Estudante

INTRODUCTIONI
No country has ever managed to be asked to host the world’s two biggest sports events in such quick succession. By being awarded the rights to host the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics, Brazil has been consecrated as a new world power, one that emerged during Inácio Lula da Silva’s two terms as president, from 2003 to 2011. Despite a reduced growth rate forecast for 2013, its favourable indicators contrast with a world in crisis. Described as an “impassive colossus” in its national anthem, it has narrowed the gulf between rich and poor in the past decade, enhanced its diplomatic influence in the western hemisphere and is now attracting not only investors but also new immigrant waves from a Europe in recession. But this is not to say that violent crime, corruption and inequality are all a thing of the past. A record of 11 journalists killed in 2012, five of them in direct connection with their work puts Brazil among the world’s five deadliest countries for the media. Murders are not the only way that freedom of information is violated in Brazil. The level of concentration of media ownership contrasts starkly with the extent of its territory A woman with the and extreme diversity of its civil society. The colossus is clearly a bit too impassive Brazilian flag painted about pluralism a quarter - century after its return to democracy in 1985. on her face during a demonstration on Despite having one of the world’s leading Internet communities and even its own the 52nd anniversary national Facebook equivalent, called Orkut, Brazil falls far short of providing all of its of the founding of the citizens with equal and untrammelled access to online information. The Internet is much city of Brasilia more subject to censorship and blocking than in neighbouring countries, contrary to the on 21 April 2012. image that Brazil is promoting of itself ahead of the World Cup and Olympics.

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investigation by benoît hervieu
With help from Luiz