um crime bárbaro para aparecer na mídia e ser lembrado pela participação em um caso de imensa repercussão nacional. Transparece, ainda, a vontade de que sejam, efetivamente, os pais os culpados pelo ocorrido, porque nessa hipótese o julgamento será espetacular, com mais holofotes e exposição pública. Se tudo isso decorre de mera vaidade ou se há no ar o cheiro de alguma vantagem decorrente do episódio, é uma incógnita. Em todo caso, parece desagradável que face a um crime tão bárbaro um ou outro sejam satisfeitos.”

“Francisco Cembranelli's desire for having his image associated with a savage crime, so that he can appear a lot in the media and be remembered by his participation in a case of immense country-wide repercussion is more than obvious. It is transparent, too, wishes for the parents to be effectively declared guilty of what happened, because in this case the trial will be spectacular, with even more spotlights and public exposure. Whether all this comes from mere vanity, or whether there is in the air the smell of some advantage to be derived from the episode, is a mystery. Either way, it's uncomfortable to feel that in face of such a terrible crime one or another may be satisfied.”

On the above post, Cranio comments [Pt]:

“Neste caso mais uma vez fico pensando se toda midiatização de uma tragédia familiar poderá trazer algum benefício à sociedade. […] será que alguém que pensava em atirar uma criança pela janela irá repensar sua atitude? Será que criaremos leis que impossibilitem este tipo de tragédia? Ou apenas não havia nada de inteligente para veicular nos telejornais e aproveitam-se do gosto por sangue que existe na maioria da população e com isto aumentar seu ibope?”

“In this case, I keep wondering if all this ‘mediatization' of a familiar tragedy will bring any benefit to the society. [… ] would someone who may be thinking about throwing a kid out of the window rethink their attitude? Will we create laws that prevent such tragedies to ever happen again? Or maybe simply there wasn't anything intelligent to air on the TV news and they took advantage of the distinct ‘thirst for blood' of a large part of our population, just to raise their audience?”

Guilherme Fiuza [Pt], a distinguished Brazilian blogger-journalist, experienced an ordeal somewhat similar to the one to which the Nardoni couple has been subjected. Eighteen years ago, he lost his newborn first son in a tragic domestic accident. At first, Fiuza and his ex-wife were accused of causing of the boy's death, and his neighbours and several people Fiuza says he had never seen before started fabricating stories confirming them as cold-blooded murderers, until it was proven they were innocent. Fiuza doesn't mention that he received any apologies. About his past experience and Isabella Nardoni's case, he writes [Pt]:

“Se não é possível à coletividade imaginar na sua própria pele o ardor da tragédia, já seria um belo avanço civilizatório se ela entendesse, de uma vez por todas, que a vida (dos outros) não é um Big Brother.”

“If it's not possible for people to imagine in their own skin the burning feeling of tragedy, it would be already a great civilized advance if they could understand, once and for all, that (others) lives are not a Big Brother.”

About the hurried interviews given by the Police Inspector responsible for the case, who told reporters that “the investigation is 70% concluded” since the early days after the death of Isabella, Fiuza adds [Pt]:

“A delegada do caso Isabella informou que 70% do crime estão esclarecidos. Notícia importante.
[…]
Mas, doutora delegada, e se nos últimos 30% aparecer um personagem novo confessando o assassinato? Nesse caso, doutora, seus atuais 70% serão iguais a zero.
Jamais se viu, em toda a história da investigação criminal, um caso 70% esclarecido. Das duas, uma: ou a delegada é uma revolucionária, ou é uma irresponsável.”

“The Police Inspector responsible for Isabella's case informs us that 70% of the crime has already been solved. This is important news. […] But, what happens if during the last 30% some new character shows up and admits the murder? In this case, lady, yours 70% are equal to zero. We have never seen, in all the criminal investigation history, a 70% solved case. Either the Inspector is a revolutionary, or she is irresponsible.”

Luiz Carlos Azenha, from Vi o Mundo (”I've seen the World”), is another eminent journalist who quit his mainstream media job to become a full time blogger. He reflects on the media's interest in this case [Pt]:

“A máquina de moer carne da mídia não pára. Precisa produzir continuamente. E produzir, sempre, algo sexy. Na pior acepção da palavra. Crianças defenestradas, arrastadas por automóveis, vale tudo desde que a morte tenha “valor” de venda. Ou seja, a morte de uma criança por desnutrição, aos poucos, bem diante do prédio da Folha de S. Paulo, na Barão de Limeira, tem valor zero na escala da notícia. Bebês mortos em reservas indígenas e em maternidades já se tornaram parte do trivial.”

“The media's meat-grinding machine never stops. It needs to produce continually. And to produce, always, something sexy — in the worst meaning of the word. Children being thrown through windows, or dragged by automobiles¹, anything goes as long as the death has some ‘market value'. That means that the death of a child by starvation, little by little, right in front of the Folha de S. Paulo's building, in the Barão de Limeira [avenue], has zero value in the news scale. Dead children in indigenous reserves, or in the child-care units, are already part of what is trivial.”

¹ (Translator's note: This is a mention of the João Helio case. Helio was a 6 year-old boy who died after being dragged outside his mother's car for seven miles in a car robbery. The case sparked a wave of demonstrations against the increase of criminality in Rio de Janeiro and calling for harsher penalties in the case of heinous crimes. The week of João Helio's death, another boy died in a similar way in another part of the country. No newspaper noticed it. Only blogs took note of the case, but I couldn't find any mention of it in recent times. It might have not made any difference, but João Hélio was middle-class and white, while the other unnamed victim was poorer, and of darker skin.)

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