– Sounders FC defeated LAFC 2-1 after extra time on Saturday evening at BMO Stadium in the Western Conference Semifinals advancing to the club’s seventh Western Conference Final in team history Jordan Morris scored the match-winning strike in the 109th minute after LAFC recorded an own goal in the 59th minute of play It was Morris’ ninth postseason goal of his career tying teammate Raúl Ruidíaz for the most among active players in MLS Sounders FC goalkeeper Stefan Frei recorded nine saves in the contest Seattle now sets its sights on the Western Conference Final playing the winner of tomorrow’s LA Galaxy vs The Rave Green would host Minnesota or travel to the LA Galaxy with the Western Conference Final set for Saturday Further details about the match will be announced by Major League Soccer LAFC – Ryan Hollingshead (Mateusz Bogusz) 50’ Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Alex Roldan (João Paulo 106’) Reed Baker-Whiting (Josh Atencio 96’); Jordan Morris Eduard Atuesta (Timothy Tillman 70’); Olivier Giroud (Cristian Olivera 70’) Join Sounders FC for an unforgettable year Unlock exclusive perks and be part of the action as we enter a new era The biggest club soccer event in history is coming to Seattle With a Sounders FC Flex Membership you select which matches you want in the seats (or suites!) of your choosing Enjoy the view from our elevated Club seats for one match and then for your next one sit close pitch to catch all the action - all with preferred member pricing RENTON — João Paulo will be out 2-3 weeks with a calf strain Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said Wednesday João Paulo didn’t make the trip for Seattle’s win in Columbus on Saturday and wasn’t expected to be out long But further evaluation changed the midfielder’s timetable to return Open Cup semifinal loss to Los Angeles FC last month He was an unused sub for the Portland loss on Aug The Sounders (12-9-7) are preparing for a three-game homestand beginning with a match against Sporting Kansas City (7-14-7) on Sunday Schmetzer has multiple options to account for the loss of João Paulo Recent pairings in the midfield were Cristian Roldan with Josh Atencio the past two matches or Danny Leyva with Obed Vargas during Leagues Cup Vargas missed the Columbus match due to his first call-up for Mexico’s U23 men’s national team He is expected to rejoin training Thursday Schmetzer said Roldan and Atencio played well against Columbus “Better than the game before,” Schmetzer said of the duo’s performance in the 1-0 loss against the Timbers at Providence Park “It’s nice to have that many options in that part of the field Their range and their athleticism helped [Roldan and Atencio against Columbus] Sounders forward Raúl Ruidíaz was part of training Wednesday. He missed last week’s match because of a knee issue. Notice of the injury came after a report stating Ruidíaz is “unhappy” with his current situation, according to multiple anonymous sources. Schmetzer said he wanted to discuss the situation with Ruidíaz, a designated player whose contract expires in December. They haven’t connected, yet, because of the team’s travel schedule and the players being off Tuesday. “When I have my conversation with him, I’ll keep it private,” Schmetzer said. “I don’t think it’s going to be a big deal. I’m just going to try to figure out why and ask him how he’s feeling. Tell him he’s still got a lot of value to the club. Whatever the circumstance happens at the end of the year, we’re just going to move forward with the least amount of drama as possible.” Schmetzer reiterated viewing Ruidíaz as “a big part of the squad” who’ll be needed as the Sounders close the regular season. Seattle is fifth in the Western Conference standings — nine points behind conference-leader LA Galaxy — with six matches remaining. “We can go on a little bit of a run here,” Schmetzer said. “That would boost everybody’s morale, and that’s what I’m hoping for.” Sounders keeper Stefan Frei participated in portions of training but is still under concussion protocol. There are league-mandated benchmarks he must pass to be medically clear, but Schmetzer expects Frei to be available to play Sunday. The side could be without Léo Chú. The winger didn’t train Wednesday. Chú subbed on in the 81st minute against the Crew and was part of a transition play with Jordan Morris on the left flank a minute later when Chú appeared to feel pain. He remained in the match and had a shot attempt in second-half stoppage time hit the crossbar. “[He] just can’t catch a break,” Schmetzer said of Chú, who had a torn meniscus in March and an adductor strain in May. “His tendinitis flared up again. That first sprint that he did, he stopped. That one is a touchy one.” Sounders defender Nouhou is expected to return from international duty Thursday. He subbed off early in his appearance for Cameroon last week due to tightness in his quad as a precautionary measure. He started and subbed off in the 68th minute against Zimbabwe on Tuesday. Sounders defender Cody Baker was medically cleared to train in full. He underwent surgery on his right wrist in July. Baker started and played 45 minutes for the club’s MLS Next Pro side Tacoma Defiance on Sunday. He’s started four of his 13 appearances for the Sounders this season. The opinions expressed in reader comments are those of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of The Seattle Times. Stay secure and make sure you have the best reading experience possible by upgrading your browser! Check out our guide and take advantage of the new month to enjoy the best of culture on São Paulo's stages. 🎭 If there’s one thing that São Paulo residents love, it’s the theater. That’s why we’ve selected the best plays on in São Paulo. Choose your favorite and enjoy! Starring Eduardo Sterblitch, this musical tells the story of a father who disguises himself as a nanny to stay close to his children after a divorce. With a lot of humor, the narrative addresses themes such as family, fatherhood, growth and unity. Until 11/05 🎫 From R$ 19,80 📍 Liberdade Theater The musical traces the career of Antônio Carlos Jobim, from his youth on Ipanema beach to his worldwide recognition, highlighting his influence on Bossa Nova and his iconic collaborations with Vinicius de Moraes and João Gilberto. The story celebrates his legacy, exploring key moments in his life and career. 📅 Until 15/06 🎫 From R$ 21 📍 Villa Lobos Theater The play follows the clash and reflections of three generations of women – one young, one mature and one elderly – as they deal with the challenges of time, relationships and social expectations. Between conflicts and affection, the story explores themes such as ageing, desire, marriage and the pressures imposed on women throughout their lives. Until 11/05 🎫 From R$ 19,80 📍 Bravos Theater View this post on Instagram A post shared by TRÊS MULHERES ALTAS (@tresmulheresaltas) After its success in 2024, the musical Rita Lee – Uma Autobiografia Musical is back on stage in São Paulo. Inspired by Rita Lee’s autobiographical bestseller, the show features Mel Lisboa in the lead role and celebrates the artist’s life and work, reliving key moments such as her participation in the Mutantes and the fight for animal rights. This American show is back on the Brazilian stage in January, in a new production directed by Guilherme Piva . The dramatic comedy tells of the unlikely meeting between an 86-year-old Orthodox Jewish man and a 29-year-old executive, brought together by legal circumstances after a minor traffic accident. Set in Mr. Green’s apartment, the plot deals with themes such as friendship, differences, loneliness and aging, in a comic and touching way. *The image below depicts the late actor Sergio Mamberti, who staged the last season of the play. In 2025, the role of Mr. Green is played by Elias Andreato. 📅 Until 29/06 🎫 From R$ 75 📍 Renaissance Theater In our guide to plays on this month, we have this infectious play starring Marcelo Médici, who plays eight hilarious characters with a lot of humor and wit. The story features an actor in everyday situations, where his characters come to life. The play enchants with its comedy and audience identification. 📅 Until 27/05 🎫 From R$ 60 📍 Sabesp Frei Caneca Theater The dramatic comedy “O Figurante” is Mateus Solano’s first solo play, directed by Miguel Thiré. The show features an extra with questions about his own existence, who struggles to connect with his essence and take control of his narrative. Until 29/06 🎫 From R$ 75 📍 Renaissance Theater The comedy “My Wife’s Husband” is back on stage, with a story full of twists and turns! The plot follows Alex, a braggart who suffers a fatal accident and leaves his wife Bruna a widow. After his death, Bruna becomes the target of a feud between Nico, a boy-next-door, and Paulo, Alex’s best friend. To try to prevent her from marrying his enemy, Alex’s spirit returns to Earth and asks Paulo for help, causing a series of surprising mix-ups. View this post on Instagram A post shared by O Marido da Minha Mulher (@omaridodaminhamulher) This play in São Paulo transforms Nelson Rodrigues’ tragedy into a dystopia that reflects the hypocrisies of Brazilian society. The plot follows Edgard, a man of humble origins who faces a moral dilemma when he is offered to marry Maria Cecília, a wealthy young woman with a controversial past. Until 18/05 | Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 6pm 🎫 From R$30 📍 Mungunzá Container Theater: Rua dos Gusmões, 43 – Santa Ifigênia Following on from our guide to plays playing in São Paulo, we have Tebas Land, by Uruguayan Sergio Blanco. It’s an autofiction that recounts the encounters between a young man convicted of murdering his father and a playwright interested in telling his story. The play discusses themes such as paternity, dysfunctional families and the failure of prison systems in a critical and sensitive way. Playing in São Paulo this month, the play “Névoa – From White Plains” is a dramatic comedy that tackles bullying, homophobia and cancellation with acid humor and depth. The show follows filmmaker Dennis who, upon receiving an Oscar, publicly exposes a former colleague for homophobic bullying, triggering consequences for both. 📅 Until 14/05 🎫 From R$ 25 📍 Sérgio Cardoso Theater: Rua Rui Barbosa, 153 – Bela Vista Another play to see in São Paulo is “O Papel de Parede Amarelo e Eu”, the first monologue by actress Gabriela Duarte. The play, inspired by Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s feminist short story, tackles themes such as female oppression and mental health, while also bringing the actress’s personal perspective on identity and freedom. 📅 Until 01/06 🎫 From R$60 📍 Teatro Estúdio: Rua Conselheiro Nébias, 891 – Campos Elíseos This sketch comedy features Júlia Rabello, Maria Clara Gueiros and Priscila Castello Branco in the cast, who take turns in twenty characters to portray everyday situations with a lot of humor. Written by Fábio Porchat, the show tackles themes such as superstitions and family relationships in an interactive way, with room for improvisation. 📅 Until 27/07 🎫 From R$ 100 📍 Teatro das Artes: Avenida Rebouças, 3970 – Pinheiros Gregorio Duvivier is back on stage with his solo O Céu da Língua, a stand-up comedy that celebrates the Portuguese language in a fun and accessible way. After success in Rio de Janeiro and cities in Portugal, the play is coming to São Paulo to pay homage to our mother tongue, exploring the humor present in words, everyday expressions and even lyrics from Brazilian music. An unmissable option for those who want to go to the theater in São Paulo! 📅 01/05 to 01/06 | Thursday to Saturday at 7pm; Sundays at 4pm 🎫 From R$50 📍 Sérgio Cardoso Theater: Rua Rui Barbosa, 153 – Bela Vista Following our guide to plays on in São Paulo, we have this show by philosopher Lúcia Helena Galvão. It tells the story of six historical women through the perspective of a weaver who is searching for her female ancestry. The play brings up figures such as Joan of Arc, Hippatia and Harriet Tubman, reflecting on the role of women in history. Until 31/05 🎫 From R$50 📍 Teatro B32: Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 3732 – Itaim Bibi View this post on Instagram A post shared by Teatro B32 (@teatrob32) Celebrating 10 years of Cia Teatral As Tias, the show celebrates the 500th anniversary of Camões and the richness of the Portuguese language. The play mixes poetry by Camões, Bocage, Fernando Pessoa and others, exploring themes such as travel, life and death, with plenty of humor and live music. 📅 01/05 à 07/06 🎫 From R$20 📍 Teatro Itália: Avenida Ipiranga, 344 – Edifício Itália – Subsolo, Centro Cia. Manopla brings this free show to São Paulo in May, which uses puppets from the Mamulengo Museum and live music to tell the story of forró. The story follows Julieta and Seu Oliveira, migrants from the Northeast, with plenty of dancing, cooking, language and folk art workshops. 📅 09 e 12/05 🎫 Free 📍 NCI Aprendendo a Viver: Rua Caiçara do Rio do Vento, 1032 – Jardim Veronica (09/05) | NCI Coração Materno Brasilândia: Rua Geraldo Marino, 94 – Jd. Princesa (12/05) The Doctors of Joy are the protagonists of this dramatic comedy about the daily lives of clowns working in hospitals. The play touches on both the artistic and human sides of the professionals, also reflecting on the challenges of public health. 📅 01/05 a 04/05 🎫 From R$ 18 📍 Sesc Santo Amaro: Rua Amador Bueno, 505 – Santo Amaro View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sesc Santo Amaro (@sescsantoamaro) This solo play is inspired by “A Saideira”, Barbara Gancia’s autobiography about her struggle with alcoholism. The play balances emotion and humor, bringing reflections on overcoming and taboos in a tragicomic way. 📅 23/05 a 29/06 🎫 From R$60 📍 Teatro Bravos: Rua Coropés, 88 – Pinheiros Cia Paulista de Dança presents Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet, in which Prince Siegfried falls in love with Odette, a bewitched young woman. With an outstanding cast, the production celebrates the beauty and power of traditional ballet. 📅 13/05 à 21/05 🎫 From R$30 📍 Sérgio Cardoso Theater: Rua Rui Barbosa, 153 – Bela Vista Directed by Gonzaga Pedrosa, “Ávida” is a poetic play that deals with memory, identity, femininity and finitude. The story begins with an elderly woman who struggles to preserve her memories, inviting the audience to reflect on growing old. There will be a chat after the screenings. 📅 03 e 04/05 🎫 Free (tickets can be picked up at the box office 1 hour before the show) 📍 Centro Cultural Olido: Avenida São João, 473 – Centro Histórico Actresses Catharina Conte and Maíra De Grandi are the protagonists of “Brodagem”, which explores the Drag King language, discussing masculinity, friendship and identity. The new show follows two friends who try to understand what it means to be a “man”, reflecting on and criticizing gender. 📅 16, 23 e 30/05 🎫 From R$ 25 📍 Casa de Artes: Rua Major Sertório, 476 – Vila Buarque View this post on Instagram A post shared by Catharina Conte (@catharinaconte) Marisa Orth and Miguel Falabella star in this romantic comedy about a woman who relives the couple’s memories and secrets The deceased himself participates spiritually in the evening 📅 24/07 a 14/09 🎫 From R$100 📍 Teatro Bradesco: Rua Palestra Itália Marília Gabriela shares the stage with her son Theodoro Cochrane starring together in a live interview that mixes fiction and reality The show explores the relationship between mother and son as well as themes such as feminism and generational conflicts 📅 20/06 a 27/07 🎫 From R$ 75 📍 Teatro Porto: Alameda Barão de Piracicaba “Veneno” recounts the reunion of a couple ten years after the death of their son when they receive a letter to remove his body from the cemetery The play deals with themes such as mourning suffering and reconciliation in a sensitive way bringing both moments of intense emotion and a touch of humor 20h30 🎫 From R$ 30 📍 Teatro Estúdio: Rua Conselheiro Nébias Claudia Raia and Jarbas Homem de Mello are back on stage in São Paulo for this show which portrays the life of a woman over 50 facing the menopause “Cenas da Menopausa” expresses the anguish dreams and transformations of the characters during this phase of life mixing humor and emotion to discuss relationships and self-esteem 📅 15/06 a 17/08 🎫 From R$25 📍 Teatro Claro MAIS SP: Rua Olimpíadas Brazil’s celebration in September of the centennial of Paulo Freire (1921-1997), the educator and philosopher behind Pedagogy of the Oppressed was overshadowed by the nation’s ongoing political polarization President Jair Bolsonaro’s administration was forbidden by a judge’s ruling to attack Freire’s legacy calling the president’s various comments and institutional moves against Freire an abuse of the freedom of expression The court decision may shut down some of Mr Bolsonaro’s semi-official campaign against Freire—there were apparently plans even to remove his statue from outside the Ministry of Education—but the war between his admirers and his critics in Brazil remains intense on social media While progressives honored the legacy of the man who opened a new path in the relationship between teachers and students—in conceptual breakthroughs that had broad consequences in different areas of knowledge—conservatives disseminated messages of hate against Freire blaming him for the Brazilian education system’s failures and deriding him as a communist Since the presidential campaign in 2018, Mr. Bolsonaro has attacked Freire and even promised to “purge his ideology” from public education in Brazil and members of his alliance in Congress have continually targeted Freire’s reputation as Brazil’s patron of education Freire’s ideas were not only influential in the field of education but also in the Latin American liberation theology movement After the court ruling prohibiting Mr Bolsonaro’s institutional attacks on Freire “The country’s education [system] is terrible and one can’t criticize the patron of that mess This is not justice; this is sick militancy,” he said on his Twitter account The divide between Freire’s critics and supporters in Brazil has implications for the church A pious Christian who worked in the World Council of Churches Freire is mentioned in several of the most relevant works of theologians like the Peruvian-born Gustavo Gutiérrez and the Brazilian-born Leonardo Boff One of the aspects of Freire’s thought that seems to enrage many conservatives is his emphasis on critical thinking a methodology that encourages students to question what is superficially perceived as natural In his problem-posing pedagogical approach an education professor at the University of South Carolina and an expert on Freire’s ideas “learners explore and problematize existential happenings” and reach through dialogue “critical awareness regarding the political nature of education and its intersection with the cultural “Paulo Freire is considered the ‘father’ of what is known as critical pedagogy,” he said describing it as “an approach to education that is contextually attentive realizing the political nature of education as it seeks to call out disparities inequalities and injustice in all its forms while simultaneously specifying ways to cultivate the humanization of humanity.” Freire’s pedagogical ideas inspired many popular movements in Brazil especially in rural villages and in poor communities on the outskirts of large cities They became a central part of the Bishops’ Conference’s Movement of Base Education (known by the Portuguese abbreviation M.E.B.) created at the beginning of the 1960s in order to teach rural and urban workers to read and write—at the same time raising awareness among them of their civil rights illiterate people were not allowed to vote and were mostly disconnected from the political process in Brazil Their illiteracy helped perpetuate labor exploitation and social marginalization Freire developed a revolutionary way of teaching literacy in 40 hours connecting the new skills of reading and writing with a broader perception of social reality Many of the groups inspired by Freire were influential in community struggles for land, for basic infrastructure—like sanitation and public lights—in slums and for political rights repressed during Brazil’s military dictatorship (1964-1985) Often those movements combined with the church’s base ecclesial communities at that time being inspired by liberation theology To a great extent, those movements contributed to the creation of the Workers’ Party in 1980. Freire himself was a founding member and worked as São Paulo’s secretary of education in 1989, during Luiza Erundina’s term as mayor of São Paulo His party involvement seems to be something that Brazil’s political right has never accepted As someone who stimulated learners to examine the roots of inequality Freire was accused of being a communist the same way as other Christian leaders of that time a deeply prayerful man and a powerful voice for the poor was also labeled a communist by the establishment,” Mr comprehending written text must be preceded by comprehension of the world something that is developed both in his pedagogy and in his Christian practice according to Carlos Alberto Libânio Christo Frei Betto pointed out that Paulo Freire and Liberation Theology have “the same sources.” Many of the groups inspired by Freire were influential in community struggles for land for basic infrastructure in slums and for political rights repressed during Brazil’s military dictatorship “One of his thought’s foundations is the see/judge/act method employed by the Catholic Action,” a movement inspired by the Belgian Cardinal Joseph Cardijn still active in Latin America and elsewhere were among the founders of several Christian social organizations that influenced the formation of the liberation theology movement in Latin America Their main goal was to combine faith and social action in transformative ways the activists would first analyze the current social reality (“see”); then they would discern [appropriate ways of acting] (“judge”); and finally they would establish their strategy of [sociopolitical] intervention (“act”),” Frei Betto explained Liberation theologians reflect on the contents of Christian faith from the perspective of social oppression “This is a process that begins with the analysis of the reality in which people live exactly how Freire suggested,” Frei Betto pointed out Paulo Freire’s emphasis on the poor is certainly another reason for the repudiation of his ideas by contemporary Brazilian conservatives According to the Chilean-born Jorge Costadoat the poor for Freire were a real historical subject—not just an object of policies or political intentions—a vision that is in tune with the changes in Catholicism after the Second Vatican Council and with the general idea of transforming life in Latin America “Freire showed us that a written text should not be read as if it were saying the truth Behind it there is always a world in conflict So the reader not only has to learn how to read it but also has to critically read it,” Father Costadoat a researcher at the Manuel Larraín Theological Center The same process should happen when reading the Bible “The Bible must be read in community,” Father Coastadoat said “The poor were its first readers,” and it is the role of theologians and Bible scholars to guide the poor in “reaching their own conclusions” about the meaning of Scripture they may become the subjects of their own liberation.” Such a methodology is a powerful tool to understand how the world works, educator Ascânio João Sedrez, a member of Brazil’s National Association of Catholic Education “Working out of context is bad in any process of learning,” he said “Education must not be based on the idea of an alleged sociopolitical neutrality,” something he believes is impossible— educators should take sides in social struggle context and debate has been widely adopted by Brazilian educators “And those ideas are surely applied even at top the ones that may be training the nation’s future social oppressors,” he added most teachers and members of religious organizations have had contact with Freire’s ideas and try to use them as tools in the building of institutions that work in accordance with the church’s social doctrine the school’s managers are totally separated from that context They tend to be conservatives and do not have much sympathy for Freire’s ideas,” he said Behind it there is always a world in conflict.” The current targeting of Freire by the far right has not directly diminished the application of his ideas in the concrete life of the schools “Most families are only superficially conservative and they are usually satisfied with a Catholic school if they can recognize in them the church’s symbols,” he said “Potential problems only arise when critical debates take place during classes.” Paulo Freire’s pedagogy is widely known among teachers and administrators of Catholic schools a theology and religious education professor at Boston College “Much of what we do in terms of critical theory and educational efforts associated with education that builds just societies and structures can trace some connection to Freire’s work on conscientization,” Dr. Ospino, who is a member of the National Catholic Education Association board of directors He argued that aspects of Freire’s thought may help to improve the learning and participatory skills of all U.S “Many people in our society are appallingly uncritical about the information they receive believing almost every falsity and conspiracy theory they hear and read Freirian pedagogy can be an antidote to this malady,” he said Freire’s educational theory can also empower people to assert their voices and challenge the status quo especially when it is unjust and dehumanizing “Ideological polarization is causing havoc in our society and in our church or consider alternative options to their own thinking Freirean pedagogy is an invitation to dialogue and negotiation Kirylo suggests that the current mischaracterization of Freire by the political right in Brazil has parallels with the campaign of the political right in the United States against critical race theory The current mischaracterization of Freire by the political right in Brazil has parallels with the campaign of the political right in the United States against critical race theory recognizes that the notion of race is a socially constructed invention and realizes that the legacy of racism in the U.S continues to institutionally manifest itself,” he said looks to unearth how racism socially and institutionally works in order to better understand how policies and practices need to change.” “If one were to authentically explore the life and work of Paulo Freire and examine the meaning and intent of C.R.T. the collective effort is to ultimately foster a more just the same way that Paulo Freire is being used as a scapegoat in Brazil became a target of conservatives in the United States an education professor at the University of California in Riverside Despite the uproar that has been provoked against it is much known and disseminated in the school system,” she told America is part of a broader effort against any sort of anti-racist education The current reaction to C.R.T., often from supporters of former President Donald Trump, is a kind of backlash to anti-racism protests across the country provoked by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020 There has not been enough time to evaluate the C.R.T.’s actual impact on U.S but research on previous anti-racism programs indicate that they can be effective “When the students discuss anti-racism at school they usually start to question the school’s own system,” she said debate the school’s policies on suspensions and even decide to ban the police from schools.” are deeply rooted in anti-racist educational platforms “Those are propositions that lead the students to interrogate the power structure,” Dr “It is a way of using education to give a voice to the people.” Freire’s ideas are deeply rooted in anti-racist educational platforms Ospino noted that much could be improved in C.R.T. but its successes so far have been impressive “It has forced us...to confront the injustices of racism and how unjust systems and structures in our society have created conditions to privilege some people and exact pain upon others “Just as Freire taught peasants how to read and write so they could understand what was happening in their contexts,” Dr “our society needs to learn and write the new grammars that can help us to examine our structures and to talk about the social constructs associated with racism.” 2022): Professor James Kirylo’s name was misspelled in an earlier version of this report Eduardo Campos Lima is a freelance journalist who contributes from São Paulo Password reset instructions will be sent to your registered email address As a frequent reader of our website, you know how important America’s voice is in the conversation about the church and the world. 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Please contact us at members@americamedia.org with any questions The employees were investigating complaints of slave labor on farms in the region of Unaí the date of the Unaí Killings has been observed as National Day to Combat Slave Labor in honor of the inspectors Nélson José da Silva Eratóstenes de Almeida Gonçalves and the driver Aílton Pereira de Oliveira but had his sentence annulled by the TRF1 appeals court in 2018 and is awaiting a new trial Friar Xavier has been fighting for over thirty years to put an end to modern slavery I have kept my ability to rebel intact,” he said remembering when he was a young man during the French demonstrations of May 1968 “I often say that I learned what I know from the grassroots university of the streets of Paris And this was instrumental in my development but today I live in a region where this is difficult speaking about the municipality of Araguaína the Dominican friar commented on the relationship between slave labor and environmental crimes and the increase in the number of inspections and rescues made in 2021.  Frei Xavier Plassat – The pandemic has added another aggravating factor to an already very alarming situation marked by a high and growing unemployment rate and despair by people who need a job in addition to the adverse effects of the labor reform which has enabled a normalization/legalization of abusive forms of labor exploitation.  the “anything goes” approach of the Bolsonaro government’s mismanagement opened the floodgates even wider especially due to the discrediting of all state oversight (primarily in the labor and environmental areas) the pandemic added an even greater burden for particularly vulnerable groups causing situations of extreme poverty and hunger that until then had largely been overcome any job is better than no job at all.  A sign of this trend is the reduction in the number of complaints registered until recently: at the CPT our Campaign used to receive an average of 50 to 100 complaints of slave labor per year until 2013 This number then dropped to between 10 and 20 Other complaint channels also saw declines But recent data show that complaints increased again in 2020 In the Slave Labor Eradication Division (Detrae) the deliberate freezing and then withdrawal of public funding for labor inspections resulting in fewer operational resources and an enormous shortage of Labor Inspection staff: over the past ten years there has been a reduction of nearly 45% in the number of Inspectors and of almost 70% in the funding for the area The last public service recruitment exam took place in 2013 The existing demand today is for more than 1,500 additional positions or nearly 40% of the existing staff.  the Ministry of Labor and Social Security – reestablished in July last year – is now the ministry most affected by the president’s vetoes to the 2022 Budget: if things stand the ministry will get BRL 1.005 billion of the total BRL 3.184 billion of cuts made to the text approved by Congress.  Frei Xavier Plassat – The data available for 2021 demonstrate an impressive inspection record but they indicate that there is a shameless tendency among certain employers to take advantage of the increased insecurity of the working class According to the Labor Inspection Department 2021 ended with a record number of inspections (more than 440 establishments were inspected compared to an annual average of 262 in the previous 7 years) and rescues (more than 1,900 compared to the previous average of 1,004).  The operations conducted by the national Mobile Inspection Group represent just 34% of this total (nearly 150 inspections) illustrating the significant role played by the regional inspection departments (67% of the total in the states of Minas Gerais (74 inspections) Rio de Janeiro (22) and São Paulo (21).  Frei Xavier Plassat – It’s hard to say I have the impression that the inspectors are working miracles — and I don’t say that because I’m a Dominican We are lucky to have very tough groups of inspectors workers didn’t want to file a complaint because they hoped things would improve I really don’t have the key to interpret this very clearly.  Frei Xavier Plassat – Various indicators point to a greater risk of invisibility To understand the sharp drop in the numbers – always remembering that the numbers do not reflect reality – it is necessary to consider several factors that have significantly changed the situation of labor exploitation as well as the engagement of society and the State in the combating of slave labor.  the combat of slave labor was essentially focused in the Amazon where the first major complaints were made (by Pedro Casaldáliga 71% of the identified cases and half of the rescues were made in the Amazon Slave labor outside the countryside was practically absent from the numbers for this period The dominant activities in which slave labor was found were: deforestation and work on livestock pastures (35%) With an annual average of 2,500 people rescued between 2007 and 2009 sugarcane in these years represented half the annual total Its almost complete disappearance in later years is the main reason behind the reduction in the total number of rescues nationwide The ban on burning land and the subsequent mechanization of production contributed summarily to the reduction environmental pressure also likely slowed down the pace of deforestation.  which reduces the manual component of labor probably contributed to a reduction in the average number of workers found in the inspected establishments Frei Xavier Plassat – The respective proportions of each type of activity have changed profoundly: rescues in non-rural activities began to represent a significant portion in 2009 making up more than 1 in 4 rescues (average 2013-2021: 28%) clothing (4%) and miscellaneous services (8%) in addition to livestock (13%) and agricultural monocultures (34%) the following stand out: charcoal and plant extractivism (7% each) and mining and lumber (5% each) After a brief eclipse between 2013 and 2018 charcoal has made a strong comeback over the last 3 years in the areas around the Minas Gerais state steel industry The most visible change is precisely the growing preponderance of the Southeast region in inspection and rescue statistics: this region has in recent years (average 2013-2021) accounted for 1 in 3 inspections and for half the people found working in slave labor like conditions the Northeast (20%) and Center-West (13%) have overtaken the North (12%).  If we can conclude from this that slave labor situations have been made visible in regions and activities that were previously less inspected there is still serious doubt as to our ability to keep the reality of slave labor visible in previously more prominent regions this concentration corresponds to a well-defined period as indicated by the proportion of identified cases and people rescued in the Amazon compared to the total in the country (identified cases: annual average of 183 cases [74% of the total] between 2003 and 2012 People rescued: annual average of 2,032 [50%] between 2003 and 2012 But the question about slave labor and environmental crimes is still very topical where the situation remains increasingly invisible due to the limitations of both environmental and labor oversight monoculture is expanding in the Cerrado scrubland in the region known as MATOPIBA (in the states of Maranhão Frei Xavier Plassat – Although it is one of the public policies that causes the most inconvenience that receives the most criticism and that is most resisted (as can be seen from the successive and failed attempts to undermine the legal definition of slave labor in article 149 of the Brazilian Criminal Code) I see that the fight against slave labor has been consolidating as a State policy since 2003 with effective coordination between the federal and state governments and active participation by civil society – there are 16 State Commissions for the Eradication of Slave Labor (Coetrae) working together with the National Commission for the Eradication of Slave Labor (Conatrae) within a legal framework that is considered sophisticated internationally and with the support of international decisions that have strengthened us.  Achievements in recent times include: the significant mobilization around historical dates in the fight against slave labor: January 28 (Unaí Killings) and May 13 (Abolition); the production of the film “Pureza” which is scheduled to be released in May; the establishment of the National Flow [service for victims of slave labor] by Conatrae; the creation of a national online reporting system the Ipê System; and the uniting of the topics of slave labor and human trafficking after the implementation of the Palermo Protocol and its incorporation into national legislation (Art 2025 - Conectas Human Rights - Postal Code 47 - São Paulo (SP) Brazil - ZIP: 01032-970 - Phone: +55 (11) 3884-7440 location: Housed in a strikingly imposing three-story building in the bustling heart of São Paulo in the upscale Jardim Paulistano neighbourhood Tuju stands out with its seamless blend of inventive cuisine and exceptional service and modern space – with decor blending natural materials and lush gardens – enhances the service elevating hospitality across three distinct areas: a bar-patio on the ground floor meticulous attention to detail makes all the difference in making guests feel welcomed and cared for the restaurant’s 10-course menu pays homage to Brazil’s distinct rainy seasons seasonal ingredients through creative techniques Great plates: Dishes such as cauliflower with peanut cream and mushrooms or scallops paired with nasturtium and flower-shaped yacon potato slices allow the ingredients to truly shine Each plate at Tuju reflects São Paulo’s rich and varied local produce Less than a year after reopening – following a three-year closure after its time in Vila Madalena – the restaurant earned two Michelin stars Award-winning hospitality: Serving only one-third of the number of guests compared to the former venue the new Tuju focuses on outstanding service as its secret ingredient This meticulous effort has earned Tuju the prestigious Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award 2024 for dining excellence and reinforced its goal to create a warm - A penalty kick just before halftime converted by Seattle Sounders FW Fredy Montero helped the MLS side to a 1-1 draw over León on Thursday at the Nou Camp The result means the Sounders secure a 4-1 aggregate win and a place in the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League semifinals.The home side came into the match knowing it would need to find the back of the net at least three times and pushed for those goals early León MF Fidel Ambriz went to the ground to put his head on a cross in the 14th minute that bounced off the crossbar and stayed out As the scoreline remained at zero heading toward the break with Montero stepping up and putting his shot past León GK Rodolfo Cota in first-half stoppage time ⚽️ ¡Gol de @SoundersFC!¡Fredy Montero anota gol de visitante desde el punto penal! | #SCCL22 pic.twitter.com/uIhm7nPbwd León pushed until the end to win the series second-half substitute Santiago Ormeño sent a header on target thanks to service from León FW Ángel Mena but Sounders GK Stefan Frei denied the effort.A nice team move in the 87th minute resulted in a Jean Meneses shot that Frei saved with an outstretched leg And Ambriz converted a header from close range off a José David Ramirez cross in the 91st minute to give fans in Guanajuato something to celebrate ⚽ ¡Gol de Fidel Ambriz! @clubleonfc empata el partido en la recta final.#SCCL22 pic.twitter.com/QzsDGxkB9C The SCCL semifinals will see the Sounders match up against New York City FC while Pumas UNAM and Cruz Azul meet on the other side of the bracket The Seattle Sounders have hit the ground running in the 2023 MLS regular season after defeating the Colorado Rapids 4-0 on Sunday in the team’s home opener at Lumen Field Here are the six best storylines that developed from the night: A bit of a poacher’s instinct in the 53rd minute led to Héber’s first goal with the Rave Green The Brazilian forward’s effort to crash the box placed him in a position to tap the ball into the net after Nicolás Lodeiro’s initial cross was deflected really good job,” forward Jordan Morris said “He does all the simple things really well he works for the team and then you see his finishing ability inside the box like you saw on [Sunday]…He just needs one chance and he'll bury it so he's been great and we're fortunate to have him.” A 4-0 victory for the Sounders also means a clean sheet for goalkeeper Stefan Frei Beginning his 10th season with the Rave Green denying two Colorado 1-v-1 chances in the second half and closing out the match with zero goals against Sunday’s win marked Frei’s 92nd shutout of his career After suffering an ACL injury in the Concacaf Champions League in 2022, João Paulo made his way back to the starting lineup and played 80 minutes His role as a defensive midfielder allowed others to push up into the attack ultimately supporting his teammates in the buildup of three of the four goals from the night “[João Paulo] is such an integral part to this team,” Morris said “He brings so much leadership and then obviously he's an incredible player on the field so we missed him a lot last year after he got injured and to have him back he's gonna make a huge difference for us.” Jordan Morris and Cristian Roldan both signed long-term contract extensions in the offseason the now-veteran players both stepped up with stellar performances on Sunday Roldan scored the Sounders’ first goal of the season Morris extended the lead just before the half and capped off the night with a second goal in the 83rd minute Younger players like Danny Leyva, Léo Chú, Dylan Teves and Josh Atencio all featured in Sunday’s match against the Rapids With three Homegrown Players and a U-22 Initiative signing all contributing quality minutes it’s a solid indicator of what’s to come this season “Players are getting younger….We have a lot of talented players on the squad,” Head Coach Brian Schmetzer said very happy with the team and the makeup of the group and so giving those guys opportunities in games like this is important for their development.” Center back Jackson Ragen once again impressed in a starting role coming into his second season with the Sounders at only 24 years old While he contributed to 23 matches last season and started in 14 the Seattle native will look to build upon Sunday night’s clean sheet as he continues to develop in 2023 “Jackson played very well,” midfielder João Paulo said very high on the ball… He's going to be a huge part of our system this year Join the Sounders Family with a 2023 Alliance Membership Be part of the storied success and culture of our club RENTON — Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer wasn’t coy about player availability headed into the team’s home opener Saturday at Lumen Field The club will be without four and possibly five first-choice starters against Austin FC midfielder Albert Rusnak (ankle) and center back Yeimar Gomez Andrade (fitness) are early scratches from the lineup Yeimar is expected to be back in the starting rotation next week when the team travels to play the Philadelphia Union on March 9 who plays a big role in orchestrating the offense He suffered his injury the eve of the Los Angeles FC match forcing the Sounders to use a formation they hadn’t trained and different duties for some players The Sounders lost the season opener 2-1 at BMO Stadium last week Seattle (0-1) has time to strategize without Rusnak but could be without forward Raul Ruidiaz against Austin Ruidiaz started alongside forward Jordan Morris up top and subbed off in the 58th minute against LAFC due to a rib injury An examination after the match didn’t show any major damage but Ruidiaz isn’t expected to join training until Thursday “We’re going to work on Plan B and C and get those guys ready,” Schmetzer said There will be a little bit of drama with the lineup and how it looks on a piece of paper Austin lost 2-1 on the road to Minnesota United FC last week The Verde could be without captain Sebastian Driussi (hamstring) and center back Leo Vaisanen (plantar fasciitis) There isn’t a target date for Frei or Joao Paulo’s return Sounders keeper Andrew Thomas will start again in goal while there are different pairings the technical staff could use in the midfield “There’s no rush to bring them back,” Schmetzer said of Frei and Joao Paulo “It’s too early in the season to put them at risk for a bigger injury You can put guys like that at risk if you bring them back too early Sounders center back Jackson Ragen teamed with Nathan a free agent signing on the back line against LAFC The Black & Gold were able to tear through the defense for a pair of goals in transition but Ragen found some positives after reviewing film “Yeimar and I built such a good relationship last year and that takes time and all of the different pairings are building that together Nathan and I were decent and have a lot to improve on.” Pedro de la Vega’s made penalty kick broke the Sounders’ three-match streak without a goal against LAFC The strike in the 73rd minute also made the midfielder the eighth player in club history to score in their MLS debut although forward Fredy Montero and defender Brad Evans did so as part of Seattle’s inaugural league match in 2009 “We’ll have to work on some of the defending make sure he understands a little bit more about how we like to defend,” Schmetzer said in critiquing de la Vega’s overall performance He subbed on in the 64th minute for Leo Chu Ozzie Alonso will retire his MLS career in Rave Green The former club captain will sign a one-day contract Thursday make the gesture official He was known as the “Honey Badger” because of his gritty style of play in the midfield 2014 Supporters’ Shield and four U.S After departing Seattle following the 2018 season Alonso played for Minnesota (2019-2021) and Atlanta United FC (2022-2023) The Cuba international retires having made 424 appearances across all competitions there are certain players who epitomize the ethos of the club — who are stamped with the grit determination and mindset that our organization stands for Ozzie is one of those players,” Sounders majority owner Adrian Hanauer said in a news release “With Ozzie’s help — both through his on-field skills and off-field character and leadership — Sounders FC saw great success as it began building its MLS legacy I couldn’t be happier to welcome Ozzie and his family back to Seattle so that we can honor his incredible career.” The Sounders will train at Lumen twice before the opener to test the new turf installed during the offseason The last time the pitch was resurfaced was in June 2019 The opinions expressed in reader comments are those of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of The Seattle Times Stay secure and make sure you have the best reading experience possible by upgrading your browser Head Coach Brian Schmetzer reveals his lineup for today's season opening match against LAFC (1:30 p.m. PT; Watch FREE on Apple TV CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE LINEUP ON MOBILE AND THE SOUNDERS FC APP the Sounders might not make a significant roster move until summer 2023 It’s a concerning thought considering the team didn’t advance to the MLS postseason this year snapping a streak of 13 consecutive appearances Cascadia rivals Vancouver and Portland also failing to secure a berth means for the first time since 2015 no team from the Pacific Northwest will represent the league’s Western Conference at MLS Cup in November (Sidebar: OL Reign and the Portland Thorns FC advanced to the NWSL semifinals so playoff soccer will continue in the region.) the Sounders’ general manager and president of soccer mentioned throughout the 2022 season the club didn’t have to make any moves because the majority of the roster is signed through 2023 and sort of can’t because of salary-cap restrictions He first referred to this in February as a “championship window” where the Sounders could afford the current roster construction for three years ‘That looks pretty good,’” Lagerwey said which might be an issue when it comes to evaluating player needs to not just get the Sounders back into the playoffs but vying for the championship as the club has done in four of the past seven years The biggest problem is expected to be fixed when Seattle reunites for training camp in January — defensive midfielder Joao Paulo will be rehabilitated from a torn ACL should also be recovered from a lower back injury The pair helped the Sounders become the first MLS team to win the CONCACAF Championship league title in May Joao Paulo suffered his injury during the title match Vargas slotting in and helping the Sounders move above the MLS playoff line before suffering his injury in June Vargas’ last match was a draw against Los Angeles FC putting Seattle’s record at 6-6-2 in MLS competitions also withstanding injuries to striker Raul Ruidiaz (hamstring/ankle) and midfielder Cristian Roldan (sports hernia) The roster created history and will have three months to prepare for the 2023 slate But the 2023 season will be even more grueling with FIFA Club World Cup and the monthlong Leagues Cup competitions added to the expected 34-game MLS season and minimum one U.S If Seattle were to reach the title game of each competition it’s a 54-game schedule running February to December 2023 although the Club World Cup format and dates haven’t been set eight were the CCL run and one Open Cup game Experience matters and the current roster now knows the emotional and physical toll it will take to be successful with that amount of games it’s easy to imagine the Sounders lifting more than one trophy Lagerwey will likely keep the current lineup through the Club World Cup Then age should be a consideration in shaking the roster up for long-term success Co-captain Nico Lodeiro returned from knee surgeries in 2021 to lead the club in assists (11) and rank second in goals (seven) through MLS competitions Co-captain Stefan Frei returned from a 2021 knee/blood clot injury and was solid in goal this year hasn’t been able to close out the past two seasons due to injuries And while Fredy Montero’s scoring ability is uncanny the 35-year-old is getting to the later stages of his career is the attacker who should be leading the club in goals He returned from a torn ACL in 2021 to bag seven with four assists in 29 appearances this season Too often he wasn’t utilized effectively in must-win games Joao Paulo’s return will free up Albert Rusnak who played well on the left wing with Morris on the right netting 11 goals with 11 assists in that position with Real Salt Lake in 2021 but injuries kept Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer from exploiting Rusnak’s strengths What this historic season showed is the Sounders lack depth is an asset yet the need for another skilled fullback was glaring Roosevelt grad Ethan Dobbelaere did have an impressive start on the right wing in a draw against FC Cincinnati in September Seattle’s designated player positions are full with Rusnak Brazilian forward Leo Chu is the U-22 Initiative player so there isn’t any creative maneuvering to find cap space there Unless Lagerwey sacrifices Morris in a blockbuster deal for an impact defender the other way to generate money to acquire an elite addition is if left back Nouhou not only makes his Cameroon national team World Cup roster but also performs so well he can be loaned to a European club The same goes for center back Xavier Arreaga (Ecuador) it’s best to prepare for a quiet offseason For nearly six months Sounders fans have wished for Joao Paulo It should be known by summer 2023 if his return makes this roster magical again – Seattle Sounders FC today announced its 2021 team award recipients as voted on by Sounders FC’s players and technical staff at the conclusion of the MLS regular season João Paulo was voted Most Valuable Player for first time while Yeimar Gómez Andrade earned the club’s Defender of the Year for the second consecutive season Striker Raúl Ruidíaz took home Seattle’s Golden Boot title for the fourth consecutive year after leading the club with 17 goals in the regular season while Stefan Frei was named Sounders FC Humanitarian of the Year for the third time in the goalkeeper’s career SOUNDERS FC MOST VALUABLE PLAYER – JOÃO PAULO João Paulo wins his first Sounders FC Team MVP in 2021 starting 28 of 31 regular-season appearances in his second season with Sounders FC in 2021 recording three goals and 11 assists (tied for sixth in MLS) João Paulo finished fifth league-wide in touches (2,463) second in interceptions (36) and third in duels won (176) among players with at least 10 assists The set piece specialist ranked second in MLS with 42 chances created from set plays and tied for third with six assists from set plays João Paulo was voted a starter in the 2021 MLS All-Star Game earned Best XI honors and was one of five finalists for Landon Donovan MLS MVP SOUNDERS FC DEFENDER OF THE YEAR OF THE YEAR – YEIMAR GÓMEZ ANDRADE Yeimar appeared in all but one game in 2021 starting 29 and leading a defense that finished tied for first in MLS with just 33 goals allowed The towering central defender led MLS with 86 interceptions (13 more than any other player) and finished tied for first with 55 tackles won He also finished second league-wide with 147 clearances tied for first with 80 headed clearances and eighth with 87 aerials won Yeimar was rewarded with his first career international callup to Colombia for November’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers This marks the second Sounders FC Defender of the Year award for Yeimar in as many seasons with the club He was also voted a starter in the 2021 MLS All-Star Game earned Best XI honors and was one of three finalists for MLS Defender of the Year Leading the Rave Green in goals for the fourth consecutive season Ruidíaz becomes the first player in club history to win four Sounders FC Golden Boot titles The Peruvian’s 17 regular-season goals tied Obafemi Martins’ club record set in 2014 and finished tied for third in MLS He also led MLS with seven game-winning goals and was tied for the league-lead with four multi-goal games Sounders FC went unbeaten in the 13 games (10-0-3) that he recorded a goal Ruidíaz also added two goals in 2021 League’s Cup action giving him 19 across all competitions in 2021 which also tied Martins’ club record set in 2014 His play this season earned him a start in the 2021 MLS All-Star Game and a spot on Best XI SOUNDERS FC HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR – STEFAN FREI an online resource to help guide intentional spending that supports small businesses and diverse communities Sounders FC was eliminated from the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs on November 23 by Real Salt Lake via penalty kicks following 120 minutes of scoreless action Second-seeded Seattle’s 13th consecutive postseason berth ended in Round One to seventh-seeded RSL falling out in the first round for the first time since 2011 The Rave Green’s 2021 campaign finished with the club compiling a 19-9-10 record across all competitions SOUNDERS FC HISTORICAL TEAM AWARDS WINNERS Sounders midfielder Pedro de la Vega will be out 6-8 weeks due to a right hamstring injury The young designated player initially suffered the injury while training with Argentina’s U23 national team in January But de la Vega also injured his left hamstring when he joined Seattle in Marbella Spain later that month for preseason training camp De la Vega, 23, was able to sub on in the second half of the Sounders’ season-opening loss at Los Angeles FC in February. He scored Seattle’s lone goal from the spot in the 2-1 result. The playmaker made his MLS debut start in the goalless draw against Austin FC last week at Lumen Field subbing off in the 63rd minute due to the apparent injury “There’s some issues there that the trainers want to get right before we proceed,” Schmetzer said “That certainly was a blow because you saw glimpses of how influential he can be.” De la Vega is the latest in a rash of injuries the club is managing Midfielder Joao Paulo (hip) and defender Yeimar Gomez Andrade (fitness) rejoined training Yeimar will be available to play Saturday when the Sounders (0-1-1) travel to play the Philadelphia Union (0-0-2) midfielder Reed Baker-Whiting (hamstring) and forward Braudilio Rodrigues (hamstring) remain out Center back Nathan returned to his native Brazil to complete the final process to obtain his U.S green card and is also unavailable Saturday Schmetzer expressed concern about the long list of injuries to begin a season Baker-Whiting was the only player to suffer his injury during a match After supposedly healing from the hamstring strain during the 2023 season finale he reinjured the tendon during the playoff loss to LAFC last November Schmetzer excused Joao Paulo’s because it was a preexisting condition and Rusnak as part of the risks when playing sports “We’ve talked about it internally,” Schmetzer said in debating whether the injuries are coincidence or reflective of how the players are being monitored to remain healthy and available for selection “Muscular injuries are the ones that teams around the world spend a lot of time and money trying to prevent.” Each week, Roads & Kingdoms and Slate publish a new dispatch from around the globe. For more foreign correspondence mixed with food, war, travel, and photography, visit its online magazine or follow @roadskingdoms on Twitter Mazen Zwawe is putting the final touches on his new food stand in the Rota 94 Food Park on Frei Caneca Street in downtown São Paulo A small sign stuck to the side of the stainless-steel cart reads “Chef Mazen Zwawe parties and events,” but Zwawe isn’t quite satisfied a fish with spiced rice and caramelized onions.” In his new location culturally vibrant and surrounded by universities “what the authentic Syrian cuisine really is.” He holds up a laminated menu illustrated with amateur photos riddled with the small errors of someone still learning a new tongue a Syrian hot pepper dip originally from Aleppo “people didn’t value this food.” This time Brazil—and São Paulo in particular—has always been a magnet for immigrants The country’s commercial capital and largest city is home to the highest concentration of Japanese people outside Japan and one of the largest Italian communities outside of Italy Syrians and Lebanese fleeing the Ottoman Empire came to Brazil by ship 8,863 recognized refugees in the country of 79 different nationalities with Syrians representing nearly 26 percent of the total Zwawe came to Brazil as a refugee in 2013 after his restaurant in Damascus was destroyed in a bombing He arrived with just $100 in his pocket and started peddling his dishes at food festivals until he made enough money to rent a stand and Syrian: a “confusion” of cuisines (to use Zwawe’s term) that Paulistanos described simply as “Arabic food.” just as Syrian cuisine is not the same as Moroccan Each has its own particularities,” Zwawe says Brazilians are usually open to new flavors.” He indicated the stands on either side of his new one there on Rua Frei Caneca: one specializing in Colombian arepas As is the case for newly arrived immigrant communities in cities across the world many of the refugees currently pouring into Brazil speak not a word of of the local language refugees can capitalize on Paulistanos’ taste for Middle Eastern cooking and their hunger for new flavors in a setting where language skills aren’t strictly necessary Many of these refugees were medical doctors Others had already worked as chefs or bakers Now they earn their daily bread by making it And though “Arabic food” has been a part of São Paulo’s culinary landscape for a century dishes like those featured on Zwawe’s menu have begun a new wave of more authentic Middle Eastern—and particularly Syrian—food in the city The first recorded Syrian immigrants in São Paulo came in 1880 and where previous waves of Arabic-speaking immigrants had already established themselves São Paulo was well on its way to development a process that only accelerated with a post–World War I construction boom that gave the city its first tall buildings and tram lines As they had no capital to buy land and saw little economic prospect in rural labor many of those early Syrian immigrants opted to open businesses hoping for rapid financial returns and the opportunity to work independently Many dedicated themselves to clothing and fabric stores while others started cooking and selling Syrian food catering to the tastes of their fellow countrymen Those with more resources—sometimes from Syria but often from Lebanon or Armenia—opened the first restaurants specializing in Middle Eastern dishes Though initially these restaurants catered to other immigrants they soon became mainstays on the city’s culinary map and labneh are as essential to São Paulo as pizza or temaki The latest wave of immigrants and refugees has come for reasons similar to those that drove their predecessors but they’ve arrived in a radically different context Though Brazil has always been open to outsiders the earliest immigrants from the Middle East would have struggled to find things as simple as the correct flour for making their sfiha dough and created the Arabian-Brazilian cuisine that so many Paulistanos have grown accustomed to Today, organizations like Adus a nonprofit dedicated to helping refugees integrate into Brazilian society offer resources that previous generations of immigrants could hardly have imagined including services like Portuguese and computer classes and advice for navigating the formal job market he worked with Adus at events designed to promote cultural exchange between communities through food points out that food is a powerful cultural and economic tool “allows refugees to generate their own income.” executive chef at Clandestino in the upmarket neighborhood of Jardim Paulista has been collaborating with Adus and working with cooks like Zwawe on events it’s an honor to learn about other food cultures I consider these different migration influxes a blessing for us Paulistanos Thanks to them our gastronomy and culture are more interesting,” she says “These new Syrian immigrants are bringing and offering us a new way to look at their culinary culture.” cooking is the most accessible way for a people to hold on to their culture while living far from home “Commercial cooking does not require a diploma Food and the act of eating will always be a universal necessity and language,” Coelho says “No other activity has as many advantages as cooking when it comes to surviving in an unknown country.” The cultural openness that defines São Paulo is on obvious display in the array of specialty stores now open around the city shops specializing in Middle Eastern spices and ingredients that allow professional and amateur cooks to recreate the flavors of home With better ingredients and an urban clientele already accustomed to the basic flavor profile of their home cuisine cooks like Zwawe and his fellow Syrian refugee can finally open the kinds of restaurants they might choose to eat in back home Al-Tinawi opened his restaurant Talal in April after securing capital through a crowdfunding campaign Though his menu includes familiar classics like hummus also hopes to introduce his new neighbors to the true wealth of his home cuisine by introducing unfamiliar Syrian dishes like hira bisbaou (pasta with lentils and pomegranate molasses) and maqluba (rice “there are some products that I still can’t find here in Brazil.” Those recipes misses the “plump lamb” he used to find back home But both are appreciative of the unique welcome they’ve received in Brazil the welcome that so many of the other 4 million Syrian refugees scattered across the globe have not received in the fine tradition of their home country are grateful for the cultural dynamism that people like Zwawe and al-Tinawi have “Food isn’t only a way for us to remember,” he says There’s a privilege only a few Major League Soccer teams get to enjoy On the cusp of a first-round playoff match the Sounders get to reflect on past championship runs and draw on the invaluable experience of them the Rave Green lead MLS in total championships since 2009 The seven include two MLS Cup trophies (2016 and 2019) It’s a haul that makes Sounders co-captain Nico Lodeiro hungry for more “We always have to be motivated because we are representing a great team in the MLS,” he said Lodeiro has helped the Sounders continue their run of never finishing lower than fourth place in the Western Conference standings And Seattle’s stellar run includes a league-leading 12 consecutive playoff berths with the team advancing to the league finals in three of the past four seasons Considering all of that hardware and statistical dominance the Sounders are basically competing to top themselves And this season many believe the 2020 roster will show it’s the best compiled in franchise history “Everybody expects Seattle to be the favorites in the Western Conference,” said Matthew Doyle a senior writer the past decade for MLSsoccer.com they are the ones who show up and really make you beat them They don’t gift you anything in the playoffs.” opens this postseason by hosting the seventh-seeded Los Angeles FC (9-8-5) at the newly renamed Lumen Field on Tuesday So how does this year’s team compare to the club’s past championship teams?  An easy critique of the 2020 postseason is this moment the Sounders were electric entering the postseason a star-studded roster led by Clint Dempsey Brad Evans and Ozzie Alonzo slogged through a losing first half of the season with Zach Scott and Nelson Valdez playing roles to keep the locker room together as the club only lost once to close the regular season The Sounders defeated Toronto FC for the title in epic fashion Defender Roman Torres provided the heroics scoring the winning penalty kick on a cold December night in Canada a host of Sounders players returned from a September international break to go unbeaten in four of their final five regular-season matches MLS changed the postseason format to single-elimination with Seattle needing to finish second in the West in order to secure home-field advantage throughout the conference semifinals Torres had the game-winning goal against Minnesota United FC at then-CenturyLink Field The club only lost twice at home during the MLS season “We kind of haven’t been able to get into the playoffs with as much momentum as we have in the past,” said Sounders keeper Stefan Frei and secured the biggest save in team history in the 2016 MLS Cup “But it’s been difficult to establish momentum this year anyway with the way the schedule has unfolded Maybe in the playoffs there is some momentum to be found for us If we can achieve what we’re going to be setting out to do in that first game that will give us some confidence to hopefully coax the best out of this squad because it is a really good squad.” The league shutdown in March to help slow the spread of the virus after its 26 teams played two matches apiece It resumed play in July with a tournament in Florida The Sounders were embarrassingly knocked out by LAFC in the Round of 16 watching from home as Cascadia rival Portland won the championship MLS reworked a conclusion to a regular season that started in August The Sounders had a home match against the Colorado Rapids canceled due to an outbreak among that club Forward Raul Ruidiaz contracted the virus in October while with his Peru national team and the Sounders recently announced a member of its staff tested positive for COVID-19 but the team has been able to continue training like a long year,” Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said during a recent video conference call It feels weird to have the MLS Cup back in December It’s been a weird year and I don’t know if you can quantify it There’s just too many weird things that have happened and it’s been tough.” TOTALSounders FC 2 1 4 7LA Galaxy 3 2 0 5Sporting KC 1 0 2 3Toronto FC 1 1 0 2+NY Red Bulls 0 1 0 2FC Dallas 0 1 1 2Montreal Impact 0 0 2 2 forward Jordan Morris and Ruidiaz were named to MLS’s Best XI squad on Friday It marked the first time the club had three players named in the same season The melding of the trio — which led the Sounders to a second-best goal differential (21) — is the leading reason why Seattle is always favored to win titles But it’s actually the defensive line that stands out as the difference-maker for the Sounders in the postseason it was a peak Chad Marshall and Alonzo along with Torres’ key performance in the title game that gave Seattle an edge who had his best match to date against LAFC to help Seattle upset the Supporters’ Shield winners to win the Western Conference championship at Banc of California Stadium The Sounders entered this past offseason nearly depleted at the position right full back Kelvin Leerdam and defensive midfielders Gustav Svensson and Jordy Delem were the only returnees who made significant contributions Nouhou had an inconsistent 2019 season and the Sounders lost Marshall (retirement) and left full back Brad Smith (loan expired) The club allowed contracts to expire for center backs Kim Kee-hee and Torres But enter center back Yeimar Gómez Andrade to complement Nouhou’s best season at left full back was signed in February on the heels of another Designated Player signing in January in Joao Paulo a Brazilian midfielder who’s crafty on both sides of the ball “They hit the jackpot with two big signings,” said former Sounders winger Steve Zakuani “Yeimar came in and he looks like he’s played here for 10 years and the same for Joao Paulo Sometimes you can bring in big players and they can mess up the chemistry scored two goals and nearly helped RSL reach MLS Cup has also started all of his appearances (19) and scored twice “He’s just an incredible athlete,” Lagerwey said of Yeimar who was originally discovered by Chris Henderson the Sounders’ vice president of soccer and sporting director He’s able to intercept balls and cut off things before it happens I’m really happy about the signing and really happy for Yeimar He’s hopefully going to be an influential player for us for a long time to come.” Joao Paulo overcame a summer quad injury that sidelined him for the MLS is Back tournament starting 17 of his 19 matches and tallying five assists with three goals He’s blended well with Lodeiro and helps Schmetzer move midfielder Cristian Roldan to right wing because of Joao Paulo’s versatility in the midfield but I think we made some very smart improvements,” Frei said “Joao Paulo has been one of the best additions in this league.” Roldan and Frei as the core who have been with the Sounders since 2016 Torres and midfielder Joevin Jones are back for their second stint since 2016 while Kim is the only starter from the 2019 title who isn’t on the current roster Even the coaching staff was part of the 2019 MLS Cup run “We still have that hurdle in front of us to prove how good of a squad this is,” Frei said The trophies that are in the trophy room are the ones that last Nobody is going to be talking about the 2020 Sounders if we have nothing to show for it.” World Water Day has been observed on 22 March every year since it was established by the UN General Assembly in 1993. The day highlights issues such as a billion people around the world not having access to safe drinking water. This year's event is focused on the links between water and energy. See the UN Water site for more info. The idea is to make people think twice about how much water they waste. People who have plentiful access to water are encouraged to try not turning on their taps all day. © Copyright IBTimes 2025. All rights reserved. 2011Here's a startling fact about the runway at São Paulo Fashion Week back in 2008: Only 2.5% of the models who walked it were black compared to an estimated 50% of the entire Brazilian population In order to improve the representation of women of color the event's organizers voluntarily implemented a 10% quota...but now some are calling for an increase BRAZIL - JUNE 18: A model displays a design by Andre Lima during the sixth day of Sao Paulo Fashion Week Summer 2012 on June 18 (Photo by Rafael Chacon/ Studio Fernanda Calfat/LatinContent/Getty Images) According to The Cut "Many Brazilians are now calling for the quota to be raised to 20 percent Protest organizer Frei Davi Santos explains: 'São Paulo fashion week sells the image of a Swiss Brazil where everyone is white and blue-eyed forget that more than half of Brazil's population is black.'" Brazilian model bookers and fashion editors argue that the concept of black models wearing luxury clothes is rejected in their country and that they're only giving customers an image that they think will sell clothes But protestors say the 10% quota isn't enough and they're demanding it be doubled for greater representation of black women on the runways We've seen a very slight improvement in diversity on the runways in New York but not anywhere near what would be reflect the population in each of those cities would help improve the situation all over the world Do you agree with Brazilian protesters that the quota should be increased to more accurately represent their population And should it include models of every race NEW! Now You Can Read Glamour on Flipboard! Get the latest fashion updates via Twitter on @glamour_fashion Check our chic Tumblr! Read Glamour magazine on your iPad—print subscribers it's now part of your subscription plan Like freebies? Enter the latest Glamour sweepstakes! Sign up for our fashion and beauty newsletters to get easy style tips (it'll make your inbox 10x sexier And, did you know you can read glamour.com on your smart phone? Want even more STF? Follow us on Twitter! Follow us on Twitter! Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker There are two churches in Curca, one dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary (also called Nossa Senhora do Rosario Igreja em Curca in Portuguese) and the other to Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima. The Catholics here celebrate the feast on the second Sunday of October, which this year fell on October 8. There is also a writing that states that the Dominicans asked permission from the king of Portugal to construct a church here, which was given in 1646 by the King D. Joâo IV. The foundation stone for constructing the church was laid on February 24, 1647, and it was completed in 1650. It was inaugurated on June 29, 1650, with the Eucharist. The first parish priest here was Fr. Frei Paulo de Santa Catharina, who remained here till his death. Since this Church was on a hill and in an isolated place and also far from the local population, the villagers thought of constructing a new one, below the hill in ganvkar vaddo and decided to dedicate it to Our Lady of Rosary of Fatima. The same was blessed by archbishop Raul Gonsalves on May 6, 1984. This Church is used during weekdays, while the old church is used for Sunday masses, funerals, major festivals and holy week services. The old church has four altars. The main one is dedicated to Our Lady of Rosary. To the right of this statue is the statue of St Dominic and to the left of St Vincente Ferrer (Dominican Saints). Two other statues that are also here are that of St Peter and St Paul and below these are the statues of St Rita de Cassia and St Gonsalo de Amarante. The other altars are dedicated to St John the Baptist, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Our Lady of Remedios, which is also the privileged one. Mons Gomes Catao in the Anuário da Arquidiocese the Goa, mentions that there are two chapels in the parish, dedicated to Santa Cruz, where Mass is said “per modum actus”. The feast of Our Lady of the Rosary is also known as Rozachem Fest as devotees offer garlands of marigolds, which are called Rozam in Konkani. The feast was preceded by the Maddi and the nine-days Novena. The Feast Mass was celebrated at 9.30 am, followed by the procession, the blessing and the Veneration. During the Novena days, the statue of Our Lady of the Rosary with Infant Jesus, which is usually in a glass-framed case was taken out and kept in a choral for adoration on the left side of the entrance; it remained here till the last Sunday of October. Eucharist was celebrated here on the Feast Day and the statue taken out in procession, after which it was kept back in the case. On the Feast Day, people of the village, which has a majority of Hindus, climbed up the hillock to pay obeisance to Our Lady of the Rosary, the patron saint of the Curca church. One witnessed long queues of people, with garlands of marigold and candles in hand, waiting to pay respect to the statue of Our Lady of the Rosary. They did not disturb the regular liturgical services which were in progress at this time. (The writer is Superior at Casa Professa, Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa) Copyrights 2020 Fomento Media, Goa- All rights reserved. Prop Jackson Frei has been brought onto the bench for the Vodafone Warriors' 21st-round clash against South Sydney at Sunshine Coast Stadium today (3.00pm kick-off local time; 5.00pm NZT). Frei made his second NRL appearance almost a year after his debut in last week's loss to Melbourne. He wasn't listed in the 17 named on Tuesday but he comes into the playing squad for Eliesa Katoa. He joins hooker Taniela Otukolo, prop Bunty Afoa and back rower Josh Curran on the interchange. The three players dropped off the original extended bench are Dunamis Lui, Daejarn Asi and Viliami Vailea. Injury report: Season-ending surgery confirmed for Tevaga New combinations in halves, centres and back row Experienced Agar signed as assistant coach from 2023 McFadden returning to Vodafone Warriors in new role Utility Martin signed until end of 2025 NRL season From Praça da República to Rua da Consolaçao in Jardins there are LGBTQ hotspots and gay clubs such as The Week We’ve found the best hotels for exploring LGBTQ-friendly São Paulo – all bookable with Culture Trip Courtesy of Hotel Ca’d’Oro / Expedia With a name inspired by a Venetian palace Hotel Ca’d’Oro is famed for its welcoming ambience contemporary restaurant with an impressive antique piano The northern Italian-influenced gastronomy includes chunks of juicy meat The hotel is just steps from Shopping Frei Caneca (affectionately known as Shopping Gay Caneca) a glamorous mall known for its LGBTQ clientele Courtesy of Meliá Paulista / Hotels.com Meliá Paulista sits conveniently on the doorstep of Consolação’s metro station Only a block away is Padaria Bella Paulista a bakery bursting with sweet treats from custard tarts to chocolate brioche and in the opposite direction is the chic MASP and if its motto you are the journey is anything to go by you’re guaranteed to be the centre of the staff’s attention import PrebidBidService from "/v1/js/PrebidBidService.js"; import AmazonBidService from "/v1/js/AmazonBidService.js"; window.addEventListener('intersecting',async (e) => { const element = document.querySelector('[data-id="in_article_1"]'); const slot = element.getAttribute('id'); if(e.detail.slotName !== slot) { return; } let promises = []; if(window.canRunPrebid) { const prebidService = new PrebidBidService(); promises.push(prebidService.requestPrebidBids(null [slot])); } if(window.canRunAmazon) { const amazonService = new AmazonBidService(); promises.push(amazonService.fetchBids(null [slot])); } if(promises?.length) { await Promise.all(promises).then(() => { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); }); } else { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); } }); Hotel Intercity Paulista Hotel Courtesy of TRYP São Paulo Paulista Hotel / Hotels.com Hotel Intercity Paulista is in Baixo Augusta an area teeming with lively nightlife spots such as the suave jazz club and just minutes from the city’s pulsing main artery With check-in possible from midday and check out available until 6pm Welcoming messages are even scrawled on the bathroom mirrors for an extra friendly touch INNSiDE By Meliá São Paulo Itaim Hotel Courtesy of TRYP Jesuíno Arruda / Hotels.com The sky-high INNSiDE By Meliá São Paulo Itaim sits on a quiet street not far from Ibirapuera Park and Iguatemi shopping mall Guests are warmly welcomed by the attentive staff Kilner jars filled with colourful juices and cured meats will await you at breakfast before you head out to browse Jardins’ upscale boutiques and fancy French bistros import PrebidBidService from "/v1/js/PrebidBidService.js"; import AmazonBidService from "/v1/js/AmazonBidService.js"; window.addEventListener('intersecting',async (e) => { const element = document.querySelector('[data-id="in_article_2"]'); const slot = element.getAttribute('id'); if(e.detail.slotName !== slot) { return; } let promises = []; if(window.canRunPrebid) { const prebidService = new PrebidBidService(); promises.push(prebidService.requestPrebidBids(null [slot])); } if(promises?.length) { await Promise.all(promises).then(() => { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); }); } else { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); } }); Fasano Luxury Courtesy of Fasano / Expedia The famed Fasano Hotel is known for its attention to detail and dedication to stylish design the hotel has been proudly welcoming guests and showing off São Paulo’s glamorous delights in the upmarket Jardins neighborhood perfect for a warm-up cocktail before the night’s festivities or for a secretive nightcap afterwards Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy Courtesy of Hotel Unique / Expedia Hotel Unique is the Noah’s Ark of Paulista hotels both in its extraordinary ship-like structure and its warm welcome for all travellers Expect a glass of champagne on arrival and take advantage of the 24-hour room service is where you’ll find the Skye Bar and Restaurant the perfect spot for gazing out at São Paulo’s sparkling skyline while sipping on a kicking caipirinha import PrebidBidService from "/v1/js/PrebidBidService.js"; import AmazonBidService from "/v1/js/AmazonBidService.js"; window.addEventListener('intersecting',async (e) => { const element = document.querySelector('[data-id="in_article_3"]'); const slot = element.getAttribute('id'); if(e.detail.slotName !== slot) { return; } let promises = []; if(window.canRunPrebid) { const prebidService = new PrebidBidService(); promises.push(prebidService.requestPrebidBids(null [slot])); } if(promises?.length) { await Promise.all(promises).then(() => { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); }); } else { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); } }); Pergamon Hotel Hotel Courtesy of Frei Caneca / Expedia Pergamon Hotel is in the swarming central district of Consolação Frei Caneca street nearby is an important LGBTQ spot and home to São Paulo’s Gay Tourist Information Centre as well as the celebrated A Lôca check out nearby Famiglia Mancini’s pasta or head to Estadão for what has been described as the best mortadella sandwich in São Paulo Courtesy of Tivoli Mofarrej São Paulo / Expedia Set in the beguiling and sophisticated Jardins neighborhood is the Condé Nast Traveler-garlanded Tivoli Mofarrej São Paulo the hotel is framed by lush greenery offering some welcome respite from the urban jungle Tivoli’s Thailand-influenced Anantara Spa is a luxurious hideaway where a deep tissue or Indian head massage will leave you feeling as light as a feather import PrebidBidService from "/v1/js/PrebidBidService.js"; import AmazonBidService from "/v1/js/AmazonBidService.js"; window.addEventListener('intersecting',async (e) => { const element = document.querySelector('[data-id="in_article_4"]'); const slot = element.getAttribute('id'); if(e.detail.slotName !== slot) { return; } let promises = []; if(window.canRunPrebid) { const prebidService = new PrebidBidService(); promises.push(prebidService.requestPrebidBids(null [slot])); } if(promises?.length) { await Promise.all(promises).then(() => { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); }); } else { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); } }); 269 Chilli Pepper Single Hotel Hotel style=”font-weight: 400;”>Set in the vibrant gay neighbourhood of Largo do Arouche is 269 Chilli Pepper Single Hotel a men-only hotel and proud member of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association you’d be forgiven for not wanting to leave See & Do The Best Hidden Gems In Rio de Janeiro Only Locals Know About Guides & Tips A Complete Guide To Pão De Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain) Guides & Tips The Best Non-European Destinations to Escape to This Spring See & Do The Best Amazon Locations for Seeing Wildlife See & Do The Most Beautiful Buildings In São Paulo See & Do 15 Must-Visit Attractions in Ouro Preto See & Do The Top 10 Things to Do in Curitiba Guides & Tips The Best Spots for Panoramic Views in São Paulo See & Do A One-Week Rio de Janeiro Itinerary See & Do 15 Stunning Natural Wonders in South America That Will Take Your Breath Away See & Do The 15 Best Destinations to Visit in Brazil Guides & Tips The Most Picturesque Spots in Sao Paulo US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 tripssupport@theculturetrip.com © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd