The River - At the edge of life is a photo-story, which ran two years in one of the Northeastern Brazilian capital, Fortaleza. Fortaleza is one of most dangerous but at the same time one of the most beautiful and historical cities either in Brazil and the world as a whole. As almost like the same way as emerging economy of Brazil, Fortaleza city has also experienced a rapidly growing level of economy. After a long period of high consuming level in automotive and housing marketplace, nationwide political and economic crisis experienced in Brazil has shaken this ex-emerging capital. The story, The River, is named after the Caera River, which gives its name to the State of Ceara, and passes through the city of Fortaleza. A delta exists at the last point of this long Ceara River, where the river falls down to the Atlantic Ocean. Fortaleza city was settled down at the “mouth†of the Ceara River. Since then the city has grown and the social habitat around the river stayed out the original settlement point where it used to be. Now, the river is hosting cheap beaches for the working class, fishermen, as well a bridge and a big and famous favela, named as Pirambu... Governors from the Workers’ Party established some social and economic funds for housing and new accommodation areas at the seaside, and connected the settlement with a highway to the large part of the city. But the community here is still far away from the city center in terms of economic and social life. Pirambu, like the other favelas in the country, is very dangerous; and a high level of unemployment and/or cheap employment is observed. While it was one of the emerging marketplaces in Brazil, Pirambu, today, during the crisis period in Brazil, is looking for changes in Fortaleza city. People of Pirambu are still indigent. Crime, conflicts of drug-trafficking and unemployment drive them to desperation about future. Every one of five people living in community consumes crack, which is a very cheap and strong addictive chemical drug. Prostitution is very common, especially among crack users. This story tells the story of the people of the Ceara River, the Pirambu community, in Brazil. The story of such people who are always being out of politics and economic speculations of the Ceara River, of which people survive with whatever is granted to them.
