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| Rio Olympics: view from the favelas – 'Tour operators treat favelas like zoos' | Rio Olympics: view from the favelas – 'Tour operators treat favelas like zoos' |
| (5 months later) | |
| 2 December | 2 December |
| A pregnant woman has to be rescued from a landslide in the Trampolim neighbourhood of Rocinha, after a thunderstorm hits our community. Fortunately, there are no casualties, though heavy rains have caused many deaths in the past. Storms are always a concern because people build houses on slopes where the ground is not stable. Construction in the forest is supposed to be prohibited but everyone knows the authorities won’t do anything. People build in risky areas for many reasons. Sometimes, they want to be close to their families, sometimes because they want to live close to their place of work. | A pregnant woman has to be rescued from a landslide in the Trampolim neighbourhood of Rocinha, after a thunderstorm hits our community. Fortunately, there are no casualties, though heavy rains have caused many deaths in the past. Storms are always a concern because people build houses on slopes where the ground is not stable. Construction in the forest is supposed to be prohibited but everyone knows the authorities won’t do anything. People build in risky areas for many reasons. Sometimes, they want to be close to their families, sometimes because they want to live close to their place of work. |
| 6 December | 6 December |
| Tour operators treat favelas like zoos, but that might end soon. A motion to reform the “safari trips” through favelas was tabled in the municipal government today by councillor Célio Lupparelli, who says the visits are arranged by companies from outside the favela who pay little heed to the cultural, historical and artistic aspects of our community. Instead, tourists just focus on degradation, poverty, violence and misery and leave without any interaction with local culture. Lupparelli wants the City Hall to develop training courses that embrace the community point of view. The bill is expected to go to a vote in the first half of 2016. | Tour operators treat favelas like zoos, but that might end soon. A motion to reform the “safari trips” through favelas was tabled in the municipal government today by councillor Célio Lupparelli, who says the visits are arranged by companies from outside the favela who pay little heed to the cultural, historical and artistic aspects of our community. Instead, tourists just focus on degradation, poverty, violence and misery and leave without any interaction with local culture. Lupparelli wants the City Hall to develop training courses that embrace the community point of view. The bill is expected to go to a vote in the first half of 2016. |
| 8 December | 8 December |
| Rocinha Park Library hosts a series of events for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transexual week in the community, including discussions and a screening of the film Favela Gay. This event is important because there is a great deal of stereotyping of gay people in the favela. There have been cases of beating, torture and humiliation. I think a gay person who doesn’t live in a favela has more opportunities than a gay person in a favela. For example, in the favelas gay people can’t kiss or hold hands. They face a daily fight for survival. I think this has got better thanks to discussions on the internet, but we need more dialogue and to show greater respect for this part of our community. | Rocinha Park Library hosts a series of events for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transexual week in the community, including discussions and a screening of the film Favela Gay. This event is important because there is a great deal of stereotyping of gay people in the favela. There have been cases of beating, torture and humiliation. I think a gay person who doesn’t live in a favela has more opportunities than a gay person in a favela. For example, in the favelas gay people can’t kiss or hold hands. They face a daily fight for survival. I think this has got better thanks to discussions on the internet, but we need more dialogue and to show greater respect for this part of our community. |
| 12 December | 12 December |
| The ever-contentious issue of land regularisation was discussed today by the residents associations of Laboriaux and Vila Cruzado, two Rocinha neighbourhoods that are threatened with eviction because of real-estate speculation. Both communities are close to the upmarket district of Gávea, where property values are among the highest in the city. I am in favour of regularisation because it legitimises ownership by these residents, many of whom have lived in the slums for decades. With this document, residents have a guarantee that they cannot be removed by force. If the government wants to do some work on their land, then they have to negotiate and pay a decent value. Basically, what favela residents want are the same rights as the people on the asphalt [who do not live in the favela]. | The ever-contentious issue of land regularisation was discussed today by the residents associations of Laboriaux and Vila Cruzado, two Rocinha neighbourhoods that are threatened with eviction because of real-estate speculation. Both communities are close to the upmarket district of Gávea, where property values are among the highest in the city. I am in favour of regularisation because it legitimises ownership by these residents, many of whom have lived in the slums for decades. With this document, residents have a guarantee that they cannot be removed by force. If the government wants to do some work on their land, then they have to negotiate and pay a decent value. Basically, what favela residents want are the same rights as the people on the asphalt [who do not live in the favela]. |
| 13 December | 13 December |
| Rocinha social networks were buzzing today with a community appeal to raise money for a family who lost everything in a fire. The victims – a mother, father and two very young children – live in a flimsy hillside shack made of wooden walls and a tin roof in Macega, one of the poorest neighbourhoods in the favela. The cause of the fire is unknown, but it is suspected to be a short circuit. Many homes lack basic safety standards. It is one consequence of the extraordinary social inequality that is evident in Rocinha. It is often the case that the community fills the gap left by social services. If we waited for the authorities, it would take too long because of the bureaucracy involved. It is easier to ask for a donation here and a donation there until life gradually goes back to normal. Catholic and evangelical churches also make donations of clothing. | Rocinha social networks were buzzing today with a community appeal to raise money for a family who lost everything in a fire. The victims – a mother, father and two very young children – live in a flimsy hillside shack made of wooden walls and a tin roof in Macega, one of the poorest neighbourhoods in the favela. The cause of the fire is unknown, but it is suspected to be a short circuit. Many homes lack basic safety standards. It is one consequence of the extraordinary social inequality that is evident in Rocinha. It is often the case that the community fills the gap left by social services. If we waited for the authorities, it would take too long because of the bureaucracy involved. It is easier to ask for a donation here and a donation there until life gradually goes back to normal. Catholic and evangelical churches also make donations of clothing. |
| 22 December | 22 December |
| There is a lot of talent in Rocinha that goes unrecognised and unpolished. Today, the community tried to rectify that with a meeting with senior officials from the ministry of culture. The government side said they would create projects that will help local performers, but I think it will be hopeless. Politicians are always launching initiatives because it looks good on their resumé, but as soon as they leave office, the projects die. There is no continuity. Despite this, talent from our favela still emerges from time to time. We are proud of Fabiano de Paula, a tennis player and resident who has risen to the 239 position in the ranking of the Association of Tennis Professionals, and Claudinho, a footballer who won the state championship at Ituano. | There is a lot of talent in Rocinha that goes unrecognised and unpolished. Today, the community tried to rectify that with a meeting with senior officials from the ministry of culture. The government side said they would create projects that will help local performers, but I think it will be hopeless. Politicians are always launching initiatives because it looks good on their resumé, but as soon as they leave office, the projects die. There is no continuity. Despite this, talent from our favela still emerges from time to time. We are proud of Fabiano de Paula, a tennis player and resident who has risen to the 239 position in the ranking of the Association of Tennis Professionals, and Claudinho, a footballer who won the state championship at Ituano. |
| Then there is black actress Jéssica Ellen, who has appeared in TV dramas on the Globo channel. In a recent magazine article, she noted, “I’m a punk who grew up in the favela. I am proof that the medium does not make the man.” | Then there is black actress Jéssica Ellen, who has appeared in TV dramas on the Globo channel. In a recent magazine article, she noted, “I’m a punk who grew up in the favela. I am proof that the medium does not make the man.” |
| 25 December | 25 December |
| Instead of Christmas cheer, there was fear in Rocinha today after a shootout between police and locals that left one dead and six injured. Jorge Arui, a 49-year-old merchant, was killed on his way to the shops to buy bread. Locals said the gunfight started after the police demanded that the music from a neighbourhood party be turned off. Rocinha is not the only favela to suffer violence on Christmas Day. In the City of God favela, another shooting left a child and a teenager dead. Cases like this show the pacification policy is exhausted. We need to demilitarise the paramilitary police and to have the state government take more social responsibility. | Instead of Christmas cheer, there was fear in Rocinha today after a shootout between police and locals that left one dead and six injured. Jorge Arui, a 49-year-old merchant, was killed on his way to the shops to buy bread. Locals said the gunfight started after the police demanded that the music from a neighbourhood party be turned off. Rocinha is not the only favela to suffer violence on Christmas Day. In the City of God favela, another shooting left a child and a teenager dead. Cases like this show the pacification policy is exhausted. We need to demilitarise the paramilitary police and to have the state government take more social responsibility. |
| 26 December | 26 December |
| Officers from the special police unit (better known as BOPE) are accused of a rape in Rocinha. A 28-year-old woman who was afraid to be publicly identified says she was assaulted on Christmas morning in the same alley where Arui was killed. Allegations like this help to explain why the police in Rio de Janeiro have lost credibility with the population. | Officers from the special police unit (better known as BOPE) are accused of a rape in Rocinha. A 28-year-old woman who was afraid to be publicly identified says she was assaulted on Christmas morning in the same alley where Arui was killed. Allegations like this help to explain why the police in Rio de Janeiro have lost credibility with the population. |
| 2 January | 2 January |
| The Mayor of Rio, Eduardo Paes, authorised an 11.7% rise in public transport fares from R$3.40 (65p) to R$3.80 (72p). Bus operators say this is the minimum they need to break even. People don’t approve, but there isn’t much social mobilisation to try to stop it. As well as the increase, there was a redrawing of bus lines which means many residents now have to take two buses to get to work. Many people complain on the internet a lot, but urban revolutions do not happen with Facebook comments. Services remain sub-standard. In 2012, Paes promised that all buses in Rio would have air conditioning by 2016 but this is still not the case. | The Mayor of Rio, Eduardo Paes, authorised an 11.7% rise in public transport fares from R$3.40 (65p) to R$3.80 (72p). Bus operators say this is the minimum they need to break even. People don’t approve, but there isn’t much social mobilisation to try to stop it. As well as the increase, there was a redrawing of bus lines which means many residents now have to take two buses to get to work. Many people complain on the internet a lot, but urban revolutions do not happen with Facebook comments. Services remain sub-standard. In 2012, Paes promised that all buses in Rio would have air conditioning by 2016 but this is still not the case. |
| 4 January | 4 January |
| The new police commander, Col Edison Duarte dos Santos Júnior, has promised an overhaul in favela pacification units after diagnosing problems. There is a colour classification of the risk level in each community. Green is minimum, yellow is moderate and red is out of control. Rocinha is one of 38 places where the police pacification units have lost control. In most of them, there has been violence in recent months. The increasing conflict is a result of inadequate public policies for social development. The government invests heavily in public security, but not in education. | The new police commander, Col Edison Duarte dos Santos Júnior, has promised an overhaul in favela pacification units after diagnosing problems. There is a colour classification of the risk level in each community. Green is minimum, yellow is moderate and red is out of control. Rocinha is one of 38 places where the police pacification units have lost control. In most of them, there has been violence in recent months. The increasing conflict is a result of inadequate public policies for social development. The government invests heavily in public security, but not in education. |
| 17 January | 17 January |
| The state governor, Luiz Fernando Pezão, announced today that water and sewage service in Rio’s favelas will be privatised. The government is preparing a public-private partnership programme for sanitation in 25 communities that have Pacifying Police Units (UPPs), including Rocinha, Vidigal, City of God and the Complexo do Alemão. In all, they will invest R$600m (£114m) so that about 140,000 households will receive better services. Some residents may also be relocated from areas with poor sanitation to other areas of the favela, but people are afraid that they might be moved to another part of the city. Most of the population reject the governor’s proposal. The residents of Rio’s favelas have fought for basic sanitation for more than 50 years. Privatisation of these services is not the solution because the costs go up. The government didn’t invest in public works for basic sanitation, and now the people who live on a minimum wage can’t cover the costs of something that should be the responsibility of the government. | The state governor, Luiz Fernando Pezão, announced today that water and sewage service in Rio’s favelas will be privatised. The government is preparing a public-private partnership programme for sanitation in 25 communities that have Pacifying Police Units (UPPs), including Rocinha, Vidigal, City of God and the Complexo do Alemão. In all, they will invest R$600m (£114m) so that about 140,000 households will receive better services. Some residents may also be relocated from areas with poor sanitation to other areas of the favela, but people are afraid that they might be moved to another part of the city. Most of the population reject the governor’s proposal. The residents of Rio’s favelas have fought for basic sanitation for more than 50 years. Privatisation of these services is not the solution because the costs go up. The government didn’t invest in public works for basic sanitation, and now the people who live on a minimum wage can’t cover the costs of something that should be the responsibility of the government. |
| 21 January | 21 January |
| The corruption investigation known as Lava Jato (Car Wash) has reached Rio’s favelas. Federal police are trying to gather information about possible fraud in the bidding for public works in the favelas of Rocinha, Manguinhos and Complexo do Alemão that were funded by the government’s growth acceleration programme after 2008. Investigators are looking at possible collusion between the companies that won contracts. | The corruption investigation known as Lava Jato (Car Wash) has reached Rio’s favelas. Federal police are trying to gather information about possible fraud in the bidding for public works in the favelas of Rocinha, Manguinhos and Complexo do Alemão that were funded by the government’s growth acceleration programme after 2008. Investigators are looking at possible collusion between the companies that won contracts. |
| 29 January | 29 January |
| My sister Monique Silva witnessed a startling shooting and robbery inside the Rebouças tunnel, which links the north and south zones of Rio. According to the military police, a motorbike was stolen and the victim was shot twice in the arm. The incident caused panic. Drivers feared it was a mass robbery and abandoned their cars to run outside the tunnel. There is a frightening climate of fear in this city. People head off to work each morning, not knowing if they will return home in the evening. | My sister Monique Silva witnessed a startling shooting and robbery inside the Rebouças tunnel, which links the north and south zones of Rio. According to the military police, a motorbike was stolen and the victim was shot twice in the arm. The incident caused panic. Drivers feared it was a mass robbery and abandoned their cars to run outside the tunnel. There is a frightening climate of fear in this city. People head off to work each morning, not knowing if they will return home in the evening. |
| 13 February | 13 February |
| Amid growing fears about the Zika virus, the federal government declared a nationwide mobilisation today against the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The armed forces reportedly dispatched 220,000 personnel on to the streets for this mission, but areas of armed conflict in Rio were excluded to avoid possible clashes with trafficking gangs. | Amid growing fears about the Zika virus, the federal government declared a nationwide mobilisation today against the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The armed forces reportedly dispatched 220,000 personnel on to the streets for this mission, but areas of armed conflict in Rio were excluded to avoid possible clashes with trafficking gangs. |