Urban issues and challenges - rio

Location of rio

- costal

- south of Brazil (south America)

- against the Atlantic Ocean

- has mountains on it's border

- on the Tropic of Capricorn

- Central in S.A. (helps with drug smuggling)

- far from the Amazon Rainforest (south east from it)

Latitude and Longitude

23.5 S, 45 W

Rio's population growth:

1955 -

1975 -

2005 -

2025 -

1955 - Just below 4 million

1975 - Just below 8 million

2005 - 12 million

2025 - 14 million

Causes of Rio's rapid growth (name 3)

Natural increase

- the birth rate is (9.6/1000/year) is consistently higher than the death rate (8.7).

- 35% of the pop increase is due to this

Migration

- rural-urban migration (eg. the Amazon --> Rio)

- also from other countries

- 65% of pop increase is due to this

Migration to RIo (name 5)

- other parts of Brazil

- other S.A. countries

- South Koreans and Chinese looking for business oppurtunities

- common language attracts Portugese (Brazil's former colony)

- industry attacks skilled workers from USA + UK

what are 3 world-famous tourist and natural attractions

-sugar loaf mountain

- ipanema bay and beach

- statue of christ the redeemer (7 new wonders)

- lot of beaches and food

- art museums

- natural surroundings

- carnivals

Wealth - GDP, income etc.

- second most important industrial centre

- 5% Brazil's GDP

- centuries of trade with Europe

name 5 industries in Rio

- oil and gas (eg. Shell and Esso)

- hotels, entertainment, restaraunts

- banking, finance, insurance

Major ports and exports

- many export-import companies based in Rio because of the port facilities

- exports $7 billion worth of goods

- main are coffee, sugar and iron ore

name 5 services

- biggest retail sector in the reigon

- manufacturing industries:

. chemicals

. pharmaceuticals

. clothing

. furniture

. processed foods

- also the banks, hotels etc.

hosts major sports events

- 2014 world cup

- 2016 olympics

what are 3 education oppurtunites

- Rio contains 19 of the top 50 schools in Brazil

- 47 private schools

- 6 major unis

when did the economy recess and what happend because of this?

it was hit by a deep recession in 2015. because of this, unemployment rates increase

things people have protested about

- high taxes

- poor education

- inadequate healthcare

why does rio and brazil in general have some of the highest income inequality in the world? what is this divide?

because of unemployment.

the richest 1% earn 12% of the total income, and the poorest 50% earns 13%

informal economies in rio

- street vendors

- drivers

- labourers

- maids

- production of sewing/ handicraft items for markets

how much do people earn working in the informal sector?

£50-100 per month, but this is irregular

does the informal sector pay tax

no

unemployment rates up to...

...37% in some favelas

how is the local government trying to combat this?

they are using education.

- 'schools of tomorrow' programme (improves education for kids+teens in violet areas)

- courses for adults

- free childcare for teen parent who want to finish their education

what are some crime features in rio?

- violence

- armed robbery

- drugs :

. major drug distribution centre for S.A.

. many drug gangs are heavily armed

name 2 ways rio has attempted to reduce crime with 3 details for each

- major police operations to tackle dugs gangs.

. a 'warzone'

. helicopters w guns

. highly trained

- pacification

. UPP (heavily armed + highly trained)

. clean up operations to make favelas safe

. in place since 2008

(sometimes the gangs come back after a few years)

waste disposal problems and pollution

- problem in favelas ( no waste collection)

- waste is often dumped in the water supply (causes disease like cholera and brings rats)

solutions to waste disposal

- a powerplant (uses methane gas form rotting rubbish). consumes 30 tonnes of rubbish p/day and produces electricity for 1000 homes.

air pollution and traffic congestion

- air pol. causes around 5000 deaths p/year

- city often covered in brown smog

- because of heavy congestion (2million cars p/day) on roads leads to build up of exhaust fumes.

- also mist from the Atlantic mixing w pollutants from cars+factories

air pol + congestion solutions (name 3)

- car sharing, Bus Rapid Tranist system, Metro+Suburban rail, Water ferry

- road uprades

- cycle/pavement network

- toll roads where yuo have to pay to drive

(howvever, many people feel safer driving in cars through favelas)

name 3 factors adding to water pollution

guanabara bay is heavily polluted which could affect beaches, damaging the income made from tourism

- open sewers leading into 55 rivers (over 200 tonnes of sewage p/day)

- over 50 tonnes of industrial waste into bay p/day

- oil spills from Petrolbras oil refinery

- ships emptying their tanks there bc there is nowhere else to do it

- litter thrown into the rivers and collects for kms on the edges (sometimes recycled into souvenirs)

water pollution solutions

- overseas aid used to reduce amount of sewage into the bay

- 12 new sewage works since 2004 for $68 million

- ships fined for discharging fuel there

- 5km of new sewage pipes

- "guardians of the river" people who are paid to clean the rivers

what is a favela?

an, often illegally built, squatter settelment of poor quality housing, lacking in services like water, sewage, and electricity

population growth in favelas

1950-

1980-

2010-

2024-

1950- 165,300

1980- 628,200

2010- 1,393,000

2024- 2.1 million+

location of favelas

- in undesirable places

- hills + mountains (landslides are common)

- mainly on the edge of the city

- in between dual carriageways and factories

unemployment in favelas (name 3)

- rates as high as 37%

- irregularly paid jobs in the informal sector

- avg income >£75/month

crime in favelas (name 3)

- high murder rate - 20 p/1000

- drug gangs dominate

many distrust police bc of violence + corruption

health in favelas (name 3)

- population densities of 37000 p/km^2

- infant mortality rate as high as 50 p/1000

- waste builds up on the street, increasing danger of disease

- burning rubbish often sets fire to wooden houses (smoke is bad for health_

services in favelas (name 5)

- 12% homes have no running water

- 30% have no electricity

- approx. 50% have no sewage connections

- many homes age illegally connected to electricity pylons

- sewers are open drains

- drinking water obtained by using the city's main supply. taps are usually at the bottom of steep slopes.

construction in favelas

- poorly constructed houses (basic materials eg. iron, broken bricks and plastic sheets)

- many built on steep slopes with many landslides

- in 2010 - 244 died and 13000 lost their homes to a landslide

- limited road access due to steepness of the slopes.

name 5 facts about Rocinha (a favela)

- largest favela in Rio (around 180,000)

- has a radio station and a newspaper

- 'self help' (families helping eachother build/exchange homes)

- high crime (safer since pacification in 2012)

- was illegal until the 1980s

- some postal services and refuse collection

- in recent years the drugs gangs have been more active

Trends as you go up the hill

-poorer as you go up

- steeper incline as you go up

- at the bottom: 99% have electricity

- bottom: most have formal jobs

- nearer the top: less services like sewers, electricity etc.

- nearer the top: cheaper, poorly built housing

Favela-Bairro project

- site and service scheme where the local authority provides land and services for residents to build homes

- ran 1994-2008 and 168 favelas were imropved

- cost $1 billion pound

Favela Bairro Project improvements (name 5)

- pavements and paved roads

- fresh water supply

- sewage system

- hillsides secured (prevent landslides)

- people relocated to safer, less steep land where necessary

- health, leisure and education facilities

Providing clean water

- 12% do not have access to clean water

- 37% water lost by leaky pipes, fraud and illegal access

- population growth has worsened these conditions and impacted the carnival

providing clean water solutions

- 7 new treatment plants build in 1998-2014

- over 300km of pipes were laid down

- by 2014 95% had clean water

Providing energy

- whole city suffers from frequent blackouts due to electricity shortage

- electricity is obtained by tapping into the main supply in poorer parts (risky and dangerous)

energy solutions

- installed 60km of new power lines

- building a nuclear generator

- developing the simplicio hydro (electricity complex that will inc Rio's supply of elec. by 30%) (took 6 years and $2 billion)

-

providing education

- school compulsory 6-14 years

- only half 14+ carry on with school

- many drop out to do drug trafficking to provide an income

- not many schools, shortage of teachers

education solutions

- encourage volunteering at local schools

- giving grants to poor families to cover the cost of keeping their children in school

- making money available for free lessons (volleyball, football, swimming, squash available in Rocinha)

- opening a private uni in Rocinha

providing healthcare

- only 55% of the city have a local health clinic

- services for pregnant and elderly are poor, especially in the West

healthcare solutions

- Santa Marta favela is 13km from the nearest hospital, so medical staff took health kits into people's homes to diagnose and treat diseases.

- increased the life expectancy and decreased the infant mortality rate.

was the favela-bairro project a success?

- for the 268 improved, yes

- for the others, no

- overall, it was a good idea in theory but the exceution was bad, making the whole thing a failure, in my opinion

Formal jobs in Rio

- shopkeeper

- builder

- hotel receptionist

- banker

- factory worker

Informal jobs in rio

- street vendor

- gambling/drug dealing

- selling to tourists