By ?
Issue: Oct. 5, 2009
The first thing I noticed about this article was the lack of byline. I flipped to the end of the article, then to the TOC to see if it was just missing, and then it dawned on me that this article about illegal protests and beating of women in Iran is anonymous on purpose and would likely put the author and the author's friends at risk.
The article gives us a little back story about the comparative liberation of women under Reza Shah, when they were accepted to universities, rejected veils, and had more options; and the gradual elimination of these privileges to the point we're at now, where women must be covered and have almost no rights outside their homes.
The current protests against Ahmadinejad include the highest proportion of female participants, despite the severe beatings and inhumane prison treatment that they know they will suffer if arrested.
It's pretty bleak, but inspiring that people are willing to protest given the known consequences of doing so. Our Million Man marches seem like featherbeds in comparison.
My favorite line was about a woman who saves young men from beatings at protests: "She doesn't intervene in the normal way, which is to scream "Don't hit him!" and try to physically restrain the Basiji [militia man]....Instead, she strides over to the protester and admonishes him "Fereydun! I told you not to come out today and make mischeif! Come home immediately" then she hustles him away from the startled Basiji."
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Gangland: Who controls the streets of Rio de janeiro?
by Jon Lee Anderson
Issue: Oct.5, 2009
This article delves into the world of favelas, makeshift Brazilian slums that have sprung up all over the hills of the country. There are now about 1,000 of them, including Cidade de Deus (City of God, where that awesome movie took place).
We focus on one favela, Morro do Dende, where Fernandinho reigns as a mafia-style boss; trafficking drugs, managing his generals, collecting security bribes from local businesses, you know, all the things most senior managers deal with. At his command, entering cars are stopped, raids are conducted, and people are killed or spared.
One interesting note is that despite his limitless power within the favela, he cannot step outside of it since without the protection of his guards, he is a huge target for civil police, military police, rival gangs, and revenge-seekers. He hasn't left his Morro do Dende for 2 years, and "and had been out only twice before that since 2003."
Many of the descriptions of the stacked architecture, open sewers, and "dreadlocked" tangle of stolen electrical wires rang true with my experience visiting a favela in 2003.
The last thing that struck me about the article was that the violence between police and favela lords is relatively recent, and coincides with the shift in perception that the police are just more players in teh same game; taking bribes, offering protection money, and out to make a buck and settle scores.
New Yorker Audio Slide Show
Issue: Oct.5, 2009
This article delves into the world of favelas, makeshift Brazilian slums that have sprung up all over the hills of the country. There are now about 1,000 of them, including Cidade de Deus (City of God, where that awesome movie took place).
We focus on one favela, Morro do Dende, where Fernandinho reigns as a mafia-style boss; trafficking drugs, managing his generals, collecting security bribes from local businesses, you know, all the things most senior managers deal with. At his command, entering cars are stopped, raids are conducted, and people are killed or spared.
One interesting note is that despite his limitless power within the favela, he cannot step outside of it since without the protection of his guards, he is a huge target for civil police, military police, rival gangs, and revenge-seekers. He hasn't left his Morro do Dende for 2 years, and "and had been out only twice before that since 2003."
Many of the descriptions of the stacked architecture, open sewers, and "dreadlocked" tangle of stolen electrical wires rang true with my experience visiting a favela in 2003.
The last thing that struck me about the article was that the violence between police and favela lords is relatively recent, and coincides with the shift in perception that the police are just more players in teh same game; taking bribes, offering protection money, and out to make a buck and settle scores.
New Yorker Audio Slide Show
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