Protests in Brazil

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Some people may be aware that there have been nationwide protests in Brazil over the last few days. More are being organized outside of Brazil. Currently the news organizations in Brazil have only been representing their side of the story - easily findable online. What it really boils down to is this: the government spending billions on the next world cup and Olympic games, while the current systems in brazil already struggle to just deal with Brazilians, let alone international visitors in the numbers these events will attract. In the meantime, Brazilians are questioning both their standards of living, the corruption and the violence, that seems to follow when they are speaking up on the subject. The peaceful protests are being met with pre-emptive force from the police as a rule.

Some of the messages being sent out:

From: NÃO É POR R$0,20 (It's not about 20 cents)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIBYEXLGdSg&feature=youtu.be[/youtube]



http://brazilianprotests.tumblr.com/page/5

An expats view: http://www.riogringa.com/my_weblog/2013 ... -view.html
http://www.riogringa.com/my_weblog/2013 ... cents.html
http://www.riogringa.com/my_weblog/2013 ... d-cup.html

Last edited by Kjas on 17 Jun 2013, 5:18 am, edited 2 times in total.

Sounds extremely similar to how the situation in Syria started.

The outcome will be different. Brazil is not a Muslim nation.

ruveyn

I think that's what has people who wouldn't normally be concerned, actually somewhat concerned.

The people in this video were doing a peaceful protest, against police violence - but you can see what happens.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXCziXEZ7WA[/youtube]

Some good points on the political side of it from a blogger: http://translate.google.com/translate?s ... ndeiras%2F

The Olympics literally bankrupted Greece, and the fancy stadiums built for the 2004 Games are showing up on "ruin porn" sites alongside photos of Detroit. The Olympic Stadium in Beijing is abandoned. I think it's time to get rid of the Olympics, and for the Games to go the way of the World's Fair. Like the Fairs, the Games are simply too expensive, and are bankrupting entire countries.

It's the Confederations Cup this year, the World Cup next year, and the Olympics 2 years after that.
After all of it is over, they will unlikely to be used again and Brazilians will food the maintenance bill each month - which will be extensive for each stadium built.

Anonymous has joined, as have many Brazilian footballers.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZApBgNQgKPU[/youtube]

Blog entry containing more links to videos of incidents on the ground:
http://www.riogringa.com/my_weblog/2013 ... guide.html

Apparently in total there have been more than 250, 000 people on the streets - and that was on one night alone.
http://www.riogringa.com/my_weblog/2013 ... akens.html

What comes next?
http://www.riogringa.com/my_weblog/2013 ... -next.html

Last edited by Kjas on 21 Jun 2013, 4:40 am, edited 5 times in total.

I wonder how our Brazilian members are doing. This is absolutely insane and I mean that in a good way.

Can't tell if racist comment or pointing out that the US and company likes to meddle with muslim countries and change their course.

Islam is a religion/culture not a biological race. Muslims come in all colors, sizes and shapes, just like Jews, Hindus, Christians and Budihsts. Islam is inherently authoritarian, totalitarian, tyrannical and fanatic. Read the Q'ran sometime, study the Hadith and the Sharia. Also count the number of "suicide" bombers and violent fanatics.

The folks in Brazil regardless of their political leanings do not have a religion/culture that transforms ordinary humans into dangerous fanatics.

ruveyn

Could someone explain to me in a simple way, why the riots are happening, in Brazil?

The headline came out of the blue, for me.

It does seem there are riots world wide. The economy always seems to have a lot to do with them.

Certain races, specifically ones in the Middle East, tend to be a certain religion. Hence why people use the term 'racist' when other people say racist things about Muslims. Don't act like it's not a common term to use.

I'm going to have to ask you cut the attitude. There is Muslims on this message board (yes, Muslims can get Autism too) and they do not need someone constantly implying that their religion causing people to go crazy or that there is something wrong with being Muslim. It's one thing to disagree with their religion, but to insult them in such a way is inappropriate and against the rules.

This topic has nothing to do with Islam or religion in general. So, please, refrain from bringing it up again. I will point a mod in this direction if it keeps up.




Well, you see, life isn't good in Brazil. They have high taxes, but yet only get change in return. For example, the few people who can afford a car have to pay a steep tax. A brand new Ford Focus, a $16000 car, costs up to $30,000 in Brazil and yet the roads are full of potholes. Since no one can afford a car, people tend to rely on public transportation. So when the government thought it was a good idea to raise the price of bus fare, the people snapped. They're tired of crappy hospitals, underfunded schools and holes in the roads. Even the police are joining in the protests, because they're underfunded, under-equipped and they don't have enough cops to do their jobs. Being a cop in Brazil is dangerous, because they have to use the same hospitals as the rest of the people and they end up dying because of the long lines.

The Brazilian government spends all that money on sports. Their football team is extremely well-funded and their stadiums are lavish. They're also set to host the World Cup and the next Olympics, which means more money taken away from the people and towards sports in the form of new stadiums. I don't know if you recall, but the Olympics pretty much bankrupted Greece.

By that logic Life of Brian is a racist movie. It makes fun of Christians and Jews (and Middle-Easterners and Romans).
You said it was common to refer to criticism of Islam as racism. That is a sad thing, because religion isn't the same thing as race. People should stop mixing it up. It's not my fault people keep perpetuating this nonsense. Words lose their meaning so fast.

First, you may want to know Google translate didn't do a very good job at he one with the political implications, I had an easier time reading the original text in Portuguese.

Second, let's please not get off topic, the Muslim discussion is derailing the current topic.

The way I understood it, the twenty cents increase in bus fares (which has been canceled now) was but a catalyst for deeper issues. Brazil has huge issues with corruption: for starters, seems like a lot of money from those stadiums is actually going to someone else's pockets, as they cost double the amount they should. And they all come from tax money. And people are dying in hospitals because they are underfunded, and there are simply not enough of them. I'd advise to watch the first video, thy to so far as to pass laws where politicians get paid two extra months per year, with their already high salary, have access to a lot of outrageous benefits, and they are trying to pass a low where they strip power from the entity that oversees them so they can further do as they please. Also, in order to make way for the Cup and the Olympics, people are being thrown out their homes, and if it wasn't bad enough, not given someplace else to leave. Native Brazilians were thrown out of their cultural center to make way for an Olympics museum too. And people Re disgruntled that the image of Brazil being sold by the government is vey different from reality.
I do wonder what will come from this. Is there an historical precedent of peaceful protests bringing change by themselves?

Don't know but there are so many things at stake - Belo Monte, changes to the constitution, as you said the widespread corruption, the violence, the class inequality, drugs, gangs, police, taxes - pretty much everything is under scrutiny and for once, they are doing something about it instead of simply complaining.

Really this comes down to quality of life and human rights issues for much of it, in some form or another.

Peaceful protests can if there are enough people involved in overwhelming numbers, and the pressure is constant.
It will either spread and grow or die out , but whichever way, things are certainly at boiling point.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2013/06/2013621172139903761.html

It looks like the Brazilian president has announced reforms and talks with the protestors. It might be looking up, but this can easily be a ploy to make it look like the government is up for change.

The president of Brazil speaks of listening to the street... this is something that would never happen here that's for sure!

Where is here?