In the countryside of Amazon, the battery operated radios have resisted as the predominant means of communication among communities where electricity hasn’t arrived yet. But the presence of TV is growing fast, due to accessible prices of TV sets and rechargeable car batteries.

Every day, there is a veritable pilgrimage to kiosks set up in the fairs of nearby towns that specialize in recharging these batteries, charging R$3 – R$5 for the service. The batteries supply the TV sets for a few hours, electric pumps and the bulbs for one week!

This life-long resident of the quilombola* community of Tauera-açu has just bought a TV for the first time. “I’d like to watch the World Cup”. Over the years, he has listened to the transmission of the World Cup matches on the radio, or watched it in black and white on his neighbor’s TV in the other side of the community. Photo: Mario Miranda.

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[Video copyleft Navegar Amazônia 2005. Images/editing Gavin Andrews.]