Tag Archives: Brazil

Bare bossa nova and Brazil

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I suppose Brazil could be described as a country of extremes. But then again, so could most of the more densely populated countries of the world.

One one hand, it looks idyllic. Carnivals, Joao Gilberto, the passion for football and (on occasion) ‘samba football’, a stylish attacking style probably best associated with the country’s 1970 World Cup win. The 2014 World Cup (the soccer World Cup) begins in Brazil today. Brazil

On the other hand there’s the favelas, the country’s urban slums, and ongoing concerns regarding the destruction of the Amazon rainforest, issues which might impact negatively on the way we view the country. But, as I say, this not intended to be an article that bashes Brazil on account of social deprivation and environmentalism. That’s a topic too big for SLN to become embroiled in, and which we’ll leave to others to inform you about, should you choose to explore those matters.

I thought, therefore, that it would be worthwhile that we posted on Brazil, since we’ll be hearing a lot from it and about it in the next month or so until the World Cup concludes on July 13th.

And, of course, this being SLN, we’ll focusing on the country’s naturism, and examine if its own naturist style has any impact (or presence) within our virtual naturist community.

The following, and an accompanying post which we’ll post over the weekend, are ensemble pieces. Pookes, Barbara and I have all contributed words. Both Harry and Diane have contributed photographs.

Ella.

Brazil’s best known naturist locations are probably Praia do Pinho and Tambaba. The ‘Pinho’ link will take you to an excellent (English language) website which also covers the history of naturism in Brazil, and I recommend you follow the link to get an overview of naturism in the country. The internet coverage of Tambaba is somewhat more fractured, but it is known for being quite rigid by only permitting couples access to it. Of course, it’s not alone in having a ‘nude police’ presence in this respect. France also employs ‘nude police’ at some of its beaches to ensure that the no-clothes rule is strictly adhered to, and thus their naturist beaches remain ‘pure’. There are different ways of looking at Tambaba’s policy. One, it ensures a balance between the sexes. Two, it makes life difficult for those who might not have a naturist partner. Three, it certainly would reduce incidences of voyeur types attracted to the naturist lifestyle.

The country’s best known naturist club might well be Colina do Sol, another place with a marvellous web presence (in Portuguese). So…all in all what seems to be a reasonably healthy naturist presence around the country.

The reason why it is somewhere we don’t immediately connect with naturism is that, for many of us in the northern hemisphere, it’s not somewhere we’re necessarily going to be thinking of for our next naturist holiday, and thus remains slightly ‘semi-detached’ in terms of how we view the country’s naturism. Here in Europe, our naturist centres and beaches tend to be a mixture of languages as naturists from all over the continent descend on locations that serve the lifestyle. In north-America, while the dominant language is going to be English, the capability exists to fly or drive within that continent to other locations some distance from home. But I guess that being slightly ‘semi-detached’ in south America, many of us don’t immediately think of Brazil as a likely naturist destination. It’s not somewhere I’d immediately think of going to for a week or two weeks for my naturism. And Brazilian naturists are going to feel the same about Europe. Unless there’s another reason for travelling in either direction, there’s not going to be much cross trade.

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Still, I imagine it would be unique experience for those of us in Europe or north America. Different continent, different light, different wild life and, judging from the photos I’ve seen of Tambaba beach, a different kind of naturist beach experience given its topography.

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Unfortunately we’ve not been able to find an enormous number of photographs (even those excluding naturists, but just general shots intended to give a sense of the place) but we would point you back at our post about Carina, an advocate of the naturist lifestyle which is featured on vimeo.

Of course, there’s another reason for bringing Brazil into the postings, as it’s in the jungles of south America you will find tribes, such as the Yawalapiti for whom clothes are unnecessary, and the lack of them presents no sense of ‘civilised’ or ‘western’ shame. Being naked is natural.

The Yawalapiti featured in a film, about ten years ago, called ‘Amazon Forever’. There’s also a documentary about them on youtube.

The sense of nudity being wholly natural is something that’s intriguing to those of us championing ‘no shame’ in the naked state.

We’ll pick this up in the subsequent posting, where real life naked living in Brazil, and SL, in the form of an excellent, recent discovery we made in world, relating to an Amazon-based sim. More on this later…

 

 

 

A ‘topless’ ban in Rio

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I’ve picked this story up from the BBC this morning.

It rather appears that a rarely enforced ban on topless sunbathing has been suddenly activated on the beaches of Rio, Brazil, picked up on after Brazilian actress Cristina Flores was approached during a photo shoot and asked to cover up.

And the media appear to be having a field day after an anticipated 200 strong army of protestors failed to materialise, amounted to a dozen or so, and were outnumbered by….male photographers!

The ‘spin’ on this ‘flop’ protest, and how Rio’s women ‘shunned’ it, is interesting in how it’s reported. For one thing, many women who would sunbathe topless would be intimidated by such a throng of photographers. For another, is it perhaps more likely that their ‘protest’ is more likely to amount to them continuing what they do as usual, without needing to fanfare it to any great extent?

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If men are permitted to sunbathe topless, why not women? They’re the same nipples, after all, and -occasionally- the man boobs on display are sometimes arguably larger than female breasts. How can you argue one is obscene and the other isn’t?

Stupid.

While this magazine has been criticial of some of Femen’s antics -mainly because we believe it’s possible to desexualise nipples and female breasts in an adult manner, as opposed to conducting childish protests against the Pope (or Catholicism in general), Putin or whoever else- we would be supportive in their aim to forge equality on this issue. We simply disagree with the tactics.

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A picture tells a thousand words. Vladimir Putin looks exceptionally perturbed when faced with a Femen protest.

femenFemen members demonstrate a total lack of respect for others.

How does it help ‘our’ -women’s- cause to achive top free equality with men by donning wimples, going topless, and writing gratuitously obsence messages on their chests, in a provocative and simply offensive display? I speak as a non-Catholic, but I find it simply offensive that Femen continue to believe they will achieve anything by deliberately seeking to offend. Respect is a two-way street, and the sooner Femen grow up to grasp that, and to demonstrate they have some respect for the beliefs of millions around the globe, the better for all of us. When they show Catholics some respect, perhaps their campaign for top-free equality can be matched.

I would be fully supportive of women’s rights to be topless in public (with the caveat that there’s a right place for everything, and the Copacabana beach is an entirely suitable setting for top-free sunbathing), but I, and the rest of the staff on SLN take a less sympathetic view to Femen’s antics.

Viewed from outside, it does look more like a storm in a B-cup with regard to Rio, a ludicrous ban that is maybe in advance of 2014’s World Cup, and a desire to present Brazil in a particular way to the rest of the globe. Judging from recent protests in the country, Brazil has more pressing concerns than to be fretting over exposed nipples on the beach.

Barbara