College students from the interior of the state of São Paulo, in Brazil, who organized a “fat girls’ rodeo” in the Google’s social network Orkut will have to donate 20 minimum salaries (about US$ 6.650) to organizations that combat chemical dependencies and gender violence.
Roberto Paulo de Freitas Negrini, Raphael Dib Tebechrami and Daniel Prado de Souza were all charged of violence against women.
The two students who organized and promoted attacks against other female students considered obese managed to attract over fifty members. The site also described the rules of the game.
The winner of the competition, which included prizes, would be whoever managed to document that he was “on top” (rodeo style) a fat girl for the longest.
The competition went on the network during the university games at the São Paulo State University (UNESP), which is in Araraquara, a town of about 200,000 people, 150 miles from São Paulo city.
Human rights officials from Araraquara and Assis finally reached an agreement with the two promoters of the competition to pay the fine. A third member who refused to pay and sign to cease such promotion faces a civil demand from both cities.
The Fat Girls’ Rodeo took place between 9 and 12 October 2010 and was covered extensively in the press and the Internet. Obese female students reported that boys would approach them asking questions, as if flirting. Suddenly they would throw themselves on their neck simulating a rodeo in which they were the rider and the fat lady the animal.
It is estimated that at least 50 students participated in the violence. However, only three young men were identified, one of them being Roberto Negrini, the creator of the Orkut community, “Fat Girls’ Rodeo Araraquara 2010.”
The two young men who agreed to sign the agreement begin to pay their fine this month. Both also agreed not to practice or promote discriminatory practices in the future. If they fail to comply with the justice’s decision, they might pay a fine of up to 30,000 reais (US$ 18,200).
Brasília Cup
This past Sunday, under a scalding sun in a very clear blue sky, typical weather in the capital of Brazil from April to October (the very dry season), a group of demonstrators marched in favor of having the opening game of the 2014 World Soccer Cup played in the city. Both Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo have other ideas about that.
According to one demonstrator, Edilson de Oliveira Barbosa, 45, opening the World Cup in Brasilia would be good because it would show the country and the world that there is more than corrupt politicians here.
Delfim da Costa Almeida, 58, a representative of the Federal District Commercial Association, said the small turnout (only around 200 people took part in the march) was due to the heat (temperature above 85) and low humidity (around 35%), as well as the fact that the march was not announced very much.
“We should have done more advertising,” he said. Delfim Costa said he agreed with Edilson about the bad reputation the city has. “The World Cup could improve the city’s image. Most people think of corruption and impunity when they think of Brasilia,” he declared, adding that the march was, for that very reason, a completely private sector event, no participation of the local government at all.
Claudio Trimm, 34, a lawyer and member of a special commission at the local bar association (OAB-DF), said the movement in favor of the opening game in Brasilia was just beginning and that a lot of work would be done to get sponsors and organize other events.
