Rio de Janeiro urges Google maps to ditch the word 'favela' in a bid to clean up its image



The tumble-down favelas of Rio de Janeiro have become renowned for their lawlessness, drug culture and poverty.

So it's understandable that the Brazilian tourist boards and Rio's city hall are keen to wipe clean their international image - especially in the run up to the 2016 Olympic Games.



So much so, that they've asked Google to remove the word 'favela' from some of its maps of the city.



Rio's impoverished shanty towns, such as favela Dona Marta, seen here against the famous Corcovado mountain, are cleaning up their image

Hundreds of the shantytowns crowd the undeveloped parts of the city, and have always been identified on maps using the Portuguese word 'favela'.

But recent years have seen their safety improving as police have taken control away from drug gangs.



Since 2009, the Mayor of Rio and tourism company Riotur have campaigned to have the word removed from the maps in order to reduce their prominence.

They argue that small shantytowns, with few inhabitants, were given greater importance on the maps than regular neighbourhoods.



While the word 'favela' remains attached to certain areas, such as the famous Favela do Vidigal near Ipanema, Google has allegedly removed the word from areas such as Favela Sumaré and Favela Morro do Chacrinha in the north of the city.

These favelas are now being described using the word 'morro' or 'hill'.

The term has also been removed from one the south zone’s largest favelas, Rocinha.

Critics argue that the move may pose a risk to tourists, who could unwittingly enter a dangerous, unmarked favela.

The Popular Committee, which campaigns against violence, abuses and exploitation linked to the World Cup and Olympics in Rio, said: "The virtual removal is part of a city project that tries to hide poverty and the poor as much in virtual environments as in reality, with forced removals."







