Will the “renaissance” of Rio favelas with UPPs survive the 2104 / 16 international sports events?
The issues surrounding security and urbanization in Rio favelas has grown tremendously with the announcement of the two worldwide events that Brazil will be hosting, the 2014 Fifa World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics. Beginning in 2008, Pacifying Police Units ( Portuguese: Unidade de Polícia Pacificadora) abbreviated UPP, began to...
more »
The issues surrounding security and urbanization in Rio favelas has grown tremendously with the announcement of the two worldwide events that Brazil will be hosting, the 2014 Fifa World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics. Beginning in 2008, Pacifying Police Units ( Portuguese: Unidade de Polícia Pacificadora) abbreviated UPP, began to...
more »
Will the “renaissance” of Rio favelas with UPPs survive the 2104 / 16 international sports events?
The issues surrounding security and urbanization in Rio favelas has grown tremendously with the announcement of the two worldwide events that Brazil will be hosting, the 2014 Fifa World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics. Beginning in 2008, Pacifying Police Units ( Portuguese: Unidade de Polícia Pacificadora) abbreviated UPP, began to be implemented within various favelas in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The UPP is a law enforcement and social services program aimed at reclaiming territories controlled by drug traffickers. But little is being said that the UPP program has only secured funding up until 2016, provoking suspicions that its only purpose is to temporarily stem violence until the Olympics and World Cup are over and the tourists return home.
The real estate 'boom' in Rio after the city was chosen for the events has affected tremendously the prices all over the city, including many favelas, mainly those in the south zone of the city. Favela do Vidigal, for instance, a pacified slum since January 2012, having a wonderful view of Ipanema beach, taking into consideration its potential tourism, currently has the 21th most valued square meter of the city, costing an average as much as almost twice of the city´s average. In Complexo do Alamao, a group of pacified favelas in northern Rio, a Gondola lift built by the Leitner-Poma group allows residents a faster commute.It is popularly called "Bondinho do Alemao", in reference to the more famous Sugarloaf Mountain's cable cars and Santa Teresa Tramway, both also called bondinho. It is the first mass transit aerial lift passenger system in Brazil and has become a popular destination for foreign tourists on the weekends. At Favela Santa Marta, the first one to have an UPP in 2008, English signs indicating the location of attractions are posted throughout the community, samba schools are open, and viewing stations have been constructed so tourists can take advantage of Rio de Janeiro's vista. Residents have also been trained to serve as tour guides.
This is a photo essay done inside several Rio de Janeiro favelas offering a fresh and new portrayal of Rio's underprivileged communities that are far more than the habitats often misrepresented by drug lords and criminals. Much of Brazilian culture originated in Rio’s favelas. Samba, funk and hip hop culture evolved there. Carnival in Rio depends on the “samba schools” created inside the favelas. One can clearly feel the “aura of fiesta” in most favelas, despite of the social problems. Most dwellers are proud of their place and do not wish to leave. There is a kind of renovation, a vibrant transformation on how outside people see the favelas and their dwellers see themselves. Brazilians and cariocas in particular hope this process does not stop and recede after the international sports events are over.
« less
The issues surrounding security and urbanization in Rio favelas has grown tremendously with the announcement of the two worldwide events that Brazil will be hosting, the 2014 Fifa World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics. Beginning in 2008, Pacifying Police Units ( Portuguese: Unidade de Polícia Pacificadora) abbreviated UPP, began to be implemented within various favelas in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The UPP is a law enforcement and social services program aimed at reclaiming territories controlled by drug traffickers. But little is being said that the UPP program has only secured funding up until 2016, provoking suspicions that its only purpose is to temporarily stem violence until the Olympics and World Cup are over and the tourists return home.
The real estate 'boom' in Rio after the city was chosen for the events has affected tremendously the prices all over the city, including many favelas, mainly those in the south zone of the city. Favela do Vidigal, for instance, a pacified slum since January 2012, having a wonderful view of Ipanema beach, taking into consideration its potential tourism, currently has the 21th most valued square meter of the city, costing an average as much as almost twice of the city´s average. In Complexo do Alamao, a group of pacified favelas in northern Rio, a Gondola lift built by the Leitner-Poma group allows residents a faster commute.It is popularly called "Bondinho do Alemao", in reference to the more famous Sugarloaf Mountain's cable cars and Santa Teresa Tramway, both also called bondinho. It is the first mass transit aerial lift passenger system in Brazil and has become a popular destination for foreign tourists on the weekends. At Favela Santa Marta, the first one to have an UPP in 2008, English signs indicating the location of attractions are posted throughout the community, samba schools are open, and viewing stations have been constructed so tourists can take advantage of Rio de Janeiro's vista. Residents have also been trained to serve as tour guides.
This is a photo essay done inside several Rio de Janeiro favelas offering a fresh and new portrayal of Rio's underprivileged communities that are far more than the habitats often misrepresented by drug lords and criminals. Much of Brazilian culture originated in Rio’s favelas. Samba, funk and hip hop culture evolved there. Carnival in Rio depends on the “samba schools” created inside the favelas. One can clearly feel the “aura of fiesta” in most favelas, despite of the social problems. Most dwellers are proud of their place and do not wish to leave. There is a kind of renovation, a vibrant transformation on how outside people see the favelas and their dwellers see themselves. Brazilians and cariocas in particular hope this process does not stop and recede after the international sports events are over.
« less