A Short Reflection...

When I'm in Brazil I can't worry about my friends in the same way I can as when I'm away from Brazil.  When I'm in Brazil each decision I make about taking my camera into controversial situations, seems like a big one when I'm making it, and an even bigger one when I get home, and allow myself to regret not having the footage.  One comfort is my accommodations in Rio.  There is a beautiful view of the beach, and each morning rain or shine, I can take a moment for reflection, and pray for guidance, just like I do in the peace of my own home.  Another comfort is that the empirical evidence that I bring to each viewer helps them to make more informed decisions about how they interpret the media, the politicians, the police, and the government in Brazil.

I go to a friend's house there and I initially "poo-poo" his decision to have his own personal bank in a cabinet, until I hear about "money laundering" crack downs in Rio.  I am a woman but I am still unbelievably naive about the world but I know that God watches over fools and children.

I am walking with my fear in one hand, and my camera in the other, and my eyes seeking to capture the p.o.v. of human to human.

Transition continues...

Everything is changing in Brazil right now, particularly in Rio.  As far as transportation is concerned the public bus system's almost two year reorganization has become fully accepted.  As far as actually getting around in the city, however the situation is far from organized as more and more newly middle-class citizens purchase cars, the traffic problems in Rio have surpassed traffic in Warsaw, Palermo, Marseille, Sao Paolo, Rome, Paris, and Stockholm, making Rio third on the list of world's worst traffic behind, Istanbul and Moscow.

What this will mean for the thousands of people coming to Rio is a daunting thought.  Brazilians have their own way of doing things, and as was experienced during the recent visit by the Pope Francis, when their systems break down, there are unique problems.  When trains went out of service visitors were left scrambling to attend his final mass which took place on Copacabana Beach.  One of the main problems remains the language barrier.  Unlike, China which prepared well in advance for their influx of tourist for the Olympics by installing information booths on street corners manned by university students and bi-lingual elders, which I found extremely helpful when I visited Shanghai and Beijing approximately 10 days before the Olympics.  Brazil, however does not seem to be fully prepared. Although free English courses are available in some areas, and made available through NGOs, there is often no time, and/or money for family members to attend classes consistently.  Instead more and more citizens are working multiple jobs, especially during the high tourist season to afford the recent increases in food, and other basic needs like electricity and water.  The repeated teacher's strikes resulting from a apparent lack of respect for education, also seems to present a major challenge for the population.  When children are out of school, Brazil's workforce is challenged to find dependable childcare, and this is in addition to the fact that school is already only a half day in Brazil.

Promises made...

One promise made that has become more than just an empty one is the demolition, of much of the urban blight in "Centro", the downtown area of Rio.

Urban blight is turned into...

 ...an art installation at the Museo de Arte de Rio,

to make room for the transformation of the port area.

Promises are being made last but not least is the Linhe 4 for the trains which will take you from the center of Rio, through the favela of Rocinha and into Sao Conrado...we shall see if this comes into fruition.

Host City Blues...

On an ill-afforded trip to London, this past weekend I found little evidence to support the British press claims that they are one of the few how cities to make sports buildings profitable.  An almost empty Queen Elizabeth's Olympic Park, did not convince me that British press was doing any better than numerous other host cities.  The worker's outnumbered the visitors 2 to 1, and the worker's seemed nonplussed to see a lone camerawoman documenting their labor.  It reminded me of the wizard of OZ making sure no one saw behind his facade.

Meanwhile Brazilians living in London, were in full support of the strikes, and even the riots which they believe are effectively timed because of the attention the country is claiming via the World Cup 2014 and the Olympics 2016.  It was in Rio, the "Marvelous City" back in June 2013 that the first of the PAC 2 promises was made to use recent investment to bring water and waste improvements;  transportation; and other upgrades to infrastructure.   Now its the end of October and those promises are extending to other regions in the country.  The question is will these promises mean actual long-term improvements for teachers and health industry professionals, in time for Brazilians to re-focus, on creating opportunities for local entrepreneurs, and/or training the service, and tourism industry in the most common language English.  

The demonstrations have been escalating from the relative calm of effigies, and banners

...to actual bullets in Police guns and an increase in broken property. 

Aside from the riots, Brazilians in London for the most part are very realistic in realizing that the back to back World Cup 2014 and then Olympics 2016, is almost to big a bite to chew.  I repeatedly heard a sentiment that I fully agree with "its people that will make these two events possible.  Various Brazilians that I spoke with brought up their forgiving nature, and the ability to give everyone their undivided attention at that moment, that will be the saving grace of this "Double Host" country.

Help!!!

There is a picture in my computer of a woman created by a graffiti artist that I hate, and yet I respect that the artist is bringing attention to a harsh reality in Brazil, and in a lot of countries of color.

Why is the darker woman always demonized?  Why is there a saying that Brazilians prefer the lighter skinned women to marry, and the darker skinned women to have as a mistress, or more bluntly for sex?

I can't help the way I feel about this image because I am a darker skinned sister, and my gut reaction every time I see this image, whether it be in my computer, or from a van/bus going up Avenida Niemeyer in Rio.  

I can't decide if its the negative energy coming out of the eyes, or the almost pointed ears, that makes me think of evil, and I'm not sure what this artist meant to represent.  What I have come to respect is that having seen numerous graffiti artist retag or paint over old work, this image has not been changed significantly in the past three years since it came to my attention.  Are the other artist acknowledging something that they respect in the artistry displayed here, or is there a another reason this image has not been changed.  I venture to guess that its because a lot of the Brazilian graffiti is in your face about the negative aspects of their culture, as well as the positive and they realize that this stereotype of the dark skinned woman is a reality in Brazilian culture. 

Another image that I find offensive is a graffiti artist's work I found in Sao Paolo.

I can not presume to know what the artist meant by this image, but the fact that the woman is faceless and represented naked and semi-starved is not beautiful to me personally.  I constantly fight with my own weight issues and again as a darker skinned woman maybe I'm over sensitive, but why doesn't she have a face, or feet?  Questions like these plague me, yet I also respect both artist because they've brought a very real part of Brazilian culture to light.

SPIRIT

A person that I respect said that the three entities that they hate the most in Brazil are the government, the press and the police.  I think that when anyone, anywhere is made to feel powerless then, that person would share in that feeling.  I am close to people that are living and working in Rio, and I know that they are truly torn.

They would like to believe in the promises these groups make however, when they try and communicate by peaceful means they are largely ignored, and then peaceful demonstrations are escalated into violent acts by people (be it the government, or the police, or the press) that want to sway public opinion for capitalist reasons.  Sure, if everyone demonstrating was supporting radical behavior then eventually the capitalist will without conscience do whatever they want...plow the favelas, and continue the meritocracy that has been the norm, but some people still see the merit in organized protest.  They don't stand behind a name like Black Bloc, but they want to fight while they have the worlds attention.  Its a catch-22.

What is the mother to do who needs to know that at least for the few hours of education the government provides for her child, the child is in the hands of people that are fairly compensated, and motivated to be responsible.  How can the average citizen, that can't afford private schools able to benefit from the World Cup or the Olympics, if they are constantly in emergency childcare mode.

The government is continuing to make promises as is pictured below:

When will the government, the press and police start to REALLy protect the people against, the irresponsible reporting of violence.  I am not a fan of misrepresenting the truth or restraining the press but someone has to realize that the victims are the people of Brazil, whose fight against inflation on top of poor education, inadequate postal services, insufficient medical services, and corruption have a lot of people strained to their limit.  Why are the news articles about the broken promises not picked up by the World News?  Is the President trying to make changes for the people?  I still think she is, but I realize that as foreign doctors, and foreign oil/dock workers, and foreign tourism companies flood the country, Cariocas can't help but feel left out of they wave of improvements.

Its a muddy situation, but one that must become transparent because, after the World Cup, the Olympics are right around the corner.  The light at the end of the tunnel is the resiliency of the Brazilian spirit.  They are a people that have been fighting against oppression throughout their history beginning with colonization, and continuing in some form until present day, but they still maintain a sense of community, in spite of the hardships they endure.  I'm putting my money on that spirit, a spirit of forgiveness and giving, and I repeat, community that sets them apart.

Here in the States I can finally lift my head from the shame of our government shutdown.  I can completely relate to the distrust of the press, the government and the police, that my brothers and sisters in Brazil deal with everyday.

B is for Brazil....

Each time I go to Brazil, I get an insider's view of what the people in Rio are going through having usually spent a month, sometimes 3 weeks away, reading the propaganda put out by the media, or the PR from FIFA, or seeing the raw footage such as the link below:

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/brazil/130618/protests-in-brazil-rio-police-video

Yes, the middle class students have the time and money to demonstrate.  I admire them for being willing to fight for change, but I admire more the mothers that fight to feed their families and keep their children in school, and the families that fight to take care of their loved ones, that don't have access to proper medical and healthcare.  

I know of a prominent family that has one daughter that needs mental healthcare.  Sometimes she's doing well, and then sometimes she needs medication, and is drinking and smoking and getting disrespected in her own neighborhood.  If there are not enough doctors for physical or mental healthcare, what are families meant to do.  Brazilians unlike many people are not going to stay home, and hide, and complain after-the-fact that their government is spending too much money for show, and not enough for infrastructure, as is the case with the citizens of many host countries of large sporting events.  I've mentioned in past post that Brazilians are happier with less, but I believe that having the courage to speak out when they are wronged is part of what helps them be a balanced society.  They are fighting against a history of colonization, and corruption that has a long history, and as they prepare to celebrate their Independence Day 9/7/13; it will not be while wearing rose colored glasses.  

My experience is in Rio, and I see the police in the favelas, and the rising price of goods, and the effect of bad press on the exchange rate for Reals (Brazilian currency) and I see strong people not sitting down but fighting for equality, for justice, and the right to be heard.  I don't see violence and instability, I see families fighting for a better life.  The Rio I see is like a maze, the people are going through the challenges of hype and broken promises, such as PAC One and PAC Two, but they are bettering themselves in spite of these challenges.  

So if I meet someone in Santa Marta whose been displaced, and promised a new residence, that complains to any and everyone that will listen.  I admire those people.  If there is a person in the tourism industry that isn't allowed to plan or forecast their bookings for the World Cup, more than likely they'll find some other way to make money that is not restricted by corporations or government.  

As a documentary filmmaker, at some point I wish I could make a difference for people going through the challenges mentioned above, but my current understanding of documentary filmmaking is that I should present as many points of view as possible so that the real drama of a situation shines through.  

Though I have primarily been present to document the triumphs and developments in my core subjects lives, I have come to realize that I must also include the experiences and points of view of citizens from other host cities, and speak to them about what the impact has been for places like England, and South Africa, and China; to give a frame of reference for any trying to understand WHY BRAZIL?

I have a rich life, and I am blessed to share these experiences in this forum.  Some people get it and some people.

The Shortest Post...

I recently read that aside from the character development, the conflict and the conflict resolution, an important part of a documentary is the filmmaker's reason for making the film.  WHY BRAZIL? is important to me because it is my way of sharing why I come to Brazil, and that is that based on the concept that the only poor people are those people that constantly need more.  In Brazil, I have learned to be happy with less, to be grateful for every moment.  I am still learning.  I have had the pleasure of helping my subjects with some small aspects of their projects, and I hope they realize that I learn from them constantly, and opportunity to constantly learn continues to be WHY BRAZIL?