Vila Autódromo Wins Olympic Land Battle
Jan 27th
It sometimes appears that in Rio de Janeiro, the Olympic Games have already begun. Rio has been making headlines for its preparation for the Games, crime mitigation procedures, the onset of favela policing or the economic-employment boom. While these topics are newsworthy, there is another less-publicized subject that has been affecting many Rio residents at home—literally. Over the past year and a half, forced evictions of entire communities and subsequent building demolitions have cleared space for roadways. Next in line for eviction was the community of Vila Autódromo, a 40-year old working class neighborhood occupying land adjacent to the future Olympic Park. More >
Vidigal’s GASCO Holds Firm
Jan 19th
Seated in what was a widely used community movie theater, Bernadete Soares Pereira gestures toward a headless socket on the wall. She took down the projector and related furniture and devices in order to safeguard them should the government return to evict them. Roughly two months ago, Bernadete’s formally-established NGO GASCO (Community Action Social Group) was served notice to leave their building in the community of Vidigal, where they’ve run sports, educational and development programs since 2007, servicing some 200 students per day. The notice states that the building belongs to the municipality, yet it is common knowledge that the site sat unused More >
Vila Autódromo: A Community of Sentiment
Jan 15th
In Rio de Janeiro, the word “community” is used in various ways. In the media, the term tends to refer to a favela or disadvantaged neighborhood lacking in public services. But a search in the dictionary would reveal that a “community” could also be:
Community¹: The quality of what is shared; parity, community, identity, feelings.
It is precisely this definition of community that we find in Vila Autódromo, a community established in 1967 by fishermen who used the nearby lake to make a living. This community, neighbouring the city’s racetrack, grew and its residents received deeds for their homes under former governors More >
CAMPO Opens New Paths in the West Zone
Jan 10th
The distance from the city Center of districts like Santa Cruz, Campo Grande, Bangu and others in Rio’s West Zone have always resulted in delayed development of the region, even with regard to programs designed for the urban periphery. Government neglect over many years spurred a group of residents, primarily from the Antares favela in the district of Santa Cruz, to organize themselves back in the 1980s to claim their rights as citizens. Over the years, and with the inclusion of new community leaders, the group solidified, institutionalized, and initiated what is today one of the first and only movements for More >
Programme: Water for Everybody in Andaraí, but is it really for everybody?
Dec 20th
Reprinted from Portuguese article here.
Water for Everybody. When you see it you imagine a genuine project from a serious government and one of the largest water distribution companies in Rio. But in reality, it’s not what it seems. I am going to explain why. My name is Jorge, I was elected (President of the Neighborhood Association) by a community who prides itself on fair and clean elections. Nobody put me arbitrarily in this is role, as was done for years. One year and 3 months ago I was invited to to attend a meeting at the Panamá Municipal School and it More >
