Despite the rise in the economy, citizens are angered by the lack of public investment and for the increased cost of public transportation fares in the city of São Paulo. In June of 2013, over one million people comprised primarily of the working class and students filled the streets in numerous cities to protest the government's increase in spending to prepare for the 2014 World Cup and Olympics in 2016, and lack of investing in infrastructure. The protests grew to encompass the middle class and became a national movement, with the media taking the protesters' side. In addition to transportation and education reforms, citizens occupied streets to call attention to health care reform, gay rights, and religious issues. It was the largest protests the country had faced in numerous years, and the first under the governance of President Dilma. In response, Dilma pushed to create reforms and initiatives for education, health care, and additional public financing.
Attached is a link to a video interview with a student named Deborah who lives in São Paulo and participated in the mass demonstrations. This interview is run through BBC, and the reporter appears to have a condescending and critical agenda, which is often projected by white dominant and First World countries toward Latin America. Regrettably, the tactics used by the interviewer in this video demonstrate the opposite of our project's goals to break outside the ethnocentric thinking of the US (and other powerful western nations). This video is however beneficial in giving the perspective from the students who were and continue to be deeply affected by the years of government underfunding how they see their actions making progressive changes in Brazil.
For more information and sources:
http://www.ibtimes.com/brazil-whats-rig ht-higher-education-equation-1351047
http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-mass-protests-in-brazil-in-june-july-2013/5342736
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VENvf6iDglw
http://www.ibtimes.com/brazil-whats-rig ht-higher-education-equation-1351047
http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-mass-protests-in-brazil-in-june-july-2013/5342736
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VENvf6iDglw