4º Congresso Internacional sobre Desenvolvimento Sustentável

This week has been pretty amazing, yes amazing. I’m in Rio, yes Rio de Janeiro. Amber and I are here for the 4º Congresso Internacional sobre Desenvolvimento Sustentável (Sustentável 2011). This 3-day conference is meant to provide themes and goals for Rio +20, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in June 2012. Marking 20 years since the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development which also took place in Rio. Sustentável 2011 was organized by the Conselho Empresarial Brasileiro para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável (CEBDS), which represents Brazil at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

The CEBDS did a great job of organizing this amazing conference which brought together experts from companies, universities, NGOs, the UN and the Brazilian government. During the panel discussions, they discussed topics like:

•           Perspectives for Rio +20
•          Sustainability in the current environment: Contradictions and certainties
•           New governance: The role of emerging countries
•           Multi-sector Dialogue: Poverty Eradication
•           Sustainability: Trends for the next 40 year...Just to name a few.

Following each keynote, there was time for the audience to ask the speakers questions. Since the conference was sponsored by some of biggest corporations in the world, like Petrobras, Shell, Souza Cruz, Nestle and much more, many of the discussions took a very business approach to sustainable development. However, one of the speakers did mention that "companies are part of the solution" in adopting sustainable methods of development. As some of the biggest polluters in the world, its nice to see international corporations being concerned with their environmental impact as they grow.

The role of Brazil in the world economy was also discussed. As an emerging country, Brazil has the potential to become a environmental leader in developing a green economy. However, there are many conflicting aspects of Brazil's continual rapid growth. For instance, should the government invest in biofuels to decrease dependence on oil rich nations or increase food production for the Brazilian population, keeping in mind they still have to preserve the amazon meaning there's land scarcity...and it goes on. The Brazilian government has a lot on its plate. With Brazil hosting the UN Conference in June 2012, the FIFA World Cup in 2014, and the 2016 Summer Olympics, all eyes are on Brazil.

While the discussions were going on, there were workshops being conducted in separate rooms. Unfortunately, I didn’t participate in these workshops because it costs extra (R$100 each workshop) and I most likely wouldn’t have understood anything (meaning a waste of money for me). Since many of the speakers are from all over the world, there were interpreters translating everything the speakers said from Portuguese to English and vice versa. Amber and I took advantage of this service of course. However, I did find other ways to practice my Portuguese.

One thing that I especially enjoyed was the Open Space activity that took place while the panel discussions and workshops were going on. On the 2^nd day, I had gotten sick and with the combination of a drowsy medicine and a darkly lit conference room, it was extremely hard to stay awake during the morning panel discussion. Hence, the Open Space gave me an alternative activity to do and to keep my mind stimulated. Here, a group of 4 to 8 people sat around a table and discussed various topics pertaining to the conference and the theme of sustainable development. This was definitely a challenge for me because the discussions were only in Portuguese. At the same time, the Carioca (people from Rio) accent is completely different from Ceares accent that I had gotten used to in the last 3 months. Although the Carioca accent is easier to understand than people from Ceara, I’m simply not used to it yet. However, that did not hold me

back. I took the opportunity to discuss what I knew of Canada’s policies when it comes to environmental programs. I definitely wasn't going to attempt to sound like an expert on Brazil’s policies in a room full of Brazilians. This close interaction with people also gave me the opportunity to meet new people and network by handing out my business card (see image above).

Sustentável 2011 was such an interesting event and I’m happy to have had the opportunity to participate in such a professional conference. I would like to thank Niagara College for sponsoring us to go to Rio de Janeiro to attend Sustentável 2011. I've met some very interesting like-minded people that I am sure to keep in touch with as I expand my professional network. 

Foto da Semana 13

Last Thursday, students who are part of the SINDSIFCE protested against the IFCE strike. The strike has been going on for 2 months I was about ready to join these students in blocking the road. This never-ending strike has definitely slowed down my internship.

Professor do IFCE é morto em assalto no Benfica

Yesterday after lunch, Sarah came back with some sad news. A professor from the IFCE, Vicente de Paulo Miranda Leitão, had been killed during lunchtime. Two young assailants approached the professor when he was at his car. When he reached over to help his wife undo her seat belt, one of the assailants panicked and shot him in the chest. This had happened about a 5 minute walk from the IFCE, where we we're working at the time, in the middle of the day. While the 17 year old assailant who pulled the trigger was caught last night, there second still hasn't been found.

Although this story is truly sad, I've heard from a couple of people that such situations happen often here in Fortaleza. When I first told my mother that I would be going to Brazil for this internship, she was fairly worried because of the dangerous reputation that some cities have. However, it is often the case that with any big city, crime does occur more frequently. Although such homicides do occur in Ottawa, the homicide rate is fairly low in comparison to other Canadian cities. (see chart below)

Taken from StatsCan

So when someone is murdered in Ottawa, it definatey makes the news. According to Wikipedia, the most reliable source for information (sarcasm), the murder rate is in Fortaleza is steadily increasing. Although Fortaleza is not at the same level of homicides as bigger cities, such as Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, homicide rates in these cities are steadily decreasing. (see chart below)

This chart was taken from Mapa da Violencia 2011

Ok, I won't start writing an essay comparing violence in Brazil and Canada on my blog. This was just me sharing what I found when I went into research mode after hearing about the tragic death of the IFCE professor.

Next week I will be going to Rio de Janeiro for a conference......I know, I know, its even more dangerous than Fortaleza. I will take the standard precautions (See Amber's post) and some more of course. I want to enjoy my time in Rio, without putting myself at risk of any danger. Wish us safe travels.

Foto da Semana 12

Elisabeth (CIDA intern from Quebec), Renato and I. This was taken at Renato's going away party, he will be in Paris studying for a year. Miss you already!

Foto da Semana 11

Went to the Natiruts concert with some CSers on the weekend, Brazilian reggae is really starting to grow on me :)

O mar e eu somos amigos

I’m not the most active person in the world, and that’s for sure. I used to play a lot of sports during elementary school and high school. However, when I reached university, I was overwhelmed with assignments and readings. After graduating this year, I’ve contemplated running, but I’ve never been a good runner and having asthma definitely doesn't help. Where Amber and I live, Beira Mar, many Brazilians run back and forth on the touristic path along the beach. People here are very health conscious and take their body image seriously. I’ve seen people of all ages and all body types jogging back and forth in front of my building. But again, I’ve never been a great runner. I also “forgot” to buy running shoes before coming to Brazil and here sneakers are just way to expensive.

So where does this leave me in my quest to become more physically active......kite-surf. I’ve never tried anything remotely close to this type of sport in my life. I and large bodies of water have never been great friends. Unfortunately, I'm a weak swimmer. I can clearly remember two instances, when I was younger, where lifeguards had to come to my rescue during summer camp trips to pools. I rarely go swimming, probably 3 times max a year. I never even swam in the ocean until last year (Dec. 2010) when I went to the Dominican Republic. So swimming has never been a great part of my life until I came to Fortaleza. Here, I go to the beach at least once a week with friends, mainly every Sunday. Going to the beach is like going to the movies or the mall in Ottawa. It’s become part of my weekly routine that I know I will greatly miss when I go back to Canada.

Excited for my lesson, got my harness on and my kites behind me...on the ground  :(

My roommate, Kevin, is currently taking kite-surfing lessons and I jumped at the opportunity to go with him. Since this was my first lesson, I wasn't allowed to go in the water just yet. I spent two hours learning to control the kite with the wind. Depending if my instructor thinks I’m ready, I might get to touch the water next lesson...hopefully soon because these lessons are definitely not cheap. At least I can now cross surfing off my bucket list of things to do in Fortaleza.

Cumbuco, the best place to kite-surf

Kevin controlling his kite

The wind is very strong, need to be able to control the kite when the wind changes strength and direction

Foto da Semana 10

I went to my first Brazilian churrasco (BBQ) with some great Couchsurfers.  I had been craving a grilled meat for a while,  hadn't been to a BBQ since I left Ottawa.

Educacao sobre DST/AIDS

On Friday we held our second Mulheres Mil meeting to figure out where we stand with the new community. Only 31 women had applied so it was decided that the deadline to accept more applications would be pushed back to September 16^th. During this meeting, it was determined that Amber and I will be teaching the English course for Mulheres Mil. I, along with another Professor, will be teaching the DST/AIDS class. My involvement is mainly based off of my volunteer experience with the National AIDS Commission of Malawi. One that note, here are a few pictures, taken in 2008, of the Blantyre District Youth Festival.

The welcome sign...

There were various tables set up to provide information on HIV/AIDS prevention.

Local herbs used to prevent STIs.

Various youth associations from the community were present during the festival.

They performed plays to depict various scenarios to educate people about HIV/AIDS. 

These schoolgirls danced and sang, very creatively.

These guys had a very entertaining yet informative performance, kept the crowd laughing.

These warriors danced, jumped, and sang. MANJA MANJA MANJA! (Chichewa word for "hands", in this sense it means to applause)

Although the strike has been going on for a month now, we're hoping to start classes the first week of October.