Brazil takes to the streets

Brazil's protests have brought nearly 200,000 people in hundreds of cities across the country, including here in Rio, to the streets. Originally sparked by a rise in bus fares, Brazilians have been voicing dissatisfaction with inequality, the high cost of living, poor public services, corruption and the price tag for hosting the Soccer World Cup.

Rose-Claire works as a domestic maid 12 hours a day and still struggles to pay the high living costs of Rio de Janeiro. "I've come here today to try to fight for better salaries," she says. "Doctors are abandoning public hospitals, because the salaries are too low." Her sign quotes a line from Brazil's national anthem: "Thou wilt see that a son of thine flees not from battle."

This man's sign on Thursday (27.06.2013) said the protesters reject violence. Some protests have seen clashes between police and demonstrators as well as destruction of public sites and attacks on government buildings.

"The best country is a country where people are conscious," reads Ana's sign. "We've been coming here for a week, trying to change politics and democracy, because many things are wrong," says the student. "Impunity, corruption - and then the same people continue in power. We pay taxes but don't have hospitals, education, security. The people are paying the bill for the World Cup and the Olympics."

"I've come here today to show my dissatisfaction with the huge costs of the upcoming sporting events, while our public services like health and education remain poor. I can't afford the private systems," says Robson (left). Their sign reads: "If you get sick, run to Maracanã." Maracanã is the Rio stadium refurbished for the World Cup.

"What I'm against is the cost of these big events if it's at the expense of the people," says Irao, who chose to don a Batman costume and set out alone for the protests. His sign calls for more health and education, an end to impunity and an "end to pizza," a popular saying meaning that nothing comes of corruption investigations - those concerned just end up going out for pizza.

"So many things are wrong," says Diego (middle), a student accompanied by his friends Eduardo and Fernando. "The whole country needs to change. We've come here to try and change things because our parents who lived through the dictatorship couldn't."