The New York Times wrote:

Protests Widen as Brazilians Chide Leaders
By SIMON ROMERO
Published: June 18, 2013

SÃO PAULO, Brazil — Shaken by the biggest challenge to their authority in years, Brazil’s leaders made conciliatory gestures on Tuesday to try to defuse the protests engulfing the nation’s cities. But the demonstrators remained defiant, pouring into the streets by the thousands and venting their anger over political corruption, the high cost of living and huge public spending for the World Cup and the Olympics.

In a convulsion that has caught many in Brazil and beyond by surprise, waves of protesters denounced their leaders for dedicating so many resources to cultivating Brazil’s global image by building stadiums for international events, when basic services like education and health care remain woefully inadequate.

“I love soccer, but we need schools,” said Evaldir Cardoso, 48, a fireman at a protest here with his 7-month-old son.

The demonstrations initially began with a fury over a hike in bus fares, but as with many other protest movements in recent years — in Tunisia, Egypt or, most recently, Turkey — they quickly evolved into a much broader condemnation of the government.

By the time politicians in several cities backed down on Tuesday and announced that they would cut or consider reducing fares, the demonstrations had already morphed into a more sweeping social protest, with marchers waving banners carrying slogans like “The people have awakened.”

“It all seemed so wonderful in the Brazil oasis, and suddenly we are reliving the demonstrations of Tahrir Square in Cairo, so suddenly, without warning, without a crescendo,” said Eliane Cantanhêde, a columnist for the newspaper Folha de São Paulo. “We were all caught by surprise. From paradise, we have slipped at least into limbo. What is happening in Brazil?”

Thousands gathered at São Paulo’s main cathedral and made their way to the mayor’s office, where a small group smashed windows and tried to break in, forcing guards to withdraw.

In Juazeiro do Norte, demonstrators cornered the mayor inside a bank for hours and called for his impeachment, while thousands of others protested teachers’ salaries. In Rio de Janeiro, thousands protested in a gritty area far from the city’s upscale seaside districts. In other cities, demonstrators blocked roads, barged into City Council meetings or interrupted sessions of local lawmakers, clapping loudly and sometimes taking over the microphone.

(…)

The protests in Brazil are unfolding just as its long and heralded economic boom may be coming to an end. The economy has slowed to a pale shadow of its growth in recent years; inflation is high, the currency is declining sharply against the dollar — but the expectations of Brazilians have rarely been higher, feeding broad intolerance with corruption, bad schools and other government failings.

ABC News wrote:

5 Reasons Why Brazil Is Protesting
By SANTIAGO WILLS
June 18, 2013

(…) For more than a week now thousands of protesters in Brazil have fought violent battles against riot police. The demonstrations, started in Sao Paulo by a political group called the Movimento Passe Livre (Free Fare Movement), have spread across at least five cities. And the group's initial objective – to revert a recent hike in public transportation prices – has given leftist organizations and university students a reason to shine a light on larger social issues like corruption.

This broader movement has been alternately dubbed the Revolta da Salada (The Salad Revolution), the Revolta do Vinagre (The Vinegar Revolution), and V for Vinagre, after a Brazilian journalist who was arrested for carrying vinegar to ward off the effects of tear gas used during protests.

So what exactly was the final straw? There wasn't just one. Here are five key reasons that led to the revolt we're seeing in Brazil today:

1. Public Transportation Prices

The recent 10-cent increase in bus and subway fare has been cited in most news accounts as the leading motive behind the week's brutal clashes. The issue is constantly highlighted by the Free Fare Movement, and it is the only item in this list that protesters can actually hope to change.

“People are demanding a single thing, a clear and specific one, which is to repeal the increase,” Caio Martins, a 19-year-old history student who belongs to the Free Fare Movement, told Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sau Paulo. “To negotiate something different than what the population wants would be a betrayal.”

2. The Combined Costs of the World Cup and the Confederations Cup

Demonstrators have started targeting soccer stadiums in Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro as part of an effort to raise awareness about the extraordinary amounts of money the government has on 12 stadiums to host the World Cup and the Confederations Cup. Taxpayers are footing the bill in spite of promises that private enterprise would cover it.

“We are demanding more respect to the population,” Vinicius de Assis, 21, a protester in Rio, told the Associated Press. “They are building these overpriced stadiums and are not worrying about the situation of their own people.”

The total cost of the buildings has tripled since the initial 2007 estimates. It currently stands at around $3.68 billion, nearly twice what Germany spent on their World Cup preparations.

Demonstrators point out that no one is quite sure about what will happen with the stadiums once the competitions are over.

3. Police Brutality

As most Latin Americans know, violence, or the threat of violence, hardly prevents further protests. In fact, police brutality is often viewed as a valid reason to protest more. Certainly, the Brazil demonstrations have been rife with the kind of incidents that encourage indignation.

Hundreds of protesters have been arrested, and more than 55 were wounded just last Thursday in Sao Paulo. Brazil's defense minister has acknowledged that the police have acted “arbitrarily and violently,” and there are countless YouTube videos that show officers in riot gear using tear gas and rubber bullets against peaceful demonstrators. Protesters have vowed to increase rallies in response to this.

4. Corruption

Brazil is ranked 69 out of 176 in Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index. Though that is relatively good when compared with the rest of Latin America, Brazil still has significant corruption problems, as demonstrated by the recent shooting of a newspaper director in a town outside of Rio.

There have also been massive scandals involving prominent businessmen and influential government employees. More worrying is that politicians have considerable discretionary spending benefits when they are elected. Elected officials can spend thousands of dollars on airline tickets, housing expenses and several other perks.

“The recent uprising that is spurring in Brazil is not an act of unwarranted violence and it is not gratuitous vandalism,” according to the leaders of the #ChangeBrazil movement “It is what happens when a society is forced to put up with the ludicrous, nonsensical laws that are created exclusively to benefit the lawmakers themselves.”

5. The Economy

In effect, it all arguably boils down to Brazil's recent economic slowdown. In the past year, inflation has steadily climbed to 6.5 percent, affecting mostly poor families.

More than the slow growth in income, poor families also lack decent access to education and employment, according to the Brazilian government's Family Development Index.

Brazil's economy grew 1.9 percent in this year's first quarter, 0.5 percent below last year's predictions. The government raised the minimum wage by nearly 9 percent this year, but the price of transportation and other basic services remain disproportionately high.

(…)

Economic turmoil coupled with social unrest tends to breed more social disturbances, and Brazilian authorities will continue to be faced with a massive challenge as the World Cup puts a spotlight on more than this country's hosting efforts.

technoguyx wrote:

Wait, you're from Brazil?

Anyway, I find pretty stupid that the government is seemingly putting consumer entertainment - the World Cup - in a higher priority than essential services such as transportation.

Great to see people are so unified to do something about it, and I can totally relate to it, given the protests for education here in Chile, which I've supported a bit. Wish you guys the best of luck c:

NoxSpooth wrote:

And what really annoys me is that the most popular TV channel here doesn't even talk about the protests! And when they do, it's to criticize them, completely hiding the violent acts made by the police!

NeilWest wrote:

This is really bad, I remember the London riots. Everyone kept asking me if I was affected by the riots, but there were never any nearby - though this seems alot more bigger.

chocolatepenguin wrote:

The minimum wage in Brazil is something like £50

libitina wrote:

chocolatepenguin wrote:

The minimum wage in Brazil is something like £50

this doesnt make much sense unless you put fifty pounds per what
also minimum wage of a typical uk 9-5 day is £55.71
however, the monthly minimum wage in brazil is £179.45
regardless, monthly minimum wage seems fundamentally flawed

NeilWest wrote:

This is really bad, I remember the London riots. Everyone kept asking me if I was affected by the riots, but there were never any nearby - though this seems alot more bigger.

Is everything ok where you are, NoxSpooth?

RedRocker227 wrote:

regarding the costs of hosting the world cup, would they not make the money back through tourism and the sales of tickets, merchandise etc.?

jji7skyline wrote:

I think this is relevant.

zubblewu wrote:

jji7skyline wrote:

I think this is relevant.

blocked in my country :'(