Housing, Social Justice & Olympics: Global Legacy, Local Futures
The city of Rio de Janeiro has spent billions in anticipation for upcoming mega-events. This spending is called “Building the City” by many, but unfortunately has been largely done without prioritizing the needs of Rio’s citizens. While this has been felt throughout the city and across socio-economic lines, the most devastating outcome of this “Building the City” has been widespread housing removals and destruction of many favela communities. In some instances, the government has offered alternative housing for families. While this can be seen in a positive light, it does not address the real issue here: the collapse of communities in which experiences and memories are created, and through which people identify themselves.
Being outside of the formal sector, people living in favelas have constructed their houses, their surroundings, their realities, and their communities themselves, together, for themselves and for each other. That is not something that can be recreated by a social program. To tear these communities apart is to violate the human rights of those who created and are living in them. It is urgent that these violations be addressed, not just for the sake of those who face removal, but also for the integrity of the city as a whole.
Join this timely discusson as new voices are heard and we seach for integrity moving forward.
