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Latest News
  • [ May 31, 2023 ] Kites in the Air: A Dive into the Morro de Turano Kite Festival by Community Contributors
  • [ May 30, 2023 ] The Champlain Housing Trust: A Community Land Trust at Scale Civil Society
  • [ May 30, 2023 ] Police Brutality Marks Forced Eviction of Homes and Businesses in Rato Molhado Favela in Rio de Janeiro’s North Zone #EvictionsWatch
  • [ May 29, 2023 ] 27th Favela University Forum Meeting in Manguinhos Debates Health Promotion and Knowledge Production by Young Favela Researchers by Community Contributors
  • [ May 26, 2023 ] Rio de Janeiro City Council Launches First Ever Special Commission to Combat Racism *Highlight
HomeWritersAlex Besser

Writer: Alex Besser

#Rio2016

Vila Autódromo ‘Occupies’ the Olympic Park with Celebration and Protest

By Alex Besser • August 19, 2016

Clique aqui para Português Last Saturday, August 13, Vila Autódromo hosted the Vila Autódromo Ocupa Olimpíada (Vila Autódromo Occupies the Olympics) event “to reaffirm its territory, its existence, its resistance and its re-existence.” More than 100 residents and […]

*Highlight

Understanding Rio’s Violence: The Criminalization of Poverty

By Alex Besser, Alix Vadot, Ava Rose Hoffman, Eli Nemzer, Nashwa Al-sharki • August 1, 2016

Clique aqui para Português The criminalization of poverty is a global phenomenon of mistreatment and prejudice faced by the poorest members of society due to their economic circumstances, often influenced by and perpetuating racism and other forms of discrimination. […]

#Rio2016

Amnesty International Protests Police Killings in Olympic Rio

By Alex Besser • July 29, 2016

Clique aqui para Português Amnesty International Brazil organized a surprise action early on Wednesday morning, July 27 to protest the increase in police killings in the lead up to the 2016 Olympics Games. At precisely 10am, a group of demonstrators […]

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« 1 2

  • Rio de Janeiro City Council Launches First Ever Special Commission to Combat Racism
    By Amanda Baroni Lopes • Translation by Cristina Fornara • May 26, 2023
  • Promotional photo from the documentary, “Rio, Negro”
    ‘Rio, Negro’ Documentary Presents the Critical Role of Afro-Brazilian Historical Figures and Little Africa in Building Brazil [FILM REVIEW]
    By Cleyton Santanna • Translation by Angus Beazley • May 13, 2023
  • Rio de Janeiro’s ‘Governor of Massacres’ as an Affront to the ‘Right to the Favela’
    By Tatiana Lima • Translation by Staff • May 7, 2023

  • Understanding Energy Justice and Efficiency in Rio’s Favelas [VIDEO]
    By Jaqueline Suarez • Translation by Pilar Boyero • December 13, 2021
  • Pedra Branca and the Energy Dilemmas of Rio’s Urbanization: From Charcoal to Electricity
    By Antonio Alonso, Iamni Torres Jager • Translation by Trisha Ponti • November 1, 2021
  • Energy That Comes From Waste: Biodigester Turns Sewage into Biogas in Vale Encantado Favela [VIDEO]
    By Jaqueline Suarez • Translation by Saskia Wright • August 1, 2021

RioOnWatch’s anti-racist reporting series won silver in the 2022 inaugural The Anthem Awards, in the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion category among Best Local Awareness Programs.
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About

In May 2010, Catalytic Communities launched what was originally Rio Olympics Neighborhood Watch (hence RioOnWatch), a program to bring visibility to favela community voices in the lead-up to the 2016 Rio Olympics. This news site, RioOnWatch.org, grew into a much-needed and unique reference featuring favela perspectives on the urban transformation of Rio. With diverse and deeply interlinked articles by a mix of community reporters, resident opinions, solidarity reporters, international observers, and academic researchers, we work to engender a more accurate picture of favelas, their contributions to the city, and the potential of favela-led community development in Rio and around the world.

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Fundação Heinrich Böll Brasil
World Habitat
Fideicomiso de la Tierra Caño Martín Peña
Pastoral de Favelas
Center for CLT Innovation
Global Land Alliance
Ecocity Builders
Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation
SDSU Behner Stiefel Center
The Rio Times
Forum Grita Baixada
Beto Paixão Graphic Design
Architecture Museum of Vienna
Yale School of Architecture

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  • Organizing
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