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By Mirna Wabi-Sabi and photos by Fabio Teixeira. Published at Abeautifulresistance.org . It can be said that producing less garbage helps to extend human life on the planet, because, among other things, it preserves natural resources on which we depend to survive. Organic waste, in particular, is responsible for the production of methane, considerably increasing humanity's greenhouse gas emissions. But it is possible that the separation of organic waste can save lives in a more immediate way: by preventing cases of leptospirosis . It is not news that food waste in the garbage attracts animals such as rats, and that the urine of these animals can cause leptospirosis in humans. According to the photojournalist Fabio Teixeira, author of the photographic series “Surviving Between Shadow and Light”, anonymous workers, who work in the outskirts of communities in Rio de Janeiro, are victims of racism, police violence, and suffer from diseases caused by the trash. “These unemployed people recycle garbage to find copper, iron, aluminum, and toys to repair and donate. According to information from the recyclers, two deaths were caused by contamination with leptospirosis in November and December of 2022.” 04/03/2023 – Fabio Teixeira – Manguinhos Favela This observation by Teixeira is supported by public health research, although the numbers are likely to be underreported . The community of workers in the recycling and garbage collection industry is described as being at constant risk in the 2017 article called 'Perception of Quality of Life of Collectors of Recyclable Materials ', from the nursing journal of the Federal University of Pernambuco. The authors explain that “because this type of work requires permanent contact with agents that are harmful to health”, the “activity that handles garbage” is “unhealthy to the highest degree”. Such statements may sound obvious, but the issue of waste has the potential to affect the entire urban population, not just professionals who handle waste. The Radioagência Nacional , of the Brazilian public communications company, released an alert in March of this year about the increase in “cases and deaths” caused by leptospirosis. Heavy rains and floods exacerbate the problem, and expose a large contingent of the population, leading to 24 cases and 3 deaths recorded by the Rio de Janeiro Health Department in the first two months of 2023. Proposals to mitigate this danger so far have been: preventing children from playing in places with “ accumulated water ” or taking out the garbage at most one hour before the garbage truck comes by . But these solutions do not protect the population as a whole, since garbage is still taken to places where people come in contact with it and expose themselves to risks. Moreover, the recurrent potential for floods in urban areas makes it impossible to avoid accumulated water. Conscious consumption and disposal of waste is the most effective tool in the hands of individuals and requires a simple reconfiguration of home dynamics. "Don't Throw Your Conscience in the Trash" What constitutes conscious consumption are the practices that begin with the purchase of products. Better than recycling is to produce less garbage. For this, it is pertinent to give preference to products without packaging, such as vegetables and fruits. If there is packaging, opt for compostable packaging, such as paper, or reusable packaging, such as glass jars. When disposing of plastic, tetra pak and fabric, ensure that they are clean, with no food leftovers or smells. It is important that this garbage is free of residues or odors of organic matter because they serve as food for and attract rodents. Separating all food scraps from the garbage prevents the emission of methane into the atmosphere and prevents rats from being attracted by this residue. The question is what to do with this leftover food. Composting is the best way to turn these organic wastes into composted land without producing methane or attracting rodents. But not everyone is able to compost at home. Community gardens such as A Amiga da Planta , in the oceanic region of Niterói, receive and collect organic matter from neighboring residents to use in composting and provide guidance on how to separate these materials – e.g., avoid adding meat, and separate citrus peels in their own containers. The reconfiguration of the culture of consumption and waste disposal at home requires little time and space, but requires interest and awareness. 09/03/2023 – Fabio Teixeira – Manguinhos Favela Consider that someone will handle the garbage and the welfare of those people is of immense importance, as well as consider that this garbage exists for decades or centuries after we throw it away. It is beneficial for all of us that this waste can be separated, reused or recycled in a sustainable and healthy way, without polluting the land or oceans, and without causing deaths . The work of collecting and separating garbage is essential for the sustainability of consumption practices, for environmental protection, and for the preservation of natural resources such as clean water and fertile land. 2022 – Fabio Teixeira – RIO DE JANEIRO Dealing with Public Policy Failure Which actions and programs should be developed by the State to guarantee the well-being of the population? Leptospirosis is a disease caused by the failure of basic sanitation services, the overcrowding of municipalities in favor of the real estate market, and by inhuman levels of social inequality. “The improper disposal of solid waste is involved in determining the appearance of infectious diseases” ( 2017 ), and adequacy means not only an appropriate destination, but also adequate equipment and decent living conditions for workers. An intersectional analysis between labor rights, access to health and education, basic sanitation, sustainability and environmentalism allows for the development of a holistic solution to this problem. According to research by the nursing journal of the Federal University of Pernambuco, “the degradation of the natural environment and the generation of waste cause physical health impairments, psychological and psychiatric disorders, and social disintegration.” The well-being of the population depends on actions that consider the physical, psychological, and social spheres. Therefore, solutions such as waiting to take out the garbage or avoiding coming into contact with accumulated water do not fully address the public health problem of leptospirosis. This totality includes family consumption up to its disposal method, various public policy failures, sustainable community practices and an environmentalist perspective. The History of Leptospirosis Leptospirosis was brought to the Americas with the rodents present on European ships during colonization, and it is possible that it caused a massacre of indigenous populations. The article “ New Hypothesis for Cause of Epidemic Among Native Americans, New England, 1616–1619 ” proposes that consideration should be given to “customs that may have been instrumental to the near annihilation of Native Americans, which facilitated successful colonization of the Massachusetts Bay area”. And that these “local customs continually exposed this population to hyperendemic leptospiral infection”. The academic journal ‘PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases’, dedicated to "infectious diseases that promote poverty", published an article on the " Global Burden of Leptospirosis " in 2015. In it, the researchers estimate that leptospirosis is a serious problem for resource-poor tropical countries, including countries in Africa, "due to diagnostic problems and lack of data." Data from Tanzania and the Amazon reveal that fever is a common symptom and malaria is over-diagnosed as a cause. This leads to substantial numbers of leptospirosis 'burden estimates ' being misallocated to other infectious diseases such as malaria. Source for graph: SINAN-03/03/2023 According to data published by the Brazilian ‘Notifiable Diseases Information System’ (Sinan) on March 3, 2023 , there was an increase in cases of leptospirosis in the country in 2022, or a more drastic than usual underreporting during the COVID-19 pandemic. A few days earlier, on March 1st, the Radioagência Nacional reported 3 deaths in 2023 that are not included in Sinan's figures. It is evident that the magnitude of the impact of leptospirosis in Brazil is not being precisely quantified. Sources of graphs: SINAN-01/03/2023 and SINAN- DOI Due to the population density in the regions of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, their numbers stand out, alongside Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. Although Rio has a “ prevalence rate lower than the national rate ” per 100,000 inhabitants, outbreaks of leptospirosis in the city coincide with summer storms since the 1960s, and “areas with occurrence of floods have more cases”. These areas tend to be, as expected, of poor sanitary conditions , with low-income communities . In 2020, Mário Martins and Mary Spink published an article called “ Human leptospirosis as a doubly neglected disease in Brazil ”, where the following statement is made: "Our analysis shows [...] the arbitrariness of criteria for assigning health priorities, [and] the invisibility of the population profile of human leptospirosis in official data. [...] We conclude that [this is] related to the fact that human leptospirosis affects a population which the State has no interest in keeping alive.” Leptospirosis killed more Brazilians than dengue fever every year between 2000 and 2016 – 3 times more – but received nine times less medical investment. There are more cases of dengue fever, so the questioning is far from being a criticism of funding for its treatment and prevention. But academics have for years been pointing out the severe neglect with which leptospirosis is tackled institutionally, and the parallel with dengue fever highlights this. “ Quantifying the magnitude of health loss ” due to leptospirosis is difficult because of issues discussed in several academic articles, but there is no doubt that cases are underreported, misdiagnosed, and resources are not sufficiently allocated for research and prevention. Since the arrival of this disease on “ slave ships ”, it is still a racialized and impoverished population that is forced to live in unhealthy conditions, without appropriate resources and access to decent public policies. At the very least, this should encourage us to take action in our homes and communities to help prevent cases and deaths from this disease – actions such as refraining from adding organic matter to the garbage just as we refrain from pouring grease down the drain. Human beings and the environment can only benefit from the awareness of the population and public institutions of the causes and solutions to the problem of garbage as a risk to human and environmental health. _____ By Mirna Wabi-Sabi and photos by Fabio Teixeira.

Read it in English HERE, at Sul Books. Fotos e vídeos de Fabio Teixeira, 31 de outubro de 2025, no Rio de Janeiro. Dia 28 de outubro de 2025, o Rio de Janeiro se transformou numa zona de guerra . Uma megaoperação das forças de segurança do estado do Rio, envolvendo cerca de 2.500 policiais, foi deflagrada contra a facção criminosa Comando Vermelho . Pelo menos 132 pessoas  foram mortas, tornando a operação policial a mais letal da história da cidade. Na madrugada do dia 29, mais de cinquenta corpos foram carregados por moradores e dispostos em uma praça pública no Complexo da Penha, para que os familiares pudessem tentar identificá-los – sem qualquer apoio do Estado. Muitos dos mortos chegaram apenas de cueca, anônimos. O protesto No dia 31 de outubro, um protesto pela paz reuniu moradores das favelas, jovens, familiares das vítimas, ativistas e defensores dos direitos humanos. A energia era urgente e intensa – faixas pedindo o fim do massacre, a identificação das vítimas e justiça para as favelas tremulavam ao vento. Mães e pais se sentavam nas calçadas, chorando, em silêncio, com a cabeça baixa. O trauma coletivo era palpável. As pessoas no Rio e nas comunidades vizinhas falam de choque e luto, mas também de raiva e determinação. O protesto foi uma declaração de que o governo não sairá impune dessa brutalidade. Exigiremos nomes, identificação e apoio jurídico para as famílias. Porque sem isso, não há justiça, apenas apagamento. O massacre expôs a forma como o Estado trata os corpos (e as vidas) de homens, em sua maioria jovens, negros e de baixa renda, moradores das favelas. Após a operação, autoridades governamentais a declararam um sucesso, mas os moradores percebem que essa estratégia assassina de operações policiais, que já dura décadas e que claramente só aumenta o número de vítimas, ainda não apresentou resultados. E nunca apresentará resultados no combate ao crime organizado, porque não aborda a raiz do problema: a subjugação sistêmica dos moradores das favelas e o racismo institucionalizado. Tudo o que faz é satisfazer uma ideologia supremacista e sanguinária de limpeza étnica e extermínio de um contingente da população que não é útil para a manutenção do sistema capitalista. Essas pessoas mortas são seres humanos e merecem dignidade, humanidade e direitos. De acordo com direitos humanos internacionais, o Estado tem o dever de identificar as vítimas, notificar as famílias, fornecer apoio jurídico e psicossocial e, o mais importante, conduzir uma investigação independente. Essas obrigações não são opcionais e ainda não foram cumpridas. A ausência dessa resposta, a falha em identificar adequadamente os mortos e o tratamento vergonhoso da situação como "bandido bom é bandido morto" sinalizam violência institucional em níveis sem precedentes. Sejamos claros: mesmo que todas as pessoas mortas nesta operação fossem membros de gangues (o que ainda não foi comprovado), isso não isenta o Estado de sua responsabilidade. São jovens, em sua grande maioria negros e moradores de favelas. Foram atacados, encurralados, baleados, esfaqueados, decapitados, sem julgamento ou devido processo jurídico. Quando um segmento da população (definido por raça e classe) é tratado como um inimigo a ser exterminado, estamos entrando no âmbito do genocídio. A narrativa oferecida pelo Estado, de que 'um morador de favela merece morrer porque faz parte de um Estado paralelo inimigo,' espelha outras narrativas genocidas em todo o mundo. Diz-se que os palestinos merecem morrer por causa do Hamas; os moradores de favelas merecem morrer por causa do crime organizado e de gangues como o Comando Vermelho. Até mesmo as armas usadas no Rio incluem fuzis de fabricação israelense (como o IWI Arad fornecido à Polícia Militar do Rio). Em ambos os casos, as pessoas são desumanizadas, privadas de direitos, excluídas da ordem simbólica. Essa é a lógica do genocídio, quando a violência é normalizada contra um outro indesejado. O que Lula disse O presidente Lula gerou controvérsia ao afirmar que os traficantes de drogas também são vítimas dos usuários; há pessoas que vendem drogas porque há pessoas que compram, e pessoas que compram porque há pessoas que vendem. A oposição disse que isso equivalia a banalizar o crime de tráfico. No entanto, a declaração aponta para algo mais profundo: o reconhecimento de que aqueles que são forçados a entrar na economia das drogas são, eles próprios, vítimas de um sistema de subjugação, desigualdade e consumo por parte dos privilegiados. No contexto deste massacre mais recente, a implicação é clara. Jovens reduzidos a bucha de canhão, lutando uma guerra sobre a qual tiveram pouca escolha, parte de economias informais geradas pela falta de oportunidades, enquanto os consumidores da classe média e da elite permanecem protegidos do escrutínio e consequência. As palavras do presidente deveriam nos levar a enxergar além do rótulo de "criminoso" ou "bandido" e perguntar: Por que tantas vidas são consideradas descartáveis nas favelas? Por que essa operação fracassa A lógica da megaoperação é cruelmente simples: usar força esmagadora, apreender armas e declarar vitória. Mas décadas de operações semelhantes no Rio e no Brasil mostram que isso não quebra o ciclo de crimes violentos. Pesquisas demonstram que a polícia do Rio mata mais pessoas em operações a cada ano do que a polícia dos Estados Unidos inteiro. O trauma dessa violência se espalha, famílias são destruídas, crianças ficam órfãs, comunidades aterrorizadas e desconfiadas. O protesto pela paz no Rio não se resume a essa única operação; é um grito contra décadas de policiamento militarizado, violência racial e negligência estrutural. Um apelo por justiça e humanidade Após os acontecimentos de 28 e 29 de outubro, as exigências são claras: Todas as vítimas devem ser identificadas; as famílias informadas; e deve ser fornecido apoio jurídico, financeiro e psicossocial. Uma investigação completa e transparente sobre como e por que as pessoas foram mortas. O fim das declarações que criminalizam comunidades inteiras em vez de abordar as causas profundas da desigualdade, do racismo, da falta de oportunidades, da marginalização, do consumo de drogas por parte dos privilegiados e da corrupção em instituições governamentais que encobrem má conduta e uso excessivo da força. O policiamento deve ser substituído por investimento social e pela reconstrução do contrato social para desmantelar suas estruturas de racismo institucional. Se esperamos que o mundo condene a violência em outros lugares, que defenda os chamados países 'civilizados' que respeitam os direitos humanos, devemos primeiro olhar para nós mesmos. A supremacia branca e a violência patrocinada pelo Estado continuam sua lógica genocida no Brasil, em Gaza, em todos os lugares. Para aqueles de nós que não foram diretamente afetados, a luta não acabou. Devemos fazer tudo o que estiver ao nosso alcance para apoiar as comunidades afetadas, exigir justiça e desafiar as narrativas de extermínio. Esta não é apenas uma crise no Rio; é um espelho que reflete o globo. Veja mais fotos aqui. _____ Mirna Wabi-Sabi é escritora, editora da Sul Books e fundadora da Plataforma9 . Ela é autora do livro Anarco-transcriação  e produtora de diversos outros títulos pela editora P9 .

"According to international human rights standards, to which Brazil is legally bound, every death occurring in security operations must be registered, investigated, and accompanied by complete identification of the victims." On October 28th, 2025, at least 119 people were killed in Rio de Janeiro in the deadliest police operation in the state's history. The gang retaliated with drones, explosives, and barricades. The number of deaths, the environment of densely populated favelas, and the fact that many of the dead are still unidentified raise questions about how, who, and under what circumstances they died. The bodies of the deceased were denied the presence of family members and forensic examination, tied with nautical ropes and transported in pickup trucks to the Getúlio Vargas hospital, and from there to the Forensic Medical Institute. The fact that only the police officers are named highlights an inequality of visibility and legal protection among those killed in the operation, influences the media narrative, and raises serious questions about human rights, justice, and journalistic ethics. By being officially named, the deceased police officers are immediately recognized as victims by the State, which guarantees their families quick access to pensions, compensation, and legal assistance — benefits that are denied to the families of the unidentified dead. The ethical, legal, and political problems of calling unidentified deceased individuals 'thugs' The presumption of guilt without trial When a person is called a thug after an operation, it is an attribution of guilt without due process. But in a state of law, no one should be considered guilty until proven otherwise. In many of these operations, deaths occur without arrests, investigations, or trials — therefore, it is impossible to determine who the deceased actually were. The erasure of the humanity of the dead Reducing dozens of people to mere criminals is a form of dehumanization. The dead cease to be recognized as citizens, parents, children, siblings, or residents of communities, and become an abstract and disposable category. This facilitates the social acceptance of police violence and the silence surrounding summary executions. The reinforcement of social and racial inequalities In practice, the term "thug" ( bandido ) is usually applied to Black and poor people from the outskirts of cities. This generalization legitimizes the selective killing of certain social groups. In other words, the word is not neutral; it is part of a power structure that naturalizes state violence against specific territories. Transparency and accountability are compromised While authorities label the deceased as "criminals," independent investigations are rarely conducted. This obstructs the pursuit of police accountability, prevents the identification of victims, and violates international human rights laws. Public opinion shaped Language shapes social perception. When the press or the state uses the term "thugs" to describe only one side of those involved in urban violence, the public tends to accept massacres as legitimate operations, even without evidence or context. This creates a narrative of war, in which certain citizens are treated as enemies of the people. According to international human rights standards, to which Brazil is legally bound, every death occurring in security operations must be registered, investigated, and accompanied by complete identification of the victims. This obligation is stipulated in the UN Minnesota Protocol (2016), the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force (1990), and the American Convention on Human Rights (OAS). These documents determine that, in any state operation, it is illegal to classify deceased persons as "unidentified" without a formal investigation and without notification to the families. Under international law, it is the State's responsibility to guarantee transparency. As of the closing of this note, the operation in Rio does not comply with these requirements. There is no public list of victims by name, nor an official report on the circumstances of their deaths, which could qualify as a breach of signed treaties and possible instances of extrajudicial executions if there is no independent investigation. ____ Bodies in the Square October 29, 2025 Residents of the Penha Complex rescued at least 50 bodies from the Serra da Misericórdia (Compassion Mountain Range, ironically) in the early hours of October 29th and placed them in São Lucas Square. There, family members tried to identify their loved ones before the Forensic Medical Institute collected them. When residents are forced to recover bodies on their own, pile them in a public square, and improvise a kind of collective identification before the arrival of the State, it is evident that the State produces death to maintain domination. It has no commitment to the lives of the population it considers marginal and enemy, acting with brutality to 'reconquer territory.' The State seeks to 'reconquer territory' and deny rights to those who live on the margins not because these territories are a threat to society, but because they represent a threat to their model of power and control over society. War as a Method of Social Discipline Each operation fulfills a strategic function of: – Preventing collective mobilization, repressing community leaders and criminalizing any autonomous organization; – Fragmenting networks of solidarity, producing distrust and sabotaging collective initiatives; – Instilling trauma and fear, using terror as a method to paralyze political action; – And legitimizing permanent police occupation, transforming marginalized areas into zones of exception where rights are suspended and military presence is normalized. This mechanism keeps poor and racialized territories under surveillance and subjugation, making social resistance impossible and ensuring the continuity of the economic and political interests that depend on this structure of oppression. Government institutions create conditions for the economic extraction and political control of these populations, by neutralizing class conflicts and protecting the circulation of capital. What happened in the Penha Complex this morning goes beyond a humanitarian tragedy. It is a declaration of the true interest of government institutions, which act not to protect lives, but to manage death and profit by denying rights to those who live on the margins. ____ Written by Mirna Wabi-Sabi Photographed by Fabio Teixeira ____ [Editorial note: Number of casualties updated.]

Bilingual editing and advisory. Assessoria bilíngue de edição. FAQ ◣ Perguntas frequentes FAQ What is Plataforma9? Plataforma9 is a journalistic and publishing initiative that publishes non-fiction articles and pocket books in several languages (Portuguese, English, Spanish, Indonesian, Persian) and distributes them globally. In addition to the online publisher, Plataforma9 offers editorial services such as editing, formatting, translation, consulting, and media literacy training. Plataforma9 means 'platform 9', it is always written without a space between the word and the number, and is pronounced: plah-tah-FOR-mah NAW-vee. Is Plataforma9 related to the Portuguese Platform 9 or to Harry Potter's Platform 9¾? No. Despite the coincidence in name, Plataforma9 has no connection to the Harry Potter universe or the Portuguese portal of the same name. Our name comes from the first article we published in 2019, where overpass ( passarela ) 9 in Maré, Rio de Janeiro, served as an observation point to cover the violent dispersal of the Cracolândia area by the police. Plataforma9 has become a symbol of our starting point – observing and analyzing the world from places that are often ignored, and giving visibility to what is systematically erased. We also have no connection with the Brazilian IT company Plataforma Nove. Who owns Plataforma9? Plataforma9 was created and is directed by Mirna Wabi-Sabi , a writer, editor, and journalist. The project is independent , without ties to political parties, media companies, or large publishing groups. In addition to Mirna, Plataforma9 collaborates with an international network of authors, photographers, and researchers who participate in editorial and journalistic projects. What payment methods are available on the Plataforma9 website? We accept: Bank slip ( Boleto ), Brazilian credit and debit cards, PayPal PIX We only accept Brazilian credit cards. International customers are encouraged to use PayPal. Please contact us if you have any questions about payment or would like to know more about alternatives. Is it possible to change the language and currency on the Plataforma9 website? Yes. At the top right of the pages, there are two dropdown menus – one for changing the language to English, Spanish, or Portuguese, and another for changing currencies. The currency menu only becomes visible when cookies are accepted at the bottom of the page. What is Plataforma9's Privacy Policy? Plataforma9 respects European personal data protection laws – GDPR. You can at any time request to access, edit, or remove your data from our records. Plataforma9 also does not share or sell personal data of clients or partners to other companies, individuals, or corporations. What kind of books do you publish? P9 publishing house, affiliated with Plataforma9, publishes non-fiction paperback books, focusing on progressive politics, environmentalism, social justice, mini-anthologies of political articles, and critical reflection texts. The books are designed to be portable (smartphone-sized), for reading anywhere. But we also have larger photography books, such as Seeds and Tales. Most P9 books are multilingual, meaning there is more than one language in each edition. In which languages and markets are the books available? The books are available in Portuguese, English, Spanish, Indonesian, and Persian. They are sold in several countries, including Brazil, the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Australia, Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Indonesia. In Brazil, distribution is handled from our headquarters in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro. In the rest of the world, distribution is handled through partner distributors. These distributors can be found on the map on the main page of the website. It is also possible to place international orders on this website, platform9p9.com, for the USA, UK, European Union, and Australia. How can I buy a book or access the catalog? You can access the Store section on the Plataforma9 website to see the available multilingual paperback books. You can also buy them in physical or online bookstores listed on the map on the main page. There is also the option of digital books (e-books) for some titles. What are the terms and conditions for delivery, exchange, or refund? Deliveries are estimated to take around 3 weeks. The website confirms receipt of the order, payment, and shipping within one week. There are no exchanges, but you can contact us to inquire about refunds or report delivery problems. What editorial services do you offer and what is the cost? 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The focus is on non-fiction with a critical perspective, addressing topics such as progressive politics, media literacy, culture, the environment, technology, society, and diversity. The target audience includes readers engaged in critical thinking, cultural movements, academics, communication professionals, and readers seeking concise (pocket-sized) and thought-provoking publications. Many of our readers are interested in foreign languages and speak more than one language.

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In this podcast, Mirna Wabi-Sabi, founder of the initiative, talks with collaborators and guests about several articles and projects from Plataforma9. EN Colaborações