Problems of poverty in Brazil

In Brazil, poverty is like a plague.

It affects so many people in what they call “favelas” (poor neighbourhoods). The reasons for this poverty are mainly the illegal businesses that make some very rich while leaving many others poor. There are hundreds of extremely rich people in Brazil, but there are millions of poor people.

These poor people are stuck in those neighbourhoods because they have no access to school; they’re surrounded by violence and danger.

There are a lot of deaths because of poverty and because of disagreements between drug dealers and things like that that end up in constant shootings, which is itself a consequence from poverty.

Generally, someone born poor will always be poor in all of his/her life and has a much reduced life without the life quality that any human being should have.

The actual Brazilian government has been taking some actions in order to spread the wealth of the Country more equally between the citizens. Lula, the president, has been trying to create more job opportunity, a better education and above all made some changes to stop violence.

But those changes don’t seem to be enough. It’s a good effort but it will take years for Brazil to have a fair life for everyone.

One of the biggest money incomes for Brazil is the tourism. It’s a great investment they made and Brazil is considered one of the best places for vacation with its sunny beaches and great hotels.

But behind all that richness hide those social neighbourhoods where the poor people are all living. Those neighbourhoods are located in the country and far from the sea so the tourists never actually see that dark side of Brazil.

Hygiene conditions are the worst you can get in the “favelas”. Trash is spread everywhere, everything smells bad and if you spend there a week its more than likely you get a disease.

Brazil has made some progress though and hopefully in some year those poor neighbourhoods cease to exist partially but almost totally. I don’t think they will ever totally disappear.

Actually those neighbourhoods exist in other countries too but in different ways. The poor neighbourhoods in Brazil are unique with conditions that other neighbourhoods in other countries don’t have.

They seem to combine in a very particular way many aspects of poverty and social decay. They have bad hygiene conditions, a lot of violence and illegal businesses. Its one of the worst places to live in.