Yep, that's right.
On the evening of Tuesday 25th of March, a student was arrested for possessing two cigarettes with marijuana on them. Now you might be wondering: well that's fair enough, he got caught. However that is not the case. See in Brazil, having up to five cigarettes with a small amount (I forget the percentage/weight) of marijuana is not illegal providing you are not selling them; the dealers are illegal, having up to five of these cigarettes on your person is not.
Now there is a place behind the Philosophy and Psychology building called "O Bosque" (The Forest) where students have been going for years to smoke, play music and chill out with friends. For those of you who having been following me from the beginning, I've posted pictures of the stage where music is played, and where we also did the tai-dye workshop. For those of you who are wondering: no, I have never smoked or done drugs there, but it's a really tranquil place to go chill out.
It is not just current students who know about the nature of the Bosque, alumni obviously know about it and even people who work in the city know about it. So when the peace of the Bosque was broken earlier this week, people became angry and the situation escalated.
When the student was arrested, everyone went crazy and appeals for help spread like wild fire and within about two hours there were about three hundred students and lecturers surrounding the Federal Police car, preventing them from leaving with the student. This is where the situation escalated. The protest was completely peaceful and all they did was stand there, but the Police then took upon themselves to call the Riot Police and at about half past five that evening, we heard from our apartments: tear bombs being let off, and an angry crowd roaring. Chaos ensued. Social media went crazy and within two hours it had made national news.
Quite rightly students and lecturers were furious! The Police have a record for showing up way too late to deal with situations that matter (such as the local student bar being held at gun point while the thieves took off with the cash till and all the customers belongings), yet two cigarettes - which are legal - and they go wild.
Students went crazy and quite rightly so! No one local is a ignorant to the goings on in the Bosque, and quite frankly they're doing it in a confined, safe-ish environment and not causing trouble so: what really is the problem? Especially considering it's the dealers that should be their focus.
Yet for more very serious issues such as racism and homophobia on campus, officials turn a blind eye. It's sick (no, not in a good way) and worrying!
Students camped out for the best part of three days in the main building where the dean would hold meetings. They built a fort in front of the entrance, and signs were constructed and placed alongside the banners from the official university staff strike. They protested against racism, homophobia and facism, telling the Riot Police to get out. Even round the back they had placed boards and sofas in front of the doors so that no one could get in.
Annoyingly I think they thought I was a foreign journalist because when I said I was a student, they laughed at me and wouldn't let me inside to take pictures. In normal circumstances I would have protested but I didn't want them to smash my camera or for anything violent to ensue so I left them to it and snuch round the back and took pictures from between the boards there instead. Any media is positive media right?
On the day we went and had a look an official must have persuaded them to stop because around 6pm on Friday they started taking everything down, cleaning the windows and clearing their stuff out. Even while we were there TV interviews were being conducted and a group of students were going crazy.
It can't be easy having to deal with these situations. Especially when the local media are calling you "hot heads" and students from other departments are uninterested in getting involved or supporting them, thinking it entirely their own fault. No wonder they wouldn't let me in.
Anyway, this whole situation has really opened my eyes to the way things are done here and I suddenly feel so much more culturally aware. It's interesting how you don't understand these things properly until you are put in the situation yourself.
And as for why I actively sought out the strikes: I wanted to know what was going on. I think our lecturers back home would prefer us not to go anywhere near them, but it is the police who are being violent at the end of the day not the students, so I didn't feel too nervous or worried. We're supposed to experience the life in our host town/country, and why should this be any different? I feel much more aware of the struggles students go through here everyday and don't regret going down there at all.
While I wouldn't encourage international students to get physically involved in riots (because if the Police come along and check IDs you could be in trouble), there is nothing wrong in supporting your friends and fellow students by spreading the word about these issues, whether it be by word of mouth or online. Hopefully word will one day reach the right ears of someone in power to make official change. :)
If you're a Portuguese speaker you can read more about the events on the Diario Catarinense website.
Thanks for reading!! My post about my time here will be up tomorr
On the evening of Tuesday 25th of March, a student was arrested for possessing two cigarettes with marijuana on them. Now you might be wondering: well that's fair enough, he got caught. However that is not the case. See in Brazil, having up to five cigarettes with a small amount (I forget the percentage/weight) of marijuana is not illegal providing you are not selling them; the dealers are illegal, having up to five of these cigarettes on your person is not.
Now there is a place behind the Philosophy and Psychology building called "O Bosque" (The Forest) where students have been going for years to smoke, play music and chill out with friends. For those of you who having been following me from the beginning, I've posted pictures of the stage where music is played, and where we also did the tai-dye workshop. For those of you who are wondering: no, I have never smoked or done drugs there, but it's a really tranquil place to go chill out.
It is not just current students who know about the nature of the Bosque, alumni obviously know about it and even people who work in the city know about it. So when the peace of the Bosque was broken earlier this week, people became angry and the situation escalated.
When the student was arrested, everyone went crazy and appeals for help spread like wild fire and within about two hours there were about three hundred students and lecturers surrounding the Federal Police car, preventing them from leaving with the student. This is where the situation escalated. The protest was completely peaceful and all they did was stand there, but the Police then took upon themselves to call the Riot Police and at about half past five that evening, we heard from our apartments: tear bombs being let off, and an angry crowd roaring. Chaos ensued. Social media went crazy and within two hours it had made national news.
Quite rightly students and lecturers were furious! The Police have a record for showing up way too late to deal with situations that matter (such as the local student bar being held at gun point while the thieves took off with the cash till and all the customers belongings), yet two cigarettes - which are legal - and they go wild.
Students went crazy and quite rightly so! No one local is a ignorant to the goings on in the Bosque, and quite frankly they're doing it in a confined, safe-ish environment and not causing trouble so: what really is the problem? Especially considering it's the dealers that should be their focus.
Yet for more very serious issues such as racism and homophobia on campus, officials turn a blind eye. It's sick (no, not in a good way) and worrying!
Students camped out for the best part of three days in the main building where the dean would hold meetings. They built a fort in front of the entrance, and signs were constructed and placed alongside the banners from the official university staff strike. They protested against racism, homophobia and facism, telling the Riot Police to get out. Even round the back they had placed boards and sofas in front of the doors so that no one could get in.
Annoyingly I think they thought I was a foreign journalist because when I said I was a student, they laughed at me and wouldn't let me inside to take pictures. In normal circumstances I would have protested but I didn't want them to smash my camera or for anything violent to ensue so I left them to it and snuch round the back and took pictures from between the boards there instead. Any media is positive media right?
On the day we went and had a look an official must have persuaded them to stop because around 6pm on Friday they started taking everything down, cleaning the windows and clearing their stuff out. Even while we were there TV interviews were being conducted and a group of students were going crazy.
It can't be easy having to deal with these situations. Especially when the local media are calling you "hot heads" and students from other departments are uninterested in getting involved or supporting them, thinking it entirely their own fault. No wonder they wouldn't let me in.
Anyway, this whole situation has really opened my eyes to the way things are done here and I suddenly feel so much more culturally aware. It's interesting how you don't understand these things properly until you are put in the situation yourself.
And as for why I actively sought out the strikes: I wanted to know what was going on. I think our lecturers back home would prefer us not to go anywhere near them, but it is the police who are being violent at the end of the day not the students, so I didn't feel too nervous or worried. We're supposed to experience the life in our host town/country, and why should this be any different? I feel much more aware of the struggles students go through here everyday and don't regret going down there at all.
While I wouldn't encourage international students to get physically involved in riots (because if the Police come along and check IDs you could be in trouble), there is nothing wrong in supporting your friends and fellow students by spreading the word about these issues, whether it be by word of mouth or online. Hopefully word will one day reach the right ears of someone in power to make official change. :)
If you're a Portuguese speaker you can read more about the events on the Diario Catarinense website.
Thanks for reading!! My post about my time here will be up tomorr