The parallels between what happened in Brazil this week and at the U.S. Capitol two years ago are inescapable. In both cases, a would-be authoritarian president refused to concede when he lost the election, incited his followers to storm the government center in protest, and then fled to Florida.
The only difference is Trump is a U.S. citizen, unlike Bolsonaro.
Ever since January 6, 2021, there has been a danger that the events of that day in Washington would be repeated at other locations around the world and now it has come to pass. The world is so inter-connected that political poison infects nations across borders as surely as the coronavirus and the results are equally disruptive.
Stability in Brazil — the world’s seventh-largest country — is paramount for global reasons, including planetary survival. We all depend on the Amazon being preserved, which would not happen under continued Bolsonaro rule.
That his coup fail is therefore or critical importance to us all.
LINKS:
There’s no way to sugarcoat it – Brazil attacks were opening act of attempted coup (CNN)
Authorities were picking up the pieces after thousands of ex-President Jair Bolsonaro's supporters stormed top government offices, seeking to either restore far-right Bolsonaro to power or oust newly inaugurated leftist Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Brazil had been on edge since Bolsonaro's Oct. 30 electoral defeat. [AP]
Brazil’s democracy now facing its most crucial test: Will military intervene? (The Hill)
White House under pressure to expel Jair Bolsonaro after Brazil riots (Financial Times)
President Joe Biden condemned the events in Brasilia. “Brazil’s democratic institutions have our full support and the will of the Brazilian people must not be undermined,” Biden said on Twitter. At least 400 people have been arrested, eight journalists were attacked or robbed and several government buildings were damaged. [HuffPost]
Assault on presidential palace, congress challenges Brazil’s democracy (WP)
Ex-NATO chief: Russian forces in Ukraine will be ‘burned through and exhausted’ by end of winter (The Hill)
Ukraine is strengthening its forces in the eastern Donbas region (Reuters)
Now Fighting for Ukraine: Volunteers Seeking Revenge Against Russia (NYT)
Aid chief: Taliban decrees against women paralyzing NGO work (AP)
Afghan Ban on Women Aid Workers Could Push 6 Million Into Famine, Humanitarian Group Says (VoA)
Biden inspects US-Mexico border in face of GOP criticism (AP)
California storm kills 2, cuts power; next atmospheric rivers may be worse (WP)
Satellites watch atmospheric river continue to drench California (Space.com)
Biden declares emergency in California as more winter storms advance (CNBC)
US farmers win right to repair John Deere equipment (BBC)
The US government just took two big steps on abortion. Will they matter? (Guardian)
Silicon Valley layoffs go from bad to worse (CNN)
Earth’s Ozone Layer Recovers as Airborne Chemicals Decline (WSJ)
A start-up in California is trying to manipulate the climate. By sending particles high into the atmosphere, trying to reflect sunlight and cool the Earth. The first experiment was last year, and there are more tests planned this month. (WP)
How Your Brain Distinguishes Memories From Perceptions (Wired)
A college student created an app that can tell whether AI wrote an essay (NPR)
McCarthy Elected Speaker After Far-Right GOP Minority Joins Rest Of Far-Right GOP Majority (The Onion)
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