{"id":84502,"date":"2026-11-11T15:17:27","date_gmt":"2026-11-11T18:17:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=84502"},"modified":"2026-11-11T15:17:54","modified_gmt":"2026-11-11T18:17:54","slug":"favela-rivers-also-have-rights-say-residents-activists-and-students-during-rio-de-janeiros-3rd-sustainable-favela-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=84502","title":{"rendered":"Favela Rivers Also Have Rights, Say Residents, Activists and Students During Rio de Janeiro’s 3rd Sustainable Favela Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Discussion<\/a>
Discussion circle on rivers rights during the 3rd Sustainable Favela Festival at Fundi\u00e7\u00e3o Progresso. Photo: Karen Fontoura<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

Held on Saturday, October 17, at Fundi\u00e7\u00e3o Progresso, the festival featured over 180 activities throughout its program. <\/em><\/p>\n

The sound of flowing water lulling people to sleep, childhood memories of swimming in once-clean rivers<\/a> and outrage over polluted waterways<\/a> marked discussions at the 3rd Sustainable Favela Festival<\/a>. Through discussion circles and exhibitions, residents, students and socio-environmental organizations debated the degradation of rivers<\/a> and impacts on favelas<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Upon arriving at the festival, it was impossible not to notice the connection between water and the communities<\/a> represented at the event. This relationship was evident both in residents\u2019 demands for improved sanitation<\/a> and in the various exhibitions spread across the venue\u2019s two floors.<\/p>\n

Among the works exhibited on the second floor, a display of children\u2019s drawings depicting their relationship with rivers stood out for its vibrant colors and the creativity reflected in each illustration. Despite their different representations, the drawings seemed to be in dialogue with one another, as though guided by a common theme, highlighting the importance of rivers to the lives of people<\/a>, animals and plants.<\/p>\n

On the other side of the exhibition hall, banners and panels from the Favela Climate Memory<\/a> research project presented stories from different favelas and their relationship with water. The images depicted everything from the impacts<\/a> of rainfall in communities such as Rocinha<\/a>, where the geography of the hillsides influences rainwater runoff, to everyday scenes, such as puddles that reveal sanitation problems in these communities.<\/p>\n

The solidarity market<\/a> also featured exhibition stalls displaying photographs and records from different communities. Among them was the Pedala Queimados<\/a> initiative, which presented a cyclist\u2019s journey along the Doce River in Minas Gerais<\/a>. During his journey, he documented stories of residents affected by the Mariana dam collapse<\/a>, recording the lasting impact of the tragedy<\/a> on people\u2019s lives and the affected communities.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
Photo exhibition \u201cThe Doce River Route: From Mariana to the Sea,\u201d presented by Carlos Leandro from Pedala Queimados. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One of the discussion circle\u2019s activities began with a reading of the Anil River Rights Declaration, drafted by ninth-grade students from the Canrobert Pereira da Costa Municipal School in Jacarepagu\u00e1<\/a>. In the document, the students express concern about the river\u2019s degradation and demand action from the city government to preserve it.<\/p>\n

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Um post compartilhado por LAPEAr (@lapear.unirio)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n