News:
As the media rages about the FIFA World Cup games in Brazil, controversy swirls around this grand affair. Graffiti painted everywhere from walls, streets, and trains in major areas depict the poverty-ridden economic situation, the most prominent of depictions is the football on the plate of hunger-stricken child. The estimated cost for hosting the games is said to be more than $11 billion—making it the most expensive World Cup since the competition began 84 years ago. [www.cnbc.com, 12 Jun 2014] Brazil is financing some $15 billion on 12 stadiums to be used by the international games. [Forbes.com 4/16/2014]
Comment:
While the art murals reveal the underlying sentiment that the overpowering media overlooks – striking poverty versus shiny new footballs, child labor forced to work in slave labor like conditions to produce balls – women working round the clocks to sew shirts balls etc- Capitalists race to fill their pockets with the profits reaping from the global attention of FIFA 2014 in the exotic land of Brazil.
What is not exotic of Brazil is the staggering numbers of homeless children and high unemployment rates that has led to charges of corruption and accusations of over spending by the Brazilian government, instead of improving the local infrastructure and housing conditions. [www.cnbc.com, 12 Jun 2014]
Since the announcement of the FIFA games in Brazil, hundreds of people have taken to the streets (met with fierce anti-riot squads) to protest the hosting of games since the billions of dollars can be spent to better the crumbling infrastructure ranging from public transportation to healthcare and the education system. Yet capitalists vie for high stake contracts that have the potential to reap in sky-high figures – sadly pouring into the pockets of the few. Foreign investors channeling profits out of Brazil as is often the case in repeat scenarios like this.
Sadly, as in times prior whether it was East Africa (FIFA 2010) or elsewhere, the needs of the general masses go unmet and their voices drowned by dazzling over the top advertisements for the interests of money hungry capitalists who after the games pick up their bags and move to the next location in search of more lucrative deals – the money cycle does not end for the rich – leaving behind enormous empty stadiums for the birds to perch on. Never mind the drained economy as witnessed in Greece after the Olympic games which now serve as a grievous reminder of the overbearing costs on the Greek government.
Again we see the pitiful case of priority – money over humanity – which has been the notorious unspoken motto of capitalism.
Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Um Muhanad