Instagrammers Capture Protests in Brazil

Thousands gathered in Brazil’s largest cities starting over the weekend and running through tonight to protest what started as a fight against bus-fare increases and has evolved into one of the biggest movements since the nation’s military dictatorship ended in 1985. Protesters are voicing frustration about a variety of issues, including inflation, government corruption, tax rates and the cost and delays associated with next year’s World Cup soccer tournament.

In São Paulo, thousands took to Avenida Paulista to march and wave Brazilian flags. In Rio de Janeiro, marchers stormed Avenida Rio Branco. In Brasilía, protesters danced atop the roof of the Congresso Nacional. To view more photos, visit the #vemprarua and #protestorj hashtags.

The FIFA Confederations Cup Kicks Off on Instagram

Want to view more photos from the Confederations Cup? Visit the Estádio Nacional de Brasília Mané Garrincha location page.

Today marks the start of the Confederations Cup, a football (soccer) tournament held every four years by FIFA as a rehearsal to the World Cup. Eight national teams will duke it out in cities across Brazil for a chance at the title. Tonight, the opening match between Brazil and Japan will take place in Brasilia, and tomorrow Mexico and Italy will compete in Rio De Janeiro, followed by Spain and Uruguay in Recife.

Want to follow the Confederations Cup action on Instagram? Be sure to tap the blue location page above this image for photos from the opening game in Brasilia tonight and follow these players and football-lovers on Instagram:

• Cesc Fàbregas Soler, Spain — @cescf4bregas
• Neymar, Brazil — @njunior11
• Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, Mexico — @CH14_instagram
• Iker Casillas, Spain — @ikercasillasoficial

Instagrammers Document Flooding throughout Europe

Countries throughout Western and Central Europe, particularly Germany, Hungary and the Czech Republic, have experienced historic flooding over the last couple weeks, breeching levees and displacing tens of thousands along the Danube and Elbe rivers.

The flooding, the worst to hit Europe since 2002, has also claimed more than a dozen lives.

People throughout the region—both those impacted and those volunteering with relief efforts—have been sharing their experience through Instagram. View more photos by searching the hashtags #flood, #Flut (German) and #povodeň (Czech).

Capturing la Biennale di Venezia on Instagram

Every two years, Venice, Italy, transforms into the center of the art world. Established in 1895, the Venice Biennale (La Biennale di Venezia) is a major contemporary art exhibition and the closest thing art has to the Olympics. Each of the 88 countries participating this year have selected promising artists to create elaborate installations in their designated national pavilions and palazzos. The installations are now open to the public and will be trafficked by more than 350,000 visitors before the Biennale closes on November 24.

To get a first-hand look at the Biennale, be sure to follow these Instagrammers who are there documenting the sights:

• Ai Weiwei, exhibiting artist — @aiww
• Vik Muniz, Brazilian artist — @vikmuniz
• JR, French artist — @jr
• Marc Quinn, British artist — @marcquinnart
• Tom Sachs, American artist — @tomsachs
• Erica Firpo, freelance journalist — @moscerina

Want to visit the national pavilions yourself? Check out these location pages:

• Russia Pavilion
• Germany Pavilion
• United States Pavilion
• Great Britain Pavilion
• Italy Pavilion
• Switzerland Pavilion

June 8 is International Yarn Bombing Day

Need inspiration for your own project? Check out New York-based crocheting artist Olek on Instagram: @oleknyc.

On June 8, for the third year running, yarn enthusiasts from around the globe will share their passion with the world through the act of yarn bombing.

Guerrilla knitters and crocheters will cover trees, lampposts and bike racks with their colorful handicrafts in a tradition established by Alberta knitter Joann Matvichuk.

Tag your own work and any yarn bombing installations you may come across with the #yarnbombing hashtag!

Turkish Protests Documented through Instagram

On May 31, three days after demonstrators set up camp in Istanbul’s Gezi Park to protest the development of a new shopping mall, police dispersed the crowd with water cannons and tear gas, setting off the most significant wave of protests in Turkey’s recent history.

Tapping into deeper cultural divisions and discontent, demonstrations have spread throughout Turkey, where protestors and bystanders alike have been documenting the skirmishes through Instagram.

View more photos from Istanbul by visiting locations pages for Gezi Park, İstiklal Caddesi and Kazancı Yokuşu. See photos from Ankara by visiting the Tunalı Hilmi Caddesi and Kuğulu Park location pages.

AIDS/LifeCycle 2013

Follow along with the bicyclists by following @aidslifecycle on Instagram and browsing the #alc2013 hashtag.

Today, thousands of bicyclists embark on a seven-day ride along 545 miles of the California coast from San Francisco to Los Angeles to raise money and awareness in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Originally founded in 1993 as the California AIDS Ride, AIDS/LifeCycle (@aidslifecycle) celebrates its 20th ride this year. The event, supported by the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, is now the world’s largest HIV/AIDS fundraiser and is expected to raise up to $13 million from the 2013 ride.

Are you biking AIDS/LifeCycle this year? Be sure to share your photos with the #alc2013 hashtag and add your location to your photos so friends and followers can watch you make the journey!

Manhattanhenge

Want to see more? Browse photos tagged with the #manhattanhenge hashtag and check out the Manhattanhenge location page.

Don’t miss out on the photos from yesterday’s Manhattanhenge! Twice a year, the setting sun in New York City aligns perfectly with Manhattan’s east-west street grid. This phenomenon makes for the perfect chance to snap photos of the sun setting between the skyscrapers of Manhattan.

500 Miles at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Browse photos from the race through the official #Indy500orBust hashtag or by visiting the Indianapolis Motor Speedway location page.

The 97th annual Indianapolis 500, also known as the Indy 500, takes place tomorrow afternoon in the town of Speedway, Indiana. Approximately 400,000 spectators will gather at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (@indianapolismotorspeedway) to watch 33 IndyCar drivers cover 500 miles of track, completing 200 laps around the 2.5-mile oval circuit.

Known as “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”, the Indy 500 is one of the oldest and most important automobile races in the world, and the driver who wins this race becomes an important part of auto racing history!

Be sure to keep an eye on these Instagramming IndyCar drivers who will be racing tomorrow:

• Josef Newgarden — @josefnewgarden
• Graham Rahal — @grahamrahal
• Marco Andretti — @marcoandretti
• Sebastian Saavedra — @sebsaavedra
• JR Hildebran — @jrhildebrand
• Conor Daly — @conordaly22

Sasquatch! Music Festival at The Gorge

For more photos from Sasquatch! head on over to The Gorge Amphitheater’s location page and the official festival hashtag, #sasquatchfestival.

The 12th annual Sasquatch! Music Festival (@sasquatchfestival) takes place this weekend in George, Washington, at the beautiful Gorge Amphitheater—a scenic outdoor venue above the Columbia River with sweeping views of the Cascade Mountain Range and the spectacular Columbia gorge canyon. The indie rock festival takes place over the next four days, boasts over 120 artists and bands across five stages and draws festival-goers from around the world.

Be sure to keep an eye on these Instagramming musicians who will be performing at Sasquatch!:

• Ben Gibbard from The Postal Service — @gibbstack
• Sigur Rós — @sigurros
• Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros — @esmzeros
• Macklemore & Ryan Lewis— @macklemore & @ryanlewis
• Toro Y Moi — @chaz2sexy
• Steve Aoki — @steveaoki
• Imagine Dragons — @imaginedragons
• Atlas Genius — @atlasgenius