Warm welcome in Rio

23.08.11 Rio

We’re in Rio for Earth Summit preparations
Sue Riddlestone blogs

We’re in Rio de Janeiro this week as part of our preparations for next June’s pivotal UN Rio+20 Earth Summit. One of our objectives is to see if we can usefully offer the one planet living approach to one of the Favela re-furbishment projects here in Rio. This all came about because earlier in the year when we attended our first Rio+20 preparatory meeting we were enthusiastically sharing our experiences of one planet living and the one planet communities. A government delegate from Egypt said “Very nice, but isn’t this just for rich people, how do you do one planet living in the slums?” I think the Egyptian government should have thought about it earlier, as the Arab Spring began a few weeks later! But it’s a fair point. We have tried to apply the one planet approach to poorer communities through our work in South Africa, but the government department dealing with public housing was not interested in sustainability. So we thought let’s see if we can do something in Rio linked to Rio+20, especially as we had already made some great contacts in the Mayor’s office here.

There are a number of Favelas which are being refurbished and improved, one of which is the first Favela, Providencia. Leo, a friend of Jim Fielder, Head of Sustainable Business at BioRegional, is back in his home city of Rio after ten years living in London. He offered to take us around Providencia ahead of our meetings with government officials and community groups next week. So on Saturday morning we headed downtown to the docks area and were met by Rosangela who lives in Providencia. After a quick look at a new school that is being built by local people with government funding, we headed off up the steep steps into the Favela proper. The Favelas in Rio generally seem to have been built on the steep slopes of the many hills and mountains here. The geography of Rio de Janeiro is quite breathtaking. As we got to the top and walked through the charming narrow streets where there are no cars and it’s amazingly peaceful, coupled with great views, I was reminded of the beautiful celebrity studded Italian island of Capri. We semi-joked that people should invest now as the Favela could end up as very desirable real estate.

Madelena was standing outside her front door as we went by. Leo asked if she’d mind showing us around, which she was happy to do. We had to climb over the concreted over sewage pipe to get in. It didn’t smell, it was just bad design having it in the way like that. The house was much bigger inside than it looked outside. It has six rooms, but even so six people live there so it is quite cramped. There were bunk beds and toys belonging to the kids who were playing outside. A delicious smelling lunch was cooking on the stove in the kitchen. It was very homely and much nicer than I would have expected looking at the house from the outside. Madelena’s husband owned the house which had been in the family for generations, which is quite typical. Her husband has now retired and Madelena collects recyclables like ring pulls and cans to supplement his pension. They don’t have big bills, they get a discounted rate on water and energy. The main thing Madelena wanted was to get the roof fixed as it leaks when it rains. She said she was very happy here and the whole family seemed genuinely content. Madelina wished us luck with the one planet living project and Leo said he would let her know how it goes.

The issues that came up time and time again as we asked what needs to be improved in the Favela were crime, rubbish and education. The crime is related to drug dealing, which the government is now tackling by moving the police in to the Favela, one Favela at a time. In Providencia we saw a police officer with a one metre long gun; apparently they have to match the size of the drug dealers’ guns. Rubbish and dog poo was everywhere and the common spaces really needed some love and attention. It felt pretty unhealthy. There was evidence of interventions, like art projects and concreted pathways. Our guide Rosangela said people need to take more responsibility to care for the place, they need educating so that when improvements are made they don’t just spoil them again through ignorance. The Padré said we have to educate and develop the potential of the children. Leo himself had grown up in a Favela and said things are better than when he lived there. He used to have to fetch water and carry it up the steps. In Providencia there is a water tower and everyone has clean water, though the pipework is a bit of a crazy mess. Electricity cables run everywhere like spaghetti and don’t look entirely safe. Leo is a self made man, he said he had a poor education in the Favela and has educated himself. He is currently studying part time for a degree in history alongside his business as a tour guide. Leo doesn’t think that the schools are good enough yet, but at least they are building a new school there.

Rio is so expensive for us as visitors I cannot quite understand how Madelena and Rosangela get everything they need, but they do seem to have quite a good life. The city government seems to be tackling the right issues like crime and education. It will be interesting to see this week if they or the leader of sustainability in the Favela project think they can learn anything new from our approach to enabling sustainable lifestyles.




Providencia Favela