Rio De Janeiro

Question 1

Social challenges and Opportunities from urban growth In Rio:
Healthcare

Answer 1

In 2013 only 55% of the city had a local family health clinic. West zone: IMR 21 per 1000, Life expectancy: 45

Local government provides each household with a health kit which detects 20 of the major diseases

Question 2

Social challenges and Opportunities from urban growth In Rio: Education

Answer 2

less than 50% of 14 year olds are still in education, shortage of schools and teachers

School grants for poor families to keep children in school, local people are encouraged to volunteer in schools

Question 3

Social challenges and Opportunities from urban growth In Rio: Water supply

Answer 3

12% of Rio’s population don’t have access to running water, 37% of all water lost through leaking pipes, fraud and illegal access.

1998-2014 they built 7 new treatment plants and 300km of new pipes through the favelas, now 95% have access to mains water.

Question 4

Social Opportunities from urban growth In Rio: energy

Answer 4

Regular blackouts/fires, illegal tapping into main supply

Simplicio hydroelectric complex, increases supply by 30% but costs $2 billion,
60km of power lines.

Question 5

Economic Opportunities from urban growth In Rio: economic development

Answer 5

Rio‘s industrial areas have boosted the cities economy and they provide more than 6% of Brazil’s employment.

They have improved Rios transport and environment, improved the cities favelas and now large companies are attracted to Rio

Question 6

Environmental Challenges from urban growth In Rio:

Answer 6

Air pollution: 5000 deaths per year, coal power station replaced by simplicio

Traffic congestion: 40% more cars than 10 years ago, toll on major roads making it cheaper to use public transport

Water pollution: 200 tonnes a day of waste into a bay, 12 new sewage plants

Waste pollution: cholera; waste blocks drains, 30 tonnes burnt a day in bio-gas which gives energy to a thousand homes.

Question 7

Location of Rio

Answer 7

East Brazil on the coast

Question 8

Importance of Rio in Brazil

Answer 8

• produces 5% of Brazil’s GDP
• stunning surroundings e.g beaches
• hosted matches during the 2014 World Cup and Olympic Games in 2016
• 5 ports, 3 airports
• The statue of Christ the Redeemer
• Industries like banking, finance, insurance
• manufacturing like chemicals, pharmaceuticals, clothing, furniture, processed food.

Question 9

Causes of growth in rio

Answer 9

• natural increase (births minus deaths)

- migration -> attracts skilled workers from USA + UK, rapidly developing, from rest of Brazil/South America/Asia

Question 10

An example of how urban planning is improving the quality of life for the urban poor

Answer 10

Favela Bairro project:

• paved and formally named roads
• access to water supply and drainage system improved sanitation
• hillside secure to prevent landslides
• building a new health, leisure and education facilities
• 100% mortgages
• installation of cable car, One free return ticket a day

Question 11

Social challenges from urban growth In Rio: squatter settlements

Answer 11

• houses poorly constructed, in 2010, 224 people were killed and 13,000 lost their homes when houses were swept away
• around 12% of homes don’t have running water, over 30% have no electricity and 50% have no sewage connections.

Question 11

Has the Favela Bairro project been a success or failure

Answer 11

• Quality of life, mobility and employment prospects have improved

But

• budget of $1 billion May not cover every favela
• rents rise in the improved favelas and the poorest inhabitants are even worse off

Question 12

Social challenges from urban growth In Rio: unemployment

Answer 12

A recession in 2015 increased unemployment. Unemployment rates in favelas are over 20% when most people work in the informal economy where jobs are poorly paid and irregular.

The schools of tomorrow teaches skills and aims to improve education in the poorer areas. Free childcare is provided to enable teenage parents to return to education

Question 13

Social challenges from urban growth In Rio: crime

Answer 13

Robbery and violent crime present great challenges in Rio. Murder, kidnapping, carjacking and armed assault occur regularly. Powerful gangs control drug trafficking in many of the favelas.

• in 2013 pacifying police units (UPPs) were established to reclaim favelas from drug dealers
• police have taken control of crime dominated Complexo do Alemão and 30 small favelas