- Title: BRAZIL: Carnival and its effects on Rio de Janeiro's economy
- Date: 1st February 2013
- Summary: RIO DE JANEIRO (RECENT) (REUTERS) ANTHROPOLOGIST PROFESSOR, BERNARDO CONDE, GOING THROUGH BOOKS AT HIS HOUSE (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) ANTHROPOLOGIST PROFESSOR AT RIO DE JANEIRO'S CATHOLIC PONTIFICAL UNIVERSITY, BERNARDO CONDE, SAYING: "The symbolism Carnival has for those people means a lot more than something concrete, such as a sewage system, which is an everyday thing andup fading away. Carnival provides a big exposure for a samba school, which is something almost invisible in society throughout the year. The poor in Brazil are generally neglected, but when Carnival comes around not only they become the centre of attention, but it's their chance to experience the feeling of wealth and nobility." VARIOUS OF SAMBA SCHOOL WAREHOUSE WITH PEOPLE WORKING ON THE PREPARATIONS FOR CARNIVAL GENERAL VIEW OF SAMBA SCHOOL COSTUME DESIGNERS WORKING ON THEIR DESKS
- Embargoed: 16th February 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Brazil
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,Quirky,Politics,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVAB2AT7GEUPNW8PDR5EFXGV9MLE
- Story Text: Brazil's Carnival is renowned worldwide, but amid all the exuberance and sculptured bodies many fail to notice its side-effects.
Carnival is widely known as one of the greatest forms of expression of Brazilian culture.
Across the nation people stop whatever they are doing to party and dance for four straight days.
But despite the millions of visitors Carnival attracts every year, providing a major boost to the country's tourism industry, and the millions of reais made in alcohol selling, some still question its true benefits to Brazil's economy.
The popular saying is that the year in Brazil doesn't really start until after Carnival.
Meetings are adjourned, everyone seems to be on vacation, and people's focus shift to the days of celebrations ahead.
For Bernardo Conde, an Anthropology professor at Rio de Janeiro's Catholic Pontifical University, the social relevance of Carnival outweighs any negatives that it might have on South America's biggest economy.
"The symbolism Carnival has for those people means a lot more than something concrete, such as a sewage system, which is an everyday thing and ends up fading away. Carnival provides a big exposure for a samba school, which is something almost invisible in society throughout the year. The poor in Brazil are generally neglected, but when Carnival comes around not only they become the centre of attention, but it's their chance to experience the feeling of wealth and nobility," he says.
For many, Carnival is a year-round activity, employing thousands, particularly in the most impoverished communities, that otherwise wouldn't have a source of income.
According to Andr�Braz, an economist at Getulio Vargas Institute, in Rio de Janeiro, Carnival employs a significant portion of the city's population.
"Some services used by families become almost obsolete during Carnival. If you need a firefighter or a builder, it will be harder (during Carnival) to find that type of skilled labour, but we also need to understand the positive side. Carnival creates jobs and generates income for a considerable portion of the Brazilian population, which probably wouldn't have an occupation if Carnival didn't exist," he says.
With that in mind, Conde thinks no politician in Brazil could expect to be elected guaranteeing all the basic infrastructure those poor communities lack, while at the same time posing a threat to Carnival.
"Obviously not, it's the same as if he promised you everything with the condition that you won't be able to go on dates, and have fun. He would be taking away from you that world of illusion, something that's experienced by people every year. Just to live that illusion people already make sacrifices, in addition to the daily sacrifices they go through every day. They make a personal sacrifice throughout the year, saving some money to buy their costume for when Carnival comes," he said.
According to Riotur, the government agency that keeps track of Rio de Janeiro tourism figures, around 900,000 visitors are expected during the Carnival period in the city, generating around 655 million dollars in revenue.
In addition to the world famous parade at the iconic Sambodrome, an estimated six million people are expected to come out to the streets of Rio to take part on the hundreds of street parties scattered throughout the city. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None