Good election news…

from Brazil.

Dilma Rousseff has been elected president of Brazil to succeed Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, electoral officials have confirmed…In her victory speech, she said her first priority would be to lift 20 million Brazilians out of poverty.

“I reiterate my fundamental promise: the eradication of poverty,” she said.

“We must not rest while there are Brazilians going hungry.”

Her election as the country’s first female leader, Ms Rousseff said, was a sign of the democratic progress Brazil had made.

Her priority now was to make sure that such equality of opportunity between men and women became the norm at every level, she added.

“I would like parents who have daughters to look straight in their eyes and tell them: ‘Yes, a woman can.'”

Dreading hearing about the election results?

Have a look at Rachel Maddow’s interesting analysis.   Among other things is a bracing take on the near universal  media criticism that Obama did not govern in a way that would help his party win elections.  Just think:  Maybe governing is not first and foremost about winning midterm elections.  Gosh!

What’s Obama done?

Go here to find out. Send your friends. Then all of you go vote!

States of mind — on election day!

The NY Times is asking readers to provide one word to describe their state of mind.  The results are presented  visually in a very accessible way.

At least at 9 am, edt, the results are very sobering.  If one can generalize, then the country appears pretty depressed regardless of party affiliation.

Don’t forget to vote

if you’re in the US!

March against stoning in Iran

Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani will be stoned to death in Iran tomorrow, 3 November; she has not been allowed access to her lawyer (who is also currently imprisoned and reportedly suffering torture) since mid-August.

According to news received by the International Committee against Stoning and International Committee against Execution on 1 November 2010, the authorities in Tehran have given the go ahead to Tabriz prison for the execution of Iran stoning case Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani. It has been reported that she is to be executed this Wednesday 3 November.

There is a protest march organised in Paris today. Marchers will meet at the steps of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran at 2pm. Read more here.