The Commerce Union of Franco da Rocha and Região has been awarded the UNI Global Union Breaking Through Award for its efforts to organize Amazon warehouse workers in São Paulo, marking a significant step in the fight to improve working conditions in Brazil’s e-commerce sector. Working with UNI Americas and the Commerce Workers Union of São Paulo, the Franco da Rocha union launched a campaign in 2022 to build worker support at an Amazon distribution centre. The initiative has since seen hundreds of workers join the union and participate in mapping surveys to identify key workplace issues. “As an Amazon employee and a newly elected union director, I’m proud that we’re breaking barriers, supporting a global fight to improve conditions for workers at the company and within e-commerce in general,” said Heron Alves, a member of the union’s Board of Directors. Since the campaign began, the Franco da Rocha union has reported several key developments: The union has now submitted its bargaining priorities to Amazon, aiming to negotiate the region’s first bilateral agreement for Amazon workers. The award underscores the union’s work to defend labour rights within one of the most anti-union corporations in the world. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive regular updates from UNI Global Union Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. Firefighters remove the body of a landslide victim after heavy rains in Franco da Rocha, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, Monday, Jan 31, 2022. At least 19 people have died in cities in the interior of Brazil’s largest state, Sao Paulo, after landslides caused by heavy rains that have hit the region since Saturday. (AP Photo/Marcelo Chello) A firefighter and a search dog look for landslide victims after heavy rains in Franco da Rocha, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, Monday, Jan 31, 2022. At least 19 people have died in cities in the interior of Brazil’s largest state, Sao Paulo, after landslides caused by heavy rains that have hit the region since Saturday. (AP Photo/Marcelo Chello) Firefighters search for people in the rubble of a residential area after heavy rains triggered a landslide in Franco da Rocha, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022. Landslides and flooding caused by heavy rains have killed over a dozen people and forced about 500,000 families from their homes, authorities said. (AP Photo/Marcelo Chello) Firefighters look at a car destroyed by a landslide after heavy rains in Franco da Rocha, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, Monday, Jan 31, 2022. At least 19 people have died in cities in the interior of Brazil’s largest state, Sao Paulo, after landslides caused by heavy rains that have hit the region since Saturday. (AP Photo/Marcelo Chello) Firefighters remove the body of a landslide victim from a destroyed house after heavy rains in Franco da Rocha, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, Monday, Jan 31, 2022. At least 19 people have died in cities in the interior of Brazil’s largest state, Sao Paulo, after landslides caused by heavy rains that have hit the region since Saturday. (AP Photo/Marcelo Chello) A firefighter walks down stairs in a narrow pedestrian street between homes where a stretcher covers a home’s door during a search for people in the rubble of a residential area after heavy rain triggered a landslide in Franco da Rocha, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022. Landslides and flooding caused by heavy rains have killed over a dozen people and forced about 500,000 families from their homes, authorities said. (AP Photo/Marcelo Chello) A volunteer searches for people in the rubble after heavy rain triggered a landslide in Franco da Rocha, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022. Landslides and flooding caused by heavy rains have killed over a dozen people and forced about 500,000 families from their homes, authorities said. (AP Photo/Marcelo Chello) Firefighters search for landslide victims after heavy rains in Franco da Rocha, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, Monday, Jan 31, 2022. At least 19 people have died in cities in the interior of Brazil’s largest state, Sao Paulo, after landslides caused by heavy rains that have hit the region since Saturday. (AP Photo/Marcelo Chello) FRANCO DA ROCHA, Brazil (AP) — The death toll from landslides and flooding set off by heavy rains in Brazil’s Sao Paulo state reached 24 on Monday as firefighters continued pulling bodies from the mud. Brazil’s most populous state was blasted with rain over the weekend, and hundreds of thousands of people were forced from their homes. The death toll had stood at 19 late Sunday, according to a statement from the civil defense authority. ”(I’m looking for) my nephew, his wife and a 2-year-old child,” Cicero Pereira, 54, told The Associated Press beside a disaster site in the city of Franco da Rocha. “They said the bodies are still there under the mud, but until now they couldn’t recover them.” Nelito Santos Bonfim, a 69-year-old resident, told AP he barely escaped with his life. “When I started running, the debris fell all over me,” Bonfim said. “I got hurt, but found a hole and, thanks to God, I managed to escape. But my father is still there.” A total 27 cities were affected, of which Franco da Rocha suffered the greatest loss of life. Gov. João Doria used a helicopter to survey damaged areas Sunday and announced the equivalent of $2.8 million in financial aid to affected cities. Alessandro Lima de Freitas, a coordinator for firefighters working to retrieve bodies, updated his list of missing people in Franco da Rocha. He told reporters that the concentration of rain was much heavier than locals are used to. Southeastern Brazil has been punished with heavy rains since the start of the year, with 19 deaths recorded in Minas Gerais state earlier this month. At least 19 people have died in cities in the interior of Brazil's largest state, Sao Paulo, after landslides caused by heavy rains that have hit the region since Saturday. Firefighters look at a car destroyed by a landslide after heavy rains in Franco da Rocha, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, Jan 31, 2022. Citizens help firefighters remove mud in search of victims after a landslide caused by heavy rains buried homes in Franco da Rocha, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, Jan. 31, 2022. A firefighter and a search dog look for landslide victims after heavy rains in Franco da Rocha, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, Jan 31, 2022. People are seen during the search of victims after a landslide caused by heavy rains buried homes in Franco da Rocha, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, Jan. 31, 2022. Firefighters and volunteers look for victims of a landslide after heavy rain in Franco da Rocha, Sao Paulo State, Brazil, Jan. 31, 2022. Firefighters search for landslide victims after heavy rains in Franco da Rocha, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, Jan 31, 2022. A bulldozer carries people across a flooded street after heavy rains in Caieiras, Brazil, Jan. 30, 2022. People observe a flooded street after heavy rain in Caieiras, Brazil, Jan. 30, 2022. Firefighters remove the body of a landslide victim from a destroyed house after heavy rains in Franco da Rocha, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, Jan. 31, 2022. A firefighter walks downstairs in a narrow pedestrian street between homes where a stretcher covers a home's door during a search for people in the rubble of a residential area after heavy rain triggered a landslide in Franco da Rocha, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, Jan. 31, 2022. Firefighters search for people in the rubble of a residential area after heavy rains triggered a landslide in Franco da Rocha, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, Jan. 31, 2022. A flooded soccer field is seen after heavy rains in Caieiras, Brazil, Jan. 30, 2022. A house’s gate is seen broken by flooding after heavy rains in Caieiras, Brazil, Jan. 30, 2022. People stand in a flooded street after heavy rain in Caieiras, Brazil, Jan. 30, 2022. Firefighters from Sao Paulo state use a dog to find victims after a landslide caused by heavy rains buried homes in Franco da Rocha, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, Jan. 31, 2022. A citizens helps firefighters remove mud in search of victims after a landslide caused by heavy rains buried homes in Franco da Rocha, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, Jan. 31, 2022. A car stands on a flooded street after heavy rain in Franco da Rocha, Sao Paulo State, Brazil, Jan. 31, 2022. A woman picks up fruits from the ground after heavy rain caused flooding in Franco da Rocha, Sao Paulo State, Brazil, Jan. 31, 2022. Volunteers wait for their turn to look for victims of a landslide after heavy rain in Franco da Rocha, Sao Paulo State, Brazil, Jan. 31, 2022. Fruits and vegetables lay on a muddy ground after heavy rain caused flooding in Franco da Rocha, Sao Paulo State, Brazil, Jan. 31, 2022. SPINDALE, N.C. (AP) — An evangelical North Carolina sect that is the focus of an ongoing Associated Press investigation has issued a statement denying former members' allegations that they were brought to the U.S. from congregations in Brazil and forced to work for little or no pay. The statement, issued by Word of Faith Fellowship attorney Josh Farmer, comes a week after the AP published reports about what dozens of former members described as a human pipeline from two churches in Brazil to the sect's headquarters in rural Spindale, North Carolina. Word of Faith Fellowship and both churches in Brazil had not responded to numerous requests for comment before publication of the AP's stories. Many of the former followers interviewed by the AP first traveled to the U.S. when they were very young and described being so indoctrinated that they felt they had no choice but to follow the church's orders. Last week's stories — based on accounts of dozens of former congregants, a review of police reports and interviews with authorities in Brazil and the United States — also detailed how Word of Faith Fellowship took command of its two Brazilian congregations over the course of many years, instilling its rigid doctrine in Ministerio Evangelico Comunidade Rhema church in Franco da Rocha and Ministerio Verbo Vivo church in Sao Joaquim de Bicas. The former members who traveled to the U.S. told the AP they were forced to work on church property or at businesses owned by senior sect leaders, and physically or verbally assaulted. The Brazilians often spoke little English when they arrived, and many said they had their passports seized. Many males worked in construction; many females worked as babysitters and in the church's K-12 school, the former members said. One ex-congregant from Brazil told AP she was only 12 the first time she was put to work. Word of Faith Fellowship was founded in North Carolina in 1979 by Jane Whaley, a former math teacher, and her husband, Sam. It has branches in Brazil and Ghana, along with affiliations in other countries. The revelations of forced labor are the latest in AP's investigation exposing years of abuse at the church. Based on exclusive interviews with 43 former members, documents and secretly made recordings, the AP reported in February that congregants were regularly punched, smacked and choked in an effort to "purify" sinners by beating out devils. The church has rarely been sanctioned, despite numerous inquiries. Another previous AP report outlined how congregants were ordered by sect leaders to lie to authorities investigating allegations of abuse. Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Volume 3 - 2021 | https://doi.org/10.3389/frsc.2021.670985 This article is part of the Research TopicUrban Greening in the Global South: Green Gentrification and BeyondView all 13 articles This article explores the relationship between legal frameworks and environment in the context of metropolitan fringes The focus of study is the Juqueri-Cantareira sub-basin a strategic territory for the ecosystemic balance of the São Paulo Metropolitan Region (SPMP) This region is also home to critical natural remnants and watersources protected by Law and encompasses smaller cities undergoing intense urbanization out of step with prevailing instruments of urban and environmental planning The article examines the limits and challenges of the urban and environmental instruments proposed for a section of the Juqueri-Cantareira sub-basin particularly those lying within the protected area for Spring recovery (Alto Juquery) It is assumed that municipal Master Plans and the Specific Law for Protection and Recovery of Springs (State Law 15.790/2015) should be within the framework of an integrated planning process in which sustainability is systemic and has multiple dimensions A qualitative assessment methodology was adopted that covers four dimensions of sustainability (political and socioeconomic) in an analysis of the urban instruments of the cities of Caieiras and of the environmental instrument—the Specific State Law for the Protection and Recovery of Springs The study sought to determine how these instruments articulate and incorporate these dimensions to promote strategies contributing to sustainable development and addressing socio-spatial inequalities in the region although the instruments analyzed addressed the dimensions of sustainability defined for the study The planning process should be reviewed to provide an integrated vision of regional scope to value the territory environmental heritage and local communities In the case of the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo (SPMP) Brazil's foremost and largest metropolis its fringe areas endowed with significant natural remnants are invariably occupied by peripheral districts of the host city (São Paulo) and by smaller towns that have higher geometric population growth rates than those of the capital city In the northern portion of the SPMP (Juqueri-Cantareira sub-basin) the empirical focus of the present article there is evident intense demographic growth with the presence of precarious settlements hand in hand with existing or planned major real estate road and infrastructure projects for the region Implementing these projects without considering socio-spatial inequalities or incorporating an integrated vision of environmental attributes can have dire consequences These consequences impact the cities that make up the region and the metropolis as a whole especially with regard to water resources (quality and quantity) since part of the sub-basin encompasses an area of regionally listed springs and other environmentally protected areas As part of a larger study1 this article defends the importance of urban and environmental planning that considers social asymmetries in its scope and addresses the multiple dimensions of sustainability from a systemic perspective It is assumed that urban and environmental planning instruments should be part of an integrated planning process This article aims to discuss the limits and challenges of the urban and environmental instruments proposed for a section of the Juqueri-Cantareira sub-basin This study investigates the environmental instruments governing the Area of Protection and Recovery of Springs—Alto Juquery A qualitative evaluation methodology is proposed that covers four dimensions of sustainability (political territorial and socioeconomic) to determine how the selected instruments articulate and incorporate these dimensions to promote strategies that contribute to sustainable development and address socio-spatial inequalities in the region Although a growing number of studies indicate high levels of environmental degradation and the need for new development paths in several areas of knowledge there is no consensus on the meaning of “sustainability.” On the contrary sustainability is a developing concept and the focus of a dispute encompassing authors from different spectrums In the research that gave rise to this article, the concept of sustainability adopted was that addressed by two seminal authors: Sachs (2009) and Magnaghi (1999, 2011) Both these authors contribute to the idea of sustainability from an integrated and systemic standpoint defending that sustainability has multiple dimensions beyond environmental aspects The architect Magnaghi (1999, 2011) one of the Italian territorialist school's leading theorists contributes with a definition that is more focused on urbanism understanding sustainability from an integrated perspective valuing local development and the importance of territory Magnaghi establishes five sustainability dimensions: the social dimension territorial dimension and the political dimension Table 1 synthesizes the definitions of the authors for the multiple dimensions of sustainability Table 1. Dimensions of sustainability according to Magnaghi (2011) and Sachs (2009) The dimensions listed by Sachs (2009) and Magnaghi (2011) have several similarities and convergences Although Sachs takes a broader perspective and Magnaghi a more applied approach to territorial planning both authors view sustainability from a systemic and interdependent perspective “sustainability” is not seen as a mere environmental or sectoral issue but as a relational problem with multiple dimensions Alvim (2003), corroborating with Magnaghi (1999) argues that redefining sustainability in the ambit of urban planning calls for the notion of territory as a living space for society and its pre-existences The territorial approach seeks to address the problems surrounding territory with a multidisciplinary focus and socioeconomic heritage in local dimensions through community empowerment When evaluating urban and environmental instruments in a water-producing region with rapid urban growth and marked socioeconomic inequalities the valuing of the territory and the society residing within it based on democratic and citizenship practices should be considered determinants for the sustainability of these public policies The sustainability concept that underpins the analysis in this article is aligned with this systemic vision and applied to territorial planning aiming to construct sustainable territories Despite recognizing the importance of each of the sustainability dimensions developed by the authors and their intersections this article lists those elements that are potentially more adequate to support an analysis of urban and environmental legislation The dimensions were listed according to major themes seeking to pool elements (qualitative indicators) that corroborate an integrated analysis it is understood that the construction of sustainable territories involves the incorporation of citizenship and participation principles in the planning and management process the political dimension of sustainability assumes a fundamental role because it must counter the culture of social polarization self-government and the strengthening of the local community should be encouraged allowing mediation and resolution of disputes and collectively generating a future project for this society This type of organization does not extinguish the conflicting interests of the community the mediation of its conflicts must be based on understanding and valuing collective interests over individual interests when thinking about the construction of sustainable habitats the socioeconomic dimension should be considered toward promoting a low-carbon economy and just income distribution allied with equal access to resources and services based on the participation and balance of forces of various actors in society it seeks to strengthen the social bond between the State aiming to value the territory and create job opportunities and income generation for the local community Under a systemic view, the environmental dimension of sustainability should not be based on a corrective logic but aim at establishing a healthy relationship between human settlements and the environment. In this respect, it is fundamental to seek territories from low carbon matrices and encourage the closing of water, energy, solid waste and food cycles at local and regional levels (Sachs, 2009; Magnaghi, 2011) Given the goal of reducing pollutant emissions the movement of people and goods should be minimized and local consumption encouraged the environment is not interpreted as a mere source of economic support There is an attempt to establish virtuous relationships between the natural environment and distribution of activities/functions within the territory The territorial dimension aims to promote the local community's “reterritorialization” with its territory by establishing virtuous production and reproduction rules dispersed and organized as a function of supporting the economic activities of circulation Given the level of deforestation and environmental degradation city planning must prevent land consumption recover abandoned areas and value local heritage (cultural and ecological) and public spaces The built environment should be based on multi-center systems replacing the center-periphery logic and creating balanced urban and rural relations The administrative structure defined in the Law comprised the State Council of Hydrological Resources formed by the State Secretariats or their representatives; by representatives of the cities within the hydrographic basins The Hydrological Resources Management Units (UGRHIs) of the State of São Paulo were derived from this landmark legislation Within the scope of the Upper Tietê Watershed four specific laws were enacted between 2006 and 2016 which defined the Area of Protection and Recovery of Springs—Alto Juquery (APRM-AJ) The specific legislation's approval required that the cities located within the spring preservation area make their Master Plans compatible with the guidelines set out in the Law and the new environmental zoning regulations of each sub-basin none of the Juqueri-Cantareira sub-basin cities that make up the APRM-AJ (State Law 15.790/2015) have made their Master Plans compatible with the Specific Law following the precepts of the 1988 Federal Constitution urban policy is the responsibility of the municipal authorities and the Master Plan is the main instrument in urban development and mandatory for cities with over 20,000 inhabitants (articles 182 and 183 of the Federal Constitution) Article 25 of the Federal Constitution stipulates that the States planning and execution of public functions of common interest environmental policies are the joint responsibility of the three federative entities (Union and Municipalities) that must promote the protection of the environment and water resources (article 20 of the Federal Constitution) According to Alvim et al. (2008) although the Brazilian legislation governing environmental urban and hydrological policies is considered advanced the challenge of building paths that equate the main conflicts to render this integration feasible prevails The integration of principles with a view to promoting sustainability in a given territory depends on effective articulation with other policies that affect it a negotiated process between government bodies institutional sectors and players that arbitrate conflicts and multiple interfaces Figure 1. Hydrographic sub-basins of the Alto Tietê Hydrographic Basin highlighting the Juqueri-Cantareira Sub-basin. Data source: São Paulo State Secretariat for the Environment. Available at: http://datageo.ambiente.sp.gov.br These sites constitute an extensive group of important works which tell part of the State's history and that of the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo Many of these sites are linked to the railroad or the industrial development period of the cities Figure 2. Juqueri-Cantareira Sub-basin: APRM-AJ, heritage sites and those under consideration by CONDEPHAAT and environmental preservation areas. Data source: São Paulo State Secretariat for the Environment and EMPLASA. Available at: http://datageo.ambiente.sp.gov.br The sub-basin is home to 848,593 inhabitants (IBGE, 2010) and has undergone significant population growth The average population growth rate of the Juqueri-Cantareira sub-basin between 2000 and 2010 was 2.60% per year the average for São Paulo city was 0.76% per year and 0.97% per year for the metropolitan region and Caieiras (2.01%) stand out with the highest rates besides the districts of Jaraguá (2.39%) and Anhanguera (2.6%) located in the extreme north of São Paulo city This migratory population movement causes population pressure which if not adequately tackled and controlled by integrated inclusive public policies—Urban and Environmental—can lead to a disastrous scenario especially from an environmental perspective As defined by the IBGE, the precarious settlements, or Subnormal Agglomerations, have been expanding in the region, especially in the cities of Franco da Rocha and Francisco Morato and in the districts of Perus, Anhanguera, and Jaraguá. The amount of settlements in Risk areas is alarming, especially those located in Francisco Morato and the central region of Mairiporã, near the Paiva Castro reservoir, as evident in Figure 3 based on georeferenced data from IBGE Figure 3. Juqueri-Cantareira Sub-basin: APRM-AJ, urbanized areas, subnormal agglomerates (slums), and population at risk. Data source: São Paulo State Secretariat for the Environment, EMPLASA, and DataGEO. Available at: http://datageo.ambiente.sp.gov.br With regard to social vulnerability, georeferenced data for the São Paulo Social Vulnerability Index (spatialized in Figure 4) shows that the areas corresponding to vulnerability grades 6 and 7 (high vulnerability) correspond to the outskirts of Mairiporã (within the protected springs area) and the outskirts of Franco da Rocha and Francisco Morato The most vulnerable municipalities in the sub-basin are Francisco Morato Franco da Rocha and Cajamar because a significant part of their territory is rated as medium and high vulnerability The other districts and cities have high/medium vulnerability where most of this territory has a low degree of social vulnerability Figure 4. Juqueri-Cantareira sub-basin—São Paulo social vulnerability index, 2010. Source: Fundação Seade (2013) and IBGE The synthesis of some data from this sub-region although not reflecting the full Construction of sustainable territories and the multiple dimensions of sustainability complexity of its problems help highlight the central issues that should be dealt with in an articulated manner by the set of urban and environmental planning instruments proposed within the overarching perspective of sustainability of the territory an evaluation is provided of the main urban and environmental planning instruments in effect within the region along with the Master Plans of the cities of Caieiras and the Specific Law of the Alto Juquery Springs Protection and Recovery Area (APRM-AJ) The premise that sustainability has multiple dimensions is based on the theories of Sachs (2009) and Magnaghi (1999, 2011) Both scholars argue that sustainability is systemic and complex recognizing the complexity of the discussion on sustainable development and providing contributions that go beyond the classic tripartite of sustainability of social These authors extended the concept by also incorporating cultural Figure 5. Diagram depicting articulation of sustainability dimensions of Sachs (2009) and Magnaghi (2011) Summary evaluation matrix containing elements analyzed Political dimension involves the degree of participation in decision-making representativeness of different groups of society (including those historically marginalized) valuing and strengthening of the local community The following components were listed for instrument analysis: participation of the population valuing the territory and strengthening the communities Environmental dimension evaluates how strategies established in the analyzed legislation have considered the components of environmental science while addressing environmental recovery/protection and balance of ecosystems The following elements were considered in the analysis: Environmental Preservation/Recuperation Areas Territorial dimension aims to understand what strategies the Municipal Master Plans and the Specific Law have devised to establish a balance between the natural and built environments and to promote reterritorialization of the local community into its territory the following components are analyzed: cultural equipment redevelopment of abandoned areas/urban voids valuing of heritage (historical and environmental) integration of ecological and historical heritage Socioeconomic dimension deals with fundamental components to the population's socioeconomic dynamics seeking to understand how the urban and environmental instruments solve or mitigate the main social and economic problems of the region aimed at promoting its sustainable development The proposed analysis components are: local economic development The present article reports the analysis of the Master Plans of the cities of Caieiras These cities are located on the outskirts of the São Paulo Metropolitan Region more specifically in the Juqueri-Cantareira sub-basin and were selected according to the following criteria: • Small cities relative to São Paulo city and with a lower degree of complexity in terms of urban and environmental policies; • Cities that have undergone marked population growth to the detriment of preserved areas; • Cities situated within the Area of Protection and Recovery of Springs—Alto Juquery The list of cities located within the Juqueri-Cantareira sub-basin and their respective percentage of the catchment area is given in Table 3 Mairiporã has 80% of its territory within the APRM-AJ Franco da Rocha 5% and São Paulo 1.5% The Master Plan of São Paulo will not be discussed in this article because the study objective was to address cities that lie fully within the fringe area List of cities with areas within Juqueri-Cantareira sub-basin the strategies/guidelines of the following urban and environmental instruments were analyzed: • Mairiporã Master Plan: Complementary Law No. 297/2006 (Mairiporã, 2006) • Caieiras Master Plan: Supplementary Law No. 4538/2012 (Caieiras, 2012) • Franco da Rocha Master Plan: Supplementary Law No. 618/2007 and amendments contained in Supplementary Law No. 244/2015 (Franco Da Rocha, 2007, 2015) • Specific Law for the Protection and Recovery Area of Alto Juquery Springs—APRM-AJ: Law 15.790/2015 (São paulo, 2015) The qualitative analyses of the instruments listed according to the criteria set out in the previous item were performed based on the four dimensions of sustainability, namely: the political dimension, socioeconomic dimension, environmental dimension and the territorial dimension. These dimensions of analysis were established from the articulation of the sustainability dimensions devised by Magnaghi (2011) and Sachs (2009) elements of analysis were listed that correspond to each dimension and were compatible with the study of urban and environmental policy The matrix was completed with information gathered from the reading and analytical transcription of the articles of the Master Plans and Specific Legislation corresponding to each element in the evaluation matrix After filling out the matrix and comparing the laws a synthesis of each instrument's strategies was produced outlining the dimensions of sustainability addressed to aid comparison of the instruments analyzed scales (grades) were assigned to measure the elements making up each dimension • 0 = no guideline/strategy in the instrument addressed the element of analysis; • 1 = the element of analysis was addressed in a minimal and/or superficial way; • 2 = the element of analysis was addressed partially or not satisfactorily; • 3 = the element of analysis was addressed in depth provided the basis of a comparative and relativized analysis of the cases addressed The results obtained for each dimension were systematized into a matrix The general grades assigned are based on the overall average of the elements analyzed This average will be presented in a comparative Wheel Chart graph in the ensuing section Figure 6 depicts a comparative Wheel Chart graph of all the instruments analyzed according to the criteria and scales detailed in the previous item Although the legislation provides for some elements of the sustainability dimensions there are still a series of shortcomings in promoting the construction of more just sustainable cities some elements actually induce the processes of sprawl Comparative wheel chart graph illustrating instruments analyzed and degree to which they address each sustainability dimension Although the legislation cites the concept of “sustainability,” this concept should be addressed in an integrated way allowing it to permeate several dimensions of urban and environmental policy and more effectively address today's dynamics and complexities The Political and Territorial dimensions attained the lowest overall averages among the instruments This was due to the fact that they did not consider issues related to the representativeness of different social groups in the process of planning and management of the territories and the strengthening of local communities Other shortcomings included a lack of guidelines aimed at containing the sprawl of the urban area active mobility and the integration of both environmental and historical heritage The socioeconomic dimension was better developed in the Mairiporã and Franco da Rocha plans both addressing a series of elements in favor of local economic development and dealing with the social vulnerabilities present in the cities Franco da Rocha stood out for emphasizing education at different levels (primary vocational and higher education) in its plan failed to meaningfully address the issue of higher education or tackling social vulnerability The Specific Law did not address elements related to education and social vulnerability The elements of the Environmental dimension were especially in the case of the Specific Law and Caieiras Master Plan The most neglected aspect in the analysis in all cases was the intention of closing the water and food cycles at local and regional levels; this issue did not feature in any of the instruments the results reveal the limits and advances of the urban and environmental instruments analyzed especially the Master Plans and the Specific Law for Protection and Recovery of Springs We pose questions about paths for a planning process favoring the sustainability of the region in its multiple dimensions Is it possible to devise a planning process that reconciles local community needs and the preservation of a territory rich in environmental and historical heritage What is the vision of “sustainability” addressed by the instruments The Political Dimension was less prominent in all cases especially for aspects related to the representation of different groups of society in the planning process and management of territories Although the legislation analyzed cites population participation in the planning process in accordance with the precepts established by the Federal Constitution of 1988 and by the City Statute this issue remains a major challenge for the cities assessed Multicultural representation featured only superficially in the instruments analyzed This reveals a certain weakness of the legislation in promoting the strengthening and valuing of the local community in building a solid and aware community capable of valuing the local territorial and environmental heritage and promoting its self-sustainability It is important to emphasize that the weakening of the political dimension systematically jeopardizes the commitment and effectiveness of the other dimensions of sustainability since society's participation and engagement are central elements to implementing a more sustainable development model How can sustainable territories be built without the effective participation and engagement of local communities Despite the weakness of the political dimension some strategies present in the plans—albeit incipient—seem to indicate the beginning of a process of valuing this dimension Mairiporã's Master plan establishes procedures that promote the valuing of local community and territorial goals recognizing the need to strengthen the economic bases identified as a city goal Another example is the Franco da Rocha Master Plan that outlines the importance of creating a municipal memory and cultural identity and appropriation of public spaces by residents Specific Law 15.790/2015 was the legislation which best addressed the environmental issue among all the other legislations analyzed The Law provides for the creation of several areas for preservation and valuing of the scenic-landscape attributes of the region and areas for environmental recovery and protection Several strategies stand out in the Specific Law and advisory programs for the ecological management of the land sustainable use of agriculture and non-impacting rural activities in Low-Density Sub-Areas (SBD) and the reduction of the effects of diffuse pollution: use of appropriate agricultural management practices prioritizing organic agriculture and bans on the use of biocides Mairiporã stands out among the Municipal Plans by addressing local agriculture which is not destined only to a small portion of the territory The Mairiporã Master Plan states the importance of reviving local agricultural farming and creating stimulus programs for sustainable agricultural activities offering technical support to local producers so that they can adequately manage the land the Inter-Municipal Consortium of Municipalities of the Juquery Basin (CIMBAJU) played a key role in incorporating urban-environmental planning strategies on the sub-basin scale Caieiras and Franco da Rocha's plans include the implementation of a linear park along the embankments of the Linha 7 Rubi railroad the city of Caieiras furthered this with a system of parks and green areas that permeates the whole municipal territory connecting large environmental preservation areas the Cajamar Environmental Protection Area and the Environmental Protection Area of the Cantareira system None of the instruments analyzed addressed the closing of the water solid waste and food cycles at local and regional levels consistent with the precepts of the Brazilian legal framework the scope of the instruments included the universal provision of basic sanitation the creation of environmental education programs and actions for preservation ecological recuperation had not yet been made compatible with the Specific Law all recognized the importance of the water catchment areas' metropolitan nature and defined protection strategies for them the defining of areas of regional importance under the State Water Resources Policy led to the creation of preservation strategies for these areas the cities still have an extractive vision for the areas not yet occupied and unprotected by Law actions concerning the territory were more linked to environmental and urban aspects and failed to address socioeconomic and political issues A development perspective based on traditional industries highways and urban sprawl predominated in the Master Plans The highway model still plays a central role in the territorial planning strategies concerning municipal and regional transport Road widening and plans for new highways and viaducts were common to the detriment of encouraging quality public transportation among other modes with less environmental impact pedestrian walkways) was addressed only in the Caieiras and Franco da Rocha Plans An advance is a fact that all the Master Plans cite the importance of integrating (in terms of fares and physically) of metropolitan transportation proposing articulations with the State Government and transportation companies This is a central point for improving public transport in the São Paulo Metropolitan Region since there is fare integration is only available for trains and buses which come under State Government jurisdiction with no integration for municipal transportation This issue makes it more expensive and difficult for the population to access public transport Mosaic of municipal Zoning of Mairiporã Data source: municipal authority of cities of Mairiporã It can be noted that Caieiras and Franco da Rocha consider the eastern region (toward Cajamar) as an urban expansion vector It should be highlighted that the Caieiras Master Plan establishes a Special Zone of Metropolitan Interest (ZEIM 1 and 2) for this region in which a forestry area is currently located The plan defines this area for high and medium population density residential use or structuring projects of metropolitan scope and interest There is a project commissioned by the Companhia de Concessões de Rodovias (CCR) to build the New São Paulo Airport in this area With regard to the socioeconomic dimension the strategies adopted did not focus on the sustainable development of the region or on a vision of economic self-sustainability that considers regional aspects or activities potentially appropriate for a water-producing region with a historical and environmental heritage of great importance The Franco da Rocha and Caieiras Plans present employment and income generation strategies centered on industrial development (potentially polluting or otherwise) attributing to the cities the same vision and strategy of economic “development” implemented in other areas of the Metropolitan Region with no emphasis on low-carbon and ecological the cities promoted strategies aimed at local development and valuing of the environmental heritage only in Spring areas; ecological processes were not an integral part of the city planning The case of Caieiras exemplifies this issue by encouraging sustainable tourism activities as an alternative to economic development that generates employment and income only in a small part of the city consisting of the water springs area protected by State law Other areas endowed with significant natural remnants are destined for industrial development The Mairiporã Master Plan is noteworthy for containing economic guidelines focused on the territory's environmental goals the implementation of low impact and high added value industries sustainable agricultural activities and cooperatives as forms of employment and income generation Regarding the aspects related to education all the plans analyzed cited the implementation of new school units to meet municipal demand and the creation of technical schools only Franco da Rocha outlined the implementation of a University Campus for Higher Education which was not mentioned as a priority for the other cities Regarding the strategies aimed at precarious settlements slums and areas with high social vulnerability the Master Plans and Specific Law emphasized the importance of ensuring the social function of property and decent housing and promoting land regularization and removal of the population from high risk areas and basic sanitation the Master Plan of Mairiporã adopts the neighborhood or census sector scale as the territorial unit of reference for the implementation of social welfare policies the plan includes the promotion of self-defense practices and environmental education for risk management The urban and environmental instruments analyzed in this article focus on a complex territory that is home to critical natural remnants and protected areas while marked by profound social and economic asymmetries and pressured by different demands and actors The analysis shed light on the advances and challenges of integrating urban and environmental policies Application of the methodology showed that although the Municipal and State Urban Policy touches on the dimensions of sustainability there are still many flawed and superficial approaches The main shortcomings that appeared recurrently in the instruments are described below Although the State Policy framework stipulates compatibility of municipal Master Plans with the Specific Law for Protection and Recovery of Springs this proved not to be the case for the plans analyzed This process is not address in an integrated way and the timing of the legislations differs the smaller cities often do not have technical experts available to carry out the compatibility process with the competent state organ This lack of compatibility creates a series of obstacles for the cities which depend on the state agency for environmental licensing involving a series of extensive and bureaucratic processes that coupled with the lack of inspection in these areas often leads to a devaluing of the importance of watershed areas and irregular occupation of these areas The public policies designed for these essential natural remnants should yield benefits for the population in different spheres it is necessary to carefully examine the territory considering its features and particularities The State and Cites must work together to safeguard the preservation of areas that provide important environmental services and have a systemic impact on a network of cities connected in different dimensions there is a pressing need for convergences and synergies regarding natural resource sustainability and sustainable development of the region analyzed a vision of development based on industries highways and urban sprawl prevailed in the Master Plans The Plans reaffirm the logic of the fragmented constantly expanding city organized to support economic activities The cities analyzed must radically change this vision of planning and devise strategies that prevent urban sprawl and promote reorganization of existing built areas reduction of movement of people and goods and incentives for local consumption Establishing a planning process based on an integrated vision aimed at sustainability calls for multidisciplinary efforts and a cultural shift which is at the same time complex and involves multiple authors The region's problems must be tackled and the value of its environmental potential and local communities appreciated incorporating the various dimensions of sustainability in its territorial management from a systemic vision of integrated planning embracing urban and environmental aspects at municipal and regional levels it is argued here that the construction of sustainable territories requires a systemic vision that considers not only environmental aspects but also social sustainability is still regarded as a sectoral as if the preservation and recuperation of a small proportion of natural remnants were enough to construct “sustainable cities.” Effective participation of different actors and environmental awareness of the structural changes needed to build fairer and more sustainable cities are lacking Without the construction of a solid and aware local community it is impossible to value the local heritage with access to education and job opportunities or to promote the construction of sustainable territories incentives in different areas are necessary to reduce pollutant emissions and food cycles at local and regional levels The analysis presented sought to discuss how the Specific Law for Preservation and Recovery of Springs—Alto Juquery (APRM-AJ) and the Master Plans of the cities within a section of the Juqueri-Cantareira sub-basin have proposed actions and guidelines for sustainable development of this region in the formulation of their respective legislation The results show that the vision of “sustainability” contained in the urban and environmental instruments analyzed has a sectoral perspective and fails to address its various dimensions in urban and environmental policies the political and territorial dimensions were overlooked in the scope of the instruments the construction of a participative process of effective planning and management prevails The vision of city production focused on land consumption that prioritizes the economic dimension to the detriment of social and environmental aspects Citing the environmental protection of a small portion of natural remnants does not mean building sustainable cities Clear strategies are needed that do not focus solely on the recovery and/or protection of a particular area territorial and political aspects into the planning process based on citizenship principles Cities and State government should embrace sustainability incorporating its multiple dimensions into territorial management adopting a systemic vision of integrated planning that involves urban and environmental aspects and municipal and regional levels Sustainable and innovative alternatives should be explored for the region to promote sustainable territories capable of providing employment and income generation and a balanced environment for this region and for future generations ALM and AA conceptualized the study and performed the data analysis presented in the paper The manuscript was written by ALM and reviewed by AA Both authors were involved in collecting data and discussing the results and methods presented in the manuscript The work was funded by CAPES-PROEX (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—Programa de Excelência Acadêmica) Processo no and CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico) Process 23038.009799/2019-96 CAPES/PROEX The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest The authors are grateful to the colleagues from the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism of Mackenzie Presbyterian University for all the exchange of knowledge and experience especially the research group Projects for the Urbanization of Precarious Settlements and Environmental Protection Areas: the Dimensions of Sustainability Thanks are also extended to the following bodies and professionals who contributed to the development of this work: Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES) Secretariat of the Environment of the municipalities of Caieiras and Mairiporã Secretariat of Infrastructure and Environment of the State of São Paulo 1. ^Master's dissertation authored by Andresa Lêdo Marques under the supervision of Prof Angélica Benatti Alvim entitled “Franjas metropolitanas e as dimensões da sustentabilidade: o caso da sub-bacia Juqueri-Cantareira da Região Metropolitana de São Paulo.” “Justiça Ambiental: ação coletiva e estratégias argumentativas,” in Justiça Ambiental e Cidadania José Augusto (Rio de Janeiro: Relume Dumará; Fundação Ford) Acselrad, H. (2007). Vigiar e unir: a agenda da sustentabilidade urbana? Revista VeraCidade 2, 1–11. Available online at: http://anais.anpur.org.br/index.php/anaisenanpur/article/view/624/611 (accessed February 01 Assentamentos precários em áreas vulneráveis na Região Metropolitana de São Paulo: as dimensões da sustentabilidade nas intervenções para urbanização São Paulo: Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie A contribuição do Comitê do Alto do Tietê à gestão da bacia metropolitana entre 1994 e 2001 Tese de Doutorado em Estruturas Ambientais e Urbanas pela Faculdade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo da Universidade de São Paulo Google Scholar Google Scholar A urgência das águas: intervenções urbanas em Áreas de Mananciais CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Indicadores de sustentabilidade: uma análise comparativa Google Scholar Caieiras (2012). Lei Complementar n° 4538 DE 23 DE MARÇO DE 2012. Available online at: https://leismunicipais.com.br/plano-diretor-caieiras-sp (accessed February 01 Google Scholar Urbanismo sustentável: desenho urbano com a natureza Franco Da Rocha (2007). Lei Complementar 618/2007. Available online at: http://www.francodarocha.sp.gov.br/franco/servico/leipdf/7081 (accessed February 01 Franco Da Rocha (2015). Lei Complementar 244/2015. Available online at: http://www.francodarocha.sp.gov.br/franco/servico/leipdf/7270 (accessed February 01 Fundação Seade (2013). Índice Paulista de Vulnerabilidade Social. São Paulo: Fundação Seade. Available online at: http://ipvs.seade.gov.br/view/index.php (accessed July 1 IBGE (2010). Censo Demográfico 2010. Available online at: https://www.ibge.gov.br/geociencias/downloads-geociencias.html (accessed February 01 Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas do Estado de São Paulo (2008) Plano de Desenvolvimento e Proteção Ambiental da Sub-bacia do Juquery-Cantareira São Paulo: Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas do Estado de São Paulo “Territorial heritage: a genetic code for sustainable development,” in Possible Urban Worlds: Urban Strategies at the End of the 20th Century El proyecto local: hacia uma conciencia del lugar (1a ed España: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya Google Scholar Mairiporã (2006). LEI COMPLEMENTAR N° 297/2006. Available online at: https://leismunicipais.com.br/plano-diretor-mairipora-sp (accessed February 01 Marques, A. L. (2019). Franjas metropolitanas e as dimensões da sustentabilidade: o caso da sub-bacia Juqueri-Cantareira da região metropolitana de São Paulo (dissertation/master). Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, São Paulo (SP), Mestrado, Brazil: Available online at: http://tede.mackenzie.br/jspui/handle/tede/4079 Google Scholar Interfaces da Gestão dos Recursos Hídricos: Desafios da Lei deÁguas Caminhos para o desenvolvimento sustentável Google Scholar São paulo (1997). Lei n° 9.866, de 28 de novembro de 1997. Available online at: https://www.al.sp.gov.br/repositorio/legislacao/lei/1997/lei-9866-28.11.1997.html (accessed February 01 O rio como paisagem – gestão de corredores fluviais no quadro do ordenamento do território Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian UN Habitat (2016). Urbanization and Development: Emerging Futures. Available online at: http://wcr.unhabitat.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/WCR-2016-Full-Report.pdf (accessed March 01 Google Scholar Citation: Marques AL and Alvim ATB (2021) Construction of Sustainable Territories and the Multiple Dimensions of Sustainability: An Assessment of Urban and Environmental Instruments in the Juqueri-Cantareira Sub-basin of the São Paulo Metropolitan Region Received: 22 February 2021; Accepted: 13 April 2021; Published: 20 May 2021 Copyright © 2021 Marques and Alvim. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited in accordance with accepted academic practice distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms *Correspondence: Andresa Ledo Marques, YW5kcmVzYS5sZWRvQGhvdG1haWwuY29t Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. 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Five fatalities were reported in Várzea Paulista after a landslide destroyed a house Three people died in similar circumstances in Embu das Artes in Greater São Paulo Other rain-related fatalities were reported in Arujá (1) Authorities said around 500 families were displaced as a result of landslides and flooding Many of the fatalities occurred after landslides caused houses to collapse Heavy rain also caused severe flooding in Caieiras Jaú and Franco da Rocha where the Juqueri river overflowed Barueri 107.8 mm and Marilia 95.8 mm according to Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia (INUMET) figures State Governor João Doria flew over affected areas of Francisco Morato He announced the allocation of R$ 15 million (2.8 million USD) to affected municipalities of Arujá Embu das Artes and Franco da Rocha in the São Paulo Metropolitan Region Montemor and Rafard will also receive relief funds Richard Davies is the founder of floodlist.com and reports on flooding news Cookies | Privacy | Contacts © Copyright 2025 FloodList MethodologyContact usSupportLogin After concluding massive investments in virgin paper production in recent years is moving forward with its strategy to increase paper integration in 2023 the company concluded the first stage of a 188-million-Reais ($35.7-million) investment at its Horizonte packaging unit in Ceará state installing a new corrugator that will raise capacity there to 100,000 tonnes of corrugated board packaging per year This investment is part of a strategy to continually increase paper integration in Klabin’s processes when more kraftliner becomes available He noted that the strategy began with the start-up of its paper machine (PM) No27 in 2021; that PM has capacity to produce 450,000 tpy of kraftliner paper “We did not have paper availability to grow in integration we were able to parallelly approve growth in boxes,” Dalmasi said Klabin acquired the operations of International Paper in Brazil increasing their packaging market share from 17% to 23% But the company still had to invest in conversion operations to meet demand from the packaging market “We needed to follow the growth of this market the company approved a 340-million-Reais plan to debottleneck conversion units across Brazil; the special projects include the acquisition of printers a bags production line and die cut equipment The company is also making disbursements in the cities of Betim bringing a lot of technology for printing and conversion the new seven-color printer with varnish brings a breakthrough technology for the northeastern region serving clients in the fruit market with more sophisticated products,” Dalmasi said target sectors that post higher growth rates compared with market segments located in the rest of Brazil Our regional strength in packaging combined with a growing fruit sector is very positive We expect fruits exports to grow between 5-10% this year Klabin is increasing its packaging capacity to 300,000 tpy from 220,000 tpy the company now has 1.2 million tpy of packaging capacity Klabin is investing to increase its capacity by 100 million bags per year to reach 1.4 billion bags annually “The new bags line [in Lages] is the second in the world of its kind being installed It has a 10-color printer focused on specialties with high added value offering several resources in barriers and food contact,” Dalmasi said Despite a negative business environment for corrugated packaging and containerboard in the international markets Dalmasi said that Klabin’s outlook for the year remains good “We don’t think we will see something very different to what happened in January and February in the Brazilian market We should see the domestic corrugated packaging market growing by 1-2% this year the products that Brazil exports are very competitive so I don’t believe in a dramatic drop in Brazilian exports,” he said Klabin has been taking advantage of its production flexibility since last year to continue posting good results “We are using more paper that was being exported in packaging; we have hibernated our recycled paper units of Franco da Rocha and Paulinia the latter which will resume production at some point We are adding more virgin paper to our products,” Dalmasi said explaining that quality increased a lot while costs decreased due to the products having a lower basis weight Dalmasi said he does not expect prices to drop even if demand weakens because cost inflation continues to affect producers Our expectation is to keep following the inflation rate have dropped but remain above pre-pandemic levels the company has maintained production at full capacity we will continue with our entire capacity occupied,” Dalmasi said “Cement demand reduced earlier this year due to the heavy rain season and high interest rates in Brazil but all other markets including exports are performing well substituting other materials such as plastic and raffia in the food market.” This article was first published in PPI Latin America, the industry’s most trusted pulp and paper market news and prices for Latin America. Speak to our team to find out more about our news and analysis products Learn how to monitor packaging prices using cost and price indices and understand the underlying cost drivers The Ministerio Evangelico Comunidade Rhema church in the city of Franco da Rocha has refused to cease practices that authorities have alleged amount to forced labor the national coordinator for prosecutors who work on combatting modern-day slavery in Brazil "This action aims to make these practices stop of children," von Zuben told The Associated Press after the closed hearing Brazilian authorities opened multiple investigations after the AP reported in July that leaders of Word of Faith Fellowship — based in rural Spindale North Carolina — created a pipeline of young Brazilian congregants who told of being taken to the U.S Wednesday was the first time that former church members who have said they were mistreated were able to face off in court with local pastors Solange da Silva Granieri Oliveira and Juarez de Souza Oliveira who also are named in the labor prosecutors' suit "It's a pleasure for me to watch justice being done," said Flavio Correa a longtime member who left the church in 2016 complaining of abusive practices Both pastors and their lawyers declined to speak with the AP after the hearing but investigators have said the church leaders have denied any wrongdoing the judge ordered that documents that had been under seal be made available to the defense The judge then scheduled another hearing for July Word of Faith Fellowship is a secretive evangelical sect founded in 1979 by Jane Whaley it has grown to a congregation of nearly 750 people in rural North Carolina with hundreds more followers extending to Brazil Dozens of former congregants in both the U.S and Brazil have told the AP that Whaley rules all the branches with an iron fist and that church members — including children — are regularly attacked verbally and physically in an effort to "purify" sinners In the suit filed March 1 in a labor court in Sao Paulo state prosecutors cited testimony that contained harrowing details of a wide range of alleged abuses within the Rhema church including how long the marks from a beating with a ruler were evident on a child's body Children and adults alike said they were worked to the point of exhaustion and feared punishment social isolation or separation from their families if they resisted Brazil — which once was the world's largest slave market — has increasingly cracked down on labor practices it deems to be tantamount to slavery In addition to asking a judge to shut down the church and school the prosecutors want the church to pay a fine of at least $153,000 to a workers' compensation fund and at least $15,000 to each identified victim who says he was physically and emotionally abused while he attended the church-run school waited for his mother outside Wednesday's hearing "I suffered a lot and I don't want other people to go through this," the 15-year-old said adding that he thought closing the school would help other children "They're in there and they don't have the courage to leave." 17 (UPI) -- Corrections officials in Brazil said prison guards intercepted a pigeon attempting to deliver a cellphone to inmates inside the facility The guards intercepted the bird and discovered the vest contained a cellphone and battery Costa Rica's Ministry of Justice and Peace detailed a similar incident in August 2015 involving a pigeon found wearing a pouch filled with marijuana and cocaine at the La Reforma prison While many regions of the world are grappling with climate change-induced droughts, heatwaves, and wildfires, others are dealing with the opposite. Thousands of families in Brazil have been displaced, and entire neighborhoods have been completely destroyed, after torrential rain caused the southeast state of São Paulo to flood. As a result, Brazil is now facing severe landslides which are affecting the lives of so many innocent people right now ”(I’m looking for) my nephew, his wife and a 2-year-old child,” a 54-year-old resident of Franco da Rocha named Cicero Pereira told AP News in a neighborhood that was completely ravaged by falling debris “They said the bodies are still there under the mud but until now they couldn’t recover them.” described his chilling near-death experience via AP News the debris fell all over me,” Bonfirm explained Keep reading for more details on this natural disaster and for additional information on landslides January was a difficult month for Brazil, to say the least. Torrential rains had been flooding the state of São Paulo for several weeks, which ultimately triggered life-threatening floods and even landslides. Falling debris destroyed countless homes and displaced upwards of 1,546 families according to information from the State Civil Defense that was given to CNN and at least eight of those reported dead were unfortunately children and civil defense personnel are helping those affected and are still being uncovered from the debris 15 million reais (equal to about $2.8 million USD) are going towards helping the top 10 most affected municipalities "(The funds) may be used to repair chronic urban problems in the municipalities that generate inconveniences such as flooding points and landslides," a statement from São Paulo Governor João Doria read as the slope is slick with very little live vegetation issues like these will likely become increasingly prevalent Green Matters’ new book, Green Living, is the perfect guide to living an eco-friendly lifestyle for people at every stage of the process. You can order Green Living here Brazil Wildfires: Where They Are, What's Causing Them, and More Brazil's President Bolsonaro Pledges to End Deforestation — Then Cuts Environmental Budget The Southwest Pacific Ocean Is Enduring the Wrath of the "Southern Blob" Link to XLink to InstagramContact us by EmailOpt-out of personalized ads People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website Offers may be subject to change without notice Authorities in the Brazilian state of São Paulo say at least 36 people have been killed in heavy flooding and landslides forcing some cities to cancel annual Carnival celebrations flooded motorways and debris left after houses were swept away Rescue teams have been struggling to reach survivors and unblock roads More than 600mm (23.6 inches) of rain fell in some areas on Sunday “Search and rescue teams are not managing to get to several places; it is a chaotic situation,” said Felipe Augusto the mayor of the hard-hit town of São Sebastião “We have not yet gauged the scale of the damage We are trying to rescue the victims.” Dozens were missing in the town and about 50 houses had collapsed and washed away saying that the situation remained “extremely critical” The state government reported at least 35 deaths in São Sebastião and the mayor of Ubatuba Hundreds have been displaced and evacuated we are going to have many more deaths,” a civil defence official told newspaper Folha de São Paulo officials say another 228 people have been left homeless with 338 more evacuated from coastal regions north of São Paulo A 180-day state of calamity was declared in six towns in the state: São Sebastião State Governor Tarcísio de Freitas said he had released the equivalent of $1.5m (£1.2m) in funding to aid in disaster relief Carnival events were cancelled across the northern coastline which is a popular destination for wealthy tourists looking to avoid huge streetside festivities in the big cities some of the hardest hit and now under state of calamity canceled their Carnival festivities as rescue teams struggle to find missing The festival usually lasts for five days in the run-up to the Christian festival of Lent and the colourful celebrations are synonymous with Brazil Latin America’s largest port in Santos was also shut as wind speeds exceeded 55km/h (34mph) and waves rose to over a metre President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva who was spending the carnival weekend in the north-eastern state of Bahia said he would visit the affected areas on Monday he sent his condolences to those who had lost loved ones and promised to bring authorities together to provide healthcare and rescue teams “We are going to bring together all levels of government and power connections and telecommunications in the region,” Mr da Silva wrote threatening to make conditions even worse for emergency teams Extreme weather events such as the floods are expected to become more common as the impacts of climate change took hold torrential rain in the south-eastern city of Petropolis killed more than 230 people © 2022 St Kitts Nevis Observer / Nevis Printing Ltd Newspaper Theme by tagDiv | All rights reserved The TimesLandslides and flooding from heavy rains in the state of Sao Paulo have killed at least 19 people since Friday and more than 500 families have been left homeless or displaced Public safety officials announced relief measures after rivers overflowed swamping the state’s interior yesterday afternoon Three of the deaths involved people who were swept away by floodwaters Among the dead was a four-year-old girl who was killed along with her sibling after their house was struck by a landslide in the city of Embu das Artes Nine people were injured and four were reported missing in the rains Firefighters and residents search for victims near houses destroyed by a landslide in Franco da RochaORLANDO JUNIOR/APAfter flying over affected areas At least 40 people have been killed in flooding and landslides in Brazil’s São Paulo state, officials say. Dozens of people are missing and while the number of dead is expected to rise, rescue workers say they hope to pull some of those trapped in flooded homes out of the mud alive. Video showed neighbourhoods under water, inundated motorways and debris left after houses were swept away. Carnival celebrations have been cancelled in a number of cities. In the coastal town of São Sebastião, 627mm of rain fell in 24 hours, twice the expected amount for the month. The town’s mayor, Felipe August, said the situation there was chaotic: “We have not yet gauged the scale of the damage. We are trying to rescue the victims.” Some 50 houses had collapsed and were washed away, Mr Augusto added, saying that the situation remained “extremely critical”. The state government reported at least 35 deaths in São Sebastião and in Ubatuba, some 80km (50 miles) north-east, a seven-year-old girl was killed when a boulder weighing two tonnes hit her home. Hundreds have been displaced and evacuated. “Unfortunately, we are going to have many more deaths,” a civil defence official told newspaper Folha de São Paulo. State Governor Tarcísio de Freitas said he had released the equivalent of $1.5m (£1.2m) in funding to aid in disaster relief. Carnival events were cancelled across parts of the coastline, which is a popular destination for wealthy tourists looking to avoid huge streetside festivities in the big cities. The festival usually lasts for five days in the run-up to the Christian festival of Lent and the colourful celebrations are synonymous with Brazil. Latin America’s largest port in Santos was also shut as wind speeds exceeded 55km/h (34mph) and waves rose to over a metre, local media reported. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who was spending the carnival weekend in the north-eastern state of Bahia, visited the affected areas on Monday. He pledged to support reconstruction but said, “It’s important for people not to build more houses in places that could fall victim to more rains and landslides that claim yet more lives.” In a post on Twitter, he sent his condolences to those who had lost loved ones and promised to bring authorities together to provide healthcare and rescue teams. More heavy rain is expected in the area, threatening to make conditions even worse for emergency teams. Extreme weather events such as the floods are expected to become more common as the impacts of climate change take hold. Last year, torrential rain in the south-eastern city of Petropolis killed more than 230 people. © 2022 St Kitts Nevis Observer / Nevis Printing Ltd. Newspaper Theme by tagDiv | All rights reserved. Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account RIO DE JANEIRO — At least 18 inmates died in clashes in two separate penitentiaries in Brazil’s Amazon region and more than three dozen escaped after a third prison riot caused a large fire in a complex outside Sao Paulo Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience Authorities were investigating a possible connection between the first two uprisings in the jungle states of Rondonia and Roraima Ten prisoners died in the mutiny in Roraima while eight others were killed in a similar riot about 1,300 kilometres away in the penitentiary in Rondonia Roraima’s justice secretary Uziel Castro said at least seven of the bodies were piled up and burned after the Sunday prison mutiny in that state At least two other bodies were found in a different section of the Monte Cristo prison but it wasn’t immediately clear where the tenth was found Castro says at least three of the bodies were beheaded and efforts to identify them have been slow Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The secretary said the clashes erupted between rival crime gangs “Every penitentiary system in Brazil was aware that something was about to happen,” Castro told a news conference But he said authorities were surprised when the riots erupted on a day the prisoners had visitors Officers said Monday that about 50 people who were visiting the penitentiary in Roraima police confirmed that a similar riot killed at least eight inmates in Rondonia state’s capital of Porto Velho in the Santos Pinheiro penitentiary A police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity because the uprising was still under investigation told The Associated Press there was evidence that the riot was started by “the biggest criminal organization of Sao Paulo state.” The organization known as Primeiro Comando da Capital is a powerful Brazilian prison gang that has been expanding into other states and even into Bolivia and Paraguay The motive behind the third prison riot was not immediately clear Sao Paulo’s corrections department said police officers managed to recapture 18 of 55 inmates who had escaped the psychiatric ward Monday evening in Franco da Rocha Broadcaster Globo showed images of flames billowing from the prison complex transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy You can manage saved articles in your account A serial killer who confessed to murdering 14 people over a span of 16 years has been finally captured in Brazil. Renato Teixeira, 35, was taken into custody in Franco de Rocha, São Paulo on Wednesday. During an interrogation at a police station, Teixeira told cops he was only responsible for nine of the murders. But he changed his tune when he was escorted out of the building, telling a Record TV reporter that he was responsible for 14 killings. Authorities describe him as a prostitute who murdered three people he met through online dating apps between 2020 and 2022. It's unknown which sites he visited. He met two male victims in the São Paulo cities of São Bernardo and Santo André and a woman in Pirutuba. Teixeira used the fake name of 'Bruno' when identifying himself on the dating apps and always sought financial favors from his victims. São Bernardo police chief Roberto Krasovic told reporters that Teixeira attacked his love interests with knives or poisoned them whenever they rejected his demands. 'He wouldn't accept a 'no' and persisted in the constant search for new targets, even after committing the crimes,' Krasovic said. Deputy police chief Giuliano Rossi revealed that Teixeira used knives that were up to 15 centimeters long to kill his victims. Sectional police chief Kelly César described him as a psychopath. 'His coldness when describing the crimes, even detailing the type of knife he preferred to use, is astounding,' she said. Police zeroed in on Teixeira following the killing of Mário Marchiani, 60, on December 3, 2022, at a home he rented in São Bernardo. 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