The Booming Brazilian Riot Gear Market

Supporters of a native community living at the Indian Museum
are hit with pepper spray. (Rio de Janeiro, March 2013, Reuters/Ricardo Moraes)

Two weeks ahead of the month-long World Cup the people calling themselves "Brazil" have stocked up on non-lethal weapons.  Why?

Reuters reports that the state is expecting small "anti-government protests" during the Cup.

The people of Brazil are not so pleased with the government spending nearly $4 billion (US) of taxpayer funds on a dozen soccer stadiums.  Not to mention the state paving over an Indian museum in Rio de Janeiro and arresting the native residents who have lived there for eight years. This to make room for a parking lot outside the stadium.      

Police, military and politicians are confiscating another $850 million for World Cup security.

But no need to worry concerned taxpayer of Brazil.  The Defense Minister said:

"If troops have to use weapons, they will first use non-lethal arms"

"First".  

Police Arresting Indians at an Indian Museum in Rio.
(March 2013, AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Are Cities Smartening Up About the Olympics?

Not the most efficient use of resources. 

After multiple cities have removed their bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics the organizers are having a tough time selling the event.  Why are potential host cities reluctant?  They have finally figured out that massive projects built for one-time use is a big waste of scarce resources.

Regarding the Olympics The Guardian reports:

It's blisteringly expensive to put together, doesn't improve infrastructure as much as anybody claims and will almost certainly leave a wonky legacy of deserted ski-jumps and bobsleigh tracks littered around the host city.

Abandoned pool in Helsinki

   
We can hope this small show of constraint on the part of event organizers, sponsors and politicians is a building block for sanity.  Barring taxpayer funds entirely from supporting the Olympics would be a nice culmination.  The world doesn't need more unused cement ditches.