 |
| Neymar, you're the man |
If you have caught any world news lately, you might be able to imagine what the two main topics of conversation are these days in Brazil: transportation riots in São Paulo and the current soccer games of the FIFA Confederations Cup. I was up-to-date on the first one but severely lacking in the second. I felt pretty gringo when some other professors asked me if I was going to watch the game and I responded with, "What game?". They were talking about THE game, of course - the first game of the cup with Brazil playing against Japan (Brazil won 3-0 and I did end up watching it - there was nothing else to do, the streets are empty and the entire city shuts down). Things are pretty crazy here because of the cup though I'm told that it's nothing compared to what conditions will be like for the World Cup next year . . .
 | |
| Protests in S.P. this week |
 |
| Right! We've got "First World" stadiums already! Now all we need is a real country around them! |
Speaking of the upcoming World Cup, millions of people all over the country have taken to the streets in protest. What started it all was the government's proposal to raise public transportation prices by twenty cents. With already rising costs and wages that can't keep up, this last decision put many over the top. People are using the price increase to protest corruption and the problems with health care and education in the country. There are also many protestors who are angry about all of the investment in the upcoming World Cup and Olympic Games and who believe that money should be spent on the infrastructure on the country itself. Things are getting quite heated all over and I was just invited to a protest in my city. Little Ilhéus is filling the streets on Tuesday at 2pm and I plan to be there. Not to worry, though, most streets have placed outdoor TVs with live streaming of the games so while protesting we won't miss any of the Confederations Cup action. Phew!
Post a Comment