Day #2


Day #2: Marine Biology and Making SurfBoards
This morning we visited CEBIMar, the Marine Biology Center of the University of Sao Paulo, which is one of the most important universities here in Brazil. This part of the project was originally just for my brother but I realized how this tied into my peace and conflict project. During my visit there in CEBIMar, I learned that they study how the sewage affects plants and animals in the ocean.
Now I could get to understand a more scientific perspective of the consequences of the lack of a basic sewage system. We were given a small tour around the campus and we were shown the equipment they used, the data they gathered and different types of animals that are studied at the campus.  
Later on, I went over to Maresias town square to interview a local activist about his opinions on verticalization, the construction of 200 compact homes and how the lack of a basic sewage system affects the community. When I asked him about the 200 compact houses he said something that I had not thought about. 
He said “There are already 26 families living in areas of risk here in Maresias, we can’t just bring in more people. I would understand if these compact houses were for the people already here in Maresias. In other places, you’ll see how ‘The gangs have taken over the compact houses’ or ‘They just get a cheap house from the government and sell it cause they need the money’, these houses never work out the way they are expected to”. 

The next activity of the day was building SurfBoards out of recycled plastic water bottles. This activity was led by Thiago from Unbottling Minds (Dessengarrafando Mentes). There were several steps for making this surfboard. This was a very detailed process that took years for Thiago to perfect. It was much more work and much harder than I expected.
When we got back home I prepared 6 questions for tomorrow when I will be going to interview the owners of a bed and breakfast and of a hostel.

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