Vila Olímpica da Maré: Preparing Champions for Progress

Front view of NGO, Vila Olimpica da Mare.

Walking into Vila Olímpica da Maré, a non-governmental organization (NGO), I mistakenly suspected it had some connection to the awaited 2016 Summer Olympics to be held in Brazil. Thankfully, upon our arrival we were told the name of this community center was a bit of a misnomer. The services and programs offered at Vila Olímpica da Maré are aimed at helping kids and community members compete not in the Olympic course, but in an athletic, educational, social and cultural road to progress.

University of Nebraska at Omaha group picture with Vila Olimpica da Mare founder, Amaro.

We had the opportunity to learn about the Vila's background, its' goals and mission from Christian, an Argentine born Brazilian. He works extensively with  Vila Olímpica da Maré. Something that really stood out in my mind was what he said about the gang presence within the community. He said that these “bad guys” survive because of the good that they do. They have survived because they served as an organizing force to help the community when the government did not even acknowledge their presence. I felt his comment was an acknowledgement of the important role gangs have played in these communities. It showed his deep understanding of the environment and respect for the community he serves.  

On the other side of the coin, Christian told us about the negotiation between the two rival gangs, found on each side of a creek that runs through the area.  They came to an agreement that the 80 thousand square meters of protected space, which is the Vila Olímpica da Maré, would be respected as neutral territory. In this way all the benefits of the services offered by the NGO could be optimal. This speaks volumes about the power of community organization and development; especially of what an organization such as this can do for a large community.

Festa Junina celebration at Vila Olimpica da Mare

We were fortunate to visit on a day the community was celebrating Festa Junina. This is a feast traditionally celebrated in the Northeast region of Brazil that is in line with Catholic tradition of celebrating Saint Peter, Saint John, and Saint Anthony. The joyful and festive Brazilian atmosphere enveloped us  to the point that it was not enough to just stand back and watch the celebration happening before us. As soon as the coordinators welcomed us to join the next dance we jumped right in. We lived a moment not so commonly experienced back home in Nebraska. We joined hands, clapped and danced and paraded in a circle to the sounds of traditional Brazilian music.

University of Nebraska at Omaha students dancing and celebrating with community at Vila Olimpica da Mare.

Espaco de Desenvolvimento Infantil (EDI)

After being culturally in tune with the Brazilian people of Mare, we walked over to visit the Space for Infant and Child Development (EDI). The EDI was recently built and inaugurated right next door to Vila Olímpica da Maré. Here they will have 250 children under the age of three which they care for and educate. They provide full care starting with feeding, changing, and grooming to social stimulation and basic developmental education. It is much like a child day care and preschool, but not one I had ever seen before. I was completely impressed with their facilities which included child-size bathrooms, sinks, showers, tables and chairs, and drinking fountains.

Brazil has a federal goal to make EDI education mandatory in the country. In this way Brazil plans to build up education for the future of its nation. In line with the federal goal, the Vila Olímpica da Maré has an aim to work with local schools and improve education in the community it serves. They work closely with local schools. Together they strive to achieve accessible quality education in their community from EDI’s to Universities. Much progress has been made and much remains to be done through Vila Olímpica da Maré. Yet, the people's resilient and hopeful spirit is sure to keep success coming. 

Beneath the Bark

In Rio, we have quickly learned to go with the flow. When our scheduled afternoon activity was postponed, the group jumped at the suggestion to visit the city's botanical gardens or Jardim Botânico.

Nestled in the foothills of the mountains where Christ the Redeemer watches over Rio, the garden (or jungle from a Nebraskan point of view) is a tribute to the splendor of Brazil's natural landscape and a reminder of its fragility.

Jardim Botânico with Christ the Redeemer

Larry Rohter, the American author whose Brazil on the Rise kicked off our readings for the class, begins his historical overview with the story of the brazilwood tree. Once the dominant form of vegetation along the northeastern coast of South America, the tree was harvested to be made into crimson dye and became Brazil's first cash crop, exploited for its value in European markets and almost completely depleted. Today gardens such as the Jardim Botânico are some of the final refuges for this tree for which Brazil was named, and seeing it today in person was a vivid reminder of our responsibility as an international community to protect the innumerable species of plants that inhabit South American forests.

The Brazilwood tree 

One fifth of the great Amazon forest has already been destroyed, and as more trees are felled and cleared out for new farmland, we as a human race stand to lose not only ingredients for colorful dyes, but valuable natural remedies, potent medicines, and not to mention an estimated 20% of the oxygen we breathe. The leaves, seeds, fruit, and bark of the cocoa tree, another species featured in the Jardim Botânico, contain more than 150 chemicals. Before the colonization of the Americas, natives of the region used these different parts of the tree to treat anxiety, fever, fatigue, and coughs. Europeans brought back the cocoa tree and used it to treat kidney stones and other lesions such as cuts and burns. Today, of course, cocoa is the primary ingredient in chocolate. It contains flavonoids, which have been shown to decrease blood pressure, improve blood vessel health, and reduce harmful cholesterol.

The embauba, or trumpet tree, named for its characteristic leaves, is another species found in the Amazon and throughout Central and South America. It bears bark, roots, sap, leaves, and fruit used to treat a wide variety of ailments such as respiratory illness, diabetes, cancer, and even snakebites.

These are just two examples of powerful plants found in Brazil and South America, and even as I write, scientists continue to delve into the secret potential of the Amazon forest. There is no telling what potential anti-cancer drug lies waiting in bark or berry, and destructive deforestation practices threaten not only Brazilians, but all of us who stand to benefit from such medicines.

Patrick in the Jardim Botânico

One of the things we have been learning here in Rio is that steps are being taken to prevent this harmful destruction of the rainforest. Backed by 79% of the Brazilian populace, President Dilma Rousseff recently vetoed a bill that would give loggers and farmers the right to unconditionally demolish large areas of the Amazon. That Brazilian citizens are aware of the plight of the rainforest and willing to voice their objections to its destruction is a reason to be optimistic. It is our role as Americans to join them in their efforts for preservation. As we continue to explore Rio and its surrounding cities, it is our hope that new academic and personal ties with our Brazilian colleagues will make this international cooperation stronger.

Learning Portuguese!

Olá! Boa noite. Meu nome é Adrienne. Eu tenho 23 anos. Eu sou de dos Estados Unidos.

As a beginning Portuguese speaker, learning these few sentences feels like a success. Our group has the privilege to work with Dr.Cecília Carvalho, a professor of Portuguese as a second language at PUC Rio. In two, one-hour lessons, Dr. Carvalho has taught us numbers, salutations, introductions, the alphabet, nationalities, three verbs and short sentences. Needless to say, we are on the path to becoming true Cariocas.

This past semester at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln,the Teaching, Learning, Teacher Education department gave a demonstration of the TPRS (teaching reading through proficiency and story telling) foreign language teaching method. This method, involving high levels of language input as well as combination of physical gestures and storytelling is commonly used for beginning English as a second language students. Dr. Carvalho uses this method with us and, as I alluded to earlier, it is very, very effective.

Learning Portuguese has been a great experience. After today's lesson, I feel much more comfortable attempting to communicate with the locals in their language. Since two-thirds of us are Spanish speakers, the Portuguese lessons have been even more interesting, as we are able to compare the similarities and differences between the two romance languages.

It is only with slight difficulties that Spanish speakers can read Portuguese. Portuguese and Spanish share a large number of words that are either spelled identically, or very similarly. Due to the main difference between the two languages being pronunciation, the Spanish speakers in our group have been able to navigate directions and instructions with relative ease, and this is extremely useful!

In the next two weeks, we have three more Portuguese as a second language classes at PUC Rio. By combining the language classes with this wonderful immersion experience, I have no doubt that upon our arrival back in Omaha, our language skills will be very impressive.

Obrigado por ler ese blog!

NGO: Vila Olímpica da Maré.

Our NU group got an early 7am start in order to exit the clean, well-cared for streets of the upper-class Ipanema neighborhood (Zona Sul) to go on to our morning destination which was Vila Olímpica da Maré (Maré’s Olympic Village – Zona Norte), a community center located within a large favela neighborhood (population around 130,000).  After a tour of the local facilities (gym, computer room, music room, reading room, etc.), we all settled down to listen to one of the directors of the community center recount the history and it’s current situation.

Figure 1: Christian, Vila Olímpica da Maré director, recounting the community center's history and current situation.

Christian (born in Argentina, educated in the United Kingdom, a 40-year resident of Brazil) is one of the center’s three directors and spoke excellent English, which allowed us all to listen carefully and think critically.  With respect to the history of the Maré community center, Christian explained that it was created out of necessity; a response to the favela situation.  The Maré favela itself was a result of a 20^th century mass immigration from the countryside to the cities (Rio, in this case).  The rural population was in search of work and although the city jobs quickly became occupied, 70% of that population ended up remaining in the city/suburbs … in conditions that were never intended to house such large amounts of people.  Thus, the formation of unregulated, overpopulated slums a.k.a. favelas. 

Figure 2: Osvaldozinho pointing initial pictures of the Maré Favela. circa 1920.

Figure 3: Kelvinzinho holding a portrait of the Maré Favela. circa 1950.

Amaro, a lifelong member of the favela community, founded the Maré center around 2000.  During this time, Brazil was bidding for the 2004 Olympics and in preparation for that bid, the government was ordering “sweeps” of the neighborhood to sift out drug rings/crime lords and investing in the infrastructure of the area.  However, once Brazil found out that their bid was dropped, investment immediately pulled out and the community was once again left in the hands of local crime/drug bosses.  Since then, the Maré center has struggled to raise funds because it’s considered a “lost organization,” or a community that’s not yet been “pacified” and as such, is a risky/unattractive investment. 

Figure 4: Vila Olímpica da Maré founder Amaro (left) and UNO professor Marisol Arbeláez (right).

Although the center lacks funding and resources, and is located on “negotiated territory” where gangs are the de facto law enforcement, there are so many positive changes that are taking place and we were fortunate enough to observe some of these during our short visit.  All positive change seems to be a result of the center’s strong, charismatic founder, Amaro.  Amaro has managed to build up this community center while playing the role of a middleman between the local gang leaders and the community center administration.    The center has to function within gang territory and as a result, Amaro and the other two directors walk a fine line, or what fellow-director Christian called a “razor’s edge.”  In other words, it’s an extremely precarious situation and EVERYONE proceeds with caution because no one is exempt from the local rule of law.

The Maré center attracts kids from the community through soccer and other sports (what Christian referred to as the “means”).  However, the “end-game” is education and socialization, and sports in this case have proven to be a worthy facilitator of such development.   The community center provides both a mental and physical escape for these kids … a positive, engaging alternative to the violent, crime-ridden streets of the Maré favela. 

These kids come to the community center to have fun, to apply what they’ve learned in school to real-life scenarios, and to develop themselves beyond the limited scope/capability of unstable, poorly funded public schools.  Meanwhile, the community staff has very seriously taken it upon themselves to be role models in a number of ways.  For instance, the teachers/coordinators wait in line along with the kids for their meals, which displays patience … a vital life skill.  Additionally, the teachers make it a point to be the last to offer their opinion during a group discussion, displaying once again patience and the importance of thoughtful listening.  Through this, the teachers are subtly molding theses kids’ psyches and modeling to them crucial manners and life skills … in essence, building a community based on mutual respect and understanding.  Tough job given the conditions!!!

Just an extremely informative and enlightening day.  I am constantly in a state of “checking myself,” that is, regaining perspective.  Our hotel is a couple of blocks away from the beach, situated between extremely overpriced high-rises (perhaps unoccupied given the “buyer’s market”) and expensive fashion shops.  However, this is not the reality for the majority of cariocas (Rio citizens).  Daily trips to NGOs and local communities help keep everything in perspective … and that’s important.  Our purpose here is to gain perspective.   

Brazil: A History of Division, A Future of Possibilities

Learning about Brazil´s History

With the intense and vast knowledge that I’ve had the opportunity to soak in today, it is difficult to find one subject to discuss fully.  The favelas, or Brazilian slums, that we toured this morning were one perfect start to a day devoted to learning about race and inequalities among the people of Rio de Janeiro.  I experienced first hand the sharp physical division of daily life that occurs between the wealthy citizens of Rio and the lowest social class living a few feet up the mountain.  The end of the day lecture on race relations and social structure, at our host university tied together the experience by bringing to our attention that, although Brazil has the sixth greatest economy in the world, it has one of the highest rates of inequality. 

We learned about the major historical contributions that have led to the economic and social division through several posed questions.  What are the major factors that have brought Brazil to this point, we asked?  Professor Angela Paiva responded that slavery and the plantation way of life are a major influence.  Although slavery ended in 1888, there were no public policies set to reconstruct this divided society.  This meant that the “public sphere” did not integrate the former slaves, who could not  read or write, but left them to build and organize their own community as well as to educate themselves within the family.

Another question asked was about the difficulty for blacks to organize social movements after the abolition of slavery.  The ideology of “racial harmony” was shared by the people, no matter their economic/social position.  This was an idea supported by the Catholic church indicating that there is a hierarchical order among the people that was permanent and that the individual was at fault for any hardships they encountered.  This type of logic made it difficult for the country to create a united front against unfair systems.  In contrast to Brazil,  the U.S. experienced many violent civil rights actions which may have provided Blacks with a stronger background for advocates to take direct action.

 My favorite subject of the lecture was education; specifically the affirmative action program, as there is much debate in the US about its use.  Professor Angela Paivadiscussed how the school system is set up. Most of the higher-quality schools are private and provide a better education than public schools. Those better educated private school students then go to the public, free university.  This leaves the students attending public schools, most likely poor Afro-Brazilians, with no higher educational opportunities causing a cycle of unfair advantages for the better-off.

Affirmative action, which allots 25% of the public university seats to Afro-Brazilians, helps this inequality and ends the cycle.  I asked if the incoming students were adequately prepared given their public school background.  She conveyed that the students may struggle for the first few years, but their motivation to learn and change their lifestyle helps them catch up. We will soon be seeing the first set of graduates from that program, and I’m excited to compare and contrast the results of the programs of the US and Brazil with such different contextual backgrounds in the future.

Overall, the richness of the day will most certainly keep me thinking well into tomorrow.  The possibilities of the future as well as the decisions of the past will be most interesting to reflect upon, as we continue to learn the intricacies of Brazilian culture for the next three weeks.

Our Tour Through a Favela

The children at Espaco Criança Esperança in the after school preschool program.

Today we had the opportunity to tour the favelas and NGO,"Espaco Criança Esperança,"  in Rio de Janeiro. We will be spending three days with this organization while our stay in this city. Espaco  Criança Esperança  is an organization funded by the government and private donors. It is to assist children, youngsters, and adults living in the favelas. The favelas are slum neighborhoods in Brazil. These living sites are in contrast with the modern constructions in other parts of Rio. For instance,  where we are staing in Ipanema. There are many favelas in Brazil, and what we had not yet realized is that  they were just an elevator ride away.

When we approached the elevator station I was not aware that just on the other side of the door was a neighborhood that was the complete opposite of what we had seen so far. As we walked through the favela we were allowed to take pictures of the neighborhood and of the people. I couldn’t help but wonder what I would feel like if throughout the year multiple groups of people would come tour the neighborhood in which I live taking pictures of my home, family, and me.  The feeling I felt while walking on the tour was ineffable. I felt powerless. Here we were taking a tour like many other people, knowing that there is not much we can do to help their situation. However, Espaco  Criança Esperança  has given hope to the residents of the favelas in Rio. Espaco  Criança Esperança provides children, teenagers, and adults the resources necessary to better themselves and live a better life.

A favela in Rio.

The center uses teaching methods that incorporates fun while learning. They offer after school programs to motivate and improve their reading, computer, math, and other skills. The center has two computer labs for teenagers and children where they have free access to the internet.  They have recreational activities: indoor soccer, basketball, and swimming. Espaco Criança Esperança  is an example that should be followed by all. I asked our tour guide if there were other centers like this one, she replied, "no." Her answer saddened me, but at the same time I felt optimistic that at least centers like these do exist in Brazil.

Life in the Favelas

Favela overlooking Copacabana

It was an incredible day in Rio.  We began our day by walking to the Copacabana neighborhood and visiting Criança Esperança.  This organization serves the residents of the favela located in the hills above the world renowned beach.  Favelas are communities that are built on unused publicly or privately owned land by residents who cannot afford to live in Rio’s pre-established neighborhoods. Where Americans would build mansions with fabulous coastal views, the cities of Brazil’s poorest have their homes.  We were given a guided tour of the favela and NGO facility located nearby.  Our NGO tour guides did a wonderful job of answering our questions.  We learned about the ingenuity of the residents as they have worked together as a community to meet their needs.  We saw the intricate wiring that provides electricity to the community.  I was surprised to learn that the favelas also have phone service. There was an area where residents could bring their propane gas tanks to be filled.  Plumbing was on the outside of the buildings and looked modern and well installed.    

A market in the favela

 There were shops inside the favela that served the commercial needs of the residents.  There was a market that looked like it could have been on the streets below.  It also appeared that residents sold or traded clothing and goods with one another.

Technical Practice Rooms

The classroom used for vocational training

One of the impressive services that Criança Esperança provides is job training. Residents who are interested take an exam.  Those that pass are invited to learn skills such as construction or hydraulics.  I was impressed with the modern classroom.  It included a lab of computers as well as small rooms set up as a restroom and laundry room. Participants are paid to work on building the Criança Esperança facility while being trained. When they finish, they receive a certificate which can be used to apply for jobs in the neighboring communities of Rio.  Job offerings were posted.  On the day that we visited there were 132 jobs listed. Criança Esperança has a strong philosophy of teaching the residents about ecology.  The grounds include a community garden.  They hope that the children and adults learn to appreciate all that nature has to offer including the growing of food, as well as the beautiful recreation space it provides. 

The favelas have a history of being violent and unwelcome places to visit or live.  The Brazilian government has chosen to invest in the lives of the residents and provide resources to make it a safer community.  Many security officers were visible in the area.  Many private companies are providing funding for the many services that are being provided through this community center.

I went into the favela feeling somewhat apprehensive about my safety. Once inside, it seemed like a calm and organized community.   I did take photographs, but felt uneasy about how the residents perceived our curiosity.  I was impressed with the resources the residents had found to meet their basic needs.  They were not following the building codes imposed in the United States, but doing what they could to provide the most comfortable life for their loved ones. A theme that emerged from our tour was the strength and power that come from community.  The residents of the favelas have developed leadership positions.  Those leaders are working with the broader community to make a better life for their families.

The Taxi Cab Ride and The Chamber of Secrets

I had the pleasure of sharing a one hour long taxi cab ride with Arturo and Marisol on a trip to Walmart. This hour long trip gave us a lot of time to chat with the cab driver who gave us his view on Brazilian culture and current events. The most interesting discussion we had was about the “Jeitinho Brasileiro”, which we have previously discussed before the trip. The taxi cab driver stated that the “Jeitinho Brasileiro” was a Brazilian mentality that in the end all problems will resolve themselves. He mentioned that through friendliness, creativeness, positive outlook, and hope, all problems can be solved. This relaxed mentality is easily seen here in Rio de Janeiro, where the beaches are always busy despite being a work day during work hours. Although the relaxed Brazilian mentality is something that is reflected by their highly criticized slow preparation for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games, Brazil has not been passive during their recent economic policies.

The American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) was visited by us on Thursday, June 28^th 2012. AmCham’s main goal is to form and facilitate business partnerships between American and Brazilian companies. Here, the superintendent of AmCham spoke to us about the current state of the Brazilian economy. Although a lot of the discussion was a review from earlier class readings, there were several new details we learned during the meeting. Firstly, Brazil continues to be a very nationalistic economy despite recently allowing more foreign competition inside the country. For example, Brazil requires that Petrobras control 30% of new petroleum ventures in Brazil. Nuclear power generation in Brazil is a government monopoly which is controlled entirely by the state owned company Eletrobras. The superintendent also agreed that corruption, bureaucracy, and lack of proportional state representation (each of Brazil’s 27 states has 3 senators), are roadblocks which may present apprehensiveness for investors interested in Brazil.

The economic effects of the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics were also discussed. The biggest difference between the World Cup and the Olympics is that the World Cup is spread throughout the country, with money for infrastructure being invested in several Brazilian cities. On the other hand, the Olympics will be hosted in only Rio de Janeiro, which means the economic benefits will be constrained to one main city. The biggest effect these events will have is that the infrastructure created will remain. This includes additional housing and transportation systems created which will continue to benefit the Brazilian public after the events are completed.

Another problem preventing additional Brazilian economic development is the Mercosul (Mercado Comum do Sul) economic agreement between Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. With Brazil being clearly the most important country economically, Paraguay and Uruguay usually agree with the policies Brazil present. However, Argentina being the second economic power often disagrees and blocks Brazilian policies. An example given is that Brazil wants to sign a Free Trade Agreement with the US, but Argentina is blocking that due to fear of losing jobs provided by Brazilians to the US.

Overall, the trip to the American Chamber of Commerce solidified the knowledge we gained by completing the pre-trip readings. It also gave us additional insight in the Brazilian economy by discussing small details that provide a better picture of the problems that the Brazilian economy currently faces.

The group at American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham)

What is Paradise?

Before one can truly say that a city, state or country is indeed paradise, let us take a look at what Rio has to offer. We arrived on Sunday June 24, and although we had just stepped off the plane, after a 10 hour-ride, I was completely taken aback by the landscape we could see from the airport as we waited in a winding line to pass through customs.

Ipanema Beach, the view toward Copacabana 

We arrived at the hotel where we unexpectedly received our first cultural lesson.  Other than the experience of suddenly being immersed into a new language, we also had to patiently wait for things to get settled which was a bit of a challenge considering our long flight. We quickly understood the difference between our fast-pace, always on the clock way of life and Brazil's more laid back way of life. Since we had to wait, we went to get some food and headed to Ipanema beach.

Now the beach, it’s definitely not like any beach I have been to before. The sand, if you avoid a few places, is finely ground and very clean.  There were not many large and sharp rocks or sea shells. It really is a beautiful beach loaded with people from all sorts of backgrounds. Although the number of people seemed high, they were actually low due to Brazil's winter season. Even though this is winter, the presence of division on the beach is visible at the life guard posts which each attract different groups of people divided by things such as class, race, and sexual orientation. However, a tourist may not be aware of such a division.  This class has taught me that the beach can be divided by life guard posts that span along the beach. Each post attracts a different group of people, but there still remains a mixture of different groups within Brazilian society.

Ipanema Beach at night

I have yet to experience anything in the realm of public transportation within the city, except for our bus. Brazilian motorists have the right of way and demand respect on the roads. Busses and cars alike drive relatively fast within the city and are usually only stopped by red lights.  While talking with Janet, she pointed out two things that I had not remembered: motorcycles are the exception to almost all of the rules of the road, and the difference between drivers in the U.S. and drivers in Brazil.

The difference is merely that when somebody gets cut off, it seems they let it happen and they are okay with it because they do not honk and frantically yell every time. If they did that in the United States, there would be lots of serious crashes and it would contradict the laidback lifestyle that Brazilians are known for. The Brazilian carefree way of life was mentioned in Brazil on the Rise by Larry Rohter. The way that Brazilians drive seems to reflect that lifestyle. The only time that it is not proven true is when the pedestrians get in their way.

What I think is the most important thing to finding paradise is the mentality that I previously mentioned. My goal before I left Nebraska was to learn about it through observation and comparison. Although there is an added bonus of the location and features that this country has to offer, there are of course negatives as in any major city, but in a place with such beauty, I cannot stop myself from drinking it all in and wanting more than ever to find that carefree spirit and embrace life and its speed bumps along the way.

The group at PUC

Bem-vindo a Brasil!

Waiting to board the 10 hour flight from Houston to Brazil

Olá! Meu nome é Janet Sanchez y bem-vindos a Brasil! Sadly that is the extent of my Portuguese.

I must admit that all the Portuguese I knew before arriving in Brazil I learned from language apps I downloaded onto my phone since the first day I found out I was selected for this great study abroad experience. These last few days have been some of the most memorable days of my life! Arriving in Brazil was an experience all on its own as I have never traveled outside of the country by air. The ride from the airport to the hotel was full of awe and amazement at the scenic views which surround Rio de Janeiro. I don’t think pictures would do it justice.

The first day, following recommendations from locals, we ate at a nearby café where we all had our first taste of Brazilian cooking.  We will only be here twenty-three days and we refuse to waste any of it. Today was our second day at Pontifícia Universidade Católica of Rio (PUC) and our first lecture by PUC professors. The campus itself is one of the most beautiful and unique campuses I have ever seen.  PUC's school calendar is also very different from the University of Nebraska calendar and we happen to be here during finals week of their first semester. Our first lectures today consisted of an hour of basic Portuguese and a lecture on the "Green Economy and Sustainability" by Professor Pedro Jorge Campello. He touched on topics such as pollution, deforestation, and the reason why public policy regarding the protection of the environment is increasingly important in Brazil and around the world. Oil spills, toxic gas explosions, and water contaminations have all caused major environmental disasters and have led many nations and peoples to call, and accept the need, for more governmental regulations.  Professor Campello provided us with an example of how our attitudes about the environment have changed over time: "in the 1960’s, businesses' attitudes were 'It’s not my business;' in the 1980’s government agencies began to make polices and the attitude changed to 'I’ll do it only because I must follow the law.'  However, from the 1990’s to 2000’s, companies began to realize that it was profitable to go green, and that has brought us into the present where the mentality has changed completely." While we can all agree that Brazil, along with the rest of the world, can still use some help in reaching a sustainable economy we can also agree that Brazil is at least trying.

Had you told me a couple of months ago I would be sitting in a classroom during the summer, thousands of miles away from home, and learning about sustainability and the green economy I would have laughed. I am a business student who is interested in going to law school and talking about deforestation isn’t exactly in my field of interest. However, I found myself pleasantly surprised by how interested I became throughout Professor Campello's lecture. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the three weeks have in store for us!