We start the week with National Solidarity Economy Daycelebrated this December 15th. The model seeks to promote cooperation, social inclusion and economic justice, in contrast to the traditional capitalist model. Examples are work cooperatives, producer associations, solidarity economy fairs, community banks, among others. The practice is even defended by economists as an alternative to face the economic crisis, as shown in this 2017 report by Agência Brasil. The solidarity economy can also be a tool to promote the social inclusion of homeless people, as highlighted in this other article from Agência Brasil, from 2024. The potential to generate employment and income was also shown in this report from TV Brasil, 2017. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW-9kBqVxI
When talking about preserving the Amazon, a name that always comes to mind is Chico Mendes, who was born on December 15th. Ecologist, president of the Rural Workers Union of Xapuri, in Acre, Chico was a pioneer in the fight for sustainability and against the destruction of the region. But he paid dearly for it, being murdered inside his home in 1988, at the behest of farmer Darci Alves Pereira. When his death turned 35 years old, in 2023, his legacy was a topic from this report by Agência Brasiland this other one Repórter Brasil Noite, from TV Brasil. Still on TV, the environmentalist was also the theme of this episode of the program Reporting Paths.
THE Architect and Urban Planner’s Day It is also celebrated on December 15th, in honor of Oscar Niemeyer, born on this date. Considered an icon of modern architecture, Niemeyer left more than 600 works spread across Brazil and the world, such as the Planalto Palace and the National Congress, in Brasília; the Pampulha complex, in Belo Horizonte; and the United Nations headquarters in New York, just to name a few examples. The Brazilian’s legacy received a tribute on the occasion of his death, in 2012, in this chapter of Reporting Paths and in this report from Reporter Brazilboth shown on TV Brasil.
December 17, 2014 represents one of the biggest milestones in international politics. It was on this date that the United States and Cuba announced the resumption of their diplomatic relations, after 53 years of separation. The break came in 1961, after the failure of the American incursion to invade the island to try to overthrow Fidel Castro’s regime. The following year (1962), the United States imposed an economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba. Agência Brasil highlighted the historic rapprochement in this reportand listened to experts to analyze the challenges of this new phase in this other matter. The reopening of the American embassy in Cuba and the Cuban counterpart in the United States was highlighted in this edition of Repórter Brasil, from TV Brasil.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJrBDB2t0-I
Human Rights
There are 281 million migrants worldwide, according to the 2024 World Migration Report of the United Nations (UN). These people leave their countries of origin for a variety of reasons. Some flee poverty and dream of finding a better life in another nation. Others are forced to move due to persecution, armed conflict, violence and rights violations. And, more recently, the number of people abandoning their homes due to natural disasters caused by climate change is growing. But, in addition to the difficulty of moving around, migrants are harassed in the countries where they arrive. To encourage solidarity and respect for human rights in this part of the population, December 18th was established as the International Migrants Day. The date gained prominence in Agência Brasil, in this report from 2023.
Culture
To close this week’s highlights, let’s talk about culture? Considered one of the greatest classics of world cinema, the film “Gone with the wind” premiered on December 15, in 1939. The American feature film, directed by Victor Fleming, George Cukor and Sam Wood, shows the romance between the characters Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler, against the backdrop of the War of American secession in the 19th century. The film received a record 13 Oscar nominations, winning in eight categories. The debut of “Gone with the wind” was the theme of this edition of History Today, 2014, from Rádio Nacional.
Conductor Glenn Miller became a legend of American music, not only for his talent, but also for the tragic and premature way in which his death occurred. He began as an independent musician in the 1930s in New York, and in 1938 he formed his orchestra. Among other characteristics, his compositions protested against Nazism. So much so that, even though he was at the height of his success, Glenn Miller decided to go fight in World War II. He died on December 20, 1944, aged 40, when the air force plane he was traveling in disappeared over the English Channel. His story and work were the theme of this edition of the program Moment Three of 2016, from Rádio Nacional.
Speaking now of Brazilian musicians, on December 21, 2012, Altamiro Carrilho was born, a brilliant flutist who was discovered in the 50s on our Rádio Nacional, on Ary Barroso’s freshman program. He wrote more than 200 compositions and recorded more than 100 albums, helping to spread Choro worldwide as an essential genre of Brazilian music. TV Brasil gave visibility to his work in this 2012 reportthe year in which the musician passed away, aged 87. And as expected, Rádio Nacional paid tribute to the virtuoso in 2015, in this edition of the program Momento Trêsand in 2019, in this edition of Tarde Nacional.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=immM9nRVOpI
Check out the list of Today is Day dates from December 15th to 21st, 2024:
December 2024
15
Death of American jazz musician and bandleader Glenn Miller (80 years old)
Birth of the rubber tapper, trade unionist, activist and environmentalist from Acre Francisco Alves Mendes Filho, known as Chico Mendes (80 years old)
Premiere of the film “…Gone with the Wind” in Atlanta, United States of America (85 years)
The SUDENE Northeast Development Superintendence is created (65 years old) – the authority created with the aim of promoting the development of the states in the northeast of Brazil
National Solidarity Economy Day
Architect and Urban Planner’s Day – in honor of Oscar Niemeyer, born on this date
Anniversary of the city of Gramado in Rio Grande do Sul (70 years)
First broadcast of Rádio Nacional do Alto Solimões (18 years old)
16
Battle of the Ardennes or Battle of the Bulge (80 years) – major German counteroffensive launched at the end of the Second World War in the Ardennes forest in Wallonia, Belgium; also arrived in France (Bataille des Ardennes)
17
United States and Cuba announce the resumption of diplomatic relations after 53 years (10 years)
Signing of the Ouro Preto Protocol, the first segment of the Treaty of Asunción that establishes the institutional bases for Mercosur (30 years)
18
Death of American pianist and composer Louis Moreau Gottschalk (155 years old) – composed, among others, the “Grande Fantasia Triunfal Sobre o Hino Nacional Brasileiro”, which he dedicated to Son Altesse Impériale Madame la Comtesse d’Eu
National Museologist Day – celebrated by Brazilians according to the Decree of May 31, 2004, which also created “Museum Week” in Brazil
International Migrants Day
19
Death of Alagoas businessman Pedro Collor (30 years old) – he exposed corruption schemes in the government of his brother Fernando Collor, initiating the Impeachment process
Death of Italian lyric soprano Renata Tebaldi (20 years old)
First edition of the French daily newspaper “Le Monde” (80 years)
20
Birth of the writer and journalist from Maranhão José Américo Augusto Olímpio Cavalcanti dos Albuquerques Maranhão Sobrinho, known as Maranhão Sobrinho (145 years old) – considered one of the greatest symbolist poets in Brazil, was founder of the Academia Maranhense de Letras
Death of the German-Dutch prince João Maurício de Nassau (345 years old)
Creation of the higher education institution Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV) (80 years)
International Day of Human Solidarity – celebration established by the UN, in Resolution No. 60/209 of December 22, 2005
21
Birth of the composer and flutist from Rio de Janeiro Altamiro Carrilho (100 years old)
Summer Solstice Day – celebrated in the Southern Hemisphere
