This whole chapter has to be understood as an attempt to outline the holistic approach to be applied on the social affairs of Sitio Joaninha. It can not at all be seen as a static must of measures, but rather as an indication towards the character of social measures to be adopted in order to guarantee the overall success of the ecological development concept.

Without going into details about the historical aspects of Brazilian society in general and the emergence of informal settlements in particular, I think it is important to emphasis on the general social situation of villages like Sitio Joaninha, which came about the desire of the people to find a better life in the cities and leaving the impoverished countryside behind.

Many of the people in Sitio Joaninha did actually find a better life. There has been work on the landfill and also in the industry, farms and households of the rich in the metropolitan region of Sao Paulo. Although, money is earned, spending is big in the cities and the desire to have more than one can afford is promoted widely. As an outcome of this un-healthy process, social unrest became a common phenomenon in the big Brazilian cities and often results in brutal crime and the raise of misery.

The below tables will give an idea about the skills and financial situation of the people of Sitio Joaninha. The salary calculations in Brazil are based on a minimum salary, which was recently (03/03) raised to 240 R$. This is equivalent to 73,17 € or 81,08 US$ (02/05/03).

 
Source: research of Prefeitura do Municipio de Diadema, July 2001

 
Source: http://www.dieese.org.br/rel/rac/traabr03.html#SAMPA

 
Source: research of Prefeitura do Municipio de Diadema, July 2001

Since the landfill is already closed and the pigsties will be so by the end of 2003, for many the only chance to earn a living will then be by commuting to where the work is. Local authorities would have to supply more busses, more Diesel will be burned and the already bad air of greater Sao Paulo would worsen. Time would unnecessarily be wasted and the long rides in overcrowded busses will put extra strain on the people of Sítio Joaninha.

Similarly, to the attitude I apply to water and nutrients, I am going to show the possibilities of Sítio Joaninha, which would allow many of its people to earn their living in the village. Without the need to travel and to spend valuable recourses, work can be created and processes, which promote social responsibility, can be initiated.

 Source: http://www.jornaldomeioambiente.com.br/banco_imagens/imagens_marcio/04.JPG

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