Walls around the favellas in Rio...

[Red_Storm]

Rio's state government will build seven miles (11 kilometers) of concrete walls around some of the biggest slums in an effort to halt deforestation of the jungle surrounding the metropolis, officials said Tuesday.

Walls reaching 10-foot-high will be built this year around sections of at least 11 slums, said Icaro Moreno, president of the state's public works department. The project will cost $17 million.

Standing atop the Dona Marta slum in the shadow of Rio's famed Christ statue, Moreno pointed to a 100-yard (100-meter) section of the first wall under construction. Work began a few weeks ago.

"Each year that passes we're losing more of the Atlantic rain forest," Moreno said, gesturing toward to the lush green jungle on the other side of the wall. "Now, we're setting limits on where these communities can expand."
Is this the beggining of neofeudalism in Brasil?
New Berlin wall?
Or maybe just a barrier to keep the poor ofshore from the capitalists haeven...

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

Containing uncontrolled sprawl is important. It's important for the proper urbanization of the city and for the preservation of the environment. What the notoriously elitist, right-wing state government of Rio is doing is none of that. It's obvious that this is an attempt to further control the people of these slums that neighbour the wealthiest parts of Rio, where the most affluent residents live, where the luxury hotels are and where the Olympics and World Cup will be held.

[Luís Henrique]

Is this the beggining of neofeudalism in Brasil?

No; people will still be paid a wage for their jobs in industry or commerce.


New Berlin wall?No; there are no people trying to flee a Stalinist dictatorship there.


Or maybe just a barrier to keep the poor ofshore from the capitalists haeven...There is no capitalist heaven for those people, only capitalist hell.

Frankly, while this wall-building mentality is worrysome, I think this measure is actually about two things:

1. Making something - anything - to give the impression the state government actually cares about the crime situation (to earn votes among Rio's middle class);

2. Distributing contracts (for building walls) to the companies that would contribute money to the electoral campaign of the politicians in charge in Rio.

I don't think they will be able to build them.

Luís Henrique