Do an Outline and presentation for persuasive speech

Brazil has long been known as a country of soccer, Carnival and beautiful beaches, a tropical paradise where people go to get away from it all and enjoy the sights and sounds of Rio or Salvador. However, Brazil has recently come into the global spotlight as a member of the BRIC which is a group of countries projected to grow economically and become some of the most economically powerful global agents. Brazil has seen this economic growth over the past few decades with its tourism industry and oil reserves. As technological advancements in Brazil are on the rise, the country's natural resources are quickly becoming a source of wealth which is putting this country on the map for more reasons than one. With this rise in popularity, the country has been offered two of the most prestigious international events in the world: the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics, two events which are both very costly, but would also bring a lot of attention to the country and be a chance to let Brazil flex its new global muscles. But just how much does an event like the world cup or the Olympics really cost? Between a complete overhaul of transportation systems, construction of new airports, renovation and construction of stadiums and any number of other necessities, the current price tag is running around one trillion dollars at the moment according to Zimbalist (2013). But is it really worth it? After all, what is the social cost of these sporting events?

In June 2013, there was an uprising of Brazilians against the outrageous government spending for these events. Brazilians took to the streets in protest of what was being sacrificed in order to host these events. Much as has been the global trend, this taking to the streets has been widely televised and criticized. Powerful images of the widening income gap in Brazil have been everywhere and the people are demanding that the government reconsider what it is prioritizing. Overall, Brazilians are asking the government to think most importantly about education, corruption and the costs of living and how all of these are suffering at the hands of a single sporting event.

In Brazil, the literacy rate sits comfortably around 97 percent. Education is free all the way up through university and many students are even offered the chance to study abroad in the USA through government partnerships. Although this may seem idyllic, the reality is much more grim. While is is no secret that private schools are the most prestigious schools to attend this is because many public schools in Brazil are beyond run down, sometimes not even having enough resources to put a floor in the school according to the Economist (2009). Roofs leak, students use old books and technological education falls by the wayside. Students who attend these schools almost never get the opportunity to attend a federal college (the most prestigious) due to their lack of competitive edge. In an effort to quell these tensions, the board of education has implemented enrollment quotas for federal universities but these two are very controversial and seem to be a temporary bandage for a very large and serious problem. While fixing this problem is possible, it would be very expensive. This begs the question; is it more important to have an educated and stable population or a very nice soccer stadium? I think the answer is obvious. Education should always be a top priority in every country.

Brazil has also been known for its vast network of corruption. From ex-president da Silva to the more recent Mensalão scandal, corruption has been a constant issue in the Brazilian government and the citizens' perception of it. Even in looking at the enormous price tag for the current projects, Brazilians and those watching the developments from around the world can never be completely sure of what money is going to productive causes and what money is lining the pockets of greedy politicians and business men. But how can corruption be stopped? Through legislation. And how can legislation be passed? Through political action. And at the root of all political action is money, the driving force. In considering this, would it not be in the best interest of the country and the people to invest in stopping corruption so that money might be used more efficiently? This might even save them a significant amount of money in the long run and even short term when it comes to expenses for the World Cup and Olympic Games.

Finally, Brazilians are protesting the increase in the cost of living. As the wealth of Brazil increases, so widens the income gap. According to the Associated Press (2013)The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. One of the main reasons the current protests began in the first place was due to a proposed increase to the cost of public transportation, the main source of transportation for more than half of the population. But the more serious problem at hand is why this disparity exists in the first place. In fact, the reason can be found back in education and government spending. The poor stay poor for the same that the rich stay rich: access to education and infrastructure. By paying more attention to and investing more in these things the country would be setting itself up for a country which is successful beyond the closing ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Games.

With the costs of hosting the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games sitting around one trillion dollars, Brazilians are asking their government to consider their spending and how it is affecting the people, particularly in the realms of education, corruption and standard of living. By investing more in these basic necessities and less in an event which will become obsolete in 3 years, the Brazilian government can be true to its people and invest in their futures by overhauling these systems and making them not only more efficient, but also more practical, Brazil will be setting its people up for a life which promises a bright future instead of an increasing income gap and more of the same corruption the people have been fighting for years.

Works Cited

Associated Press. "Brazil's income gap continues wide in Brazil."Bloomberg Business Week. N.p., 16 Nov. 2011. Web. 1 July 2013. <http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9R1VHPO0.htm>.

"Brazil's poor schools: Still a lot to learn."The Economist. N.p., 4 June 2009. Web. 1 July 2013. <http://www.economist.com/node/13782570>.

Zimbalist, Andrew. "Can Brazil build the massive infrastructure it needs to host the Olympics and the World Cup?."Americas Quarterly. N.p., 2013. Web. 1 July 2013. <http://www.americasquarterly.org/zimbalist>.