Two faces of Rio de Janeiro
Two faces of Rio de Janeiro
Discussion of the economic inequalities in Rio de Janeiro.
Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz; Thumbnail © Marktucan/Dreamstime.com
Transcript
NARRATOR: Most holidaymakers see Rio de Janeiro as the golden South American city by the beach. However, there's another side of Rio just a stone's throw from its opulent hotels. Indeed, Rio is a city with two faces - one rich, one poor. Poverty is especially striking in the hilly outskirts of the city. Today, a major event is taking place in one of these less affluent neighborhoods, namely the football junior championship. Among the spectators is a man who went from rags to riches and has seen life from both sides - football great Zico. Having been made a millionaire by the sport, Zico is showing his support for Rio's less fortunate kids with athletic promise.
REPORTER: "Is letting wealth show a problem in Rio?"
ZICO: "Yes, it is actually. There are lots of problems here, so many poor people. Wealth is so unevenly distributed that rich people are afraid they might be attacked if they let their wealth show. The way I see it is, if you've earned an honest living doing respectable work, there's no reason to be ashamed of being wealthy. Having money doesn't have to be a sign of frivolity or living in the lap of luxury. It's simply a testament to your accomplishments."
NARRATOR: The presence of wealth in an impoverished country opens the door to a host of other problems as well, such as a high crime rate. Private security companies are thus in great demand in Rio's affluent neighborhoods. Being well off comes at a price here, making precautionary security measures an absolute must.
LENNY NIEMEYER: "Gate security - it's proof of everything. You need these details here. It's not so romantic like it looks. You need a little bit of security."
NARRATOR: In Rio, the great divide between rich and poor is growing all the time. Still, that comes as no surprise, considering the sheer number of people who live here - more than 10 million at present. Of them, the number of have-nots far exceeds the haves. Indeed, the present distribution of wealth is a recipe for constant tension no matter which end of the stick you're holding.
REPORTER: "Is letting wealth show a problem in Rio?"
ZICO: "Yes, it is actually. There are lots of problems here, so many poor people. Wealth is so unevenly distributed that rich people are afraid they might be attacked if they let their wealth show. The way I see it is, if you've earned an honest living doing respectable work, there's no reason to be ashamed of being wealthy. Having money doesn't have to be a sign of frivolity or living in the lap of luxury. It's simply a testament to your accomplishments."
NARRATOR: The presence of wealth in an impoverished country opens the door to a host of other problems as well, such as a high crime rate. Private security companies are thus in great demand in Rio's affluent neighborhoods. Being well off comes at a price here, making precautionary security measures an absolute must.
LENNY NIEMEYER: "Gate security - it's proof of everything. You need these details here. It's not so romantic like it looks. You need a little bit of security."
NARRATOR: In Rio, the great divide between rich and poor is growing all the time. Still, that comes as no surprise, considering the sheer number of people who live here - more than 10 million at present. Of them, the number of have-nots far exceeds the haves. Indeed, the present distribution of wealth is a recipe for constant tension no matter which end of the stick you're holding.