UIAC - Rio de Janeiro case study

Question 1

Describe the zones of Rio.

Answer 1

North Zone - squatter settlements, airport, industry
Centro - historic, financial centre
West Zone - wealthy, industrial, Olympic stadiums
South Zone - hotels, beaches, luxury flats, Rocinha favela

Question 2

Why is Rio an important city?

Answer 2

• cultural capital
• ‘Christ the Redeemer’, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World
• host for 2016 Olympics

Question 3

Why has Rio grown?

Answer 3

• Amazon Basin

- skilled workers from the USA and UK

Question 4

What are the challenges of education in Rio?

What are the solutions?

Answer 4

• only half of all children continue education beyond the age of 14
• authorities given school grants to poor families
• opened a private university in Rocinha favela

Question 5

What are the challenges of health care in Rio?

What are the solutions?

Answer 5

• one district has average life expectancy of 45 whereas a district in the same zone has life expectancy of 80
• medical staff detect and treat twenty different diseases in people’s homes

Question 6

What are the challenges of water supply in Rio?

What are the solutions?

Answer 6

• 12% had no running water
• 37% lost through leakages and illegal access
• 300km of new pipes built
• 2014, 95% had mains water

Question 7

What are the challenges of energy in Rio?

What are the solutions?

Answer 7

• frequent power cuts and blackouts
• 60km of new power lines installed
• new nuclear generator

Question 8

What are the challenges of unemployment in Rio?

What are the solutions?

Answer 8

• recession in 2015
• rates in favelas are over 20% unemployed
• Schools of Tomorrow programme
• free child care

Question 9

What are the challenges of crime in Rio?

What are the solutions?

Answer 9

• powerful gangs control drug trafficking in favelas

- 2013, Pacifying Police Units (UPPs) established

Question 10

What are the challenges of air pollution and traffic congestion in Rio?

What are the solutions?

Answer 10

• causes around 5000 deaths per year
• steep mountains limit where roads can go
• new toll roads
• expansion of the metro system

Question 11

What are the challenges of water pollution in Rio?

What are the solutions?

Answer 11

• Guanabara Bay highly polluted
• oil spills from the Petrobras oil refinery
• 12 new sewage works built since 2004
• 5km of new sewage pipes installed

Question 12

What are the challenges of waste pollution in Rio?

What are the solutions?

Answer 12

• steep slopes makes waste collection difficult

- new power plants consumes 30 tonnes of rubbish a day and produces enough electricity for 1000 homes

Question 13

What is the challenge of crime in squatter settlements in Rio?

Answer 13

• murder rate of 20 per 1000 in many favelas

Question 14

What is the challenge of health in squatter settlements in Rio?

Answer 14

• infant mortality rates of 50 per 1000

Question 15

What is the challenge of services in squatter settlements in Rio?

Answer 15

• 12% of homes have no running water

- 30% have no electricity

Question 16

What is the challenge of construction in squatter settlements in Rio?

Answer 16

• heavy rain can cause landslides

Question 17

What is the challenge of unemployment in squatter settlements in Rio?

Answer 17

• rates as high as 20%

- average incomes can be less than £75 a month

Question 18

What did the Favela Barrio Project in Rio involve?

Answer 18

• local authority provides land for residents to build homes
• paved roads
• improved sanitation
• a UPP patrolling the community

Question 19

How have the Olympics affected the favelas in Rio?

Answer 19

• some demolished for developments for Olympics
• Campo Grande got 800 new houses
• lack of community: no shops

Question 20

How was the Favela Barrio Project in Rio a success?

How was the Favela Barrio Project a failure?

Answer 20

• quality of life, mobility and employment improved
• newly built infrastructure not maintained
• more training required to improve literacy and employment