Far and Away: Reporting from the Brink of Change

425 The drop in crime rates following implementation of the UPP program is described in Simon Jenkins, “Vision of the future or criminal eyesore: What should Rio do with its favelas?” Guardian, April 30, 2014; educational improvements are noted in Robert Muggah and Ilona Szabo de Carvalho, “Fear and backsliding in Rio,” New York Times, April 15, 2014.

425 Findings of research by the Institute of Social and Political Studies regarding criminal activity in Rio’s favelas were reported in Coelho, op. cit.

426 The minuscule number of sanctions resulting from citizens’ reports of police violence are discussed in Human Rights Watch, “Letter: Brazil: Protect detainees in police custody,” July 25, 2014.

426 For Amnesty International’s report on homicides by police in Rio, see “You killed my son: Homicides by military police in the city of Rio de Janeiro,” Amnesty International, August 3, 2015.

426 For the report finding widespread displacement of favela residents and disappearance of street children during preparations for the 2016 Olympics, see Karin Elisabeth von Schmalz Peixoto et al., “Rio 2016 Olympics: The exclusion games,” World Cup and Olympics Popular Committee of Rio de Janeiro, December 7, 2015; see also Jonathan Watts, “Rio Olympics linked to widespread human rights violations, report reveals,” Guardian, December 8, 2015.

426 The demise of Amarildo de Souza while in police custody was widely reported and analyzed; among the articles dealing with it is Jonathan Watts, “Brazil: Rio police charged over torture and death of missing favela man,” Guardian, October 2, 2013; see also Human Rights Watch, “Brazil: Reforms fail to end torture,” Human Rights Watch, July 28, 2014.

426 Douglas Rafael da Silva Pereira’s death by beating provoked widespread protests; see Wyre Davies, “Brazil: Protesters in Rio clash with police over dancer’s death,” BBC News, April 23, 2014.

426 Gunfights in “pacified” favelas are described in Donna Bowater, “Rio’s police-occupied slums see an increase in drug-related violence,” Washington Post, February 19, 2014.

426 The quote from Cleber Araujo (“It feels like we’re in a war”) comes from Loretta Chao, “Rio faces surge of post–World Cup violence in slums,” Wall Street Journal, July 22, 2014.

427 The Pew Research Trust found increasing distrust of police by Brazilian citizens; see Judith Horowitz et al., “Brazilian discontent ahead of World Cup,” Pew Research Global Attitudes Project, June 3, 2014.

427 The impact on local residents of police attempts to expel criminal gangs from the Maré favela is described in Jonathan Watts, “Rio police tackle favelas as World Cup looms,” Guardian, June 10, 2013. Pacification of the Rocinha favela also had a devastating effect on law-abiding citizens; see Paula Ramon, “Poor, middle class unite in Brazil protests,” CNN News, July 24, 2013.

427 The quote from Atila Roque (“backfiring miserably”) comes from “You killed my son: Homicides by military police in the city of Rio de Janeiro,” op. cit.

427 The quote from the anonymous favela resident (“They will run into each other on the way out”) appears in Rodrigo Serrano-Berthet et al., “Bringing the state back into the favelas of Rio de Janeiro: Understanding changes in community life after the UPP pacification process,” World Bank, October 2012.

In Bed with the President of Ghana?

431 Speculation that I had figured in the death of the late president of Ghana was published in Daniel Danquah Damptey, “Investigate Mills’ death,” GhanaWeb, July 29, 2015.

432 Moses Foh-Amoaning’s prophecy that I would one day join the ministry was broadcast on Ghanaian radio; see Kweku Antwi-Otoo, “Gay activist Andrew Solomon will be a pastor one day: Moses Foh-Amoaning,” Atinka 104.7 FM, July 13, 2015. The quote “God will meet him at a point and hit him to change” comes from another report that deals with my sexual identity at some length, “ ‘Prayer’ is the key against ‘devilish’ homosexuality worldwide: Moses Foh-Amoaning,” Daily Guide Ghana, July 14, 2015.

432 For similar, albeit less hopeful, demagoguery, see Gyasiwaa Agyeman, “‘Mahama will soon mortgage Ghana to anti-Christ,’” Adom Online, January 8, 2016.

Gay, Jewish, Mentally Ill, and a Sponsor of Gypsies in Romania

442 The sanction against National University of Theater Arts and Cinematography professor Andrei Rus for allegedly “ruining the University’s image” with his “gay propaganda and homosexual agenda” was reported in Dorina Calin, “Decizie UNATC: Criticul de film Andrei Rus nu va fi dat afară din instituţie, dar va fi sancţionat,” Mediafax, July 2, 2015.

Myanmar’s Moment

443 All quotes in my essay on Myanmar come from personal interviews unless otherwise specified.