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Double struggle in Brazil

category brazil/guyana/suriname/fguiana | community struggles | other libertarian press author Wednesday June 19, 2013 19:30author by Peter Storm Report this post to the editors

Blog about the demonstrations and riots which have swept Brazil in the wake of an increase in the price of public transport.

While the world has been watching Turkey, another country is experiencing revolt. That country is Brazil. Just like Turkey, it is relatively succesful, economically speaking. Just like Turkey, the results of economic growth are divided very unequally. Just like in Turkey, a relatively small provocation is setting off a much biggen chain reaction. Unlike in Turkey, that provocation is a direct attack on living standards. But the anger exploding goes much deeper than that.
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Brazil has seen strong economic growth, although this is slowing. In 2010, the economy grew by 7,5 percent; in 2011, the IMF ‘s estimate is 2,7 percent. Short-term slowdown is supposed to be followed by stronger growth in 2013, although, with IMF statistics, you can never tell. However, the parallel with Turkey, also a strongly growing economy moving in to slowdon wn but not quite in recession, is striking. Economies like Turkey, Brazil are becoming quite an important force in the world economy. What happens there, matters. Better watch out, and better be prepared to extend the hand of solidarity.

What happens there, is revolt. In Turkey it was defence of the Gezi park that provided the spark. In Brazil, it is the transport fares that drive people to the streets in anger. On 2 June, authorities in the metropolis of Sao Paolo brought the price of a single ticket from 1.40 dollar to 1.50 dollar. This comes in the context of an inflation of 15.5 percent. And it proved the proverbial last straw. There were demonstrations on four consecutive days in the city, from 10 June onwards. On 13 June, 5,000 people protested. “The demonstrators were mostly university students, but the authoritues said there were also groups of anarchists looking for a fight.” The idea that some students might be anarchists by conviction, that some anarchists go to college because they like to learn, apparently does not occur to either “authorities” or the BBC. And the ones most “looking for a fight” were above all the police themselves. They used teargas and rubber bullets against unarmed demonstrators of which, yes, some set fire to rubber and others attacked shops. That is what desperate people do if you make life even harder for them by rising prices of public amenities in a context of inflation. There were 55 people with injuries, and the number of arrestst exceeded 200. “Police say they seized petrol bombs, knives, and drugs.” Sure. And yes, police acted with professionalism”, according to the state governer. Obviously. Repression, after all, is is their profession.

This was all reported on 14 June on the BBC website. The following day, the Guardian had more. Demonstrations in Sao Paolo, Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre and the capital Brasilia itself. 130 people temoprartily detained, at lest 100 demonstrators hurt, 12 police agents injured as well. Sometimes police attacked basically nonviolent crowds. Sometimes, demonstrators showed their anger by painting graffiti, smashing windows, setting garbage to flames etcetera. Police say they attacked because demontrators took another read thab permitted, and threw things at the police. Police charges were ferocious, with rubber bullets, tear gas, truncheons. Even the mayor of Sao Paolo admnits that police have not been following “protocols” and an investigation is being announced.

Why the anger? There is the rise of subway and bus tickets. But there is more. “It’s about a society that is sick of corrupt politicians not making good on their promises to make improvements… We want decent education, healthcare and transportation. That’s what the fight is all about”, according to a 24 year old witness of the protest. It is the same story all over again: while economic growth is pushed, inequality grows. People protest, police attacks, and the revolt deepens and broadens. That is what we see happening in Brazil. If you want to see what the revolt and the repression looks like, check saladuprising.tumblr.com/ The name “salad uprising”, by the way, has in bizarre background: people took vinegar, usually used as salad dressing, to the demonstrations as an anti teargas measure. Police arrested them for that, because they say you can make weapons out of vinegar!

There is more going on in Brazil than protest against price rises. There is revolt in the countryside as well. Brazil has built its neoliberal capitalist economy on the back of slavery, land robbery and downright genocide of the indigenous population. The struggle against colonialism and for indigenous liberation is continuing. In this struggle, communities clash with all kinds of resource exploitation and infrastructural projects that are building blocks of neoliberal development. In recent years, there have been actions against a giant dam building project at Belo Monte. This projects threatens to harm the lands and ecosystems on which indegenous communities make their living. There was an occupation of the building site on 28 May, not the first of its kind. There was a protest rally in the capital Brasilia against the project on 6 June.

In the meantime, a shrill light is shed on a colonial genocidal past that is, sadly, continuing. An official report has come to light on the treatment of indigenous people by the state institution responsible for state-indigenous relations. It contains a chilling series of horror stories. Thirty villagers attacked from the air by dynamite; 2 of them survived. Smallpox, a deadly disease, spread on purpose to get rid of people. The list goes on, exceeding 1,000 crimes specifically mentioned, on a 7,000 page text. The report was submitted in 1967, but ‘disappeared’, as did many of the victims. Only this spring, it reappeared, a fate that was not granted tot the victims themselves. In the meantime, the military dictatorship has gone, but terror instigated by landowners and agricultural capitalists agains indigenous people and landless peasants is continuing. So, fortunately, is the resistance.

Indigenous people are confronting an enemy that is not just colonial but neoliberal. They are attacked and murdered, because they are in the way of profitable export-oriented agriculture, and of the giant infrastructure needed to feed energy to the fastgrowing industry of Brazil. The same monster thate drive prices of subway and buses to unbearable heigts is driven ing the indigenous people from their lands. Demonstrating university students and occupying indigenous people are fighting different fights. But they are part of the same struggle, against a neoliberal state built on colonial foundations. Better watch out how that double struggle unfolds.


This article was written for ROARmag.org, where you can find an illustrated and slightly edited version, under the title: “In Brazil, a dual struggle against neoliberalism”.

Verwandter Link: http://libcom.org/blog/double-struggle-brazil-18062013
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Occupying Palácio Tiradentes, home of the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro. imageStruggle against the Fare Rise for the strength and will of the streets! 19:56 Mon 24 Jun by Federação Anarquista do Rio de Janeiro (FARJ) 0 comments

Who benefits from the increased bus fare? Certainly the owners of the bus companies who, besides offering a lousy public transport service, are totally exempt from taxes (PIS/PASEP and COFINS) thanks to the federal government. In other words, the bus companies receive privileges from the government and can increase fares in order to make more profit... But the workers, the unemployed and students have to put up with the terrible conditions of public transport in Rio de Janeiro day in day out and moreover have to pay more! [Português]

320709_142593575844419_2108682953_n.jpg imageResist the fare rise! 19:35 Fri 21 Jun by Coletivo Anarquista Bandeira Negra 0 comments

The country is being taken over by demonstrations in the struggle for public transport. Earlier this week, there were massive demonstrations in Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and dozens of other cities. The Congress in Brasilia was occupied by protesters, as was the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro. Until now, Porto Alegre, Goiânia, Natal, Recife and other cities have already managed to obtain a reduction of the fare, but the prospect of victory is alive in several other cities. [Português]

imageThe Anger of the Brazilian Elite and the Lack of Ruling Class National Identification Jul 12 by BrunoL 0 comments

The FIFA World Cup is considered one of the biggest events in the world. It should come as no surprise then that the commands of the institution that is run by Sepp Blatter should continue to make hundreds of demands against the country that is to welcome the games. In practice, this means that fundamental rights are to be suspended, especially in a country with a “leftist” government. Just another day in the tropical country. [Castellano]

imageThe struggle for a new democracy - Brazilian reality after the 2013 protests Jun 11 by BrunoL 0 comments

Today in Brazil there is a calling into question of Brazilian democracy, a sort of societal "midlife crisis". Our democracy provides, in theory, equality of rights and economic conditions (equality of citizens before the law) for everyone. Therefore, the logic of alternation in power would be accompanied by an amount of sales desirable to the leadership with the goal of aerating the representatives and agents, as well as making an effort to deconstruct the legitimacy of the party oligarchies. Notably, we do not consider it inevitable that the political elites control their directorates with an iron fist.

imageWe are writing History! Jun 18 by Khaled 0 comments

After spending the last few days in São Paulo, I return to Florianópolis with all my thoughts taken up by the subject that has monopolized conversations in the city: the demonstrations of the Free Pass Movement. [Português]

imageStruggle against the Fare Rise for the strength and will of the streets! Jun 24 Member of the Coordenação Anarquista Brasileira (CAB) 0 comments

Who benefits from the increased bus fare? Certainly the owners of the bus companies who, besides offering a lousy public transport service, are totally exempt from taxes (PIS/PASEP and COFINS) thanks to the federal government. In other words, the bus companies receive privileges from the government and can increase fares in order to make more profit... But the workers, the unemployed and students have to put up with the terrible conditions of public transport in Rio de Janeiro day in day out and moreover have to pay more! [Português]

imageResist the fare rise! Jun 21 CABN-CAB 0 comments

The country is being taken over by demonstrations in the struggle for public transport. Earlier this week, there were massive demonstrations in Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and dozens of other cities. The Congress in Brasilia was occupied by protesters, as was the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro. Until now, Porto Alegre, Goiânia, Natal, Recife and other cities have already managed to obtain a reduction of the fare, but the prospect of victory is alive in several other cities. [Português]

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