A Sustainable Favela in the Heart of Rio’s Urban Forest
May 18th
Nestled amongst the trees in the Tijuca Forest—the largest urban forest in the world—lies a community where the forest has grown around the houses and residents care for it, creating a natural and hidden refuge from the bustling city of Rio de Janeiro surrounding below. The community of Vale Encantado, or Enchanted Valley in English, began over one hundred years ago as a rural community where residents worked on nearby farms and plantations. Later on, the land nearby was used as a stone quarry which closed in 1962. Today it is a community determined to survive under the gaze of More >
Favelas Side by Side with Rio +20
May 14th
Original published in Viva Favela here.
It was January. A hot, sunny Saturday. The thermometer marked 41°C (106°F). Everything suggested that this would be a perfect day at the beach. And it was, except for those who decided to get together in the neighborhood of Rocha Miranda, a Rio suburb, where the 3rd Community Conference on Environmental Health took place. The conference counted with the presence of City Councilman Edson da Creatinina, chairman of Rio+20’s Parliamentary Commission, as well as members of the municipal Environment Secretary. At the event, environmental activists, representatives of residents associations from various favela communities across Rio and, More >
Gentrifying the ‘Slave Quarters’
May 11th
I edit a blog about Vidigal, Vidiga!. For some time I’ve been walking through the favela and hearing about the construction of a small luxury hotel, more precisely in the spectacular viewpoint area of Arvrão, and designed by renowned architect Hélio Pellegrino.
Rumor has it that the construction site and work being done are in a risky area, and that the soil is too unstable for such heavy a job – because, despite the hotel to-be having only two floors, there will also be rooftop pool.
And, behold: on Wednesday, an article was published by the newspaper O Globo in which the architect exposed More >
Favela do Metrô Terrorized through Drawn-out Eviction
May 9th
RioOnWatch was the first news site to report on the brutal Favela do Metrô eviction back in November 2010. A year and a half later we revisit the scene to see how residents have faired. Slideshow is also available.
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Two years on from the first announcements that their houses would be cleared to make way for World Cup 2014 developments, residents of Favela do Metrô are still living through the brutal, drawn out destruction of their community.
A stone’s throw from the world famous Maracanã stadium, Favela do Metrô was founded 33 years ago by workers from the Northeast of Brazil hired to build More >
Gross National Happiness @ Rio+20
May 7th
Original post in Portuguese here.
Made visible for the first time around 40 years ago in Bhutan, the GNH index – Gross National Happiness – is an alternative to the GDP – Gross Domestic Product – and endeavors to measure a country’s development rate through non-monetary activities, such as general well-being, balanced time use, freedom of expression, family relationships and the relationship with the environment.
Last Friday, May 4, a news report produced by the Rio Reporter TV program, appeared on television talking of the GNH, with the participation of economist and Cieds President Vandré Brilhante. The TV station’s request for the More >
