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  • [ April 28, 2026 ] The Who and Why of Sustainability: Without Retraining, Waste Pickers Have Been on Losing End of Greenwashing 14 Years After Closing of ‘Waste Land’ Dump by Community Contributors
  • [ April 21, 2026 ] New ‘Water Watch Platform’ Enables Monitoring and Public Participation in Health and Sanitation in the State of Rio de Janeiro *Highlight
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  • [ April 10, 2026 ] There’s Blood in the Palmeiras Favela: The Cry for Help Police Chose Not to Hear in São Gonçalo’s Salgueiro Favela Complex #UPPWatch
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Writer: Benjamin Parkin

Civil Society

Maré’s Vibrant and Historic Civil Society is Organizing

By Benjamin Parkin • April 10, 2014

Clique aqui para Português With the recent military occupation of the Complexo da Maré, Brazilian and international media have turned their attention to this group of favelas in Rio’s North Zone. Yet Maré and its […]

Photo by Thiago Firmino
#GentrificationWatch

Light’s Abusive Billing and Questionable Service in UPP Favelas

By Benjamin Parkin • April 2, 2014

Clique aqui para Português Light Serviços de Eletricidade S.A. (Light) has long provided electricity–officially and unofficially–to Rio’s favelas. With the installation of Pacifying Police Units (UPPs) (the police occupation of a number of favelas over the […]

#EvictionsWatch

Resistance Continues Following First Demolitions in Vila Autódromo

By Benjamin Parkin, Kate Steiker-Ginzberg • March 25, 2014

Clique aqui para Português On Saturday, March 22, Vila Autódromo experienced what witnesses refer to as the City’s “divide and conquer” strategy: coercive tactics designed to create discord in the community. An injunction filed by […]

#EvictionsWatch

Demolitions Without Warning in Port Region Leave Hundreds Homeless

By Benjamin Parkin • March 11, 2014

Clique aqui para Português More than 250 families are reported to have been left homeless after demolitions at the Bairro 13 occupation in Santo Cristo in of Rio de Janeiro. Residents report that of approximately 500 […]

Civil Society

Cerro-Corá Residents Protest for Favela Rights

By Benjamin Parkin • February 26, 2014

Clique aqui para Português On Sunday February 22, some 20 activists gathered in Praça São Judas Tadeu, outside the bondinho (tram) station leading up to the Christ the Redeemer statue, in Rio’s leafy Cosme Velho […]

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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
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Pastoral de Favelas
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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

  • Home
    • Highlighted Stories
    • Understanding Rio
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  • Communities
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    • South Zone
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  • Policies
    • Public Security
    • Housing
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Health
    • Sanitation
  • Violations
    • Human Rights
    • Housing Rights
    • Police Violence
    • Government Neglect
  • Organizing
    • Community Organizing
    • Community Solution
    • Resistance
    • Sustainability
    • Participation
    • Protest
    • Culture
    • Responsible Tourism
  • Content Map
    • by Community Contributors
    • by Int’l Observers
    • Series
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      • Energy Justice Series
    • Event Reports
    • Video Stories
    • Photo-Essays
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    • Research & Analysis
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    • Listicles
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    • Reference
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    • Translated Articles
  • About
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