Brazil Hopes to Use the 2014 World Cup to Help Rid Its Streets of Guns

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Dec 14, 2011

Brazil Hopes to Use the 2014 World Cup to Help Rid Its Streets of Guns

Brazil’s Justice Ministry unveiled a proposal to trade guns for free or reduced-priced tickets to games at the 2014 World Cup. The Guardian reports the host nation hopes make real and lasting social change with world soccer’s marquee event.

“We must consider the social legacy in defence of peace,” MP Renan Filho said. “In [South] Africa the theme was the fight against Aids. Here we must spread the culture of peace and disarmament. We are still the country that most kills with firearms.”

Some 20,000 guns have been handed over to authorities in the country’s latest disarmament campaign. It’s part of an effort to curb gun violence in a country that has lost over one million lives to murder since 1980. 

Another part of the program would see goal posts made out of guns that are traded in and destroyed. The posts would be in use during the 2014 tournament and in FIFA events worldwide.

Thumbnail photo via Flickr/IANSA – Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence

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