On Thursday June 12th the World Cup began amid a sea of protests and strikes held by the Brazilian nationals. From teargas in the streets, to threatening the shutdown of the Rio airport as tourists and players fly in. Looking at it all, it is impressive that the games have carried on despite the turmoil.
The day prior to the World Cup employees at Rio de Janeiro's airport went on strike to push their employers for a hike in their salaries and to pay bonuses for working during the tournament. To ensure that the strike did not affect the travel a court in the city threatened to fine the union 500,000 reais, or 223,900 dollars, per hour that they continued with the strike. The union relented to the pressure and lifted the strike on the 12th. Similarly the bus drivers in Natal were also on strike up until the 9th, decided not to renew it on Thursday allowing passengers travel around the city. They have promised to intensify their protesting to reinstate employees that had been fired during the strike.
All over host cities in Brazil like Sao Paulo rioters took to the streets in angry protests. Angry at the amount of money being spent not only on this year's World Cup but 2016's Olympics being held there, Brazilians tried to impede the cup as much as possible. As they blocked roads from traveling to the Cup many were chanting, "there won't be a Cup!" In response riot police fired on the crowds with rubber bullets and tear gas, then charged in with full riot gear and shields.
Thanks to dozens of factors like threats from the hacker group Anonymous, Brazil's rampant excess spending on games and events, level of unrest created by rioting and striking throughout the country; Brazil is becoming a powder keg of potential violence that may explode right in the midst of the World Cup.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
