How can we improve life in shanty towns?

Learning ObjectiveTo consider 5 ways in which we can

improve life in shanty towns.

Sort the problems caused by urban growth and development of shanty towns into social, environmental & economic.

Traffic Congestion as cars/buses/rickshaws/animals all share same roads

Health Problems EG Asthma & Bronchitis caused by pollution

Break up of families

Air pollution/Smog from car fumes and factories

Unemployment as there are few jobs in formal sector.

As shanty towns are built agricultural land/woodland is destroyed.

Underground water supplies being lost.

Poverty

Rural migrants can’t find jobs because they are often illiterate or non-skilled so the informal sector grows.

Wages are low paid and workers are exploited.

Up to 50% of the population live in Shanty towns

Shanty towns are built on poor quality or unsafe land so are prone to flooding/landslides/fires

Shanty towns are illegal

Overcrowding

Poor quality building materials and a lack of basic amenities eg running water/toilets in shanty towns

Sewage on streets leads to water borne disease such as cholera/diarrhoea

Disease spreads quickly because of high density housing.High Infant mortality rates

Malnutrition

Increase in crime

More street children

High birth rates

Water pollution – rivers/seas used as dustbins

What are the impacts of rapid urban growth for Rio?

• Housing pressures (growth of favelas such as Rocinha. 40% live in Favelas)

• Lack of employment means people are looking for other ways to earn money many will work in the informal sector e.g. porters, shoe shiners this is employment for half the city’s work force

• Transport problems – congestion and pollution• Sanitation and Health (sewage, waste disposal, disease)• Problems of energy supply• Increased demand for services (schools and Hospitals)• Social problems (crime, Rio murder capital of world)• Urban sprawl • Shanty towns are built on unstable land of poor

materials– risk of landslides & fires.

Mission Task

• You have 5 minutes at each station to fill in the appropriate information.

• There will be a countdown clock on the board which will signal when its time to move on- keep an eye on this!

countdown

In your books…..

You must look at all the information you have found out and decide what you think is the most important to improving life in shanty towns.

Rank each aspect from 1-5. Explain your choices. 1 is the most important. 5 is the least important.

How do shanty towns develop over time?

• http://www.sln.org.uk/geography/geoweb/blowmedown/shanty05.swf

Example of a Favela: Rocinha

• Rocinha is the largest favela in Brazil. • It is located in the southern zone of the

city.• It is built on a steep hillside overlooking

the city, just one kilometer from the beach.

• It is home to between 60,000 to 150,000 people (though this could be more).

Solutions to problems in Rocinha

What are the sustainable solutions to Housing problems in Rio?

• Rural Development – To reduce rural to urban migration• Increasing policing - to stop new squatter settlement• Raise taxes - on the rich to pay for improving housing for the

poor

Forced evictions of squatter settlements – To clear land for formal development

.

Plenary

• Watch this report on shanty town growth. • Would you live to live here now?

Can life be made better for people in the Shanty Town? DECISION MAKING

• Imagine you are in charge of a two-year plan to improve the life of people. You have 200 shanty town points (STP) to spend in the first year of your plan. You could save your shanty town points up and spend them in the second year if you wish, but you are not allowed to overspend in the first year. You have ten minutes to decide how to spend your first year budget.

• Once, you have done this, mark the improvements you have made on your copy of the map provided. Complete the key as necessary.

• Important: Do not move onto the second year untold you are told to! In the second year, you are told otherwise. Now decide how to spend your second year budget.

Follow up activities

1. What were your priorities and why? 2. Is urban growth sustainable (will

development just encourage more rural-urban migration)?

3. Why is rural development so important? Push / pull factors etc (i.e. Why was there a 400 STP option for improving life in rural areas).

Example of an exam question

• Include a range of examples• Use key terms• Evaluate how the solutions have worked• Use case study specific detail