a portrait of a protesting Brazilian family

[xchrom]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/L/LT_BRAZIL_A_FAMILY_PROTEST?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-06-27-02-54-16


In this Tuesday, June 25, 2013 photo, Paulo Cavalcante, 49, right, Adela, his wife of 16 years, left, their 15-year-old daughter Maria and 10-year-old son Antonio, pose for a photo at their home in the Rio de Janeiro suburb of Iraja, Brazil. "We're among the fortunate ones and we're suffering," said the 49-year-old, a public servant with Rio's City Hall. "We've been completely abandoned by our government." (AP Photo/Nicolas Tanner)

IRAJA, Brazil (AP) -- On paper, the Cavalcantes are a Brazilian success story, a solidly middle class Rio de Janeiro family with a car, a four-bedroom, four-bath house and a full schedule of extra-curriculars for the kids.

But like millions of others who have taken to the streets over the past weeks to protest woeful government services and rampant corruption here, the Cavalcantes say they're struggling to keep their heads above water.

There are months when the generous family income can't be stretched to cover their basic expenses, which include not only the ever-rising cost of food, transport and electricity, but also expensive private alternatives to Brazil's poor public schools and health services.

"We're among the fortunate ones and we're suffering," said 49-year-old Paulo Cavalcante, a public servant with Rio's City Hall. "We've been completely abandoned by our government."

[xchrom]

1. kick