Brazil and Barbados
The Haitian migrants making long journeys through Acre to seek work in Brazil; Carlie Ester sees social issues on parade during Crop Over summer carnival
In the far west of Brazil, the remote Amazonian state of Acre, Vishva Samani meets some of the tens of thousands of Haitians who have entered the country to seek work. Following the devastating earthquake of 2010, many were given humanitarian visas - and many more are still arriving on their own account - in order to find jobs in Brazil's booming economy. But attitudes towards them are mixed.
It is a long journey to security. In Bridgetown, they are gearing up for Grand Kadooment - the party-hard climax of the yearly Barbadian harvest festival called Crop Over. It's a great excuse to dress up - or strip down - dance madly and perhaps drink a little rum. Yet as Carlie Ester notes, among the revelry there are signs of economic worry - and uncomfortable historical legacies.
(Photo: A Haitian migrant rests on the floor of a reception centre in Acre, Brazil, June 2014. (c) Vishva Samani)
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- Fri 25 Jul 2014 19:50GMT91热爆 World Service Online