Add Brazil to the list of nations on the brink....and yeah...its about the economy...again!
For those not paying attention here's a quick rundown. Brazil is one of those BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) thats suppose to lead economic development into the future.
Its not quite working out that way though.
Brazil won the competitions to hold the World Cup Soccer matches and the Olympics, and these games were suppose to be their "coming out" party to celebrate their arrival on the world stage.
The problem?
It diverted funds from necessary domestic programs. Infrastructure construction for the masses has been delayed and people have been forced out of slums to make room for development of venues for the games. Additionally the economic slowdown which is looking more like at the very least a global recession has left Brazil's economy in shambles (much like our own).
The Brazilian people are pissed.
Read the story here.
SIDENOTE: This reminds me of an issue I wanted to post on (probably will in the future). In an SHTF, or WORL situation will a bow or cross bow be the best weapons? Check out some of the deer hunting bow heads. They're vicious. Add in the modern compound bows available today and killing a man with one would be beyond easy. It would slice through a human like a hot knife through butter. The indians might be onto something.
In the UK if you want a .22lr rifle and you didn't have a Firearms Certificate you would be looking at about 6 to 8 months from deciding to buy one to actually getting one home. You need to join a club for about 6 months as proof you have a genuine need (and to prove to your peers you are safe as a club official will have to be one of your referees), have a police visit to make sure you are fit and proper, at home fit a cabinet to store the rifle, etc. But if I want a crossbow and I am over 18 I can pick one up easier than you guys buy a rifle from Wal-Mart. I just go to the gun shop and put my money down. You bet in WROl situation medieval weaponry will make an appearance even in the US. I don't want WROL, but it would be nice to see the "why do you want a gun?" crowd feel a bit of fear.
ReplyDeleteModern compound bow and crossbow weaponry are impressive devices. In addition, the ability for the populace to make them with modern materials is fairly easy also. Certainly in very bad times these would proliferate. They also have one very, very big tactical advantage. The are quiet, very quiet.
ReplyDeletefrom the above pictures this looks like a tribal people's protest - the tribe(s) keep getting pushed of their land by development and particularly dam projects which flood their ancestral homes ... they're seeing their end to their way of life.
ReplyDeleteI believe they challenged using the 'legal' route and got shot down - so now the more direct route.
I really think we're going to see deaths at the football (not sure if you've seen the local football fans going at it for normal league matches, not pretty) - fans, booze, crimes and civil unrest and a police force that usually goes in hard. May you live in interesting times !
Look at that Policeman on the Motorcycle.............police equipment is inversly proportional to public support in third world countries. The better the equipment is, the worse is the public support.
DeleteSo the Brazilian tribals are learning from that Rambo Bow and Arrow set. This still happens in random incidents in India as well.
ReplyDeleteP.S....Solomon, the people in the picture are not Indians. They are native American Tribes.
DeleteAnd unfortunately for these tribes, i dont think they will ever get united in opposition and present themselves as a single force to the govt. I am sure the Govt. will pick these colelction of tribes off one by one. Playing one against the other. All in the name of develpoment. We have a similar situation in India. And those troublemakers are called the Naxals or Maoists. Thats the more anti-social name we...the educated elite have given them. They acually are the very first Indian People. People who were settled in tribes before the Aryan expansion here. They have their own languages, minimal use of sovereign currency, and still worshipping gods who are representatives of Forces of Nature like thunder, wind etc.
Deletebut all's not lost for the Indian Tribal in his fight against the Govt. They are complementing their Bow/Spear making skills with newly acquired skills like IED's. Our police forces have regularly been uncovering small workshops and metalworks where they were fabricating gun parts and their version of RPG's. Lots and lots of unemployed technical diploma/degree holders here who then lend their knowledge to less than patriotic causes.
Deleteour government isn't that organized
DeleteRan some SparrowHawk missions in Honduras back in '90 where locals were engaging the convoys with arrows.
ReplyDeleteWhat amazes me most, Sol, is this:
ReplyDeleteYour blog, and most international information sources, are more well-aware of the causes and consequences of this than my own native media. Your post is far more insightful than ANY OTHER of the local sources I tried. The only exceptions are independent leftist pages (who obviously tend to be partial about this).
Does this happens to you as well? (Let's say, Bundy Ranch)
And it's not just the Natives who are upset at this... just like you said: The whole populace is pissed. Very pissed.
DeleteEveryone is planning or executing a strike. Mostly infrastructure related jobs, such as bus and metro drivers, but also teachers, military police... it's turning into chaos.
Recently, our current government (from the Worker's Party) got some of it's higher ups sent to jail after a corruption scheme and a judgment that lasted fifteen years. Joaquim Barbosa, who the responsible for the condemnation and is the President of our Supreme Federal Court, was hailed as a national hero by most, and is being isolated by our judicial system. Laywers, judges, jurists... are all agaisnt him right now, and he announced his retirement next month.
The World Cup: Keep an eye for it.
the government spends more than R$1 billion in stadiums instead of
ReplyDeleteinvest in schools and hospitals. And we revolts at this situation.
Wonders of brazilian Law: As a white male (the evil incarnate) I am not allowed to use anything that looks like a weapon at demonstrations or stadiums.
ReplyDeleteAt last year's demonstration there were people arrested with vinegar at their backpacks. According some crazy LEO's vinegar could counter teargas effects. Almost a WMD isn't it? However, natives are free to meet with clubs and arrows.
As an ex-dictatorship our police and lawmakers are a bit "confused" about how to deal properly with demonstrations in a democracy. Sometimes they are too hard or too soft. There aren't clear ROE, policemen need to consider legislation, case law and public opinion as manifestation happens.