Rio de Janeiro

  • Rio de Janeiro’s Olympic challenge

    Great article from the Guardian by Ignacio Cano – a senior lecturer in research methodology at the department of social sciences of the State University of Rio de Janeiro. Worth the read – which is why we posted this article.  The real test for Rio is not whether it can make the World Cup and Olympics safe,…

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  • Police Occupation on the Ground in Rocinha “A Peaceful Shock”

    Rocinha was officially ‘occupied’ during the early morning hours of Sunday, November 13th. This was only the first phase of the state’s ‘pacification’ process. Authorities have been promising that Rocinha would received a UPP since 2009, and for various nuanced reasons it took a long time to occur. There are countless angles in which this…

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  • AECOM Wins Bid To Build Olympic Park

    International firm AECOM has won the open bid to build Rio de Janeiro’s Olympic Village. This is the same firm that is building London’s Olympic Village for the 2012 Olympics. Along with the winning contract AECOM was awarded a R$100,000 bonus. A total of 60 firms, from 18 countries had submitted proposals for the lucrative…

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  • Forced Removals Because of Olympics Causes Problems

    The situation in Rio de Janeiro, and it’s preparations for the World Cup and Olympic games, is reaching a fever pitch. The forced removals have continued to go on without much of an eyebrow raised from the International Community. Though some organizations have continued fighting for the right’s of citizens in these communities their words…

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  • Laboriaux Residents Present Report to DHESCA

    The community of Laboriaux, at the very highest section of Rocinha, has been one of the many communities found in the cross hairs of the city wide removals. Though Laboriaux has found itself in this precarious situation residents have seemingly left the process to handle itself. The city has not been open and forthright with…

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  • Investigatory Mission Comes To Rio

    The highly anticipated Investigatory Mission, made up of local and international representatives, made its way through local communities affected by the forced removals occurring in Rio de Janeiro. Raquel Rolnik, Rapporteur for the United Nations, was the headliner at this series of events, which focused on trying to quantify the issues at hand. The general…

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  • Brazil Under Fire For World Cup Slum Evictions

    Reuters, Wednesday May 11, 2011 * Brazil accused of ignoring rights in infrastructure push * Critics say Rio projects ignoring city’s long-term needs * City says many more people will benefit than lose out By Stuart Grudgings RIO DE JANEIRO — (Reuters) – Like his house, Jose Santos de Oliveira is an island of resistance.…

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  • Chris Gaffney Comments On The Issue

    Tropa do Elite III The forced evictions in Rio are accompanied by two major resettlement projects, Morar Carioca and Minha Casa, Minha Vida. The majority of these settlements are in the far, far western suburbs where the presence of milícias is particularly strong. Milícias are the Rio equivalent of 19th century New York ward bosses…

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  • Militia Groups Targeting Housing Programs In Rio de Janeiro

    At least eleven sets of housing blocks in the program “Minha Casa, Minha Vida” (My House, My Life), are being targeted by the actions of paramilitary groups in the western area of Rio de Janeiro. According to information published on Saturday by the newspaper O Globo, the militia loyal to former military police officer Ricardo Teixeira da Cruz, Batman, were exploiting gas services, cable TV, and”private security”, making threats to residents in condos in Campo Grande, Cosmosand Realengo. Currently Batman is being…

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