By Stephen Eisenhammer, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The 22nd Police Pacification Unit (UPP) has been inaugurated for the favela communities of Adeus and Baiana, which neighbor Complexo do Alemão in Rio de Janeiro’s Zona Norte (North Zone), where pacification forces have struggled to curtail drug trafficking and violence. The inauguration was led [...]
By Lacy Edney, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – For those who want to visit the Cidade Maravilhosa and do more then soak in the beach, there are a host of NGOs (non-profit organizations) that offer volunteer opportunities in many favelas and underprivileged communities. In a city offering a wide variety of beauty, landscapes [...]
By Esmee Verbeek, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Rocinha is often considered to be the largest favela community in Brazil, and with an estimated 150,000 residents, sits close to the wealthy Zona Sul (South Zone) neighborhoods of São Conrado and Leblon. After a massive pacification effort of the area in November, Rocinha has [...]
By Fiona Hurrell, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Almost one and a half years after occupation by the Brazilian Army, the favelas of Complexo do Alemão and Penha in Rio’s Zona Norte (North Zone) are still awaiting the installation of Police Pacification Units (UPPs). The transition, which was originally scheduled for October 2011, [...]
By Stephen Eisenhammer, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The pacification of Rio’s largest favela – Rocinha – as well as neighboring Vidigal in November 2011, has had a dramatic effect on the communities, causing much interest in real estate developers. Yet while the pacification has affected the sense of security in neighboring Leblon [...]
By Laura Madden, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Federal Police arrested eleven people last Thursday, February 16th including an ex-commander of the Police Pacification Unit (UPP), accused of involvement in drug trafficking in Morro de São Carlos, a favela in Estácio, Zona Norte (North Zone). According to the Federal Police (PF), ex-commander captain [...]
By Ben Tavener, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Between 2010 and 2020 Rio de Janeiro will need to invest some R$15.8 billion (US$9.15 billion) in both public investment and private funding to modernize and expand its transport network, develop favelas and underground gas supply lines. That is the conclusion of a host [...]
By Eliza Preston, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – With the apparent success of Police Pacification Units (UPPs) in nineteen favelas communities in Rio, there has been much speculation over what steps the government will take to integrate these newly liberated communities within the State. The announcement on January 5th to establish centers for [...]
By Chris Hieatt, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL Gamboa, along with Santo Cristo and Saúde, is one of the oldest boroughs of Rio. It was originally settled by the aristocracy, due to the attractive position on the shores of Guanabara Bay, but lost its glamour when the docks were built. Along with this history, [...]
By Ben Tavener, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives John Boehner visited one of Rio’s favelas yesterday, as part of the three-day official visit to Brazil. Boehner visited the Vidigal community in Rio’s Zona Sul (South Zone), which was recently taken back from drug traffickers is a high-profile [...]
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