Yesterday lunchtime in Tiradents Square, teachers at the local Fatec technical college were staging a protest over low wages, accompanied by some ear-splitting fireworks, launched by someone in the crowd. Seems the current burst of inflation is starting to take the shine off booming Brasil. Incidentally, when I asked Maria, the nanny, why she thought Pampers nappies here cost significantly more than in the UK, she said "Inflation". I said, what about political corruption ? She sheepishly agreed. After all those years of "Robin Hood" Lula, Brazil's underclass are still light years away from the notion that they must hold their government accountable, rather than passively accepting something called inflation.
Update: P just back from work. Said tube was much less crowded than usual because many commuters stayed at home today, thanks to a rail strike, also over wages. Yet the poor who rely on trains can't afford to lose even a day's income. Is this going to be Brazil's winter of discontent ? Or is it just business (disruption) as usual ?
I am reliably advised that not only are pampers more in Brazil, the quality drop from the UK is enormous. Might want to ask your next guest to bring some in the luggage - then you'll see!
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