In Brazil, small protests turn quickly to big demonstrations
As many as 200,000 people have marched through the streets of Brazil’s biggest cities, as protests over rising public transport costs and the expense of staging the 2014 World Cup have spread. The protests are the largest seen in the country for more than 20 years.
The biggest demonstration was in Rio de Janeiro, where 100,000 people joined a mainly peaceful march.In the capital, Brasilia, people breached security at the National Congress building and scaled its roof.
The wave of protests kicked off earlier this month when Sao Paulo residents marched against an increase in the price of a single bus fare, from 3 reals ($1.40) to 3.20. But protesters said they had come to fight for their country.
Demonstrators said they felt short changed by their government. Brazil is the ‘B’ in the famous BRICS group of the most important developing economies. But the country remains mired in corruption with critics claiming the country isn’t putting enough money into schools and health services.
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