Report from a Foreign Student About the 2023 Cyclone

Abstract

First Paragraph: The recent cyclones that struck Southern Brazil in 2023 unquestionably constituted the most severe catastrophe on record. This natural phenomenon, which indiscriminately claimed residences, vehicles, vegetation, and lives, served as a pivotal moment for a critical reflection regarding the State's genuine role vis-à-vis Brazilian society. The imperative of a protective State—one that ensures essential safeguards for the population prior to the occurrence of worst-case scenarios and remains vigilant regarding the needs of the most vulnerable—was undoubtedly the lesson that should, or must, be extrapolated from the catastrophes that transpired. However, environmental disasters are not the sole afflictions; hunger, unemployment, and insufficient access to healthcare and education represent chronic catastrophes with which Brazil has long coexisted, yet towards which it has historically exhibited indifference. While fundamental human rights are subjected to negotiation within the political sphere, the population consequently endures the cruelty stemming from the distinct absence of sensitivity, empathy, and affect on the part of its legislators.