16 ms·

Young people from Brazil's favelas set out to conquer digital world

165 points by zwieback 5y ago

tdrgabi 5y ago
I have mixed feelings about the article. I was curious to read about a tech boom. They described a twitch player which earns enough to be afloat. A gaming pro team and an artist selling nft's. Is it just an add for nft's or a submarine piece for afro games.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- dang 5y ago
  OK, we've taken 'tech boom' out of the title since that seems to be distracting from what the article is actually about.
- nopenopenopeno 5y ago
  This article is obviously propaganda meant to counter the headlines about the Worker’s Party leading in the polls. The working people of Brazil have suffered tremendously under Bolsanaro’s neoliberal government and Lula (Worker’s Party candidate who Bolsanaro imprisoned for 2 years on bogus charges) has a big lead. After the recent socialist victories in Chile and Bolivia (following the U.S.-assisted coup), western states will do everything they can to prevent the Worker’s Party from retaking power in Brazil. Expect more of this and other hi-jinx as the Fall election nears. It’s going to be a messy one. https://youtube.com/watch?v=MJm08zHWaKA https://youtube.com/watch?v=MJm08zHWaKA
  - lvass 5y ago
    Does MAV-PT still pay for spam or are you doing this for free? (The party this guy is spamming for is widely known for paying for spam comments and generating politic discussions online)
bserge 5y ago
When you're at zero, anything happening is a "boom". I should know, I'm from a country where IT is "booming"... Most of it is tedious boring work that was outsourced by western companies because no one there wants to do it, plus it's cheaper than even creating some automated processes. Still, that's a pessimistic way to look at it. It's a good thing, and it can grow into something better.
- 627467 5y ago
  Another perspective is that there are people who prefer to do those jobs (instead of say, working in Amazon warehouse) but can't because it's cheaper (and logistically possible) to outsource to another country.
  - space_fountain 5y ago
    But also on some level why in the world are they more deserving of the job then the potentially better qualified foreigner just because where they happened to be born.
    - ipaddr 5y ago
      The question is why is it better for the country not who is more deserving. This is an export of US dollars. Is it better to keep the position local so member of society can be taxed/buy from other local businesses or export so foreign worker can buy tools from US firms or US business can get job done for cheaper.
      - space_fountain 5y ago
        Well I think that is actually quite a different question. Luckily it's not at all clear that the sort of zero sum thinking that lead to mercantilism was ever true or will ever be true. Having the best people doing the jobs where they have a comparative advantage helps everyone. Ideally we would open our immigration system more, certainly to highly skilled labor, but until then.
    - 5y ago
neonate 5y ago
https://archive.is/Omfjf https://archive.is/Omfjf
TameAntelope 5y ago
How the hell do they run these operations or have this amount of gear safely in a favela? When I did a full-on tourist experience of Rio, the guides were adamant that we not even go near any favela, as we'd immediately be robbed or worse. My understanding was that the crime in those areas was so astronomically high that nothing even resembling IT infrastructure could exist, as it would immediately be confiscated by the cartels operating there. I'm glad that's not the case, but I wish the article had more information about how these people were able to operate safely.
- dasil003 5y ago
  Because they live there and have relationships, it's very different from a tourist who just looks like a cash machine.
  - lostlogin 5y ago
    They may be a degree of liability involved too - take/encourage/let tourists go there and it could have consequences for the tour operator? I am very much not a lawyer.
  - aylmao 5y ago
    Depends on the city/country, but there's also an argument affecting tourists is just not worth it. Money isn't the goal, money + little trouble is the goal. If a city is a big tourist destination, the bad press, the potential involvement of foreign nations, the outcry from the tourism industry, etc are all good reasons for local law enforcement to strike back hard. Especially if overwhelmed, it's very possible local law enforcement wont give the same weight to an investigation involving only locals and one involving a foreigner, especially if the eyes of, say, Germany are staring at you.
  - nopenopenopeno 5y ago
    This article is obviously propaganda meant to counter the headlines about the Worker’s Party leading in the polls. The working people of Brazil have suffered tremendously under Bolsanaro’s neoliberal government and Lula (Worker’s Party candidate who Bolsanaro imprisoned for 2 years on bogus charges) has a big lead. After the recent socialist victories in Chile and Bolivia (following the U.S.-assisted coup), western states will do everything they can to prevent the Worker’s Party from retaking power in Brazil. Expect more of this and other hi-jinx as the Fall election nears. It’s going to be a messy one. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MJm08zHWaKA https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MJm08zHWaKA
newaccount2021 5y ago
people from around the world hungry to pull themselves up from the bottom... meanwhile in NYC and Oakland, high school students are on "strike" and walking out of class over bogus covid hysteria (aka a legit excuse to combine virtue signalling and goofing off)...apparently we must grovel to their demands as the world owes so much to, and depends so much on, the American teen fast forward twenty years, who will have risen, who will have fallen
- csdvrx 5y ago
  I vouched for your comment, since it talks about a very possible risk: replacement at the low end (and little by little towards the upper end) of WFH techies by other WFH techies from lower cost countries that won't ever think about this union stuff. China has proved outsourcing is a valid path for growth as people learn the technology little-by-little to do what they need: these game streamers derided by other HN comments will certainly learn how to reinstall Windows and drivers, then how to deal with their fans, then how to make their website (if only to reduce costs/keep more profits) etc And even if they only learn one of these (say, dealing with fans), personally I'd be happy more than happy to hire them as a community manager if the price is fair.
- steve76 5y ago
  > people from around the world hungry to pull themselves up from the bottom... Foreign countries are poor like the Rolling Stones or Motley Crew are poor. They are actually very wealthy. They see nice peaceful lives as something for fools and cowards. > meanwhile in NYC and Oakland, high school students are on "strike" and walking out of class over bogus covid hysteria (aka a legit excuse to combine virtue signalling and goofing off)...apparently we must grovel to their demands as the world owes so much to, and depends so much on, the American teen Awful to see people turn their backs on their own. Big tech would be gone without bailouts and cheap consumer credit to buy their junk. Despite all their prestige, they don't do anything. People still die horribly. Their charity is not enough. The problems, such as neurological disease, are much more difficult than they thought. "Disruption" or "don't be evil" didn't work. We gave them the luxury of a lot of resources while we fought some very bad people and took care of the sick. First chance they get they leave for Cypress and Brazil for people who really do hate them. >fast forward twenty years, who will have risen, who will have fallen I work from home and am only in tech because of family care-taking. Twenty years will be a sad time for me. Everyone will be gone. I'll be all alone. Despite that, I kept up on my skills. I managed to have at least some real workplace experience. I have nothing but free time, and I am going to be incredibly angry at and have very little remorse towards the people we trusted with all our wealth and who chose marxists and drug gangs and terrorists over their own and burnt and looted my home.
mensetmanusman 5y ago
The image of someone sitting in a shack with VR gear on was thought provoking. Will the adaptation of this technology accelerate quality of life improvements, or will it be an opiate of the masses who would rather exist virtually than in the real world? Could this remove political desire for rapid change?
- apsurd 5y ago
  sorry, i can't help but read this as rather tone deaf. People are very complex.
- pm90 5y ago
  > Could this remove political desire for rapid change? No, since in the end you do have to return to the "real" world. Unless we can upload ourselves to the metaverse, a majority of humans will continue to want change in meatspace.
  - aylmao 5y ago
    There is the argument though that you could "entertain" people away supporting a fair cause. This both by means of propaganda through the content they consume, and by simply giving people something they can consider "good enough". Would people in micro-apartments be happy living in 32m^2 if they didn't have computers / TVs?
- lbrito 5y ago
  >Will the adaptation of this technology accelerate quality of life improvements? No. Things favelas need, in order of importance: 1. Jobs 2. Jobs 3. Jobs 4. Decent waste disposal 5. Decent public infrastructure - mass transit, daycare, health clinics, schools, etc. 6. Decent public services - police, postal office, social service workers, etc. 7. Etc 8. ... ... Infinite - VR gear with SV technobabble, MMORPG, play-to-earn BS. Source: I am Brazilian.
  - f00zz 5y ago
    This country should have never normalized favelas. Just 50 years ago, places like Singapore and Seoul used to have slums that looked a lot like Brazilian favelas. But they invested in public housing and now look like sci-fi cities from the 25th century, while we were singing "quem mora no morro vive pertinho do ceu".
paperwasp42 5y ago
Wow, this is fascinating. Does anyone know of any mentorship programs that help youth in under-developed countries who are working to get into tech? I would love to participate in that kind of program, but the only ones I've seen are company based (ie: internal internship programs.)
- nopenopenopeno 5y ago
  This article is propaganda ahead of the upcoming election. The working people of Brazil have suffered tremendously under Bolsanaro’s neoliberal government and the Worker’s Party is leading in the polls. After the recent socialist victories in Chile and Bolivia (following the U.S.-assisted coup), western states will do everything they can to prevent the Worker’s Party from retaking power in Brazil. Expect more of this as the Fall election nears.
Toine 5y ago
I cannot take someone who calls himself a "crypto artist" seriously.
- chucksmash 5y ago
  Commenting on crypto in bio is 2022 HN's version of 2014 HN's commenting on site's CSS: "Good article, but black font on white bg makes this literally unreadable for me."
lbrito 5y ago
Such a waste on a great subject. There's this huge social and economic change in Brazil over the last 10 or so years where dozens of millions of people are acceding to the digital world; broadband (usually 4G) access to the internet is becoming part of their daily lives. This has huge consequences and tons of opportunity. Nubank is a quick example I can think of that knew how to take advantage of this movement and is now a billion-dollar company expanding through all Latam. But no, instead they decide to spotlight game streamers.
- frozenlettuce 5y ago
  as someone who had a previous carreer in journalism (and also happen to be a Brazilian as well), the media will always portrait the country in a way to make it seem "exotic" in order to gain more attention. that's why you will _never_ see news articles about boring countryside towns
  - nopenopenopeno 5y ago
    This article is obviously propaganda meant to counter the headlines about the Worker’s Party leading in the polls. The working people of Brazil have suffered tremendously under Bolsanaro’s neoliberal government and Lula (Worker’s Party candidate who Bolsanaro imprisoned for 2 years on bogus charges) has a big lead. After the recent socialist victories in Chile and Bolivia (following the U.S.-assisted coup), western states will do everything they can to prevent the Worker’s Party from retaking power in Brazil. Expect more of this and other hi-jinx as the Fall election nears. It’s going to be a messy one. https://youtube.com/watch?v=MJm08zHWaKA https://youtube.com/watch?v=MJm08zHWaKA
- vmception 5y ago
  but just because you don't respect game streamers doesn't mean that it doesn't have huge consequences and opportunities too. the people doing that have income and access to capital now whether a bank showed up or not, which is way better than any neobank fintech company can achieve. in the past, access to capital or electronic payments meant "bank the unbanked", now it doesn't mean that so there's no reason to cling to that goal.
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
belter 5y ago
As electricity is the favela is free..Wait until the cryptominers move in. Maybe that is the solution to end drugs and violence?
- d0100 5y ago
  Until you see the banners put up in the favela: anyone defending crypto and nfts, etc will receive a beating This is an atual banner
  - belter 5y ago
    Maybe. But they are already doing it: https://infograficos.estadao.com.br/focas/por-minha-conta/materia/gato-de-energia-e-usado-para-minerar-moedas-virtuais-em-paraisopolis https://infograficos.estadao.com.br/focas/por-minha-conta/ma...
bunkydoo 5y ago
ForOldHack 5y ago
Nice. I got a visit from someone in Brazil, who was teaching programming in the San Paulo. I looked at a picture of a bunch of his students, and most of them were women. He was teaching them to solder. I immediately took about a $20, and handed it to him. I think its time we send him a care package. Garoa Hacker Clube
EL_Loco 5y ago
This is, sorry, the same BS that I hear over and over, and over and over. This is alright, it's pretty good that it's happening, but that's the extent of it. Just good, just alright. The need for decent public education at the elementary level is still needed, and is what is really needed. Nothing else will do. Some people, very few, will rise out of poverty by becoming famouse or... never mind, I won't bother. I'm actually tired of these stories highlighting the success of a few people where millions live without good decent basic education and good decent basic healthcare. At this rate Brazil will take a century to get rid of its ghastly inequality levels. People in favelas have had cable tv, internet access, cell phones, etc, for decades now. They still live in gang controlled, gang-war torn places where people, often times kids, getting shot with AK-47 or M4 (gang vs police weaponry) stray bullets is normal. Really, normal. Yeah, some guy having access to the latest Occulus is really changing this reality. Sorry for the rant... but for the past 20 years I haven't been convinced that there's another solution other than having good and decent basic public education for everyone. Really sorry, but as a brazilian, it hurts sometimes.
holografix 5y ago
I grew up in Rio de Janeiro right next to a few favelas. I also served time in the Brazilian army (mandatory drafting) for 12 months and was not only surrounded by guys from all types of favelas but was stationed on the border of the Maré Complex.[0] Trust me. I know a thing or two about favelas. I could write a book about it but I’ll stick to the topics on the OP’s article and some recurrent topics in the comments, some very unfounded. The answer to how people below the poverty line can afford technology is simple: donations and debt. It’s _very_ common in Brazil to accrue debt by buying things “parcelado” or in instalments on your credit card. Next to one one pays the full amount upfront for a meaningful purchase. Wanna buy a smartphone for $USD200? Pay 10x $USD23 over 10 months. Why are these expensive gadgets not stolen? Of course they are. However not as commonly as one might guess, it’s virtually impossible to commit a crime unseen in a favela. There’s very little to no privacy at all. A mixture of citizen justice (wife beaters for example are routinely bashed by crowds of people) and drug dealers’ willingness to assert authority keeps most stupid thefts in check. Favela residents will go to surprising lengths to acquire “escape”. In the 1990s it was the parabolic antenna and a tv. With the intro of cheap android devices and 3G it became social media and YouTube. As the price for VR drops it’ll be that. Much before Facebook there was a social media app that exploded in Brazil, it was called Orkut, it was a reflection of the need for escape. Also, with the advent of more and more cheap laptops, the promise of easy NFT/Crypto money and a magical job as a coder it’s becoming more and more common to see laptop ownership. I see what Mr Chantilly is trying to do and it’s easy to dismiss it as a single fart in the galaxy but he helps keep some kids off the streets, gives them a bit of hope. Hopefully they learn more than League of Legends and come out of it speaking a little English and more comfortable using a pc. What’s needed in Rio and Brazil is a multi-generational educational investment. It’ll never happen of course. Populist demagogues like Lula da Silva will keep being re-elected to “save the poor”. By rubber stamping high school certificates for people that can’t read why buying their votes with free food. Every 8 years or so they’ll rob so much they’ll get thrown out, a moron from the right will be elected, and the left will come back in again to reinstate the good times. Meanwhile a huge brain drain perpetuates. Now on another note. If you’re a tourist in Rio STAY THE FUCK AWAY from any favelas. If you _must_ engage in poverty zoo/safari make sure you go with a trusted, long time in the market, tour guide and don’t forget at any time that you’re putting your life at risk. At any moment, there could be a police operation or a rival drug dealing gang using weapons of war in your immediate vicinity. No I’m not exaggerating. I was shot at by AR15 and M16 rifles and returned fire with my shitty Belgium made FAL during an attempted “hit and run” on the barracks I was stationed at where a couple of maniacs on crack will jump the walls and try to get out with ammunition and rifles. These days a lot of the hardcore drug gangs (or factions as they are often called in Rio) have been displaced by what most people would think of more classic mafia. Protection money, extra “taxes”, money loans, etc. These organisations are mostly comprised of corrupt ex and current policemen and low rank army personnel and therefore much more capable and educated than 90% of the dealers they displaced. If you want to watch three great but extremely violent movies that explain this shift in power, watch these 3 in this order. “City of God” - basically how violent drug dealing started in Rio back in the 70s. [1] “Elite Squad” - the state of the war of drugs in Rio during the 90s. [2] “Elite Squad 2 - Enemy within” - how it is was in the late 00s [3] [0] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maré,_Rio_de_Janeiro https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maré,_Rio_de_Janeiro [1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_God_(2002_film) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_God_(2002_film) [2] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elite_Squad https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elite_Squad [3] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elite_Squad:_The_Enemy_Within https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elite_Squad:_The_Enemy_Withi...

165 points by zwieback 5y ago

I have mixed feelings about the article. I was curious to read about a tech boom. They described a twitch player which earns enough to be afloat. A gaming pro team and an artist selling nft's. Is it just an add for nft's or a submarine piece for afro games.

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
dang 5y ago
OK, we've taken 'tech boom' out of the title since that seems to be distracting from what the article is actually about.
nopenopenopeno 5y ago
This article is obviously propaganda meant to counter the headlines about the Worker’s Party leading in the polls. The working people of Brazil have suffered tremendously under Bolsanaro’s neoliberal government and Lula (Worker’s Party candidate who Bolsanaro imprisoned for 2 years on bogus charges) has a big lead. After the recent socialist victories in Chile and Bolivia (following the U.S.-assisted coup), western states will do everything they can to prevent the Worker’s Party from retaking power in Brazil. Expect more of this and other hi-jinx as the Fall election nears. It’s going to be a messy one. https://youtube.com/watch?v=MJm08zHWaKA https://youtube.com/watch?v=MJm08zHWaKA
- lvass 5y ago
  Does MAV-PT still pay for spam or are you doing this for free? (The party this guy is spamming for is widely known for paying for spam comments and generating politic discussions online)

bserge 5y ago

When you're at zero, anything happening is a "boom". I should know, I'm from a country where IT is "booming"... Most of it is tedious boring work that was outsourced by western companies because no one there wants to do it, plus it's cheaper than even creating some automated processes. Still, that's a pessimistic way to look at it. It's a good thing, and it can grow into something better.

627467 5y ago
Another perspective is that there are people who prefer to do those jobs (instead of say, working in Amazon warehouse) but can't because it's cheaper (and logistically possible) to outsource to another country.
- space_fountain 5y ago
  But also on some level why in the world are they more deserving of the job then the potentially better qualified foreigner just because where they happened to be born.
  - ipaddr 5y ago
    The question is why is it better for the country not who is more deserving. This is an export of US dollars. Is it better to keep the position local so member of society can be taxed/buy from other local businesses or export so foreign worker can buy tools from US firms or US business can get job done for cheaper.
    - space_fountain 5y ago
      Well I think that is actually quite a different question. Luckily it's not at all clear that the sort of zero sum thinking that lead to mercantilism was ever true or will ever be true. Having the best people doing the jobs where they have a comparative advantage helps everyone. Ideally we would open our immigration system more, certainly to highly skilled labor, but until then.
  - 5y ago

neonate 5y ago

https://archive.is/Omfjf https://archive.is/Omfjf

TameAntelope 5y ago

How the hell do they run these operations or have this amount of gear safely in a favela? When I did a full-on tourist experience of Rio, the guides were adamant that we not even go near any favela, as we'd immediately be robbed or worse. My understanding was that the crime in those areas was so astronomically high that nothing even resembling IT infrastructure could exist, as it would immediately be confiscated by the cartels operating there. I'm glad that's not the case, but I wish the article had more information about how these people were able to operate safely.

dasil003 5y ago
Because they live there and have relationships, it's very different from a tourist who just looks like a cash machine.
- lostlogin 5y ago
  They may be a degree of liability involved too - take/encourage/let tourists go there and it could have consequences for the tour operator? I am very much not a lawyer.
- aylmao 5y ago
  Depends on the city/country, but there's also an argument affecting tourists is just not worth it. Money isn't the goal, money + little trouble is the goal. If a city is a big tourist destination, the bad press, the potential involvement of foreign nations, the outcry from the tourism industry, etc are all good reasons for local law enforcement to strike back hard. Especially if overwhelmed, it's very possible local law enforcement wont give the same weight to an investigation involving only locals and one involving a foreigner, especially if the eyes of, say, Germany are staring at you.
- nopenopenopeno 5y ago
  This article is obviously propaganda meant to counter the headlines about the Worker’s Party leading in the polls. The working people of Brazil have suffered tremendously under Bolsanaro’s neoliberal government and Lula (Worker’s Party candidate who Bolsanaro imprisoned for 2 years on bogus charges) has a big lead. After the recent socialist victories in Chile and Bolivia (following the U.S.-assisted coup), western states will do everything they can to prevent the Worker’s Party from retaking power in Brazil. Expect more of this and other hi-jinx as the Fall election nears. It’s going to be a messy one. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MJm08zHWaKA https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MJm08zHWaKA

newaccount2021 5y ago

people from around the world hungry to pull themselves up from the bottom... meanwhile in NYC and Oakland, high school students are on "strike" and walking out of class over bogus covid hysteria (aka a legit excuse to combine virtue signalling and goofing off)...apparently we must grovel to their demands as the world owes so much to, and depends so much on, the American teen fast forward twenty years, who will have risen, who will have fallen

csdvrx 5y ago
I vouched for your comment, since it talks about a very possible risk: replacement at the low end (and little by little towards the upper end) of WFH techies by other WFH techies from lower cost countries that won't ever think about this union stuff. China has proved outsourcing is a valid path for growth as people learn the technology little-by-little to do what they need: these game streamers derided by other HN comments will certainly learn how to reinstall Windows and drivers, then how to deal with their fans, then how to make their website (if only to reduce costs/keep more profits) etc And even if they only learn one of these (say, dealing with fans), personally I'd be happy more than happy to hire them as a community manager if the price is fair.
steve76 5y ago
> people from around the world hungry to pull themselves up from the bottom... Foreign countries are poor like the Rolling Stones or Motley Crew are poor. They are actually very wealthy. They see nice peaceful lives as something for fools and cowards. > meanwhile in NYC and Oakland, high school students are on "strike" and walking out of class over bogus covid hysteria (aka a legit excuse to combine virtue signalling and goofing off)...apparently we must grovel to their demands as the world owes so much to, and depends so much on, the American teen Awful to see people turn their backs on their own. Big tech would be gone without bailouts and cheap consumer credit to buy their junk. Despite all their prestige, they don't do anything. People still die horribly. Their charity is not enough. The problems, such as neurological disease, are much more difficult than they thought. "Disruption" or "don't be evil" didn't work. We gave them the luxury of a lot of resources while we fought some very bad people and took care of the sick. First chance they get they leave for Cypress and Brazil for people who really do hate them. >fast forward twenty years, who will have risen, who will have fallen I work from home and am only in tech because of family care-taking. Twenty years will be a sad time for me. Everyone will be gone. I'll be all alone. Despite that, I kept up on my skills. I managed to have at least some real workplace experience. I have nothing but free time, and I am going to be incredibly angry at and have very little remorse towards the people we trusted with all our wealth and who chose marxists and drug gangs and terrorists over their own and burnt and looted my home.

mensetmanusman 5y ago

The image of someone sitting in a shack with VR gear on was thought provoking. Will the adaptation of this technology accelerate quality of life improvements, or will it be an opiate of the masses who would rather exist virtually than in the real world? Could this remove political desire for rapid change?

apsurd 5y ago
sorry, i can't help but read this as rather tone deaf. People are very complex.
pm90 5y ago
> Could this remove political desire for rapid change? No, since in the end you do have to return to the "real" world. Unless we can upload ourselves to the metaverse, a majority of humans will continue to want change in meatspace.
- aylmao 5y ago
  There is the argument though that you could "entertain" people away supporting a fair cause. This both by means of propaganda through the content they consume, and by simply giving people something they can consider "good enough". Would people in micro-apartments be happy living in 32m^2 if they didn't have computers / TVs?
lbrito 5y ago
>Will the adaptation of this technology accelerate quality of life improvements? No. Things favelas need, in order of importance: 1. Jobs 2. Jobs 3. Jobs 4. Decent waste disposal 5. Decent public infrastructure - mass transit, daycare, health clinics, schools, etc. 6. Decent public services - police, postal office, social service workers, etc. 7. Etc 8. ... ... Infinite - VR gear with SV technobabble, MMORPG, play-to-earn BS. Source: I am Brazilian.
- f00zz 5y ago
  This country should have never normalized favelas. Just 50 years ago, places like Singapore and Seoul used to have slums that looked a lot like Brazilian favelas. But they invested in public housing and now look like sci-fi cities from the 25th century, while we were singing "quem mora no morro vive pertinho do ceu".

paperwasp42 5y ago

Wow, this is fascinating. Does anyone know of any mentorship programs that help youth in under-developed countries who are working to get into tech? I would love to participate in that kind of program, but the only ones I've seen are company based (ie: internal internship programs.)

nopenopenopeno 5y ago
This article is propaganda ahead of the upcoming election. The working people of Brazil have suffered tremendously under Bolsanaro’s neoliberal government and the Worker’s Party is leading in the polls. After the recent socialist victories in Chile and Bolivia (following the U.S.-assisted coup), western states will do everything they can to prevent the Worker’s Party from retaking power in Brazil. Expect more of this as the Fall election nears.

Toine 5y ago

I cannot take someone who calls himself a "crypto artist" seriously.

chucksmash 5y ago
Commenting on crypto in bio is 2022 HN's version of 2014 HN's commenting on site's CSS: "Good article, but black font on white bg makes this literally unreadable for me."

lbrito 5y ago

Such a waste on a great subject. There's this huge social and economic change in Brazil over the last 10 or so years where dozens of millions of people are acceding to the digital world; broadband (usually 4G) access to the internet is becoming part of their daily lives. This has huge consequences and tons of opportunity. Nubank is a quick example I can think of that knew how to take advantage of this movement and is now a billion-dollar company expanding through all Latam. But no, instead they decide to spotlight game streamers.

frozenlettuce 5y ago
as someone who had a previous carreer in journalism (and also happen to be a Brazilian as well), the media will always portrait the country in a way to make it seem "exotic" in order to gain more attention. that's why you will _never_ see news articles about boring countryside towns
- nopenopenopeno 5y ago
  This article is obviously propaganda meant to counter the headlines about the Worker’s Party leading in the polls. The working people of Brazil have suffered tremendously under Bolsanaro’s neoliberal government and Lula (Worker’s Party candidate who Bolsanaro imprisoned for 2 years on bogus charges) has a big lead. After the recent socialist victories in Chile and Bolivia (following the U.S.-assisted coup), western states will do everything they can to prevent the Worker’s Party from retaking power in Brazil. Expect more of this and other hi-jinx as the Fall election nears. It’s going to be a messy one. https://youtube.com/watch?v=MJm08zHWaKA https://youtube.com/watch?v=MJm08zHWaKA
vmception 5y ago
but just because you don't respect game streamers doesn't mean that it doesn't have huge consequences and opportunities too. the people doing that have income and access to capital now whether a bank showed up or not, which is way better than any neobank fintech company can achieve. in the past, access to capital or electronic payments meant "bank the unbanked", now it doesn't mean that so there's no reason to cling to that goal.

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

belter 5y ago

As electricity is the favela is free..Wait until the cryptominers move in. Maybe that is the solution to end drugs and violence?

d0100 5y ago
Until you see the banners put up in the favela: anyone defending crypto and nfts, etc will receive a beating This is an atual banner
- belter 5y ago
  Maybe. But they are already doing it: https://infograficos.estadao.com.br/focas/por-minha-conta/materia/gato-de-energia-e-usado-para-minerar-moedas-virtuais-em-paraisopolis https://infograficos.estadao.com.br/focas/por-minha-conta/ma...

bunkydoo 5y ago

ForOldHack 5y ago

Nice. I got a visit from someone in Brazil, who was teaching programming in the San Paulo. I looked at a picture of a bunch of his students, and most of them were women. He was teaching them to solder. I immediately took about a $20, and handed it to him. I think its time we send him a care package. Garoa Hacker Clube

EL_Loco 5y ago

This is, sorry, the same BS that I hear over and over, and over and over. This is alright, it's pretty good that it's happening, but that's the extent of it. Just good, just alright. The need for decent public education at the elementary level is still needed, and is what is really needed. Nothing else will do. Some people, very few, will rise out of poverty by becoming famouse or... never mind, I won't bother. I'm actually tired of these stories highlighting the success of a few people where millions live without good decent basic education and good decent basic healthcare. At this rate Brazil will take a century to get rid of its ghastly inequality levels. People in favelas have had cable tv, internet access, cell phones, etc, for decades now. They still live in gang controlled, gang-war torn places where people, often times kids, getting shot with AK-47 or M4 (gang vs police weaponry) stray bullets is normal. Really, normal. Yeah, some guy having access to the latest Occulus is really changing this reality. Sorry for the rant... but for the past 20 years I haven't been convinced that there's another solution other than having good and decent basic public education for everyone. Really sorry, but as a brazilian, it hurts sometimes.

holografix 5y ago

I grew up in Rio de Janeiro right next to a few favelas. I also served time in the Brazilian army (mandatory drafting) for 12 months and was not only surrounded by guys from all types of favelas but was stationed on the border of the Maré Complex.[0] Trust me. I know a thing or two about favelas. I could write a book about it but I’ll stick to the topics on the OP’s article and some recurrent topics in the comments, some very unfounded. The answer to how people below the poverty line can afford technology is simple: donations and debt. It’s _very_ common in Brazil to accrue debt by buying things “parcelado” or in instalments on your credit card. Next to one one pays the full amount upfront for a meaningful purchase. Wanna buy a smartphone for $USD200? Pay 10x $USD23 over 10 months. Why are these expensive gadgets not stolen? Of course they are. However not as commonly as one might guess, it’s virtually impossible to commit a crime unseen in a favela. There’s very little to no privacy at all. A mixture of citizen justice (wife beaters for example are routinely bashed by crowds of people) and drug dealers’ willingness to assert authority keeps most stupid thefts in check. Favela residents will go to surprising lengths to acquire “escape”. In the 1990s it was the parabolic antenna and a tv. With the intro of cheap android devices and 3G it became social media and YouTube. As the price for VR drops it’ll be that. Much before Facebook there was a social media app that exploded in Brazil, it was called Orkut, it was a reflection of the need for escape. Also, with the advent of more and more cheap laptops, the promise of easy NFT/Crypto money and a magical job as a coder it’s becoming more and more common to see laptop ownership. I see what Mr Chantilly is trying to do and it’s easy to dismiss it as a single fart in the galaxy but he helps keep some kids off the streets, gives them a bit of hope. Hopefully they learn more than League of Legends and come out of it speaking a little English and more comfortable using a pc. What’s needed in Rio and Brazil is a multi-generational educational investment. It’ll never happen of course. Populist demagogues like Lula da Silva will keep being re-elected to “save the poor”. By rubber stamping high school certificates for people that can’t read why buying their votes with free food. Every 8 years or so they’ll rob so much they’ll get thrown out, a moron from the right will be elected, and the left will come back in again to reinstate the good times. Meanwhile a huge brain drain perpetuates. Now on another note. If you’re a tourist in Rio STAY THE FUCK AWAY from any favelas. If you _must_ engage in poverty zoo/safari make sure you go with a trusted, long time in the market, tour guide and don’t forget at any time that you’re putting your life at risk. At any moment, there could be a police operation or a rival drug dealing gang using weapons of war in your immediate vicinity. No I’m not exaggerating. I was shot at by AR15 and M16 rifles and returned fire with my shitty Belgium made FAL during an attempted “hit and run” on the barracks I was stationed at where a couple of maniacs on crack will jump the walls and try to get out with ammunition and rifles. These days a lot of the hardcore drug gangs (or factions as they are often called in Rio) have been displaced by what most people would think of more classic mafia. Protection money, extra “taxes”, money loans, etc. These organisations are mostly comprised of corrupt ex and current policemen and low rank army personnel and therefore much more capable and educated than 90% of the dealers they displaced. If you want to watch three great but extremely violent movies that explain this shift in power, watch these 3 in this order. “City of God” - basically how violent drug dealing started in Rio back in the 70s. [1] “Elite Squad” - the state of the war of drugs in Rio during the 90s. [2] “Elite Squad 2 - Enemy within” - how it is was in the late 00s [3] [0] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maré,_Rio_de_Janeiro https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maré,_Rio_de_Janeiro [1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_God_(2002_film) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_God_(2002_film) [2] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elite_Squad https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elite_Squad [3] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elite_Squad:_The_Enemy_Within https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elite_Squad:_The_Enemy_Withi...