As the World Cup quickly approaches, many are excited to
watch the games and celebrate one of the biggest international sporting events in
the world. While I myself am a soccer fan, I think it is important to also be
aware of the controversies that are involved in this year’s World Cup in
Brazil, especially for indigenous peoples. Hosting the World Cup is a huge commitment
and planning begins many years before the start of the tournament. One of the
biggest complaints has been the large public expenditures by the Brazilian government,
which are likely to benefit few of the general population. The 2013 Brazilian
protests, while focused on a number of issues, shed light this huge expenditure
despite high rates of poverty and inequality in the country. Another cause of
protest has been the forced relocations of thousands of people to build the
stadiums, including approximately 30,000 people in Rio de Janeiro. Finally,
organizations such as Survival International have begun to campaign for the
rights of indigenous peoples, whose voices are often lost in the excitement of
the World Cup. When attracting hundreds of thousands of tourists ready for an Amazonian
adventure, it is essential to give a voice to those who continue to survive off
the land.
The struggles of indigenous peoples in Brazil are similar to
those of many around the world, including in Chiapas where I will be doing my
practice experience. Development initiatives and infrastructural projects
continually dislocate people and their resources, causing further
marginalization and inequality. While I don’t think it is possible to challenge
the World Cup in Brazil at this point, I think it is important to at least be
aware of the many issues involved and to recognize the impact on indigenous people.
If anybody is lucky enough to be able to watch a game, I think that you should
at least have the knowledge to make an informed decision of whether or not to attend.
I'm glad you brought this to light; it's frustrating to hear people talk about how excited they are to travel to Brazil and have a crazy time partying there without thinking about the damage that the World Cup has done to people there. I'm curious whether or not they have affordable tickets for Brazilians, since I know general tickets are incredibly expensive. I also wonder if there's anything that tourists for the World Cup can do to make their experience there more sustainable/less damaging to people there.
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