5 things you need to know about life in Brazil today

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Brazil is a country in a constant state of flux as its place in the world seems delicately poised between ‘slowly emerging economic superpower’ and ‘ticking ecological time bomb’. With so much happening every passing day, you sometimes need a quick recap of the main themes of the moment. Here are the top 5 things you need to know about Brazil right now so that you’re always in the loop.

The killing of Moise Kabagambe is troubling for black rights

When a young and energetic Congolese man comes to Brazil for a better life, the last thing anyone would imagine is that his life ends the way it did. The tragic murder of this young man not only shocked the nation, but was caught on camera for millions to see. The sheer senseless brutality of the moment is epitomized as the perpetrators make a half-hearted attempt to help him when it’s clear things have gone so much further than expected.

For Brazil to be seen as a welcoming country known around the world for all the right reasons, so much has to change. The treatment of men of color who come from a variety of diverse backgrounds has been an issue for generations. To some, the national team is a shining example of what happens when race is put to one side and everyone pulls together. Unfortunately, life outside of the beautiful game of soccer continues to be very different. If this tragedy can become the spark for a proper discussion around black rights, at least something meaningful will have come out of it.

The landslides in Petrópolis show the power of nature all too clearly

The fact that Brazil is a country built between the oceans and the jungles means it faces a complex set of ecological pressures. Global warming and climate change are increasingly driving unstable weather patterns, and it’s often the poorest and the least equipped countries which suffer the consequences the most.

Petrópolis has seen heavy downpours give rise to deadly landslides that sweep away everything in their path. It’s something that happens all too often in places like Petrópolis, and something that has left more than 100 innocent people dead. This scale of destruction and loss of life is proof enough of the investment that needs to be made to stop human-driven climate change before it’s too late.

Changes in regulations round betting and gambling provide more options

For decades, only government run lotteries were the sources of legal betting and gambling. Sports betting has never really gone away and is often done on the side with a number of street-based operations in each local area likely to be well known to the inhabitants.

One of the key areas of growth that these perhaps outdated laws no longer adequately address is the world of online gaming and gambling. Luckily, articles 29-35 of the national gambling code have recently been amended with the aim of protecting online players in a fast-changing world. The problem, however, is that these types of legal adjustments are highly technical, convoluted, and virtually impossible for the average person to follow.

A simple way to approach your next spin is to opt for online casinos that accept players from Brazil and have a good rating. That way you can safely entertain yourself whenever you feel like playing.

The recent Argentina v Brazil game has created a dramatic fallout

When the game went ahead in the depths of lockdown and travel uncertainty, many will have felt that it was a welcome relief from the constant stream of bad news. Fast forward to the point where officials came onto the pitch and removed the Argentinians for failing to comply with COVID restrictions, and you’d be forgiven for thinking that life was never going to get back to normal.

While there’s certainly hope on the horizon, the fallout from this match continues. At the time of writing this article, three Argentinian players are serving international suspensions that will impact their qualifying campaigns. While no sanctions are being applied to Brazil’s players, the fact that even an elite sports team has fallen foul of the constantly changing rules around isolation and travel is a strong indication that the pandemic is not over yet.

The contaminated water issues in Rio shine a light on the favelas

Everyone in South America will be aware of the ongoing issues with sewage and pollution in the Guandu Basin. The large amounts of industrial and household waste that end up there have a crushing impact on the local environment, but the issue is now even more serious.

With lockdowns restricting travel and trade, 24% of residents in Rio who live in the favelas have really started to come to the attention of the masses. These are hardworking, family-oriented people who are now at the mercy of contaminated water through no fault of their own. Reports of tap water being grey, murky and coming with a rather unpleasant smell are now widespread. And because the water continues to become more and more contaminated, this is an issue you shouldn’t expect to see the end of any time soon.

Final thoughts

Now that you’re up to speed with the main issues of the current days, it’s time to take it all in. Don’t forget to check back soon for another quick review and you’ll be able to make sure you’re always in the loop and aware of the main themes going on in one of the busiest countries in the world.