{"id":66346,"date":"2021-07-08T15:43:53","date_gmt":"2021-07-08T18:43:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=66346"},"modified":"2021-11-01T14:13:18","modified_gmt":"2021-11-01T17:13:18","slug":"rising-gas-prices-threaten-favelas-with-a-return-to-firewood-organizers-seek-to-ensure-access-to-gas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=66346","title":{"rendered":"Rising Gas Prices Threaten Favelas With Return to Firewood: Organizers Seek to Guarantee Cooking Gas"},"content":{"rendered":"

Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

This article is part of a series on energy justice and efficiency<\/a> in Rio’s favelas and on the coronavirus and its impacts on favelas.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Brazil is experiencing a historic recession, exacerbated by the coronavirus<\/a> health crisis. According to data released by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE<\/a>), the unemployment rate is at nearly 15%.<\/a> The uncertainty of a regular salary, the decrease in informal work<\/a>, and the low amount or absence of the federal emergency aid stipend<\/a> increase pressure on workers who need to ensure financial support for themselves and their families.<\/p>\n

Among the difficulties generated by the pandemic and the need for social isolation is the increase in the price of cooking gas<\/a> (LPG). In\u00a0April 2019<\/a>, Economy Minister Paulo Guedes stated in an interview that the amount paid for gas would be reduced by half in two years. At the time, the average price of the cylinder was R$69.42 (US$13.63)<\/a>. Two years later, the gas cylinder is being sold for over R$100 (US$ 19.63) in some capitals<\/a>, and recently, on June 14, cooking gas once again increased by almost 6%<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Changes in Petrobras management, international oil prices, and fluctuations in the exchange rate of the dollar explain the rise in gas pricing.<\/a> Antony Devalle, director of Rio de Janeiro\u2019s Oil Workers Union (Sindipetro RJ<\/a>), explains that, \u201cBrazil is a large oil producer and has the installed capacity to produce many oil products and to, basically, produce them in Brazilian reais<\/em>. However, the Investment Partnership Program’s (PPI<\/a>) policy favors oil product importers [with prices in dollars] and the privatization of the Petrobras (national oil company) system, especially its refineries. As a result, the cost of gas cylinders weighs on the poor and many families are having to improvise with alternatives such as firewood and kerosene, both very risky. Although Brazil has continental dimensions, it is predominantly a country that depends on its roads. More expensive diesel means more expensive food and, therefore, more hunger.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Solidarity<\/a><\/p>\n

National Mobilization for Access to Cooking Gas<\/h3>\n

This situation led the Unified Federation of Oil and Gas Workers (FUP<\/a>) and its unions to carry out actions where they offered cooking gas cylinders for less than half the average amount being charged across the country, within the scope of the \u201cFuel at a Fair Price<\/a>\u201d campaign, in partnership with the Central de Movimentos Populares (CMP<\/a>) and other local organizations. The mobilizations took place on April 29, in eleven cities.<\/p>\n

In Rio de Janeiro, the \u201cFuel at a Fair Price\u201d campaign promoted an action with the sale of gas cylinders for R$40 (US$7.85) in Quilombo da Gamboa<\/a>, in the Port Region<\/a>, an area of the city that carries ancestral symbolism<\/a>. Some 180 gas cylinders were sold, serving 180 of the region’s families.<\/p>\n

\n
\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

A post shared by Petroleiro Solid\u00e1rio RJ (@petroleirosolidariorj)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n