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Brazil: Round-up of Issues we Face to Fight Climate Change
I don’t like how people in Brazil claim that we are a “poor country”, “a developing nation”, or a “Third World nation”, and because of this we are not obliged to set an ambitious target for the COP15 and its inevitable treaty that will eventually replace the Kyoto Protocol. If Brazil entitles itself as one of the greatest world economic powers and wants to play a pivotal role in the international community, it should start right now in Copenhagen.
It is easy to say we cannot cope and that we have the ghosts of social and economic inequalities haunting our society, so that environmental discussions are left out of the list of priorities. That’s WRONG! This is a chance to leap forward with the development process and to do it in a sustainable way, thus making our nation a better place in which to live.
But firstly, let me address some issues that I find noteworthy and that Brazil might face in fighting global warming:
The first is… lifestyle: People in Brazil are very consumerist, especially the upper classes. Poor people, on the other hand, don’t have money to spend, hence they won’t have a chance to consume like Hollywood stars, but the thing is: if they had the means, they sure would buy like crazy!
In addition, it is common knowledge amongst Brazilians – and this is a fact - that many citizens don’t care for discussions regarding climate change. Many don’t believe it is necessary to use more buses and fewer cars, or that turning off the lights in a room when leaving is enough. I recall speaking with a friend about climate change before heading to Copenhagen to meet with other bloggers/competitors, and she said something to the effect of, “it is bullshit, do you believe in these things?” At first I felt angry, but that feeling changed to sorrow and pity. To change our lifestyle is the most difficult thing we can do. If we don’t win this challenge, no treaty will be enough to save our planet.
Public transportation: As I may have already highlighted, the insult of public transportation makes the Brazilian people desire more and more to buy cars. Resultantly, they live peacefully inside their fancy cars, but contribute to an increase in traffic jams and carbon emissions.
In my own hometown, we have trains that cover a small area of the town and the bus for the rest of the city. We don’t have electric buses or subways. We don’t use bicycles (no one would risk himself/herself in this traffic), and boats only cover transportation for the islands in the bay, not for other areas of the city.
Travel and tourism: Travel and tourism is important, but the carbon footprint one leaves by using air transportation is astronomical. Yet as domestic flights become increasingly less expensive, more Brazilians are choosing air transportation as their preferred means of travel from one side of the country to the other.
Shipping and roads: Internal shipping and food transportation depends largely on trucks and roads. There is only a small investment in shipping by sea or river, or via railroad for this job. More than 60% of loads transportation is currently made by roads.
The borders in the Amazon: I’ve heard from many friends and in many lectures that we must encourage people to live in the Amazon and offer them decent jobs at fair wages. We need to create sustainable cities inside the forest in order to set things right and to stop deliberate deforestation.
However, the reality is that: a) people don’t want to live in a place with not even the minimum in public health and safety; and b) if you live within the borders of the Amazon, you will likely risk your life against animal, wood, and drug smugglers.
Soap Operas (telenovelas): You might think this is comical, but it is actually quite sad. Soap operas have a great influence on the lives of people in Brazil and suggest ways of living life that are not very eco-friendly. Telenovelas reproduce a lifestyle of wonder and endless beauty. Where is the reality?
If telenovelas can inspire people to so many things, why not use them as a positive medium for transmitting a message of using natural resources, of educating children, and of mitigating climate discussions?
Food production: Brazil is one of the largest cattle producers in the whole world. I don’t think I need further clarification on this issue. More cattle = more deforestation.
This sector is one of the pillars of Brazil’s economy and to take it apart would damage the plans of private companies and the government for rapid development. Not to mention, it would certainly damage Brazil’s reputation in future negotiations where food security becomes a real issue.
Water: I became inspired by this specific topic after watching Federico’s appeal to include water issues in the discussions during the COP15. If Brazil wants to commit with an ambitious agreement, it needs to divert resources to cleaning the rivers and protecting the water sources in the Amazon. This is hugely related to deforestation and the installment of industries in the forest.
The tourism sector plays an important role in this point. More and more resorts, hotels, and tourism-related companies are growing in areas of abundant natural resources. How does this influence local communities’ lifestyles and their right to clean water? That is food for thought and for another post!
Recycling: This is an interesting point. We don’t really recycle in Brazil. Not enough, at least. We have no means to do so right now. In my hometown of Salvador, not all the city is covered by the selective collection of trash. On the street where I live, there is no such thing as municipal trash collection and no expectation for it to happen in the near future. And this is only in one city; how about the hundreds of other cities in Brazil?
Oil and Energy: PETROBRAS has discovered oil in the pre-salt area. It is good for business; it might be good for the nation. I’m sure we can use the money we acquire out of exporting oil to other countries to invest in green technologies and support the emergence and growth of green companies. But what if this doesn’t succeed?
Politics: This is a controversial topic anywhere in the world, but I’m sure we’re gifted with the “best” politicians you would ever see. When Marina Silva fought for more rigid deforestation reduction, the government neglected her appeal. Even now, deforestation is seen as a right that should be granted by the government, and politicians are trained to speed up the bureaucracy around concessions.
These were just a few points that I feel the urge to discuss about Brazil’s role in fighting Climate Change. At any rate, this is the goal of this competition/community, right? To bring to the forefront the difficulties and challenges our nations face in regards to Climate Change.
Comments
I feel India also faces similar problems (except for telenovelas
) and I don’t think these are unique. People everywhere would do things in self-interest and I believe it is upto the government to protect people from their own choices.
So while we need a revolution in citizen’s mindset, we need a bigger revolution in the kind of leaders we elect. We need the government to take steps that require political courage and see their execution through.
How can you talk about Brazil and not mention biofuels? Now there’s and environmental/humanitarian disaster.
The more I read about other countries, the more obvious it is for me that almost all people go through similar issues and share most of the economical troubles (with specificities determined by each country’s resources).
It’s the same in Romania, Diego. We have our own river (the Danube instead of the Amazon) and we even share the telenovelas mentality.
It’s sad. Because similar problems implies a similar way to handle them. So, in theory, it wouldn’t be ‘that’ hard to develop and implement a sustainable plan everywhere.
@Abhishek You are absolutely right, but to fight bad politicians is not something we are likely to do in a fast way. I mean, people are alienated by politicians and media, so even though we fight for change, thousands don’t.
There was a recent case (not that recent, actually) of a Brazilian politician who was ousted from her party because she pledged for political justice in corruption cases. She is quite explosive and a controversial figure in politics, and often labeled as a “mad woman”, but still, the men in power ousted her and the media didn’t support her cause.
This is what makes fighting for change so difficult. Our good politicians are not taken seriously and ostracized from discussions.
@Adela Your last sentence depicts in perfect way what we face right now. That is why it is so difficult to change: because we’re too similar.
By the way, I didn’t know Romania shared this televonela mentality!!
@Mike Absolutely. But I preferred to focus in some social issues instead. But if you have any ideas on what you would like me to write on biofuels, I’d really appreciate.
@Diego - We have a TV channel that broadcasts soaps only (or mostly). South American telenovelas especially. I don’t know details (I don’t watch TV almost at all) but the existence of this channel implies a market for it, too.
There are people who know actors & lines from different episodes/shows by heart, people who dream to live the ‘soapy’ life.
Is there anything else they should be doing to be part of the mob telenovelas mentality? :D
@Adela hahahaa that’s a surprise!
In Brazil, the more telenovelas are produced, the ‘richest’ and ‘more wonderful’ and offensive they are. Romania should not follow this pace, trust me 
Just now we have this soap opera with super models, rich business men and Brazilian parties everywhere and everytime. There was an episode (I do watch telenovelas
but only to know what and how to criticize this kind of thing) in which a upper-class woman was amazed because a diamond ring she was going to buy coasted ‘only’ R$45.000 (US$25,000 approx.) and she even said she was “full of debts and had to control her expenses”.
In another episode, a woman married this guy and said she was going to “throw everything away of his home and buy new stuff” and others also say “they love to buy new clothes and forget about the others”.
When I went to the street in the following day I could I heard talks of people about the telenovelas saying something like: “oh, I wish I had money to throw everything away and buy new stuff to my house every year”. Unbelievable, but true.
Anyway, I think anyone outside this debate would think we’re going nuts by discussing about telenovelas, but the thing is: they deeply influence people’s lives! And I actually don’t see any future changes in this behavior.
What about Romania?
One Romanian friend once told med that Romania was plaed on the wrong continent, and should have been latin american, but I guess it is more witty than true.
Great post. I think the telenovela-discussion is quite interesting. I have many times wondered why people in different countries watch the same telenovelas (only that ours are in English, not Spanish), depicting an extreme consumerist universe. They are really global culture…
@Adela, I think you are right - so many different places, but the problems and the solutions are essentially the same everywhere.
Diego,
if we had politicians with your mindset in China, India and Brazil, the world would be much better off.
To change our lifestyle is the most difficult thing we can do. If we don’t win this challenge, no treaty will be enough to save our planet.
I agree. The current problems we are facing are a consequence of our lifestyle.
About transportation, it sounds very much like India: public transport sucks, the traffic jam in unbearable and people want to get a car to feel comfortable, not realising that it would just worsening the situation.
What can we do to make the leaders understand that in over populated cities, the only way to reduce traffic and increase the lifestyle at the same time is to build efficient public transports? Maybe a piece of mind for a new post.
@Diego - I don’t know details from the episodes (I barely watch TV) but the trend is here. In fact it’s been here for the last several years, as I remember the existence of telenovelas even when I was in high-school. I do agree that it’s highly influential for a specific group.
@Daniel - If you ask 9 of 10 Romanians, they’d say we have Latin (as in Southern America) blood. I partly don’t agree, but I am different - I like cold & snow for example, most people here complain when we have cold & snow. But yeah, I think your Romanian friend has put it alright.
You are right entirely to say that Brazil must be a powerful actor in the negotiation to come.
For deforestation, not only it is necessary to stop but rebuild.
As all the young countries one need many women in the university; they must make thorough studies.
I linked your post to mine. I hope it’s OK