by Carmen C

Created on: February 16, 2007   Last Updated: April 19, 2007

The very definition of poverty takes on a whole new meaning when explored from a far different perspective. Being poor in the United States, in many ways, consists of a far better life than what others experience. Here, we're used to Section 8, Welfare, SSI, Food Stamps, and miscellaneous forms of assistance even if its through panhandling on the subway. A far worse poverty is found in the slums, or favelas, of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

Brazil brings to mind the breathtaking statue of Jesus opening his arms atop a mountain to the population below. Located between rainforest mountains and beautiful beaches, Rio de Janeiro thrives in the tourism industry.

On a weekly basis, Rio police make rounds along the city to pick up the homeless from their cardboard mats, load them onto buses, and haul them to a huge homeless shelter outside of the city... Out of sight from the tourists and the rest of the population.

The city of Rio houses over five hundred favelas, or slums. Favelas are overcrowded squatter settlements built along the steep hillsides surrounding the city of Rio. The first slums were built in the 1920's. Today, it is estimated that about one third of Rio's urban population live in the favelas- about 2 million.

Violence in the slums is not uncommon, but different. With drug dealing being the only way to put food on the table, everyone is trying to be the big man and make the big money. Young children roam in packs-fully armed- planning their next big move at making some money. Most times this involves robbing people for food or money. Other times, it involves taking down the neighborhood dealer in order to step in on his territory. These children, as young as 11 or 12 years old, can't read or write and care nothing about their future.

To address this issue, the State sends in police officers who in turn accept bribes, assist in the trafficking of drugs, and literally put the guns in the hands of the 11 and 12 years olds.

So what gives?

In a place that the BBC describes as "worse than a war zone", what hope is there? Aside from the increasing violence, wage inequality will always ensure that the poor remain that way. In this case, the poor do not exist so that the rich can make money, instead they exist to not be seen.

Three years ago, the government of Rio proposed to build a wall around the slums in order to "help control the rampant crime in the picture postcard city".
This all makes me wonder if its really all that bad to be poor in the United States.

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