By Cybbi Barton and Erin Willis
Protests in brazil have turned deadly in some cases.
With Brazil being the host of the FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics, preparation pressures have triggered riots and are potentially threatening the World Cup and Olympic games.
The 19th FIFA World Cup is scheduled to begin in Brazil on June 12 and it will end July 13. The tournament will be held in various cities, such as Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia, and Sao Paulo.
Preparation of venues and the financial strains on lower class citizens have influenced protests and violence among thousands around Brazil.
According to CNN, spending is what has caused animosity around the country and the fact that the stadiums needed were not ready for use.
According to CNN, Mateos de Costa, a 53-year-old taxi driver in Brazil said, “When Brazil was selected as the host of the World Cup five years ago, we celebrated. We celebrated because we didn’t know that it was going to cost so much.”
De Costa also said, “Our leaders should have known that Brazil was not in a condition to organize the event.”
On April 14, Fox News Latino reported that three stadiums were still under construction, including the stadium that is scheduled to open the Cup.
One of the stadiums being used during the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter, according to Fox News Latino said, “Brazil will be a well-done World Cup.”
Blatter said, “Some of the delays is because there was not work for years. But we’re on the way now to finishing the stadiums.”
According to Mirror, a tabloid newspaper from the U.K., the reasoning behind the riots are the financial demands from the lower class for increases in public transportation. Also, the fact that the country is contributing large amounts of money to the World Cup and Olympic games, instead of financing social issues like health and education, is causing controversy.
Recently in April, Brazil passed the law better known as the “Internet Bill of Rights.” This law will include to the right to privacy, free expression online and net neutrality. Brazil President Dilma Rousseff was in charge of signing this law. This followed reports that the United States was conducting surveillance in Brazil and on the Brazilian president, according to information leaked by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.
According to the “ Reporters Without Borders” website, 71 journalists were killed in the year 2013. Brazil has a strict leash on journalists, which usually leads to them shying away from reporting on issues that could cause conflict with prominent members of the public like political figures.
Brazilians still love futbol, but not at such a high cost.
Even with television being the most popular media in Brazil, radio journalists are also have the risk of losing their lifes.
Mafaldo Bezerra Goes was a radio host of his morning show in the city of Jaguaribe. Goes was gunned down by two men and killed. Goes was known for reporting on thing such as local criminal groups and issues involving drug trafficking.
‘“Brazil has become one of the most dangerous countries in the region for journalists,’” said Viviana Giacaman, director for Latin America programs at Freedom House. “Local journalists who report on corruption and crime are the most frequent targets of attacks.”
This article was contributed by Lea Hellmueller’s JOUR 4301: Future of Global Journalism class.
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