Bolivians Are Becoming Beggars in Brazil’s Streets

The increase in Bolivian immigrants in Brazil is one of the social consequences of the political crisis affecting that country.

This observation was made by Gunther Rudrit, political science professor and specialist at the University of São Paulo (USP).


The Bolivian crisis culminated yesterday night in President Carlos Mesa’s second renunciation request, still to be appreciated by the Congress.


According to Rudrit, many Bolivians live chiefly in the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul.


“There is a large number of Bolivians entering Brazilian territory without training and without jobs. Many of them in Campo Grande [capital of Mato Grosso do Sul] are in the streets begging for handouts, which elevates the social pressure here,” the professor explains.


He warns that the situation could lead to an increase in urban violence in Brazil.


Another aspect of the Bolivian crisis that is already being felt in Brazil and other South American countries has to do with the gas and petroleum hydrocarbons market.


For the specialist, the possibility of an interruption in gas supplies could have serious consequences for the Brazilian economy.


The solution, in his view, would be to seek alternatives in countries such as Peru or in other parts of Brazil, such as the Santos basin.


“Petrobrás – Brazilian Petroleum – has already declared that it has halted all investment plans in order to reevaluate the situation. In technical terms, this means that we shall invest no more and shall look for alternatives.


“Petrobrás, which has made heavy investments, runs the risk of having its gas stations nationaized and not being able to invest there anymore, because the taxes will be so high that there will be practically no financial return,” he observes.


Agência Brasil

Tags:

You May Also Like

Iran Tells Brazil It Has Close to US$ 4 Trillion and Is Looking for Deals

Teheran wants to expand its economic relations with Brazil. This according to Iranian ambassador ...

Brazil and Argentina Create Nuclear Miniclub to Enrich Uranium

Brazil and Argentina intend to establish a binational company for uranium enrichment. The negotiations ...

Brazil-US: Will Obama Mention the “BRICs” or just the “RICs”?

When President Barack Obama assumes office on January 20 can we expect to hear ...

IMF Happy With Brazil’s Performance

Following a meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Anne Krueger, deputy ...

Marriott Brazil Wants Muslims to Feel at Home and Offers Mecca Compass

Eyeing Arab clients Marriott Brazil chain is offering in its luxury hotels exclusive services ...

Brazil Goes for a Ride on Wall Street’s Bullish Train and Dollar Falls

The São Paulo Stock Exchange (Bovespa) started October with a boom, closing at 62.340 ...

Soybean Helps Brazilian Agriculture Grow a Notch

Brazil’s agriculture and livestock sector grew 1.1% in the second quarter of this year, ...

Brazil’s Petrobras Reaches Average 1.8 Million Barrels a Day. A Record

Petrobras, Brazil's state-controlled oil multinational, announced on Thursday, July 3, that it achieved a ...

Brazilian Ranchers Charged with Destroying Habitat of Uncontacted Tribe

According to Survival International, a group dedicated to the preservation of tribal life, the ...

Brazilians Won’t Need a Visa to Visit the US Anymore

President Bush has signed legislation allowing citizens of 12 more countries, including Brazil, to ...