{"id":24323,"date":"2015-09-22T10:56:21","date_gmt":"2015-09-22T13:56:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rioonwatch.org\/?p=24323"},"modified":"2015-09-23T11:26:21","modified_gmt":"2015-09-23T14:26:21","slug":"vila-autodromo-uses-aerial-map-as-resistance-tool-while-demolitions-continue-images-video","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=24323","title":{"rendered":"Vila Aut\u00f3dromo Uses Aerial Map as Resistance Tool While Demolitions Continue [IMAGES & VIDEO]"},"content":{"rendered":"

Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas\"\"<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

On Saturday September 12, residents of Vila Aut\u00f3dromo<\/a> met at the community’s Catholic Church where they were presented with<\/a> an aerial map of their community. The map was composed of 20 photographs selected from 1,238 taken 200 to 300 meters high between 9am-11am on August 15, 2015. The project was part of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro’s MediaLab project #dronehackademy<\/a>, an\u00a0initiative of\u00a0Pablo da Soto, Douglas Monteiro and Marlus Ara\u00fajo with the assistance of community members, and uses GoPro cameras on drones to document rapidly changing\u00a0areas of the city. The objective of Saturday\u2019s event was to explore the possible uses of the aerial map and how it could benefit Vila Aut\u00f3dromo during this intense moment of transformation, due to evictions in the community located adjacent to the future\u00a02016 Olympic Park<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"VA-Aerial-Cartography\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The meeting took place primarily with residents gathered around the aerial\u00a0map. The aerial view invited a sense of globalism to Vila Aut\u00f3dromo while allowing residents to step in and give a local perspective, highlighting\u00a0specific cases of what is happening around each\u00a0area of the community.<\/p>\n

All presentations were made by community members, who spoke freely back and forth, yet were united\u00a0in their message.\u00a0As has been characteristic of Vila Aut\u00f3dromo’s long held\u00a0and enviable\u00a0resistance<\/a>, new leaders emerged, ranging in age from 20 to 80. Approximately 100 families still inhabit the community, some awaiting compensation offers they feel are just, while others\u00a0await an upgrading\u00a0plan\u00a0promised to them by Mayor Eduardo Paes<\/a>\u00a0in 2013 and confirmed publicly by Paes\u00a0as recently as last month<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Vila Aut\u00f3dromo has always been\u00a0a safe, self-sufficient and affordable community, reasons why many people chose to live there, and why many planned to live out their lives there. Resident Dona Dalva<\/a> spoke of her 25 years living in the community and that she has not only her grandchildren living there but great-grandchildren as well.<\/p>\n

Community leader Nat\u00e1lia said<\/a>: \u201cThey are not only expropriating\u00a0houses, they are expropriating\u00a0life stories too.”<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s one big family,\u201d Dona Dalva added. The feeling of family among remaining community members was palpable as they hugged each other while reflecting collectively over the map.<\/p>\n

A number of demolitions are scheduled to take place this week in Vila Aut\u00f3dromo.\u00a0One community member asserted his house will be the only one left on the block.<\/p>\n

Since the aerial images were taken one month ago 20 houses have been demolished. The entrance of Vila Aut\u00f3dromo has been removed<\/a> to make way for a hotel construction project. According to residents, there is a road project planned which will cut straight through their land. They plan to contest it. \u00a0The community members feel\u00a0they are being \u201csquashed\u201d as each week brings a new wall, barrier or other limit to the community. Moreover, the loss of their entrance and welcoming signage has made it feel like the government \u201cis removing the community’s identity,” Nat\u00e1lia said.<\/p>\n

\"Vila<\/a><\/p>\n

Psychological pressures<\/a>\u00a0escalate as the community is forced to live among cracked pipes and the remains of houses and belongings. These pressures affect residents’ resolve as many who once thought they would never move have accepted compensation<\/a> or replacement apartments in the nearby Parque Carioca<\/a> housing project. Ultimately this creates a sense of fear which is felt to be a key\u00a0strategy of the municipal government.<\/p>\n

Major Eduardo Paes has upheld<\/a>\u00a0to the community on multiple occasions that those wanting to stay can do so, and the core part of the community is not marked for eviction. At least 30 remaining families in Vila Aut\u00f3dromo are set on staying regardless of circumstances or compensation as they insist on making good on\u00a0this promise. \u201cIf we residents don’t take a stand, who will?” Nat\u00e1lia argued.<\/p>\n

The aerial map sparked a dialogue amongst Vila Aut\u00f3dromo’s remaining residents, opening up a space for individuals to speak up and share their stories. Many reminisced about buildings, houses and daily events while others imagined the could-have-beens. The event concluded with the idea that the map could be used to create an \u201cimagined\u201d community as well as something children could participate in and overall be symbol of unity for the community.<\/p>\n

Images from Vila Aut\u00f3dromo, September 12, 2015:<\/h3>\n