calvisson-leblon

Every year, in March, television, newspapers and magazines fall over themselves to release news on women’s achievements.   It has become a ritual ahead of the celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8.   Like a flash in the pan, interest falls soon after.   But in an era of #MeToo, #balancetonporc and Times’Up, there seems to be a flutter of momentum for women to achieve some of their goals and get recognition.   This year businesses and governments are taking notice. In the past, women were prevented from striving outside their narrow female ambit.   Likewise, women’s important accomplishments were overlooked because they were women.   It has been a wish of mine for some time to have a look at some of the women who changed history and share their stories.   Here are the stories of three amazing women who risked their life for France and the Allies during WWII: Margot Duhalde, Jeannie Rousseau de Clarens and Susan Travers.   Th...

Rio Carnival is no longer the good-natured, escapist festival that celebrates the spirit of samba.   Over the years Carnival has become more unruly and violent, and this year was the worse.   Carnival has been hijacked by runaway gangs who have attacked and robbed revelers participating in blocos (street parades).   Ahead of the festivities, like many jaded Cariocas , I joined the stampede out of the city.   For the past four years, carnival-free Argentina has been my destination of choice.   Since the late 70s, when I lived in Bolivia, I have been fascinated by the Jesuit missions of Latin America.   A couple of years ago, I visited the ruined, jungle-overrun Jesuit settlements of northern Argentina (Misiones province, near Igua z u Falls).   In this region the 18 th century Jesuit’s colonial proselytism (reductions) still lends itself to controversy: the local Guarani Indians either relinquished or were compelled to trade their ancestral ...