Living in the Crossfire: Favela Residents, Drug Dealers, and Police Violence in Rio de Janeiro (Voices of Latin American Life)

For all of Brazil's efforts to reduce poverty-and its progress-the favelas in Rio de Janeiro still house one-third of the city's poor, and violence permeates every aspect of the city. As urban drug gangs and police wage war in the streets, favela residents who are especially vulnerable live in fear of being caught in the crossfire. Politicians, human rights activists, and security authorities have been working to minimize the social and economic problems at the root of this war. "Living in the Crossfire" presents impassioned testimony from officials, residents, and others in response to the ongoing crisis. Maria Helena Moreira Alves and Philip Evanson provide vivid accounts from grieving mothers and members of the police working to stop the war and, among officials, from Brazil's President Luis Inicio Lula da Silva, who discusses his efforts to improve public security. a For all of Brazil's efforts to reduce poverty-and its progress-the favelas in Rio de Janeiro still house one-third of the city's poor, and violence permeates every aspect of the city. As urban drug gangs and police wage war in the streets, favela residents who are especially vulnerable live in fear of being caught in the crossfire. Politicians, human rights activists, and security authorities have been working to minimize the social and economic problems at the root of this "war." Living in the Crossfire presents impassioned testimony from officials, residents, and others in response to the ongoing crisis. Maria Helena Moreira Alves and Philip Evanson provide vivid accounts from grieving mothers and members of the police working to stop the war and, among officials, from Brazil's President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva, who discusses his efforts to improve public security. Introduction Part I: Rio de Janeiro : the marvelous city and the communities Rio de Janeiro, the marvelous city : economic growth Living in the Favelas in the 21st century: traditions and challenges Testimony : communities under fire Testimony : voices of hope and renewal Voices of community leaders : Carlinhos Costa of Rocinha Of faith and good works. This work explores communities organizing to end Brazil's urban war on drugs. The book presents impassioned testimony from officials, residents, and others in response to the ongoing crisis