The end of October in Brazil was marked by protests against the presidential election’s results. Supporters of Jair Bolsonaro decided to block the roads and highways in the major capital cities of the country. But why highways? Why is it so common that protests aim to stop them from impacting the country?
According to BBC News, 58% of transport in Brazil was conducted by road in 2018, while partaking 53% in Australia, 50% in China, and only 8% in Canada. This highway culture in Brazil started with the “50 years in 5” project during the government of president Jucelino Kubitschek (between 1956 and 1960) when he proposed a plan to develop the national industry. It rapidly boosted the country's industrialization within a few years, growing the Brazilian economy by more than 7% per year. However, for the 214 million people living in Brazil nowadays, it is necessary to have other means of transportation. Even though massive investments in railroads began in the interior of Brazil, due to the large area extension, there are still significant hardships yet to be overcome before the roads are correctly finalized.
Because of the significance of railroads in Brazil, it has become increasingly common for protests to be conducted in these places, as it immediately impacts the country’s economy. An example of this is the 2018 strike, in which truck drivers protested against abusive diesel prices and taxes, refusing to work until the price dropped. Consequently, the food and medicine that comes in trucks through these highways became less available and much more expensive.
These strikes indicate the importance of investing in continuous railroad and waterway projects in a country with a large area. It would provide more options for connections between states, thus preventing road demonstrations from paralyzing the country's activities in the future.
Translation:
“Zé, this is nothing!! What scares me is… what comes after it”
“Rice, beans, milk, medicine”
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