RIO DE JANEIRO
Rio
is the most prominant and successful example of a wholly corporate run
paradise on the planet. When the Multi-National conglomerate
(including Arasaka, Biotechnica, EBM, SOVOil,
Multi-foods, and Net54) virtually bought the whole country out from
under the
ruling party, through bribe, media manipulation, and blackmail.
The move was seen worldwide as a scary reminder of the true power of
the Multi-Corp influence. Especially since Brazil had up to this
point been the most successfully independent South American nation to
date. But with strategically placed politicians, and the right
amount of pal greasing, it became a ripe and juicy fruit for the
Conglomerate to snatch of the vine in the largest hostile takeover ever
witnessed.
The changes took
place almost immediately, and nowhere is that more evident than
Rio. For 4 days every year during Carnaval Rio had been known as
the worldwide party spot, but the rest of the year it was dominantly
devout in its catholic practices. Once the Corporations moved in,
they began rebuilding from scratch, modernizing everything, turning the
place into a giant resort. Net 54 began a serious campaign,
manipulating broadcasts, especially of a religious nature, and over the
course of a few years were able to convince the devoutly catholic
population that hedonism, submission, pre-marital sex, and physical
aesthetics were not only values allowed by the church, but actually
favored by it. Arasaka took over the job of law enforcement under
the banner of the newly acquired Amazonian Securities banner, 
and waged all out war weeding out the gang, violent
criminals, subversives and the homeless. Most were rounded up and
banned from city limits, others were simply killed by the "Black
Squads". Drug dealers were subsidized, officially endorsed and
supplied by Biotechnica. With a conglomerate wide policy of
hiring only the young and beautiful from the local population, within a
few short years, Rio had transformed from a devout, if somewhat crime
ridden latin model of independence, to a completely corporate
controlled 
Babylon.
There is no violent crime in Rio, no homeless, and the vast majority of
natives on the street are young, fit, and healthy. The drug
business is booming, but tightly controlled, and the majority of Rio
citizens have engaged in prostitution at some point, most do it on a
regular basis. All citizens are 
required to undergo
routine health tests to check for STDS, and any who fail the test are
put into immediate treatment. Those with diseases that can't be
cured are turned out of the city permanently. All in the name of
creating a perfect tourist paradise for vacationing executives.
And when Carnaval does come, the party can be heard from orbit, and now
lasts a week straight.
The statue of Christ The Redemeer still stands, arms
outstretched over Rio, but to a true believer it is
almost a blasphemy when one sees what the city has become.
Still, there
is no denying the appeal, and no confusion that with the notable
exception of Crystal Palace, Rio is the number one most prestigious,
and most popular vacation spot in the world, for those who can afford
it. A place where you every dream and desire, no matter how
perverse, no matter how opulent, can be catered to legally and
professionally. There are no ghettos, there are no areas in the
city that aren't safe to wander through no matter what time of day or
night. But don't start trouble, and don't even think about
perpetrating any violence here. Amazonian Security (aka Arasaka)
do not always feel obliged to ask questions, nor are they subject to
the cyberware or firearms restrictions all others in the country must
adhere to.
(Written
by Deric Bernier)
