Exploring the Intersections of Grassroots Movements

Gisele Martins

The Maré favela community has access to various media outlets, such as newspapers, community radio, TV, radio stations, cars, and bicycles, which are essential for communication within the community. These media platforms played a crucial role during the pandemic, ensuring that residents had access to important information and updates.

MTST, an organization involved in charitable work in the Maré favela community, implemented initiatives like solidary kitchens, fundraising campaigns, and communication campaigns to support residents in need. These efforts have been effective in providing assistance to a large number of people in the community.

The Maré favela complex also utilized crowdfunding and information technology to distribute meals to residents during the pandemic. This innovative approach helped coordinate the delivery of meals and address the challenges brought about by the crisis.

Gisele Martins, a community activist, actively supports MTST’s work and is engaged in their charitable activities. She also emphasizes the importance of timely information dissemination during police operations to ensure community safety. Platforms like Maré Vive have been used to report violations and provide crucial information to residents, allowing them to take necessary precautions.

Maré Vive, a platform dedicated to denouncing human rights abuses, has been successful in reaching a wide audience locally and internationally. Their extensive reach demonstrates the importance of community engagement and partnerships in promoting justice, peace, and strong institutions.

However, Gisele highlights the technology deficit the Maré community is facing. Criminal forces have hindered the development and maintenance of technology infrastructure, resulting in limited internet access and communication resources. This digital divide exacerbates existing inequalities, particularly in urban areas and favelas.

The lack of equitable internet access is a form of digital racism prevalent in Brazil, including in the Maré favela. This further marginalizes vulnerable communities, restricting their access to vital information and communication tools.

The spread of disinformation and fake news is also a challenge in Maré and similar territories. Efforts have been made through WhatsApp groups to combat this issue and provide accurate information, particularly during the pandemic. These groups have been instrumental in promoting vaccination campaigns and countering disinformation effectively.

In summary, the Maré favela community uses various media outlets for communication, especially during the pandemic. Charitable organizations like MTST, initiatives like crowdfunding and information technology, and platforms like Maré Vive have all played significant roles in supporting the community. However, challenges such as technology deficits, digital racism, and disinformation still need to be addressed to ensure equitable access to information and resources.

Ale Costa Barbosa

The speakers in the discussions emphasised the importance of community communication projects and technology in marginalised areas such as the Maré favela. They highlighted the positive impact of these projects in empowering the community and promoting social change. Specifically, they discussed the successful collaboration between the Maré favela complex and the Homeless Workers’ Movement (MTST) in using crowdfunding and information communication technology to provide meals during the pandemic. This innovative approach enabled them to raise funds and ensure that vulnerable residents received essential food supplies.

The speakers also highlighted the need for internet access in these communities. They emphasised that in areas like Maré, the internet is controlled by state and non-state actors, which significantly impacts connectivity. They revealed that access to 5G and fixed telephones is lacking, as these communities are dominated by non-state security forces. This lack of internet infrastructure deprives residents of vital communication technologies and hinders their ability to access information and opportunities.

Additionally, the discussions shed light on the use of technology as a tool to combat institutional and environmental racism. The speakers highlighted how technology has been utilised to make complaints against violations of rights, particularly in the context of public policy. This approach empowers individuals to hold institutions accountable and advocate for justice and equality. Moreover, the presence of technology in marginalised communities has led to an increased sense of identity and connectedness, especially among elderly and indigenous populations.

Furthermore, the speakers acknowledged the crucial role of indigenous communities in preserving forests. They emphasised that these communities are where the forests still stand, and their efforts play a vital role in climate action and the protection of biodiversity. This recognition serves as a reminder of the importance of supporting and respecting indigenous rights and knowledge in environmental conservation.

In addition to these key points, the speakers also highlighted the significance of traditional modes of communication in the absence of internet access, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. They emphasised the use of mouth-to-mouth communication and the joining of hands between different communities to share experiences and mitigation strategies. This highlights the necessity of integrating modern and traditional communication approaches to ensure effective communication and community resilience.

In conclusion, the discussions highlighted the importance of community communication projects, technology access, and the need for equal digital opportunities in marginalised areas. They showcased successful examples of collaboration, such as crowdfunding initiatives, which have enabled communities to address urgent needs during the pandemic. The discussions also underscored the role of technology in combating institutional and environmental racism, empowering communities, and promoting social justice. Finally, there was a recognition of the value of traditional communication methods and the significance of protecting communities and their territories. These insights provide valuable perspectives on the importance of promoting inclusivity, connectivity, and the recognition of the rights and contributions of marginalised communities.

Audinece

The analysis focused on Brazil’s digital rights movement and the necessity of connecting it with grassroots movements. One of the main points made was the importance of bridging the gap between the digital rights movement and other social justice movements in the country. It was highlighted that the digital rights movement is isolated, and bridging this gap would be crucial. Article 19 was praised for its role in effectively bringing together digital rights with other grassroots movements.

Another argument put forth during the analysis was the need for the state to play an active role in promoting digital rights. It was stated that communities and movements with limited resources cannot bear the entire responsibility and that the state should be urged to do more in this regard.

The speakers also emphasized the significance of collective and participatory discussions on meaningful connectivity in Brazil. This discussion specifically considered the country’s inequalities and objectives for democratic inclusion. It was suggested that panelists and participants should collaborate to explore what constitutes meaningful connectivity in Brazil.

The impact of internet access on different territories was explored, with both positive and negative outcomes discussed. The analysis cited examples such as MTST solidary kitchens and Quilombo, referring to connective projects. It was noted that the effects of internet access can vary, and it is crucial to consider both the positive and negative impacts on people in different territories.

An audience member raised the point that the expansion of internet access can have complex effects on societies. They neither opposed nor supported the expansion, highlighting the need for a nuanced perspective. This audience member also mentioned the potential downsides of internet expansion and even expressed the possibility of wanting to ‘shut down’ the internet at times, acknowledging the negative impacts it can have.

Overall, the analysis underscored the importance of connecting the digital rights movement with other grassroots movements, highlighted the role of Article 19 in this endeavor, called for increased state involvement in promoting digital rights, emphasized the need for collective and participatory discussions on meaningful connectivity, and explored the varied impacts of internet access on different territories.

Janaina Costa

Grassroots organizations play a crucial role in understanding and addressing the local digital needs of communities. These organizations have a deep understanding of the specific challenges and opportunities present in their local contexts. They are key in implementing digital literacy programs and promoting the digitization of population registers for digital identity, ensuring solutions are relevant, effective, and inclusive.

The Digital Identity Coalition is a global alliance of organizations aiming to promote knowledge sharing and amplify the collective voice in digital identity discussions. Consisting of global and local organizations, each with their unique expertise, this coalition enhances collaboration, learning, and influence in important forums like the Internet Governance Forum (IGF). This collaborative approach strengthens advocacy efforts for digital identity rights.

Digital identity is essential for accessing basic human rights, including healthcare and education. Many countries require legal proof of identity for these services. Lack of digital identity poses significant barriers to obtaining healthcare, education, and voting rights. Establishing digital identity systems is crucial for ensuring equal access to these fundamental rights and opportunities.

Lack of internet access in Brazil’s favelas, despite advanced infrastructure in major cities, leaves thousands without connectivity. Bridging this digital divide is crucial in reducing inequalities and empowering communities in accessing information, education, job opportunities, and other online services for growth and development.

Brazil presents a paradox of advanced infrastructure alongside a lack of basic internet connectivity within favelas, particularly in major cities like Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. This highlights the need for targeted efforts and policies to ensure technological benefits are accessible to all, regardless of socio-economic status.

In the debate over internet access, challenges arise concerning moral frameworks and restrictions on certain websites. Balancing internet availability with cultural sensitivities presents challenges. However, there is a preference for liberating internet access, recognizing its potential to foster innovation, creativity, and learning opportunities.

To conclude, grassroots organizations and the Digital Identity Coalition play essential roles in understanding local digital needs, promoting knowledge sharing, and advocating for digital identity rights. Digital identity is essential for accessing basic human rights, while the lack of internet access in Brazilian favelas spotlights ongoing inequalities. The moral framework debate poses challenges, but there is a preference for unrestricted access, acknowledging its potential benefits. Efforts toward digital inclusion and equitable internet access are vital for development, empowerment, and social progress.

Raimundo Quilombo

The analysis focuses on the importance and effectiveness of combining ancestral and modern technology for community storytelling. Raimundo Quilombo, the founder of Radio TV Quilombo Rampa, spearheads this community communication project with the aim of empowering communities to tell their own stories. The project utilises a combination of existing and modern technologies to facilitate this storytelling process. By blending ancestral and digital technologies, they believe that a new perspective can be offered to the youth and elders of indigenous communities.

Popular communication is seen as a powerful tool in the fight against prejudice, institutional racism, and environmental racism. Quilombola and indigenous communities are prominently featured in popular communication, helping to raise awareness and challenge discriminatory practices. This highlights the potential for popular communication to act as a catalyst for change, promoting inclusivity and reducing inequalities.

Moreover, the use of popular communication can also be instrumental in highlighting violations of rights and public policy issues. Quilombo Rampa utilises popular communication to voice complaints against rights violations, drawing attention to injustices and calling for policy reform. This demonstrates the ability of popular communication to act as a platform for advocacy, contributing to the pursuit of justice and strong institutions.

Another significant aspect highlighted in the analysis is the importance of preserving the Amazon rainforest and protecting its indigenous people. Quilombolas and indigenous communities are depicted as crucial guardians of the forest, as they are the areas where the forest still stands. This emphasises the vital role that these communities play in environmental conservation efforts.

Ancestral technology is also recognised for its value in community survival and response to challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In the absence of internet signal, ancestral methods like mouth-to-mouth communication and shouting were used to warn other communities about the virus. This demonstrates the resilience and adaptability of ancestral technology, which played a significant role in keeping communities alive during difficult times.

The analysis further highlights the importance of inter-community connections and mutual aid. Article 19 aided in connecting the quilombola community with other communities during the pandemic. The challenges faced by one community helped to inform and support others, emphasising the value of collaboration and collective action in times of crisis.

Additionally, the analysis suggests that technology can be seamlessly blended with traditional practices. The use of modern technology, such as the internet, in conjunction with ancestral technology, enhanced community activities even when there was no internet access. This showcases the potential for a harmonious integration of ancient wisdom and contemporary advancements, resulting in more sustainable and effective approaches.

Internet access is deemed crucial for remote communities, as it facilitates connection and the sharing of important information. During the pandemic, the Quilombola community utilised the internet to connect with other communities, sharing both the challenges and successes they experienced. Furthermore, the internet was utilised for selling products from family farming, enabling the communities to easily deliver their products to urban areas.

Lastly, the analysis underscores the significance of communities understanding how to use the internet effectively and safely. The Quilombola community recognises the need to comprehend the limitations and ethical considerations of online platforms. By breaking down these issues through effective communication, the community aims to foster a comprehensive understanding of the internet as a useful and beneficial tool.

In conclusion, the analysis highlights various arguments and stances supporting the fusion of ancestral and modern technology for community storytelling. Through the Radio TV Quilombo Rampa project, the empowerment of communities is achieved by giving them the agency to tell their own stories. By leveraging popular communication, communities can challenge inequalities, advocate for rights, and protect their environment. Ancestral technology proves invaluable in community survival and response to crises, while inter-community connections and mutual aid enhance resilience. The integration of technology with traditional practices yields more sustainable solutions. The access to the internet is crucial for remote communities, and a comprehensive understanding of its use is essential for community development. Overall, this analysis underscores the potential of combining ancestral and modern technology to foster inclusive and empowered communities.

Moderator

The discussions held during the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) shed light on several crucial aspects related to internet connectivity and digital identity. One notable example of technological innovation comes from the Homeless Workers Movement in Brazil. They have successfully created technology solutions to address their needs, such as offering free programming courses and implementing automated community gardens. These initiatives have not only provided valuable skills but also improved the quality of life for those involved. Another success story is the Homeless Workers Movement’s Technology Hub, which developed applications and initiatives to facilitate the hiring process.

The Digital Identity and Human Rights Coalition emerged from the last IGF in Addis, Ethiopia. This coalition aims to bridge the gap between grassroots organisations and universal digital access by ensuring meaningful engagement in spaces like the IGF. By focusing on the needs of those who have created their own technology, the coalition seeks to amplify their voices and address the challenges they face.

Connectivity remains a pressing issue in Brazil’s largest cities, particularly in favelas, where over 140,000 citizens are affected. The lack of reliable internet access impedes progress in these communities and exacerbates existing inequalities. The urgent need to address this issue for improved quality of life was highlighted during the discussions. Despite the introduction of 5G devices, connectivity in favelas is still not a reality, creating further obstacles.

The Internet Management Committee in Brazil is playing a vital role in advancing the discussion on connectivity and the role of community networks. Plans are underway for a special event next year, where significant debates and discussions are predicted to take place. This committee’s efforts indicate a commitment to addressing connectivity challenges and exploring the potential of community networks.

Another focus of the discussions was the concept of meaningful connectivity. Considering Brazil’s regional inequalities and territories, there is a collective effort to comprehend this concept and develop strategies to ensure that connectivity is truly meaningful for all. Understanding the commitment of the Brazilian state is key to addressing this issue effectively.

The discussions also emphasised the importance of including democratic perspectives. Janaina Costa believes that collaboration between global and local organisations can significantly boost discussions and actions on digital identity issues. With over 50 member organisations, one-third of which were represented on a recent IGF panel, the coalition works as a unified body to voice concerns regarding the digitisation of identity.

Concerns over internet safety were also discussed, with the need to be cautious about what is uploaded or written online due to potential risks. Communities were advised to be careful about what they post, considering the potential consequences it may have.

In conclusion, the discussions at the IGF provided valuable insights into the challenges and potential solutions related to internet connectivity and digital identity. The successes achieved by the Homeless Workers Movement and the initiatives of the Digital Identity and Human Rights Coalition highlight the power of grassroots organisations in driving change. However, connectivity issues in Brazil’s major cities, the role of community networks, and the importance of inclusion and safety in the digital space remain pressing concerns.

Vitoria Cruz

Brazil is facing a significant housing deficit of approximately 25 million residents, as housing is treated as a commodity rather than a legally guaranteed right. The Movement of Homeless Workers (MTSD) is fighting for legally guaranteed rights, including access to basic necessities. They have established solidarity kitchens to provide free food and are promoting digital literacy and technology education. However, internet accessibility remains a major issue, limiting communication, access to information, and opportunities for education. The transition of public services to digital mediums has also neglected accessibility, causing difficulties for citizens. Education and digital literacy are key to bridging the digital divide. The implementation of unrestricted internet access involves moralistic and control-related debates, but the benefits outweigh the concerns. Improving housing conditions, internet accessibility, and inclusive digital transition are crucial for the development and empowerment of individuals and communities in Brazil.

Moderator:
is to understand what are the challenges of the use of the Internet by these communities and grassroots movements, what are the advantages of the Internet, how this relation happens, and maybe hopefully we can share experiences and learn from each other. So my first speaker will be Vitória Cruz. She is an activist from the Homeless Workers Movement in Brazil and she will talk about the technology hub that exists in the movement. So, Vitória, the floor is yours.

Vitoria Cruz:
Good evening, everyone. First and foremost, I would like to express my gratitude for each one of you being here. My name is Vitória Cruz and I’m from São Paulo, Brazil. I’m honored to participate in this event to share a bit about the remarkable work of the Homeless Workers Movement technology hub. It’s only natural that curiosity may arise regarding why a housing movement has a technology sector. Allow me to shed light on this before we proceed. Brazil is an incredible country, home to an even more incredible people. Nevertheless, it grapples with a problem that afflicts many other nations, the mismatch between what is written in the law and what is actually enforced. A striking example is the right to housing, enshrined in paragraph 5 of our constitution. social rights include housing. However, Brazil faces a housing deficit of 25 million residents. Unfortunately, housing is treated as a commodity rather than a legally guaranteed right. This results in millions living in precarious conditions due to real estate speculation. This is where the Homeless Workers’ Movement or MTSD emerged. It rises to question the privilege of the more affluent and to ensure that what is written in the constitution is more than mere income paper. MTSD tirelessly fights for the law to be upheld and it was conceived so that all may have access to a basic and inalienable right, the right to a dignified home. Throughout these 25 years of history, while the primary focus of the movement is housing, MTSD in joining forces with the people has also learned to recognize and address other crucial needs. The same constitution I mentioned earlier guarantees the right to food. However, in 2022, Brazil returned to the map of hunger with 60 million Brazilians facing huge insecurity. In response, MTSD took necessary action. Without any institution support, we established 50 solidarity kitchens for the free distribution of food, alleviating the hunger of thousands of Brazilians. In this context, it is with this track record of tangible actions in service of the community that the technology hub comes to life. Another essential right is access to the internet. And once again, MTSD mobilized to secure these rights. In 2021, we merged with the mission to democratize technology as a readily accessible resource for all. We organized free programming courses in public schools, automated community gardens, and delivered dozens of websites along with developing various applications. I will now delve into more detail about two of these projects. Contrate Quem Luta, or Hire Those Who Fight, represents an innovation in the hiring process of service providers within the movement. Through a not-stop automation, those in need of service send a message to a specific number. The bot responds, comprehends the needs, and directs the clients to a worker capable of meeting their demands. With this initiative, we have organized hundreds of workers who found employment thanks to Contrate Quem Luta. Of course, we inherited challenges with this approach. While we would prefer to use a platform other than WhatsApp, we recognize it is most widely used in people’s daily lives. Furthermore, we cannot afford to use a more robust application, as in simpler phones, memory space is limited. Nevertheless, in committing not only to discuss accessibility, but to effectively implement practical solutions, we must grapple with the complexities and contradictions of our actions. Another significant project I’d like to highlight is the Kitchens website. These 50 kitchens I mentioned not only provide free meals, but also grant free internet access. We believe not only are people worthy of sustenance and shelter, but also as citizens, people have the rights to fully engage in their own future. Through the provided Internet, we are able to offer more technology courses. We not only provide access, but also teach how to utilize and create technology, promoting the autonomy of workers and enabling more meaningful access. With these Internet connections, the population in these areas can attend classes, engage on social media, access essential public service, stay informed, and communicate with the world around them. It’s a crucial step toward a more inclusive and equitable society. We firmly believe that the Internet is not merely a convenience, but rather a fundamental right for democracy. It enables an activist from a homeless worker movement in Brazil to have the voice and presence to speak in an internationally significant event like this, demonstrating that geographical barriers can no longer be an obstacle to advocating for human rights and social justice. As I mentioned, we have other projects, but these are the most relevant for this event. Lastly, I would like to reiterate that everything we have achieved has been done without financial support and solely through volunteer efforts. We are in a constant state of learning, continuously grappling with the complexities that we are committed to facing. This is why we are here not only to present our work, but also to learn about other initiatives. I want to thank for the space provided and extend a special thank you to all colleagues in the Homeless Workers Movement’s Technology Hub, whose education has made all the accomplishments at SHARE possible. Thank you very much.

Moderator:
And I think it’s a very good point. I think it’s a very good point. I think it’s very inspiring and fantastic how when the workers themselves take action and act to create technology, and that’s when their needs are actually met, and not by expecting, I guess, from other institutions that not necessarily care about these issues. So I would like to ask Janaina Costa, she’s from the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population, an international coalition for digital identity, human rights, and I would like for her to present some experiences that she had. So Janaina, the floor is yours.

Janaina Costa:
Thank you so much for inviting me to be here, and really, my predecessor, really inspiring the project and what the work has been done by the Homeless Union. My name is Janaina Costa, I’m going to talk a little bit of the work that the digital identity and human rights coalition that actually was born in the last IGF in Addis, in Ethiopia, has been done through this year. And how this relates with achieving the last mile, and really achieving the needs, and meeting the needs of those who have created their own technology, and really meaningful engagement in a space like this, like IGF. So what we aim to do with this coalition was really level the playfield in between, like, small grassroots organizations that actually understand the question of what is the need, what is the need for the digital identity, and how we can create a space for small grassroots organizations that actually understand the context, understand the needs for connection, meaningful connection. For example, as Victoria was saying, not just access of Internet, but how digital literacy, and how the connection, digitization, in the case of the coalition, digitization of the Internet, how we can of population registers for disabled digital identity are really affecting the lives of these people. So the work of coalition revolves around digital identity and human rights, right? So what you’re talking about here is the key to access, to being part of the society, the legal proof of identity. That’s how you access, in most countries, healthcare, education, how you vote. So you see how it’s important for a myriad of your most basic human rights. But the things that differ, one organization of the coalition to another, is really the size and where they work, it’s more rooted. For example, we have some institutions that are a global reach, and once it’s just like one little town in Ethiopia, one little town in Uganda, and you have, for example, Access Now, that’s in almost 100 countries. And so bringing them together, we can really share knowledge, so we call it learning and sharing, so we can learn from each other the different needs and also share our expertise. So what I want to highlight a little bit of the work of the coalition, how it’s important, is really doing that, like live on the field and bring everyone together to a space like this. For example, this year the coalition had a panel and we brought more than 30 people, and we have like now 50 organizations that are part of the coalition, and third of them being represented here at IGF. That would not have been possible if it had not been everyone together, so our voices are made louder and then we can really achieve in thinking about funding, but also and speak as one body when we come here and do our panel, and state our fears and concerns about destabilization of identity. For instance, that’s my case. I think that’s what I want to really highlight. I think I want to leave more space for others to speak and I hope engage in a meaningful discussion. And if you want to know, learn more about the coalition, please come to me after the session and I’ll be happy to explain for you. Thank you so much.

Moderator:
Thank you, Janaina. I think I’d like to call Ale Costa Barbosa from the Weissenbaum Institute. I think he will present us a publication, I guess. Let’s see.

Ale Costa Barbosa:
Can you just help me with the slide, please? I’m just trying to broadcast it. Okay, thank you. Thank you everyone for being here. It’s really a pleasure. It’s, I’m really, really happy to see this kind of session taking place in IGF, especially. I will be really quick for us to have more time to discuss if any of you are interested or have any doubt about the work we’ve been doing, but also how, as Janaina said, how can we strengthen it? How can we really build coalitions from social movements in the governance for this? We launched it in 1st of May this year, this booklet, Movimento dos Trabalhadores Sem Teto e a Luta pela Soberania Digital, the Homeless Worker Movement in Brazil when they struggle for digital sovereignty in a partnership between the technology sector and researchers, me myself in Weissenbaum, but also Professor Rafael Groma in the University of Toronto, who enabled us through a micro-grant to develop this research, this manifest. And if anyone is interested to know how, which are the projects that we’ve been working on, why are we working on this, as pretty much stated brilliant by. Victoria, you’re more than welcome to take a look. Thank you.

Moderator:
Great, thank you. Thank you, Ale. So I think, as Janaína and Ale mentioned, I hope this event can lead to cooperation among many organizations. So next, I would like to call Gisele Martins. She’s from the Coalizão de Mídias. And if you can present with some experiences and some thoughts.

Gisele Martins:
Good afternoon. I’m Gisele Martins from the Coalizão de Mídias Periféricas, Faveladas, Quilombolas and Indígenas. I’m here next to Raimundo, who is also part of the same coalition. And I’m here to talk a little about the experience about the use of the internet and the difficulties we have inside a favela, the Maré favela in Rio de Janeiro, which is the favela where I live.

Ale Costa Barbosa:
Thank you, Gisele. I’ll be quickly translating. Gisele Martins and Raimundo Quilombo. It’s really a pleasure to have them here. Thank you, it’s a pleasure. They represent a coalition also of media organizations working in peripheric favelas, quilombolas, communities. They’re going to share with us a bit of their experience in the complex Maré, which is one of the hugest favela complexes in Brazil.

Gisele Martins:
We have several experiences of community communication in the favelas, in the quilombos, but specifically in the Maré favela, we have newspapers, we have community radio, TV, radio stations, cars, bicycles, and that have been working for over 20 years inside the Maré favela. These different media were very important to us during the pandemic.

Ale Costa Barbosa:
They have been working for over 20 years now, and working with different projects, mainly with community networks, media networks, and it’s really, really important for the organization, for the daily basis organization of the communities in Maré.

Gisele Martins:
And just like MTST, we made solidary kitchens, we raised money online to make cows, and we made a big communication campaign. In the Maré favela, there are 16 favelas, 140,000 residents, we were able to serve practically all the residents from these different communication technologies.

Ale Costa Barbosa:
Amazing. The Maré favela complex is composed of 16 favelas in Rio de Janeiro, and pretty much as the MTST, the Homeless Workers’ Movement, did, as Vitória said, about the solidary kitchens, they also used crowdfunding to provide meals during the pandemic, and mainly through the use of this information communication technology.

Gisele Martins:
But in addition to these numerous technologies, we have, for 10 years in Maré, a page called Maré Vive, which also works to report violations when there are police operations in Maré, as has been happening for three consecutive days. And this page is a page to talk about the information, where the war tank is, the police, to make the residents report, and also to make us be able to communicate quickly so that people don’t leave their homes, don’t take their children to school, especially during big police operations.

Ale Costa Barbosa:
they have a platform, a website, called Maré Vive, in which, also on a daily basis, people reporting police abuse. And it’s really, really important. It’s actually critical for denouncing human rights and so on. Sorry for my free translation here.

Gisele Martins:
It’s a page that communicates within Maré and has a large community participation, but we can reach more than one million people per week. It means that we also communicate outside Maré and at an international level as well.

Ale Costa Barbosa:
Even though it’s focused on internal communication, they’ve been reaching over one million people on a weekly basis, even on an international level.

Gisele Martins:
But today, our reality in Maré, after so many achievements in the different communication technologies that we have, in this community experience, today, what we have in reality in Maré is a non-technology. Our internet antennas and telephone cables were taken from Maré by the forces of traffic, by the local militia.

Ale Costa Barbosa:
And what they are really facing in concrete is that the internet infrastructure, the antennas, the servers and so on, they are being taken out from the cables, from the police forces, from the state forces mainly. So they are actually facing a non-technology movement.

Gisele Martins:
To conclude, I’d like to ask how we think about internet access in urban areas as well, when we talk about favelas and outskirts. We think that the village doesn’t have internet, that Quilombo doesn’t have internet, that the rural part doesn’t have internet, but we’ve been suffering a great setback within the favelas and the outskirts in the big centers of Brazil, when we think that these places are now dominated by non-state security forces, which also have to do with the internet. with the State. I have a 5G cell phone, but 5G doesn’t reach inside Maré. We don’t have more fixed telephones in Maré. We don’t have more antennas of big companies in Maré. Our internet has been controlled, and the question that remains to finish my speech is how do we regain access to the internet within these places, and how do we continue doing our work of survival and community articulation within the favelas, like my favela, which has 140,000 inhabitants, for example, which is the favela of Maré. That’s it. And I thank Article 19 for inviting me and Raimundo to be here.

Ale Costa Barbosa:
Gisele said that the question that we must ask is how can we really enable what has been called a lot here in IGF, this meaningful connectivity, this meaningful access to the internet in a place, in territories that are completely controlled by state and non-state actors, we call it militias, that really disable any sort of internet infrastructure, access to 5G in this, for instance, as you mentioned, in this specific context. So how can we rebuild, reconquer this really autonomous and sovereign internet access somehow?

Janaina Costa:
Just I can add something to the translation. One issue that she brought, it’s an issue that’s not only the reality of Rio, but also in Sao Paulo, and it’s kind of a paradox. When you think about deserts of unconnected, we think about the rainforest in Brazil, we think about deserts, but actually in the biggest cities in Brazil, inside of the favelas, we don’t have connectivity. So what she was saying that she has a device that is able to connect to the 5G, but inside of the favelas, she cannot connect to the internet. And that’s the reality for more than 140,000 citizens, and it’s also the same reality that’s facing in these big communities in Sao Paulo, for example, for instance. I think it’s really important because it’s a kind of paradox that we live in in Brazil.

Moderator:
Okay, thank you very much, Gisele. Raimundo will speak now. So, Raimundo Quilombo is from, he works, or he’s from TV Quilombo, and he will talk about his experience now, so please.

Raimundo Quilombo:
My name is Raimundo Quilombo. I’ve been participating here, and the one who brought us here was Artigo XIX, whom we want to thank a lot. I’m from Quilombo Rampa, which is located 27 km from the city of Vargem Grande, in the state of Maranhão. And I’m one of the founders of Radio TV Quilombo Rampa, a popular communication that was born with the intention of telling our own story in our own way, using mainly the ancestral technology, which is the technology that already exists, and adapting modern technology to this technology that already exists in the community.

Ale Costa Barbosa:
Thank you for being here. Raimundo Quilombo, he comes from an organization called Quilombo Rampa, in the state of Maranhão, in the northeast region of Brazil, between the northeast region and the Amazon rainforest. And they really thank Artigo XIX for bringing them here. And they are doing a work, they’re trying to combine the use of ancestral technologies, the knowledges from Quilombos, also from indigenous communities, combined with the digital technology itself.

Raimundo Quilombo:
And TV has this purpose of, in addition to telling its own story, making the youth, the elders, the elders, as we call them, the children, have a new perspective of the place where they are. So, when we started to see ourselves in spaces, for example, on the screen of a cell phone, on the screen of a TV, this changed a lot the way… of the population to see the world, because it increased identity, and we also use popular communication as a way to fight against prejudice, against institutional racism, against environmental racism, because we know that in communities like Quilombola, indigenous communities, are where the forest still stands. And we use popular communication also to make complaints against violations of rights, especially of public policy, which in our country is very complicated to understand. To say the least. Sorry.

Ale Costa Barbosa:
You’ve been using the technology even to allow this connection with old elderly people, with Indian people, enabling them even to change their perception about the territory they’re living in. You said that it increased their even sense of identity, and they’re using technology even to tackle institutional racism, environmental racism, and they are pretty much aware that these communities are the ones who make, for instance, the forest being kept alive somehow. But that’s in the case of the indigenous communities.

Raimundo Quilombo:
And to go to the end, we preach a lot about the use of ancestral technology, because it’s the technology that keeps communities standing and alive to this day. For instance, in the pandemic, it helped us a lot with the issue of the scarcity of the internet signal. How did we do to warn other communities of the danger of COVID-19? It was through offline communication, through mouth-to-mouth communication, through shouting, which we call ancestral. I’d like to highlight the help we had from Article 19 during the pandemic, which connected us, as the quilombola community, with other communities, quilombolas from other territories, indigenous communities from other countries. territories, where the complication that one faced helped us in the face of the other. And this use of modern technology, with ancestral technology that already exists in the community, that the communities have always done, helped a lot and contributes to us to this day, so that we can, in the midst of not having access to the Internet, be able to break through various barriers.

Ale Costa Barbosa:
Thank you very much. You have emphasized this need of really bringing, which is the traditional communication, this face-to-face communication, which can be perceived as this ancestral technology. And I also thank, again, Article 19, that supported them in building networks with other communities in the region, to share their experiences, which were quite similar in terms of challenges and potential ways of mitigating them. So, that was really helpful. Thank you very much, Armando. Thank you.

Moderator:
Okay. So, we are almost at the end of our time, so hopefully we have at least one question. We still have 15 minutes, right? Okay, great. So, I don’t know if anyone wants to make some questions. Yeah, feel free. Comments?

Ale Costa Barbosa:
José Renato? Thank you.

Audinece:
It’s good that this session is happening at the end of the IGF because it’s by far the most interesting, the most motivating, I’d say. And also, and I always speak this to Alê, this necessary bridging that we need to do between these different movements, especially our movement, the digital rights movement, which is so isolated. So I’m saying that it’s very important, first of all, that this session, much more than what’s happening at the end of the IGF, because it’s incredible, more inspiring, how important it is for us to link better, in Brazil and in the world, these two movements, which are the digital rights movement, well, not two movements, but to stop isolating the digital rights field from the others. And maybe what I’d like to know, and then I’ll translate it into English, like, first of all, how can we… maybe how can we continue to deepen these relations? I think the role of Article 19 in this is fundamental, a lesson on how to do this. And also, how can we bring… and maybe this is more related to MTST, but I think you can talk about other things, how can we… how can we… Of course, there are many ways to demand from the State, more action in this sense, but maybe how would it be more strategic for us to do this? Focusing on platform cooperatives, how can we promote this more, etc.? So, I’d like to hear your vision. So, just to translate, I would like to ask, first, how can we continue bridging these two, the digital rights movement, with other grassroots movements in Brazil in an effective manner? Article 19 is really giving us a lesson about that. And finally, what would be a good strategy for us to demand from the State measures to promote this more? Because we cannot expect that communities and movements in general with few resources to take all of the responsibility for that. Thank you very much.

Moderator:
Okay, so we’ll make a batch of questions and then we’ll come back to the speakers. Okay, thank you very much.

Audinece:
Hi guys, I’ll speak in Portuguese first and then I’ll do the translation in English as well. It’s good that you’re here, I’m very happy. Congratulations for this table. I’d like to share some information and make an invitation. In the Internet Management Committee in Brazil, we have tried to advance in the discussion about significant connectivity and the role of community networks in this process as well. It’s a relationship that involves a debate that goes far beyond access to the Internet, but also goes through digital sovereignty. And there’s a forecast that we’ll have a big discussion about this at the beginning of next year. So it’s going to be great for us to be able to, as Zé well said, strengthen these ties and expand these connections, which are not just about the Internet, they are important human connections and ties. And to leave an invitation for us to start thinking about this process together, so that it’s not just people who are invited to an event, but so that we can build this discussion together and that the result can be for us to be able, from the point of view of commitments of the Brazilian state, to understand what we understand by significant connectivity in our territory, with our inequalities, with our perspectives. So just wrapping up in English, I would like just to thank for the panel and to invite you all. From the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee, we are starting organizing an event to talk about meaningful connectivity in Brazil next year and also about network communities, community networks, I’m sorry. And then I would like to invite you all to build this process together with us, not only to be part of the event, but also to think about it. And one of the goals of this initiative is to, at the end, have an idea of how to commit Brazil, the Brazilian state on what we really understand for meaningful connectivity in Brazil, considering our inequalities, our territories, and our goals for a democratic inclusion in Brazil as well. So thank you very much.

Moderator:
Thank you so much. Okay, thank you. Okay, one more question then, and then we wrap up.

Audinece:
Okay, good afternoon, everyone. I’ll speak in Portuguese first, and after the translation. It will be real quick, just to see if you want to talk a little bit more about the experience of connecting people in different territories, both in the kitchens of MTST and in Quilombo, how this experience of connection impacted people, both in a positive way and possibly in a negative way. Sometimes the internet arrives in different ways and it causes different impacts. So I’d like to know how providing internet access to people, such as in the solidary kitchens in MTST and also in Quilombo, how it impacted lives of people positively and also maybe negatively, because the internet comes and it arrives and it has lots of impacts, even nowadays, when sometimes we want to just shut down the internet in some places. So that’s it. Thank you.

Moderator:
Okay, so let’s go back to the speakers so they can answer the questions and maybe give the final remarks. So let’s go back to the speakers so they can answer the questions and make the comments. Maybe I’ll start with Victoria. So, are we going in the same order again? No? Speak in Portuguese.

Vitoria Cruz:
Or… Can I speak in Portuguese?

Moderator:
Go ahead.

Vitoria Cruz:
I don’t know if I should translate it later. I’ll just answer this last question, about the Internet experience in so many occupations. As well as in the kitchens. We have this accessibility process because… Do you want me to stop?

Moderator:
What?

Vitoria Cruz:
Do you want me to stop to translate? Yes. So, first of all, putting the Internet only in certain places wasn’t enough. Because people didn’t have access to it before, and it wasn’t just a matter of getting in and using it. And in Brazil, several public services moved to the digital medium, without the concern of accessibility with people. So, there were people losing their jobs, people not being able to get their documents, there were people, in many ways, who didn’t just provide the Internet, that these people would start using it. So, the first thing we did was try to teach people to have this access.

Janaina Costa:
To learn how to access the Internet, but access these life-saving services from the government. they brought the internet, but also brought people to teach how to access the internet and access these new government online services.

Vitoria Cruz:
I would like to comment very quickly that, in general, it helped. We can take classes, people like to stay in the kitchens, and it also becomes a way to connect with people, it’s not just taking food and leaving. We can talk to everyone who goes to the kitchens, but, of course, this brings contradictions. So, a debate we had was if we were going to release the internet to everyone, if we were going to restrict some sites, but then, if we restrict sites, we can get into a moralistic debate. So, these are issues that we talk about. Doing this involves contradictions, but we propose to do it anyway. I don’t know if it makes sense.

Janaina Costa:
She was saying about a little bit of the challenge that they face when they brought the success. For example, people like to access from the kitchen and everything and have the classes about it, and this was really well accepted and received, but also, one of the challenges was which kind of access we’re going to liberate, like all kinds of access to all kinds of websites on the internet. So, they thought, should they restrict to any kind of… Which framework to use is a moral framework. So, this is what they’re working through, and, so far, they prefer all access to the internet.

Moderator:
Okay, thank you very much, Victoria. So, Gisele, would you like to answer the questions and present your comments? So, Gisele, you can comment on some questions or make your final comments.

Gisele Martins:
First, thinking about the internet in Brazil… We need to think that there are different kinds of Brazils. and that digital racism is a reality of ours. I keep thinking that back there, in the previous governments of PT, there was a campaign that they made that they were offering internet to the favelas, to the outskirts, but this internet only worked in Avenida Brasil. It didn’t work inside the Favela da Maré. And this came out in several newspapers, that the internet was coming to Maré. But this internet never came. And when you think about these big meetings about the internet, you need to think from these territories. Because it’s in these territories that, in 2020, we were able to, or tried to, fight fake news, disinformation. And this disinformation was only… We were only able to work on this because we were already doing a 20-year territorial work. And, to finish, positive and negative experiences of connection. And I keep thinking that, in the WhatsApp groups, in the favelas, disinformation was coming, saying that we had to use chloroquine, about the pandemic. But, at the same time, we tried to make several WhatsApp groups to say that chloroquine didn’t work, and to make a big campaign for the vaccine. And then I realized that, today, we don’t have internet in Maré, and it’s not by chance. We don’t have fixed telephony, we don’t have internet, we don’t have 3G, we don’t have antennas. It’s not by chance. Because, for example, Fiocruz is inside the Maré favela and has internet. UFRJ is inside Maré and has internet. Because big favelas like mine don’t have internet. I think this is another interest of the government. So, as we also repudiate this government and work from our territories, saying that this is not by chance. So, to think about internet in Brazil, we need to think about digital racism. And that was it. Thank you very much for the opportunity to be here.

Ale Costa Barbosa:
…itself never reached the Maré favela complex, but a close-by avenue. They’ve been trying to tackle the information, fake news and so on, but that’s in this territory, but the success has mainly…

Raimundo Quilombo:
And when you start doing this, you demarcate that communities exist, that you are part of a territory, and that territory only exists there because of an ancestral struggle in the communities. So, on this side, modern technology has been very important for us, which is the case of the internet.

Ale Costa Barbosa:
…to make sure that this territory only exists, Quilombola, you can search it, because of a really historical struggle in the territory and non-development in Latin America especially.

Raimundo Quilombo:
And when you don’t have this domain of the internet, in this case, sometimes when you need to file a complaint, for example, of a violation of the law, the internet drops, it looks like it’s automatic, but it’s all well planned. And you imagine a community, Quilombola, in the middle of the woods, without access to the internet… in the pandemic period, how complicated it would be. We also used this small amount of internet to connect with other communities. In the pandemic, for example, we talked to a community from another state, what is going wrong there, what is going right, and so we were able to pass it on to our community and use offline technology to go to other communities that didn’t have access to the internet, to tell them, look, the virus is not a simple virus, it kills, how are we going to prevent it, this community worked, this community didn’t work, so we also use the internet today to sell products from family farming. For example, you send a message, we have such and such product for the city, someone from the city wants those products, and we can easily deliver it, so it helps a lot in this matter. So, in the context of communities, not only the quilombola community, but traditional communities in general, the internet contributes a lot to this. And there’s also the other side, that we, as a community, as a popular communicator, know how to do very well, we want to know what we can and what we can’t put on the internet, for example, because it also has its flaws, but we can, within the community, from a communication that we call from the inside out, be able to break these issues and help the community take the internet as something that contributes to the life of the community.

Ale Costa Barbosa:
Thank you very much. He said that when you try to denounce that you have been rights compromised, it seems that the internet doesn’t work, when you really request it. And, but also recognising that the lack of this internet would be even worse during the pandemic somehow, they really tried to make the best effort to… to go through different communities with ones that didn’t have any internet access to share reliable information around the pandemic. They’ve also been using internet, as was mentioned by platform cooperativism, to sell food from the solidary food protection, the food sovereignty idea, using this platform to sell generate income, and internet contributes a lot for that. And they are really much aware of these communities, of what they should really upload or write in the internet, because it can be really risky for them too. And allow me to just say really quick things. Thank you very much for everyone for being here. We are out of time, but thank you for the questions. I think that’s the way indeed to move forward, to bring this, which are the common topics from the internet governance that we can discuss together in the same community, in the civil society, to develop policies. And we can be pretty sure that we’ll be working really hard on that. Thank you.

Moderator:
Thank you, Alexandre. So we have to end our session. I’m sorry for the people online that asked. We had a question from Avis from Cameroon, and unfortunately we weren’t able to answer. So I thank you all for coming, and a last applause for the speakers. Thank you. Thank you, everyone.