Christ the Redeemer statue lights up to remember COVID-19 victims

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UNIC Rio

The United Nations Department of Global Communications (DGC) promotes global awareness and understanding of the work of the United Nations through its network of United Nations Information Centres (UNICs) around the world. The UN Information Centre in Rio de Janeiro engages with local audiences in Brazil.

Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Christ the Redeemer was illuminated with the names of victims lost to COVID-19 in an online ceremony called “For Every Life” that paid tribute to the 60,000 victims lost in Brazil and 500,000 lost worldwide. About 87,000 Brazilians heard messages of hope and solidarity combined with music and prayer in a live broadcast over social media. It recognized the losses of families and selfless work of healthcare workers and others helping the country through the pandemic.

“For Every Life is much more than an event, it is a unique opportunity to break our routine, changed by COVID-19, so that together we can think, reflect, pray and renew our commitment to take care of each other. We come together in the love of Christ, celebrating faith in Him who, with arms open, welcomes our fears and uncertainties. The pandemic will pass,” explained Father Patriky Samuel Batista, campaign executive secretary of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB).

Brazilian actress Cris Vianna hosted the ceremony on 1 July. It was broadcast on YouTube and Facebook of CNBB, Facebook of Caritas and on the official YouTube channel of the Brazilian singer Alcione.

She delivered a blessing from Pope Francis, "Missing Brazil, I impart an apostolic blessing asking Our Lady of Conception Aparecida to intercede for all of us."

Brazilian Cardinal Dom Orani João Tempesta led prayers and remarked, “It is an event in which we not only remember those who left, but we also see those who stayed. Courage, let's move forward."

With the event, CNBB, Cáritas Brasileira and Verified aimed to provide a tribute for each life, in addition to humanizing this critical moment that the world is going through, giving light to lost lives, which tend to be just statistics due to the high number of daily deaths.

“For Every Life” was supported by the Verified project, a global initiative of the United Nations, which seeks to flood the channels of communication with information verified and transmitted by the UN involving the themes of science, solidarity and solutions, thus countering the infodemic of misinformation in the midst of this pandemic that is plaguing the world.

Wrapping up the ceremony with a musical performance, singer Alcione rallied listeners, “I left the quarantine for a good cause. We have to join forces at this moment that the world is going through. Together we are stronger."

Melissa Fleming

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“You see, we're not doing this work to make ourselves feel better. That sort of conventional notion of what a do-gooder is. We're doing this work because we are totally convinced that it's not necessary in today's wealthy world for so many people to be experiencing discomfort, for so many people to be experiencing hardship, for so many people to have their lives and their livelihoods imperiled.”

Dr. David Nabarro has dedicated his life to global health. After a long career that’s taken him from the horrors of war torn Iraq, to the devastating aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami, he is still spurred to action by the tremendous inequalities in global access to medical care.

“The thing that keeps me awake most at night is the rampant inequities in our world…We see an awful lot of needless suffering.”

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Ballet Manguinhos resumes performing after a COVID-19 hiatus with “Woman: Power and Resistance”. Photo courtesy Ana Silva/Ballet Manguinhos

UNIC Rio

Brazilian ballet pirouettes during pandemic

Ballet Manguinhos, named for its favela in Rio de Janeiro, returns to the stage after a long absence during the COVID-19 pandemic. It counts 250 children and teenagers from the favela as its performers. The ballet group provides social support in a community where poverty, hunger and teen pregnancy are constant issues.

Nazira Inoyatova is a radio host and the creative/programme director at Avtoradio FM 102.0 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Photo courtesy Azamat Abbasov

UNO Tashkent

Radio journalist gives the facts on COVID-19 in Uzbekistan

The pandemic has put many people to the test, and journalists are no exception. Coronavirus has waged war not only against people's lives and well-being but has also spawned countless hoaxes and scientific falsehoods.

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Christ the Redeemer statue lights up to remember COVID-19 victims

About the author

UNIC Rio

S7-Episode 2: Bringing Health to the World

:: David Nabarro interviewed by Melissa Fleming

Brazilian ballet pirouettes during pandemic

Radio journalist gives the facts on COVID-19 in Uzbekistan