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The Battle For Rio


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In the projects, or favelas, of Rio de Janeiro, former police officers have formed militias to protect inhabitants of the favela. However, in the wake of recent violence, there are reports that the militias are extorting innocent people in exchange for protection from the drug cartels. VC2 Producer Daniel Florencio travels to Rio to investigate.
Dflo

15 responses // The Battle For Rio

  • Well Matt,

    If you tell me it''s not symptomatic that people were afraid and didn''t want their faces on the screen for a story that''d be broadcasted abroad, and not in Brazil, then I''d say I agree with you. But it is symptomatic.

    You see it as my inability to find interviewees (even thought I''ve interviewed a militia member and a elite troop policeman) but I see it is a symptom of the security situation in Rio, therefore, it''s all been kept in the edit.
    Dflo
  • What do you think can be done to protect people in the favelas?
    justvisiting
  • This pod did a great job exploring the problem in the favelas of Rio. Brazil is going through a great change. It is sad to see its people being held back with these kinds of problems. It just shows how much the poor in Brazil are not benefiting from this great economic expansion
    manosalon
  • The people of Rio deserve a chance
    manosalon
  • I didin't get your point.
    i think the video was too confusing... I'm not sure if the militias are good or bad for the people.
    you could've been more direct

    peace
    madeinbrazil
  • Madeinbrazil,

    I could see,from hearing the peoples' opinions, that the majority militias are really not doing that good a job with protecting and serving these communities...they are another form of control, and create situations of violence, fear and dependence, just like the drug lords.

    There seem to be a few good sparks among the bad, however.
    Miyaunna_DeChelle
  • <<Keep your viewers'' sympathies with the people of rio, not your inability to find interviews.>>

    Mcgmatt,

    This is part of something called a "visual story". It helps paint the world in which he has entered.

    That scene was not about him, but was about expressing the person's fear at speaking out to an international audience about what is happening in the favelas.
    Miyaunna_DeChelle
  • I actually had a hard time following this story, and after watching it I was unable to deduct anything from it. It was quite confusing.
    keeshii768
  • This was an AMAZING pod.
    Brazil is a country that almost never gets covered -- let alone the favelas. I had no idea about the "normal" communities in some favelas; i had only heard of the violent and frightening ones.
    I, too, had a hard time comprehending the militia's role (whether it is positive or negative), but maybe that is the point, the militia are rather ambiguous as figures in the favelas.
    Laura
    ltgansta
  • I love anything Brazil...Great pod...Yeah, the documentary is confusing because its birthed out of the problems that exist in Rio's Favelas, which are innately confusing. Just heard of the militias and they do have a different role in the each of the Favelas they control...that is obvious. Always been enamored by the complexity of color in Brazil..I know it is a taboo topic, but I would like to see a pod on the 100% Negro Movement and how it has or has not been received by other Brazilians. Also, what is the perception of Bahia by other Brazilians? It is home to Samba, Capoeira and it is never talked about....why is that?

    Joe Simon (wholovesjoe@gmail.com)
    poorthoughts
  • Madeinbrazil, Keeshi,

    Why is it you need someone telling you "this is good" or "this is bad". Laura got the point, things are not always black or white. Sometimes they're gray... And this is a very good example. The militias are not bad guys. And they're no saints either...

    And it surprises me that you expect a "point of view", or an "answer" from a news feature. Is that how you normally make up your mind on subjects? You expect it to come from television? Why dont you make your own mind?

    Best,
    Dflo
  • No no, i don't think you got what I was trying to say...

    What I was saying was that I didn't understand what was going on..i wasn't looking for an "answer" or a "pint of view" I was just trying to follow your journey and gain some clarity, that is all. I don't even believe that I stated an opinion on how I felt about the militias.
    keeshii768
  • Miyaunna_DeChelle
    You were nice and had a constructive comment. Thnaks for taking the time and explaining more of the issue.

    It's obvious that it was a confusing video, as my and keeshii768's posts proove, and Laura's comment also.

    But I'm sorry Mr. Dflo, don't be so hatefull when people criticize your work.

    Se voce nao quer ser julgado, entao nao se exponha. Ate diria pra nao levar pro lado pessoal, mas se entende assim, infelizmente nao vai tirar proveito da critica construtiva dos outros.
    Se voce nao acha que uma reportagem informativa deve servir de base pra um posicionamento ou entedimento de determinada questao, voce nao entende a filosofia da comunicacao.

    No, I don't make my mind from your pod on a website, exactly because I know that not everyone will deserve my attention and analysis towards their, in my opinion, amateur work.
    There were a bunch of different ways you could have sent the militia message better and you have no call on how people react to it. But definetly, after your rude comment, even if you were to do it again, I'd probably think that you are not deserving of people's curiosity, time and attention.
    madeinbrazil
  • MadeinBrazil,

    I welcome constructive criticism. And none of yours was. And the same way I expose myself by putting myself out there, so do you when you comment on an open forum.

    In your comment you seemed to expect a position about the militias. I dont have a position about the militias.

    And just some misunderstanding I think you might have... Even though I appreciate your time for watching it, I must clarify this is not " just a video on a website". This piece is airing on American and British television on Current TV. And If you think this is an amateur work, yes, its your opinion. This News Feature just won a Bronze Telly Award in the US: http://current.com/topics/88801507_telly_awards_08_winn...

    Best,
    Dflo
  • and you thought this type of crime only happen in south central los angeles
    santana01

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