Brazil: We the Favela

Era uma vez... 

by Davi Marcos, of Complexo da Mare - Rio de Janeiro, Brasil 

Saudades eternas, em muros de favelas 

Registros do mal das cidades 

Marcas que saem das almas e se prendem na materialidade 

Última homenagem  

Cansei de ver esta paisagem 

Vou escrever na nossa alma, felicidades eternas 

No asfalto ou nas favelas 

Crio (em minha mente) o foram felizes para sempre... 

Once upon a time… 

Eternal longing in walls of slums 

Records of evil cities 

Marks that leave the souls and hold the materiality 

Last homage 

Tired of seeing this landscape 

I will write on our soul, eternal bliss 

On the asphalt or in the favelas 

I create (in my mind) the happily ever after ... 

Residents of Largo do Tanque were forced from their homes in Rio de Janeiro's West Zone, to make room for the Transcarioca Highway, that will eventually be built to accommodate the 2016 Olympics, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Monday, Feb. 25, 2013.  

Within two weeks, 54 houses were demolished. The City advisor responsible for payment compensation, told residents not to speak with one another or to seek legal advice otherwise he would reduce settlement offers. Many residents agreed to compensations, around R$7000 (US$3500), not nearly enough to afford to buy a plot of land.  

According to the Brazilian Constitution, after five years living in an area, residents have legal rights to their homes. Compensation for their houses should enable residents to attain an equal housing situation elsewhere but oftentimes it does not.  

The West Zone, located west of downtown and beach neighborhoods is often overlooked and is widely known to be run by militia groups, who are former and current police and firefighter personnel that run extortion rings to monopolies.  

This photo essay documents one day in the life of an eviction to show how fleeting a home can be.