Construction Begins in Fortaleza, Comunidades do Trilho Needs Our Support

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We just got word from the Comunidades do Trilho in Fortaleza, Brazil that the Government is moving forward  - illegally - with construction of the proposed light rail line that would destroy 22 neighborhoods in Fortaleza.

The government is escalating intimidation of residents and clearing the way for removals to begin. 

Global sporting events are meant to improve the lives of the people in the host country, yet ahead of the 2014 World Cup 20,000 people in Fortaleza alone stand at risk of losing what they’ve called home for over 70 years. And for what? To make way for outside interests to profit. Unfortunately, we’ve seen this play out in past Olympics and World Cups, but there is still time to make a difference here.

The Government of Brazil, FIFA and World Cup sponsors (including Coca Cola, McDonalds, Adidas) are all complicit in the attempts to tear apart communities ahead of the Cup. Let’s all do what we can to change the course of this event. Please sign the petition here if you haven’t and share however you can.

Sample Tweets:

Brazil beginning to destroy 22 neighborhoods in Fortaleza for 2014 Cup. @FifaWorldCup what will you do to stop this? http://bit.ly/R4HOME

Brazil beginning to destroy 22 neighborhoods in Fortaleza for 2014 Cup. @CocaCola what will you do to stop this? http://bit.ly/R4HOME

Full List of Sponsors: 

Adidas (@adidas), Hyundia (@Hyundai), Emirates Airline (@Flying_Emirates), Sony (@Sony), Visa (@visa), Budweiser (@Budweiser), Castrol Football (@castrolfootball), Johnson & Johnson (@JNJComm), McDonald’s (@McDonalds), Seara.com (@searacom), Yingli Solar (@YGEAmericas), Itaú (@itau), Liberty Seguros (@GrupoLiberty_es), Chocolates Garoto (@chocgaroto), Wise Up (@wiseupvh)

Sample Facebook Post:

It’s happening. The destruction of 22 neighborhoods in Fortaleza, Brazil has begun, all in the name of the 2014 World Cup. Now is more important than ever to share this community’s struggle far and wide. Stay up to date and sign the petition at http://bit.ly/HomeTeamBrazil.

Also, please help circulate this poster by sharing and asking your friends to do the same. (image below)
Not on facebook? Sign up at www.facebook.com and review this how-to-guide to get started!

 

PS – The link to the story in Brazil is in Portuguese, but you can get an idea of what is happening by translating the entire site using Google Chrome or manually Google Translate.

Join us for an online discussion about media arts, major sporting events and displacement

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On November 10th, at 11 AM (PST), The National Alliance for Media Arts and Culture (NAMAC), and Member organization, Line Break Media, will host an online convening with a transnational panel of scholars, organizers, and artists to lend support to Movimento de Luta Em Defesa Da Moradia (MLDM) – featured in Rooting for the Home Team – a grassroots group in Fortaleza, Brazil who are organizing to prevent their community’s displacement ahead of World Cup 2014. Continue reading →

President Blatter and FIFA, can we count on you?

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Today is a big day for football, aka soccer. National teams across the globe are competing to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Thousands of people in Brazil are also wondering today, “will my community still exist when the World Cup comes to town?” We sure hope so. And that is why we are posing this question to FIFA and its president Joseph “Sepp” Blatter, “can we count on you to prevent this displacement?” With so much influence in the process and a mission of social responsibility and having positive impacts on society, we know FIFA can prepare for the Cup without destroying communities and moving residents out of site. Continue reading →

Update from Trilha do Senhor “Trail of the Lord” Community

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Last night, Rooting for the Home Team was played at an assembly of Comunidades do Trilho (22 communities being threatened with removal), in the very same room that the video was shot nine months ago. (photos below) From one community member, “I have no words to thank all the American companions, for this great act of solidarity. We will use this video in everyday resistance and spread it everywhere we can. It will be a real “tool to fight” for the Movement to Fight in Defense of Housing and for all activists in Brazil.” Let’s follow the lead of Trilha do Senhor and Comunidades do Trilho in using this video to fight the planned destruction of these communities!

Be sure to sign the petition on the right side of the page, and keep sharing the video.  Continue reading →

Rooting for the Home Team Launches Today!

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Today we couldn’t be more excited to launch “Rooting for the Home Team”, the video and action campaign.

The short video sheds light on the strength and struggle of Trilha do Senhor – one of 22 communities known as Comunidades do Trilhos – in Fortaleza, Brazil, fighting to remain in the homes they have occupied for generations. Continue reading →