Segregation Flag 1

SegregACTION Bandeira 1 Rio de Janeiro "The Marvelous City" Marvelous city, for whom? What's missing is an integrated effort on the part of the government to get these people out of this situation. It's easy for them to come when it catches fire, and then simply go away. And leave the people here abandonned, without anything. The people continue to live here, suffering. They are asking for, looking for, a better quality of life. But the state does not seek to offer this better quality of life. Promises, well, everyone promises. Now, to fulfill those promises is complicated. Until now, we have not seen any real measures taken by the state to bring a better quality of life here. The quality of life that people here are working hard for. That the people here truly want. On May 15th, 2013, the community of Bandeira 1, located in the North Zone of the city of Rio de Janeiro, was victim of a terrible fire that left dozens of families homeless. It's very sad. When the fire started, I was sleeping. When I woke up, the fire had already spread all over my house. My house could not be saved. Luckily, I kept my important documents underneath the mattress. The only thing I managed to salvage in terms of clothes was my uniform because it was separate from the rest on top of the shoe holder. My work uniform, my purse and my documents. I wasn't able to save anything else. And from that day on, I am just like this. The way you are seeing me right now. I am sleeping here, in the church. Nobody helped me, I didn't get anything from anyone. I went to my work on Tuesday and I borrowed money to buy a toothbrush and toothpaste and 3 underwear because I was without anything. And just like this, I am managing to survive. I am getting some help from Betty. Kelly is also helping me. The people here are helping each other. It is very...It is very emotional to come here like this and remember things the way they were. I don't know, it is just very emotional. I've lived here for 4 years. I left in the morning and when I came back all of my things were burnt. Nobody had a solution. I asked for tools. I am...I am without a future... I wake up at 5:00 in the morning to see how things are. Let me tell you something, when I go to work, I will lose everything here. If i lose this, I have no means to rent a place. I work random jobs here and there. Some days there is work and other days there is not. Sometimes I can't find work for an entire year. I am 58 years old, I never lived through something like this. I've stopped working and have unfinished construction, like I told you. It's really tough. Someone needs to come take a position in support of us. The government only knows how to come here to ask for votes. During election time, candidates come by here to ask for votes. But when we actually need their help, nobody comes. Nobody, man. I am going to be honest, I am not going to vote for anybody again. From now on, when I vote, I will spoil my ballot. Actually, I am not even going to vote. I am really upset about this. Our house was not destroyed since the fire didn't spread to here, thank God. We are helping the people that are still waiting for their (social rent) checks, to be able to rebuild their lives nearby. If we didn't think about them and just took our checks, do you think they would receive their checks as fast as they will now? For the consideration and solidarity that we must have for the others, we did not leave. But as soon as the last check has been delivered, we will all leave this place, thank God. A city worker came here, saying they were going to demolish homes. But how are you going to demolish a home if the person doesn't have a check to pay rent? It's already not much. It is only R$400. Ok? It's only a cheque of R$400. A person who rents out a house will ask for the rent of R$400 plus two deposits. Or R$600 and two deposits. The people who own and rent out the house, knowing that social rent is R$400, will charge R$600. Do you see how things work here? They will charge R$600. And another thing, I am waiting, myself and the vice-president of the Neighborhood Association, just to receive the checks of the residents. Afterwards, when they receive their checks, everyone will go to their respective corner. Nobody wants to build anything here, nobody wants to live here anymore. Enough suffering. There has been a lot of suffering here. We are suffering even to receive these checks. It is too much. Ok? Now, they will have to resolve this. In the case of Manguinhos, I was told--because I can't see everything, the president and vice-president can't see everything-- that in the case of Manguinhos, many people went there to see about documents, and they had to wait in line to register themselves, to get a house. Now, the City wants to put a bunch of names on the list, without properly reviewing these names. They need to review. They need to see who is and who is not from the community, they need to search, and investigate calmly. The only thing that the city should have done, is come to me and the vice-president to get the documents, and not go registering people at random. Do you understand what I am trying to say? This is what I want, only this. Justice, things done the right way. Everyone gets what they deserve. They can't just say, "There are so many families, 148 families, and that's it. The rest come here." That's not how it works. They need to call on people, the community leaders, like myself and Ba, to make sure people receive things fairly. I want justice. It has been eight years that I work here. The city owes me an explanation. They need to respect my word and that of the vice-president. The situation here is very bad. Let me tell you, here, the situation is way below the poverty line. In Rio de Janeiro, the demolition of popular housing is included among the housing policies of current officials in the 'Marvelous City.' Social rent is offered which continues to feed the spacial segregation that exists between the suburbs and the city. I would like the new house to have a room for me, a room for my siblings, and a room for my grandmother. When we lived in the other house, everybody slept together. There wasn't even enough room for us to sleep. I would like it to be pretty. All...pretty! We would like to thank the residents of the Bandeira 1 community for their hospitality and interviews. Justice! Treat the residents of Bandeira 1 fairly. We are still suffering today. Subtitles by: Sarah De Rose | RioONWatch.org