Mega-Events and Human Rights Violations in Brazil
REPORT FROM THE NATIONAL COALITION OF LOCAL COMMITTEES FOR A PEOPLE’S WORLD CUP AND OLYMPCS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Mega-Events and Human Rights Violations in Brazil Housing – Labor – Information, Participation and Popular Representation – Environment – Access to Public Goods and Services–Transportation– Public Safety June 2012 1 INTRODUCTION “I feel like a fool, because when Brazil won (the bid) for this Olympics nonsense I was on the Linha Amarela highway, and I was honking like an idiot (in celebration). Now I’m paying for it. Is this the World Cup? Is this the Olympic spirit?” Michel, forcibly evicted from the neighborhood of Restinga, Rio de Janeiro The people of Brazil, like people around the highlights the 170,000 people whose right to world, practice and love sports. And perhaps housing is either being violated or threatened. even more than other people, Brazilians have It speaks of the millions of citizens whose ri- a tremendous passion for football (soccer). ghts to information and participation in public Brazilians also love their cities and welcome decision-making processes have been trampled visitors from all parts of the world with great by elected authorities, and by private entities hospitality and joy. People from other coun- (the International Olympic Committee, the tries come to visit and experience our rich cul- Brazilian Olympic Committee, and local or- ture, our music, our heritage, our extraordinary ganizing committees for these major events), environmental diversity, our joys, and also our and large corporations, to whom governments problems – the greatest of which is the drama- are delegating public responsibilities. It speaks tic social and environmental injustice that has of the systematic disregard for the law, and for marked the history and shaped the current rea- environmental rights, workers’ rights and the lities of this immense country.
[Show full text]