BRazil's oil reservesIn the readings, the topic of Brazil finding massive oil reserves in shallow water is discussed. In two thousand and seven, a massive oil reserve was discovered with the expected potential to reach the ability to produce up to 100 billion more barrels than Saudi Arabia. The article also discusses how this oil field had the potential to modernize Brazil, however currently the Brazilian oil market is at a stand still. Why would this be? How could Brazil, once loved for its oil, now have no love from other countries? In 2008 oil fields had to be auctioned off, however petrobras worked with two Chinese giants, the royal Dutch’s Shell, and France’s Total and expected the field to hold up to twelve billion barrels of crude oil. This is considered to be a major success from all parties. The country of Brazil once saw itself as a country up and coming as a great power in the oil industry, however now Brazil faces a stark reality, in which it will most likely have to retrench its expectations. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/brazils-oil-euphoria-hits-reality-hard/2014/01/05/0d213790-4d4b-11e3-bf60- c1ca136ae14a_story.html http://www.laht.com/article.asp?CategoryId=14090&ArticleId=352119 GUANABA BAY POLLUTION:The water issue in the bay is very troubling, especially since the Olympics are going to be held in Rio. One example of this is how an Olympic athlete became sick around Christmas time due to having his vessel capsize having him go into the bay. Also all rivers that flow into Guanabara Bay are all dead rivers. This means that there is no life within these rivers. However “eco-boats” are being driven through the waterway, the significance of these boats is that when they drive through the waterway they scoop up garbage and pollution from under the surface of the bay. Many different things are scooped up in these boats, things from televisions and plastic bags to even dead fish. Rio hopes that the twenty sixteen summer Olympics will help to be a catalyst to cleaning water ways and ending water pollution problems not only Guanabara Bay or Rio, but for all of Brazil. Despite the terrible water conditions life still can be found in areas of the Bay. To clean up the water seven water treatment plants had been planned, however only one of the seven have been built. With only thirty months remaining (from the time the article was written) to the Twenty Sixteen Summer Olympics the time gap is closing rapidly for the water to be properly treated and cleaned.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-25686805 Reflections:
January 5-7: Upon arrival to Rio we needed to take a day to recover from extensive travel, then once we had recovered we went to Copa caba beach. Which is one of the two main beaches in Rio de Janeiro (the other being Impanima). Copa Cabana is said to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. However these beaches and the waterways of Rio face a major problem, this problem is run-off and wastewater management. The problem comes from the run-off from the favelas. This is because the favelas do not have a suitable drainage system or sewage system. Causing the wastewater to flow into places like Guanabara bay making it dangerous to even swim in. The following day we went to see Christ the Redeemer, a well-known piece of Brazilian culture. When visiting the Redeemer one would expect to have an amerce feeling of spirituality, however this was not the case for me. Instead the group experienced hordes of tourists coming to see the statue. The view from the redeemer of the city of Rio however is breath taking. When making the assent to the redeemer the group was able to see little gardens, which were made to help with the runoff of the city. These gardens absorb runoff as well as hold soil and dirt in place keeping it from eroding. Another day, the group had a meeting with Chevron, a major oil company drilling for oil in Brazil. At this meeting the group was given a presentation from several speakers, each talking about the effects Chevron has had on Rio as well as the rest of Brazil. Main topics discussed were the process in which drilling is done, the geology of Rio and the surrounding area, and the Biomes of Brazil. January 12-13: When we returned to Rio we only had limited time due to the flight, which was scheduled for the following day. For our last day in Rio the group went to Tijuca Park for a hike. Tijuca Park was originally land cleared to grow crops, but then after seeing the effects it had on the landscape, the forest was replanted and grew to what into the urban forest it is today. When in Tijuca we were able to see many different species of plants as well as a few species of birds as well as other species of animals. As well as learned about the water system of the forest and how the water flows through it. We then left Rio to fly back to the U.S. Pictures: 1: The Chevron meeting 2: Group dinner in Copa Cabana 3: The Redeemer 4: Copa Cabana beach 5: Hike in Tijuca park 6:Tijuca Map 7: Group picture in Tijuca 8: View of Rio from the Redeemer |
The FavelasIn one of the articles, it views the Favela from the view of someone who has lived there for years, Bob Nadkarni, who is a hotel owner and has lived in the favelas for 35 years. And the article shows his love for his home, despite the problems with drugs and gang activity. His problem with Rio is not the favelas but instead the government, saying "They haven't got a democracy, what they've got is a 'kleptocracy.'” While in another article it shows the lives of six people and their point of view living in the favelas. One of these six Wellington Pereira, a barber says, “He barely knows the other side of Rio, such as Ipanema, because everything you need is in Rocinha - from banks to health center and dentists.” Showing his approval for where he lives. While tour guide Carlos Antonio de Souza says "I like to walk the favela from top to bottom to show people that the favela is like a city within the city." As well as that he likes to take visitors into the deepest parts of the favelas to divulge its problems with infrastructure. Giving a deeper look into the lives of the people of the favelas. While the final article takes a look at the favelas problems facing drug problems, and gang activity. Stating gangs formed in prison and around the favelas, gangs such as “Comando Vermelho” meaning red commandos, and “Amigos dos Amigos” meaning friends of friends. However the Brazilian government has passed a law having the pacification police to stay in the favelas for another twenty-five years. This means a suppression of gangs and drugs, however when the author of this article was leaving he saw graffiti stating, “don’t worry… we will return”. Which could be a chilling thought however I have bright expectations for the future.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-27635554 http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/a-look-into-brazils-makeover-of-rios-slums-165624916/?no-ist http://newday.blogs.cnn.com/2014/06/30/experience-this-favela-and-explore-the-other-side-of-brazil/ |