MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Sao Paulo and Rio roll back bus fares but protests keep spreading to other cities
Brazil's two biggest cities agreed to revoke an increase in public transportation fares that set off demonstrations that have grown into nationwide protests against poor public services, inflation, corruption and lavish spending in stadiums to host global events. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesSorry, Dilma, that won't do the job. People are protesting widepsread corruption. People demand the lazy civil servants and politicians to make their high salaries and legal protections worth and change drastically the public administration - which also means ending high salaries and legal protections.
Jun 20th, 2013 - 04:38 am - Link - Report abuse 0“The people have awoken and decided ... stop the corruption or we will close down Brasil!”
Jun 20th, 2013 - 01:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I really hope it is *the People* that have awoken, and not just the Sociology students from USP.
Even the Summer of Love fizzled out when the Summer ended, and students have short spans of focus.
Victor Hugo observed the 1832 (student) rebellion and wrote it into the unmatchable Les Miserables. The population of Paris closed their shutters on students dying for them, under the gun in their street protest, behind their barracades.
It is true that the left is tring its best to have the monopoly of the protest, but the majority of people boo party flags and want better management. Backfired.
Jun 20th, 2013 - 07:01 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Started out being all tough by those in charge and now they have caved but cannot stop the ball rolling.
Jun 20th, 2013 - 10:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Lose, lose.
I think, Chris, that if the tactical ball can be kept rolling it will be a win, win for Brasil.
Jun 21st, 2013 - 09:08 am - Link - Report abuse 0Keep going you students, and get the people to back you to the hilt. This is street protest for all the RIGHT reasons.
The strategic target is to reduce corruption and to get honest back into the running of the country.
5 GeoffWard2
Jun 21st, 2013 - 02:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Yes, I am sure you are correct, however in my limited experience I am concerned that the guns are going to come out again once the police struggle to 'maintain order' as they see it.
Coming out strong, and I wiould say overly strong, in the circumstances, and then having your power removed (as the police will see it) is not the way forward.
I think Dilma will end up sending the Federal forces in under a 'benign' commander because I cannot see how the locals and the police are ever going to settle down.
Not too sure about support from 'the people' either.
Just my thoughts. :o)
We must give the people some voice beyond the streets.
Jun 21st, 2013 - 08:00 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I am organising an Avaaz petition to Dilma to show her that this is of world-wide concern, to support her in the process of arresting corruption, and to avoid viciousness in the clamp-down on the student protesters.
Dangerous times.
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