Page 35 of Rio
“I am.”It made for light reading on the plane.
“Two years under construction,” she says, her voice tight, like she’s trying to stay calm.“They’re selling it as though it will help us, as though it will be good for our environment and our people.As though they’re doing us a favor by building it here.In an ideal world it would be true, perhaps.But this isn’t an ideal world, is it?And this eco resort is built for rich tourists from abroad.There is nothing in it for the locals.Lot of low-paying jobs, of course.”She gives a dry laugh.“The mangroves are already thinning, fish numbers dropping, and the community is not happy.”She glances toward the horizon and shakes her head.“All this beauty … it won’t last if big corporations keep carving it up.”
“I hate it when that happens.I’ve seen this before, numerous times.It makes my blood boil.”
We fall silent for a while.I feel a sense of moral righteousness, and feel blessed that I’m doing the job I am.
“You were born and raised in Miami?”she asks.
“I work in Miami, but I’m from Brazil, from São Paulo.”
“Ah,” her voice warms to me even more.
I tell her about how I got my law degree in Brazil, then spent a year at college in Washington.
“My boss,” I say, “he doesn’t like me doing this work.”
“No?”
“He thinks I should be back at the law firm, doing expensive billable work, instead of pro bono work.I shouldn’t have told you that.”I don’t know why the words tumbled out so easily.She’s a client and it’s wrong, but there’s something about Alma which makes me feel like I’m talking to a friend.
“More of that capitalist greed,” she murmurs.
We turn down a sandy lane, along a row of little bungalows all painted in different colors.There are different shades of blue, sunny yellows and corals, mint greens and different shades of pink, all brightening the already vibrant landscape.
She brings the car to a stop before killing the engine.
“Are we here?”I look around at what seems to be a residential street.
“Welcome to our HQ.”
“HQ?”
“Our headquarters.It’s not an office, but a residential home which serves as our base.I’ll show you around, and later I’ll take you to wherever you’re staying.”
I decide to leave my luggage in the car and follow her into what looks like a modest bungalow.
“This is nice.Very homely.”I look around to see a large table full of paperwork, with two smaller tables facing the window.A handful of people are working conscientiously.They don’t even notice us walk in.
“We don’t spend money on corporate buildings and headquarters.This is more than enough for us.”
“It feels like home.”I nod as she introduces me as “Raquel from the Miami law firm” to the handful of people there.They turn around and we nod and acknowledge one another.
“Take a look at these.”She walks over to the large table, where everything is spread out and arranged just so, for me.“This is what I was telling you about—the evidence that’s come in.”
I take a seat, then look through photos and the documents that are spread across the table.Exhibits that are painful to look at.Pictures of uprooted mangroves, their twisted roots piled like rubbish at the edge of the construction zone.
I’m haunted by the photo of a young child holding a bucket of water so murky it looks like oil.Test results showed it wasn’t just undrinkable, it was toxic.My throat constricts, as I gaze at the next photo.This shows fragments of dead coral washed ashore and bleached a deathly white.This so-called “eco resort” pushed through permits fast.It would be laughable, if it weren’t deadly.My insides shake with rage because the people paying the price aren’t the ones signing the deals.They won’t benefit one iota.
It's not the first time I’ve seen this.The damage is the same, but it’s a different country.Another paradise that is desecrated.And behind it?Another greedy corporation who thinks it can get away with it.
“I’d like to take you to the coastline later so you can see the damage for yourself,” Alma says, pushing her thick, black framed spectacles up.“I need to tell you something.”She pauses.
“Tell me what?”A jolt of panic shoots through me because I know that look, and I know it’s not something I’m going to like.
“Initially we said this was going to be a fact-finding trip.A legal review, but we actually want to pursue an injunction.”
My heart sinks.“An injunction?”This is not good.Not good at all.I can hear Pierce’s disapproval already.
