Oil Exploration in Brazil:
Is Failure the only True Success:
With ideal conditions for sugar cane growth energy development in brazil has long focused on ethanol production however, with the discovery of large oil reserves Pretrobras (Brazilian state oil company) hopes to transform the nation into a leading oil exporter. The massive new oil reserved unearthed by Petrobras in 2006 was largest such discovery in over 30 years. Estimates vary wildly but even low estimates suggest the oil fields contain at least 50 billion barrels. High estimates claim as much 250 billion barrels (enough to rival Saudi Arabia and Venezuela). With such a massive discovery of oil Brazilian officials were quick to stern the path of energy development in Brazil toward oil production and exportation. Then Brazilian President Luiz Lula proclaimed the discovery as a “Second independence” for Brazil. Certain in appeared as though heavy oil exploration was in Brazils future.
Today a number of factors have put that future as risk. For a series of regulations designed to Pretrobras advantage on domestic oil production has turned away some foreign patterns slowing the pace exploration. In addition some believe government officials have overestimated Brazil’s proven reserves. Some oil executive even claim realist expectations have set Petrobras on a course for failure.
However, there is no bigger impediment to Brazilian oil production current structural market changes driven increasing production of alternative and conventional fuel within the United States. These include spike US oil production and incredible raise in natural gas use. Oil production alone rose to almost a million barrels a day in 2013 according to the international Energy Agency to a record high of 9 million barrels per day. Making the US the largest oil producer in the world. This far exceeds the current production of about 2.7 or 4.7 it ultimately hopes to achieve. The charts below show oil production for the both the US and Brazil. In addition the use of as an alternative fuel source is also help to drive down prices and desire to bring on additional oil production in Brazil and elsewhere.
Today a number of factors have put that future as risk. For a series of regulations designed to Pretrobras advantage on domestic oil production has turned away some foreign patterns slowing the pace exploration. In addition some believe government officials have overestimated Brazil’s proven reserves. Some oil executive even claim realist expectations have set Petrobras on a course for failure.
However, there is no bigger impediment to Brazilian oil production current structural market changes driven increasing production of alternative and conventional fuel within the United States. These include spike US oil production and incredible raise in natural gas use. Oil production alone rose to almost a million barrels a day in 2013 according to the international Energy Agency to a record high of 9 million barrels per day. Making the US the largest oil producer in the world. This far exceeds the current production of about 2.7 or 4.7 it ultimately hopes to achieve. The charts below show oil production for the both the US and Brazil. In addition the use of as an alternative fuel source is also help to drive down prices and desire to bring on additional oil production in Brazil and elsewhere.
Ultimately, Brazils potential failure to significantly increase production may turn out to be blessing disguise. As energy exploration is a trade off ei: increasing Bio production would likely divert focus and investment from Brazils thriving Bio fuel industry. While consumer may so short term price reductions any increase in oil production the plant will suffer the long term consequences promoting hydrogen carbon use. While, failure to increase production force the use more environmental sound alternatives. Brazil’s long term success depend on it failure now. Thus, the resource curse is reborn in the form in Brazil.
THE fEVELA RETHOUGHT A NEW URBAN OUTLOOK
The Fevela a case study in poor urban planning
Access to quality affordable housing is major challenge for urban planners in most the world great cities. In development of Fevelas (or slums) exemplifies poor urban planning. The city of Rio De Janeiro is notorious sprawling slums that often lack proper sanitation and police services. The city which host the 2016 Olympics is attempting to clean up the fevela’s after decades neglect indifferent from city national office holders.
Access to quality affordable housing is major challenge for urban planners in most the world great cities. In development of Fevelas (or slums) exemplifies poor urban planning. The city of Rio De Janeiro is notorious sprawling slums that often lack proper sanitation and police services. The city which host the 2016 Olympics is attempting to clean up the fevela’s after decades neglect indifferent from city national office holders.
A legacy of forced Urbanization
The first Fevela developed in the late 1800’s when government forcible relocated 30,000 people in northern state Bahia to Rio De Janeiro. With no place to live squatters settlements quickly began to develop. These illegal and unplanned settlement were often crapped devoid any modern housing regulations designed to promote sanitary conditions, safety or overcrowding. These shanty towns continued to grow following the end slavery in Brazil. During the period of second military dictatorship the government policies of promote rapid industrialization caused millions of peasants to move from the countryside swelling the size of favels.
Some of the problems faced modern day Fevales show in the slide show below
War in the Fevela
Following rapid growth in Fevela population gang control quickly grow in these improvised urban neighborhoods. The violence that quickly followed was facilitated in no small to due to Rio failures in urban planning. Neighborhoods contains street so narrow passage by police vehicles was all but impossible giving gangs the upper hand. Violence in Rio slums was depicted in the 2002 film City of God which follows the life a journalist putting his life a risk to document the violence in Rios notoriously dangerous city of good Fevela.
Following rapid growth in Fevela population gang control quickly grow in these improvised urban neighborhoods. The violence that quickly followed was facilitated in no small to due to Rio failures in urban planning. Neighborhoods contains street so narrow passage by police vehicles was all but impossible giving gangs the upper hand. Violence in Rio slums was depicted in the 2002 film City of God which follows the life a journalist putting his life a risk to document the violence in Rios notoriously dangerous city of good Fevela.
Cleaning up the Favela
In order to address the issues of gang violence in Rio slums the Brazilian government has implemented a pacification zone designed to increase police presence in the Rio’s Fevela’s. The program started wide sweep by armed officers and military designed to target Fevela high level drug lord then establish a long term police presence. The program is general credit with bringing down the level of violence. However, detractors still maintain concern over police occupation with neighborhoods. Both sentiments are echoed by local artist Rodrigo Neves says he
“had deep worries about the occupation, given the Brazilian police’s reputation for violence and corruption.” However Neves also reports
“that it’s turned out better than he expected. The cleaning up of the favela has removed the aura of fear that kept outsiders away, and the positive publicity about Rocinha has benefited Rodrigo’s artistic career”
Conclusion
Ultimately the success or failure of the program will dependence on ability of the police to work with the community not against it. Should the program be successful it may road on how to reshape urban planning failures into successes. While these communities where built on poor foundations cities work to fix slums and build them rather than tarring them down.
Work Cited:
"City of God Trailer." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 31 Dec. 2014.
"Favela Life: Rio's City within a City." BBC News. N.p., 9 June 2014. Web. 30 Dec. 2014.
Forero, Juan. "Brazil's Oil Euphoria Hits Reality Hard." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 6 Jan. 2014. Web. 31 Dec. 2014.
Freisleben, Shayna. "Experience This Favela and Explore the Other Side of Brazil." Experience This Favela and Explore the Other Side of Brazil. Cnn, 30 June 2014. Web. 31 Dec. 2014.
"Oil Price News, Oil and Gas Analysis, Energy Supply & Demand, Oil Technology." Global Oil Production. Energy Insights, 2014. Web. 31 Dec. 2014.
"The Shale Revolution in One Picture - Canary." International Energy Agency, 30 Dec. 2014. Web. 31 Dec. 2014.
"Tupi Oil Is 'second Independence for Brazil'" -Upstreamonline.com. N.p., 4 May 2009. Web. 31 Dec. 2014.
P
pedro A. Pinto, Os Sertões de Euclides da Cunha: Vocabulário e Notas Lexiológicas, Rio: Francisco Al [1]
"The Shale Revolution in One Picture - Canary." International Energy Agency, 30 Dec. 2014. Web. 31 Dec. 2014.
"Tupi Oil Is 'second Independence for Brazil'" -Upstreamonline.com. N.p., 4 May 2009. Web. 31 Dec. 2014.
"City of God Trailer." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 31 Dec. 2014.
"Favela Life: Rio's City within a City." BBC News. N.p., 9 June 2014. Web. 30 Dec. 2014.
Forero, Juan. "Brazil's Oil Euphoria Hits Reality Hard." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 6 Jan. 2014. Web. 31 Dec. 2014.
Freisleben, Shayna. "Experience This Favela and Explore the Other Side of Brazil." Experience This Favela and Explore the Other Side of Brazil. Cnn, 30 June 2014. Web. 31 Dec. 2014.
"Oil Price News, Oil and Gas Analysis, Energy Supply & Demand, Oil Technology." Global Oil Production. Energy Insights, 2014. Web. 31 Dec. 2014.
"The Shale Revolution in One Picture - Canary." International Energy Agency, 30 Dec. 2014. Web. 31 Dec. 2014.
"Tupi Oil Is 'second Independence for Brazil'" -Upstreamonline.com. N.p., 4 May 2009. Web. 31 Dec. 2014.
P
pedro A. Pinto, Os Sertões de Euclides da Cunha: Vocabulário e Notas Lexiológicas, Rio: Francisco Al [1]
"The Shale Revolution in One Picture - Canary." International Energy Agency, 30 Dec. 2014. Web. 31 Dec. 2014.
"Tupi Oil Is 'second Independence for Brazil'" -Upstreamonline.com. N.p., 4 May 2009. Web. 31 Dec. 2014.