Brazil Protests 2013-2014
Brazil has been extremely busy with three major events to host:
1. Confederation Cup in 2013
2. World Cup in June-July 2014
3. Olympics in Rio in 2016
1. Confederation Cup in 2013
2. World Cup in June-July 2014
3. Olympics in Rio in 2016
For the past year or so, Brazil has been experiencing chaos and violence, with people flooding the streets, protesting. It all started with a 9% increase in transport fares - a single bus fare increased from 2.75 reais ($1.20; £0.70) to 3 reais ($1.30; £0.80). This strike was initiated by the free fare movement and it gave the people a chance to protest against bigger social issues.
Until last June, most protests were small, nothing large scale and rather peaceful and focused on certain single matters. They gradually worsened, from protesting against bus fares, to healthcare, evictions, corruption and scandals. Soon, the protests turned for the worse, becoming violent and very large-scale, with people taking to the streets and destroying public and private properties. They now protest against police brutality and currently, about half the people in Cuiaba are against Brazil hosting the World Cup, which is extremely ironic considering how football is their favourite sport. Football belongs to Brazil and the fact that even the people themselves refuse to support World Cup says a lot about the current situation.
The Confederation Cup in 2013 caused more than a million people flooding the streets nationwide, protesting against the costs of the World Cup and the 2016 Rio Olympics, more so when Brazil is a country where many basic public facilities are poor. Due to these huge events, the government has been pumping in lots of money, causing a widespread of anger towards the government and officials over the fact that this money has not been spent in the right area and will not benefit Brazilians after the big events. They feel like they are paying first-world taxes for third-world services. Officials have since then been attempting to distance more finances on the infrastructure from the World Cup. Barbosa, a famous Brazilian basketballer, added that ordinary people have been forgotten. The government has invested too much resources and effort into the World Cup and have forgotten the needs of the people.
Until last June, most protests were small, nothing large scale and rather peaceful and focused on certain single matters. They gradually worsened, from protesting against bus fares, to healthcare, evictions, corruption and scandals. Soon, the protests turned for the worse, becoming violent and very large-scale, with people taking to the streets and destroying public and private properties. They now protest against police brutality and currently, about half the people in Cuiaba are against Brazil hosting the World Cup, which is extremely ironic considering how football is their favourite sport. Football belongs to Brazil and the fact that even the people themselves refuse to support World Cup says a lot about the current situation.
The Confederation Cup in 2013 caused more than a million people flooding the streets nationwide, protesting against the costs of the World Cup and the 2016 Rio Olympics, more so when Brazil is a country where many basic public facilities are poor. Due to these huge events, the government has been pumping in lots of money, causing a widespread of anger towards the government and officials over the fact that this money has not been spent in the right area and will not benefit Brazilians after the big events. They feel like they are paying first-world taxes for third-world services. Officials have since then been attempting to distance more finances on the infrastructure from the World Cup. Barbosa, a famous Brazilian basketballer, added that ordinary people have been forgotten. The government has invested too much resources and effort into the World Cup and have forgotten the needs of the people.
As if the protests were not enough to handle, Brazil has been struggling with the construction of stadiums for Fifa too. Five stadiums were expected to be completed at the end of December 2013 but they are still currently under construction, causing panic among the executives of Fifa. Sepp Blatter, the Fifa president, said that despite having had the most time to prepare, Brazil was further behind schedule than any hose since he joined Fifa in 1975.
During a separate protest on February 6, a cameraman was killed in the midst of a protest. This led to one person being shot and wounded by the police, in the Sao Paulo riots. Because of this, now, workers have started to threaten strikes, slamming their working conditions as unsafe, especially since after a third construction employee died at the site. This will definitely further hinder the construction work.
"They are building these overpriced stadiums and are not worrying about the situation of their own people."
"We are demanding more respect to the population"
"We want Fifa-standard hospitals too"
During a separate protest on February 6, a cameraman was killed in the midst of a protest. This led to one person being shot and wounded by the police, in the Sao Paulo riots. Because of this, now, workers have started to threaten strikes, slamming their working conditions as unsafe, especially since after a third construction employee died at the site. This will definitely further hinder the construction work.
"They are building these overpriced stadiums and are not worrying about the situation of their own people."
"We are demanding more respect to the population"
"We want Fifa-standard hospitals too"
On top of the alarming situation of Fifa, the combined costs of the World Cup and the confederations cup are also no to be ignored. The total cost of the buildings has also tripled since the initial estimated amount in 2007. It is around $3.68 billion, close to twice the amount of what Germany spent while preparing for World Cup. Demonstrators raised their concern of not knowing what these buildings will become once the events are over.
All these money used has to come from somewhere and this adds stress to the taxpayers. Generally, there is a slow growth in the income of the people. Poor families do not have the luxury of having jobs, let alone education. Their lives are hard and it is definitely already a struggle for them, with or without the recent events. Putting that aside, the others are not any better. Taxpayers are footing the bill although promises were made that it would be covered by private enterprise.
As the protests get more violent, police brutality became a problem too. On 23 February 2014, the papers released that the riots had gotten so serious to the point in which violence and usage of weapons by the police are involved. To control the situation and disperse the gatherings, police had to use tear gas, rubber bullets and stun grenades, even on the peaceful demonstrators, making hundreds of arrests. In addition to that, the pacification programme is a crucial element of Rio’s efforts to improve the current situation and public security before the World Cup and Olympics. However, favela residents have been complaining that the methods police use are too brutal. One police brutality case would be that of Amarildo de Souza. You can read more here.
Regarding the protests, many people have different opinions. Some feel very strongly against the government while others are stuck in between their own welfare and the football and nation pride. "Now we have three fantastic events: the Confederations Cup, the World Cup and the Olympics. The country can fill up with tourists and receive all the benefits from the tourists. And Brazil's own people are spoiling the party,” says Fifa's ambassador, Pele.
On 18 March 2014, French football legend Lilian Thuram expressed sympathy with Brazilian protesters threatening to disrupt the World Cup. He said that he completely understood the protestors that in a country that has problems with health care and education, the welfare of the people has to be of a greater priority than building stadiums for an event. It is evident that the Brazilian government is investing a major portion of their finances on the stadiums rather than on the welfare and needs of the people.
All these money used has to come from somewhere and this adds stress to the taxpayers. Generally, there is a slow growth in the income of the people. Poor families do not have the luxury of having jobs, let alone education. Their lives are hard and it is definitely already a struggle for them, with or without the recent events. Putting that aside, the others are not any better. Taxpayers are footing the bill although promises were made that it would be covered by private enterprise.
As the protests get more violent, police brutality became a problem too. On 23 February 2014, the papers released that the riots had gotten so serious to the point in which violence and usage of weapons by the police are involved. To control the situation and disperse the gatherings, police had to use tear gas, rubber bullets and stun grenades, even on the peaceful demonstrators, making hundreds of arrests. In addition to that, the pacification programme is a crucial element of Rio’s efforts to improve the current situation and public security before the World Cup and Olympics. However, favela residents have been complaining that the methods police use are too brutal. One police brutality case would be that of Amarildo de Souza. You can read more here.
Regarding the protests, many people have different opinions. Some feel very strongly against the government while others are stuck in between their own welfare and the football and nation pride. "Now we have three fantastic events: the Confederations Cup, the World Cup and the Olympics. The country can fill up with tourists and receive all the benefits from the tourists. And Brazil's own people are spoiling the party,” says Fifa's ambassador, Pele.
On 18 March 2014, French football legend Lilian Thuram expressed sympathy with Brazilian protesters threatening to disrupt the World Cup. He said that he completely understood the protestors that in a country that has problems with health care and education, the welfare of the people has to be of a greater priority than building stadiums for an event. It is evident that the Brazilian government is investing a major portion of their finances on the stadiums rather than on the welfare and needs of the people.