Slum or Progress?

This pod is a compelling reminder of the conditions faced by nearly all impoverished communities in the world. There are millions of similar stories, and just like theirs, the same persuasive force of progress which threatens their homes and lives.

Unfortunately, renovating Villa 31 would probably be more costly and time consuming to the city of Buenos Aires than completely destroying it and building luxury apartment buildings.

As money is the primary concern of the proposed project, I doubt there will be any effort to see Villa 31's residents compensated for their losses.

you can watch the documentary- en construcció
online here.

http://www.megavideo.com/?v=ZUR7E08T

Another great documentary about gentrification in Barcelona's Barrio Chino.

here is a youtube link to an interview with the films director -Jose Luis Guerin

the film is called- En Construcció

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmh6-j9Eg0M

if you can check-out a quiet, beautiful film from argentina obliquely about this part of the city. It was made by maria victoria menis and was released in 2004. I got the chance to met the producer and husband of the director when he came to san fransico international film festival where I was working as a festival driver.

el cielito, (2004)

http://www.elcielitofilm.com/inicio.htm

great pod about an important issue in BA. so happy this is finally on air!

I think that if they are to do any renovations or create better living area for "other" people that they could give those that live there a chance and allow them to live in the new development at a reduced rate for awhile. Give stipulations that if they abide by certain rules and such they can continue to live there at the reduce rate...as long as they living there would create a slum in the new development.

I believe that would be fair and it would be an awesome investment for the city to look as great as it does elsewhere.

Great pod. Informative.

Villa 31 is an unfortunate common reality in many parts of the world...

The City should be ashamed of not providing the very basics. It wasn't clear from this video that they really cared about these people...

The biggest struggle I see is against discrimination. When change comes it must include a mixed-use solution. Too may poor people confined to an area weakens the fight.

Imagine releasing the potential of a community that put up its own power and sewer!

Viva la Villa 31

It is horrible for these people to live like this, how are they building these places, do they own the land or are they just building a home and then moving there? The treatment of people to have to live without running water in a city is horid. Maybe the city can relocate them into a neighborhood with running water in order to be able to proceed with the project and improve their lives as well. There has to be some way to use the project o improve the lives of the people through tax dollars already going into the plan. Maybe this new city manager is smart enough to come up an innovative way to reorganize the project to benefit the people who would have to move.