{"id":74464,"date":"2023-03-31T11:41:55","date_gmt":"2023-03-31T14:41:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=74464"},"modified":"2023-03-31T11:50:23","modified_gmt":"2023-03-31T14:50:23","slug":"parliamentary-front-for-climate-justice-launch-at-rios-legislative-assembly-debates-environmental-racism-and-public-policies-in-favelas-and-the-urban-periphery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=74464","title":{"rendered":"Parliamentary Front for Climate Justice Launch at Rio’s Legislative Assembly Debates Environmental Racism and Public Policies in Favelas"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Launch<\/a>
Launch of Parliamentary Front for Climate Justice. Left to right: Marina do MST, Carlos Minc, Professor Josemar, Fl\u00e1vio Serafini, Yuri Moura, and Renata Souza. Photo: Vin\u00edcius Ribeiro<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

On the evening of Monday, March 13, the Parliamentary Front for Climate Justice<\/a> was launched at the Rio de Janeiro State Legislative Assembly (ALERJ<\/a>) with the aim of promoting dialogue between elected officials and civil society and finding strategies to reduce the effects of climate change in Rio de Janeiro state. The Front is composed of elected officials from various political parties and will be chaired by State Deputy Fl\u00e1vio Serafini<\/a>. Around 180 people attended the launch.<\/h4>\n

\u201cToday we started a really wonderful process and we want it to continue like this, to remain collective, remain participatory, to create new ways for everyone to have a voice, for everyone to participate, to be as horizontal and collaborative as possible. We know that environmental and climate injustices are the result of human activity, but I strongly believe there is no better way to change society than fighting collectively.\u201d \u2014 Fl\u00e1vio Serafini<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Serafino highlighted the importance of the Front being built through collective dialogue and the participation of representatives from different parts of the state, both civil society and government. Dozens of organizations were present at the launch, with representatives of 21 organizations heard by the audience: Climate Change and Socio-Environmental Justice Forum<\/a>, Petr\u00f3polis Human Rights Defense Center<\/a>, Petr\u00f3polis Swiss Quarter Neighborhood and Friends Association (Amaquas<\/a>), Rio das Pedras Agenda 2030<\/a>, Realengo Agenda 2030<\/a>, Youth Organizing for the Climate RJ<\/a> (JACA), Pastoral of Integral Ecology<\/a>, LabJaca<\/a>, Manguinhos Environment Commission, Fala Manguinhos<\/a>, Volta Redonda Green Democracy Socio-Environmental Collective, Rio de Janeiro Quilombola Communities Association (ACQUILERJ<\/a>), Martha Trindade Collective<\/a>, Vision Coop<\/a>, Fiocruz<\/a>, Data_labe<\/a> and CocoZap<\/a>, Casa Fluminense<\/a>, Ba\u00eda de Sepetiba Institute, S\u00e3o Francisco River Channel Fishermen Association, Gaia Space<\/a>, Rio de Janeiro Climate Coalition<\/a>, Mag\u00e9 Climate Forum, and the Sustainable Favela Network<\/a> (SFN<\/a>)*.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to Fl\u00e1vio Serafini, the elected officials at the event were: Carlos Minc<\/a> (PSB<\/a>), Marina do MST<\/a> (PT<\/a>), Professor Josemar<\/a> (PSOL<\/a>), Renata Souza<\/a> (PSOL), and Yuri Moura<\/a> (PSOL). The creation of the Parliamentary Front for Climate Justice was also undersigned by state deputies Dani Balbi<\/a> (PCdoB), Elika Takimoto<\/a> (PT), and Martha Rocha (PDT<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

\"State<\/a>
State Deputy Renata Souza, next to Fl\u00e1vio Serafini and Yuri Moura. Photo: Vin\u00edcius Ribeiro<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Deputy Renata Souza, who was born and raised in Complexo da Mar\u00e9<\/a>, highlighted the Front\u2019s commitment to the fight against social inequalities<\/a> and environmental racism<\/a>. Souza also spoke about the importance of dialogue between the Front and favela residents and used her own territory as an example of how the lack of planning for favelas contributes to the deepening of climate inequality:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was born and raised in the Mar\u00e9 favela\u2026 It didn’t used to flood there but the upgrading policy created a logic of laying asphalt all over Mar\u00e9, making it impossible for water to drain properly. They made the ground in Mar\u00e9 impermeable so now Mar\u00e9 has problems with flooding. Previously, cobblestones meant water more thoroughly drained away. So it’s important public policies are realized together with those who will be directly affected in the end.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Lack of Public Policies and Environmental Racism<\/h3>\n

Within the context of Rio’s metropolitan region<\/a>, residents of favelas and urban peripheries with majority Black populations are the most affected<\/a> by environmental racism: floods, landslides, air and river pollution. Communities of ethnic-racial minorities are therefore those most affected by climate emergencies. For this reason, F\u00e1bio Monteiro<\/a>\u00a0from the Manguinhos Environment Commission and newspaper Fala Manguinhos<\/em>\u00a0said he hopes the Parliamentary Front can help monitor public and private bodies:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis inequality starts with public policies which are not applied equally. We see upscale neighborhoods in the South Zone<\/a> with large investment in public policies ensuring the maintenance of waste collection and sewerage, while in Manguinhos<\/a> and other favelas are exposed to garbage<\/a> and open sewage<\/a>. City Hall has proven it has the capacity to clean up neighborhoods completely in under 24 hours, as happens in Copacabana after New Year\u2019s Eve, collecting 403 tons of garbage<\/a> and leaving the streets clean and odor-free by 10am. Why are these same measures not applied in favelas and urban peripheries? Taking into account that favelas are areas with a majority Black and low-income population<\/a>, we are facing structural environmental racism from public bodies.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"F\u00e1bio<\/a>
F\u00e1bio Monteiro from community newspaper Fala Manguinhos<\/em>. Photo: Vin\u00edcius Ribeiro<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Erika Alves<\/a>, social activist and coordinator of Rio das Pedras Agenda 2030, resident of the favela of Rio das Pedras<\/a> in Rio’s\u00a0West Zone<\/a>, emphasized the need for urgent action by public authorities. In her talk, she outlined the connection between the right to housing<\/a> and climate justice<\/a>:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs a resident of Rio das Pedras, what I see is shocking. I come across risky situations all the time<\/a>. Last year a building collapsed: an entire family died due to the waterlogged ground. There was a lot of rain, [their home was] in an unsuitable area on the riverbank\u2026 So my view [is of] a lot of concern,\u00a0 fear, and urgency<\/a>. We are no longer at the point of waiting for something to be done in a few years. It\u2019s for now, it\u2019s for today. My anxiety is that something actually be done, because we are on the verge of more tragedies.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Erika<\/a>
Erika Alves, coordinator of Rio das Pedras Agenda 2030. Photo: Vin\u00edcius Ribeiro<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Aline Marins<\/a>\u00a0from the Martha Trindade Collective and resident of Jo\u00e3o XXIII<\/a>\u00a0in Santa Cruz<\/a>, West Zone<\/a>, denounced the operations of steelworks company Ternium Brasil<\/a>. Operating on the site of the former Atlantic Steelworks Company (CSA<\/a>), the company has racked up lawsuits and was even highlighted by the State Environment and Sustainability Secretariat (SEAS<\/a>) as responsible for raising CO2 emissions by 76% in the city of Rio de Janeiro<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe company affects the area in various ways: with pollution, with the increase in skin and respiratory diseases\u2026We see that the dumping of waste (in Sepetiba Bay<\/a>) and soot in the air have increased.\u201d \u2014 Aline Marins<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Aline<\/a>
Aline Marins from the Martha Trindade Collective in Santa Cruz. Photo: Vin\u00edcius Ribeiro<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Paola Lima<\/a>, project director of Gaia Space\u2014a project that works with women in the former Itaoca garbage dump<\/a>\u00a0in Complexo do Salgueiro<\/a> in Greater Rio’s\u00a0S\u00e3o Gon\u00e7alo<\/a> municipality\u2014sees the Parliamentary Front as an opportunity to hear powerful voices from communities that are usually silenced and made invisible:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Parliamentary Front is the space for our voice, given that S\u00e3o Gon\u00e7alo is a city that’s been extremely affected by the rains and Itaoca has suffered the consequences. It would be an opportunity to demonstrate that Itaoca is there, existing despite all the double crossing and omission by public authorities, especially City Hall<\/a>.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Paola<\/a>
Paola Lima from Gaia Space in S\u00e3o Gon\u00e7alo. Photo: Vin\u00edcius Ribeiro<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Parliamentary Front for Climate Justice guaranteed to take the results of the plenary to the Rio Legislative Assembly’s Presidency, undersigned by all elected officials of the Front along with others who intend to join the group of signatories. In addition, a commitment letter was signed with six guiding topics for the Front\u2019s work. <\/span><\/p>\n

They are:<\/span><\/p>\n