I am really jealous of some of my buddies here who were able to apply their video editing skills in order to make some great videos about the situation in Brazil. Nobody wants to read these days and so video and photography are gaining even higher importance for communicating messages. If only I had such technological abilities.. (or patience).
Josh talking about yesterday’s demonstrations
Ilya telling foreigners how they could change Brazil
What should I do next?
Today, I went to the great demonstration in Rio de Janeiro against the corruption of the government. Having heard ignorant colleagues calling demonstrators stupid and vandals from poor classes, I felt even more motivated to go. And so with some colleagues that still had some principles left, I headed over to the streets.
It was truly a peaceful event and it was clear that most people had no idea how to do a political rally so they chose to express themselves however they could. Some made signs, some painted themselves, others sang songs, played music or danced. One thing was clear: everyone was contra the corrupt actions of the federal, state and municipal government.
Of the hundreds of thousands of participants (some say millions) there were some that took violent actions against the city hall and confronted the police. Everyone is condemning this and unfortunately, their stupid behavior is taking the attention from the point of the demonstration. Similar images are displayed from other cities such as Belem in the North of Brazil and the capital Brasilia. This is very sad point but I guess an inevitable outcome of every revolution.
Anyways, I remain hopeful that Brazilians will start taking a more proactive stance on the issues in their country and continue avoiding violence. Since yesterday, facebook started being flooded with lists of priorities of issues and everyone is engaging in dialog (even those who claim avidly that they are against the demonstrations) various sites that were launched to think of action plans. Such as thisTrello board where people are collaborating on ideas on what needs to be change and this unlike page for things that are wrong in one’s neighborhood.
I am sharing my pictures here.
After several days of reading and watching the great things that are happening in the Brazilian social fabric, I came ever-inspired to work with great anticipation of what will be discussed as the Brazilian team was playing today. “Obviously, people will be enraged and boycott the game, preparing for tomorrow’s mass demonstrations”, I was thinking to myself.
To my great shock, the first colleague to arrive, expressed her extreme disappointment that tomorrow’s demonstration is still on, complaining that it will interfere with her commute and criticizing those “silly people that are just protesting over a 20 cent bus increase”. Hmm.. I thought to myself, perhaps she is just a special case, as she is stressed out about work and family at the moment, and cannot focus on bigger issues.
During lunch, I tried again with two other male colleagues – the first was not interested, and the second was complaining about how people in Belo Horizonte (another city) are protesting even though they didn’t even have a bus fair increase there. Everyone just kept reducing the protests to the fact that people don’t have a unique voice and that they are using this situation to complain about all sorts of problems. They even compared this to the Egyptian revolution and said how here it’s so much inferior because in Egypt there was a clear purpose and resolution (which is complete nonsense).
I realized that people who are normally quite intelligent and are paid to see the big picture in business are failing to see the big picture in the world around them. I think that the sense of financial security that their job gives them shuts off their moral common sense. It’s a new kind of anomaly I have (re)discovered. Feeling disillusioned. Need to write the next Great Gatsby.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Here are a couple of images I found floating around that highlight some of the critical points about the current situation in Brazil.
The Confederations Cup
Dilma was booed at the Confederations Cup over the hypocracy of the government, trying to window dress the country for the foreigners while the truth is that many things are going down the drains. In the image above to the left she is discontent, saying that the people are uneducated. On the right side we see how absurd that is because it’s actually the fault of her government that is not investing in education and instead wasting the country’s resources and feeding the masses with soccer games and soap operas to keep them happy.
The Reasons for the Protests
Many news outlets are showing only a limited version of the truth. The image above is showing that the cost of bus fares is just a little drop in the sea of issues Brazil faces such as: violence, corruption, lack of education, inflation, neglect, etc.
It’s interesting to see how people from all walks of life are starting to get together suddenly and at least talk about the issues with one voice. I see changes ahead.
Grobetrotter 