Host city of the 2016 Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro, is one of several Brazilian cities that has seen recent protesters fill its streets opposing the recent rise in public transportation fares.
According to Inside the Games, the riots followed Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes raising city bus fares from R$3.40 (£0.58/$0.84/€0.58) to R$3.80 reals (£0.64/$0.94/€0.68) after fares were already increased within the last year.
Also involved was the city of São Paulo, which saw masked protesters smashing windows of buses, vandalizing bank agencies and spray painting properties in a violent display. Brazilian riot police were forced to launch stun grenades and fire tear gas to disperse the crowd. As a result, 17 people were arrested in the 3,000 strong protest.
The unrest comes at a time when the nation of Brazil is experiencing a 10% inflation race and its worst recession in the past 25 years. Current President Dilma Rousseff is herself facing impeachment proceedings following corruption claims in addition to the nation’s present economic situation.
The protests are reminiscent of the same type of bus fare increase response seen around the nation back in 2013. The protests wound up growing into a larger scale statement opposing spending on the Brazilian-hosted 2014 FIFA World Cup.
I’ve traveled the world on business. Rio is the only city where my local company sponsor (i.e., Brazil) insisted they they provide me with both a body guard and a trained driver for my week-long stay.
Today’s Wall Street Journal has an article on the multiple problems haunting this corruption-filled Olympics.
on.wsj.com/22XBU9C (could be a firewall) Here is some of it:
“Seven months ahead of the opening ceremony on Aug. 5, some serious questions about the viability of the Games have muscled into the frame. And many of them are so unique to Brazil that it’s impossible to predict how they will turn out.
Brazil’s economy is floundering in a deep recession marked by unemployment, rising inflation and a… Read more »
Just that speaks volumes about the current situation .
As a Brazilian, I tell you to don’t worry about violence. People said the same thing before the World Cup, but “Bread and circuses” politics shall always prevail around here.
Everyone, no need to down vote Gina based a quick reading of the posts. Gina is always dead on, in spite of the overwhelming amount of snark and sarcasm in Gina’s postings.
She is right – we the British love a good moan.
While violent protesting is not okay, although I doubt most of them performed acts of violence I can’t help but feel bad for them. The minimum wage in Brazil is very low. Buying a car is far out of the price range of most brazillians in Rio and bus is the only way to get around for many. Increasing it by .40 is a lot. Frewf pointed out it was unethical to have the games in rio and he was right. They were a rising economy but recent events have changed that, it was unfair to their people to host both the World Cup and this. I’d hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Anger leads people to… Read more »
Hang on . You are suggesting Brazilians will attack Olympic athletes & hold them hostage & murder them ? Are you thinking of any particular nation that they may have historical hatreds for or just a general massacre to “show the world how great they are ” .
Get a grip .
Gina you seem to be confused. I am simply stating anger leads people to do terrible things economic collapse as a result of stupid government spending leads to bad things. No I am not thinking of any particular nation and to “show the world how great they are” refers to the government wanting to spend more than they have.
In USA we like to solve problems by pushing a button on our smart phone. Brazil is a little more complicated. Best case would be the cheap currency would make the trip cheaper and bring more tourists to spend money but there are too many negative stories already for that to happen. I read that they did all their budgets based on oil being $85 a barrel and its now less than $35. One more economic statistic they had record net exports of $6 billion in most recent month and the reason this happened is that imports into Brazil came to a dead stop and that is because their credit is now no good so no one outside of Brazil… Read more »
That`s really only the beginning of the volcano …. its building up to be very shaky comes june or july . I hope for the best for all Brazilians – but fairly , i feel its gonna be very difficult for them to recover on the long term .
Noooooooooh! It can’t be . We have to let MP break through the 18 medal glass ceiling . The Games must go on & if these nuisance people riding on buses have to pay more ,, then that is right & proper .
i love the irony – thanks . But i sense u have no care for those brazilians anyway . We will see in 7 months if what i sense comes true and i know it will .
Well, their economy was tied to much to China, when China slowed down it effective Brazil and they are having inflationary pressures. Brazil has a lot of poor people we know that, so people turn more violence than they would in the States if a similar thing would happen.
It is not just a reaction of violence . Many communities across Brazil are cancelling Carnivale & are trying to adapt .
We should all adapt to Brazil’s economic troubles & support the Olympics that has the least negative affects on the Brazilian population . Let us say – we understand facilities & services have been cut but we are happy to come nonetheless.
The best result for an harmonious Olympics experience would be if the USA did not go & then the % of whiners would decree by 50%. Also add The UK who are major moaners . Anyone else who is likely to spend their time complaining is welcome not to attend also. (I hate to… Read more »
We are not happy to come there as u state , sorry ! I like many others don`t have 3,000$ to spend there just for the Olympics – i have much Higher heart dreams to create which involves empowering people to see the truth of whats taking place on a global scale ( finances , economy , weather changes , sustainable living , and so on ) . I would love to see the swimming events but i am ready to let that go completely because i feel for the brazilians situation way more than my personal agenda .
To adapt as u say to the Brazilian economy implies few things u might not be aware of : serious… Read more »