Taking down the “Beach Favela”

Just recently here in Pipa, the Polícia Ambiental {Environmental Police} took down all the barracas {stands} that sold food, drinks, etc.  in one of the main beaches of Pipa, Praia do Madeiro.  And it set off HYSTERIA!!  

Praia do Madeiro has always been my favorite beach.  Beautiful, big, and one of the less crowded beaches {in terms of vendors}.  It’s also the best beach for laid back surfing, meaning the waves are forgiving and quite chill.  The best beach to learn surfing, if you ask me.  

Three years ago when I arrived it had one main restaurant with a hotel at the top of the cliff, a few barracas selling drinks etc, and one other small restaurant and two surf schools and that was IT.  It was wonderful because you could go and lay in the sand with your sarong on the end of the beach, and not be bothered by numerous people trying to sell their goods.  You also had that choice to lay in the sand and not spend R$20,00 on a beach chair for the day.  I mean really, people that live here don’t have R$20,00 a day to spend on a beach chair rental!!  

But it seems in the last year it has exploded with people.  People coming to the beach and setting up shop to sell their goods and rent their chairs.  Leaving no room for others to lay in peace without renting a chair.  It really started to look like a mini-favela {slum}on the beach.  It was quite unsettling to me and many others whom live here.  It was getting to the point where I didn’t even enjoy going to that beach anymore.  

So, they put a stop to it.  They came in and destroyed all the barracas. As reported on Pipa Tevê  blog {I will translate here}

The barracas were knocked down by Police and Environmental officials, claiming irregular work{people without permits}. People that arrived to the beach this Thursday and today came across this scene:  coolers with frozen items, frying pans, freezers, and cut up pieces of tents strewn across the ground.  

Gradually people climbed the stairs leading to the beach with what could still be used, the only work that remains.

Angry with everything that was happening, officials and owners have seen years of dedication to be destroyed within hours. Neither the oldest and most famous Bar do Jegue remained standing.The owner fell ill and had to leave the site. Some people have complained of violence that has been addressed.

Last Monday vendors were informed that the withdrawal would be made within forty-eight hours, a deadline set by justice. The vendors have always argued the authorization to practice in this place, since the previous administrations, some that were here for eight years.

A Surfing school was also taken down. This is one of the main activities and the great attractions of the beach, that always has a surfer gliding on the waves. The teacher always wanted to get a permit for the school with the current management of the municipality, but even without this, and after all that happened, it will remain working.

In total there were fifteen barracas. Some very traditional and well known in the region. A portion was overturned yesterday afternoon and another this morning. Now the unemployed workers plead for justice.

source: go here for original post and videos{in portuguese only} and photos of the mess 

 In Brazil, they have local laws and permits that people must get in order to set up a barraca on the beach and sell goods.  Of course no one abides by this, and after a period of time they just send in the Environment Police to take order.  I have no doubt that within a month’s time people will start setting up shop again.  As I have seen before on other beaches here.  But it really is sad.  They take over the whole beach.  I have no problem with a few, but 15, come on .. its TOO MUCH!!  

I know what you may be thinking, that I am heartless and not considering the families that are trying to make a living here.  But I see it from a different point of view.  In Pipa, we are lucky.  There are NOT a lack of jobs.  There are a TON of jobs.  For all types of people, even those who may be uneducated.  We are a huge tourist destination, with a large year round international community.  So there are jobs to be had, that pay the normal monthly salary.  I think that people do this because it’s easier.  From what I have seen in Pipa, people are lazy here.  They don’t want to work all day, nor do they want to have set hours.  They want to do as they please.  Come and go as they please.  So I guess that is the risk they take with setting up shop on the beach, potentially losing all of their stuff.  Meh.  It seems like a bit much for me.  I don’t know that I would risk that.  What do you think?  Am I not seeing another perspective?  Am I heartless for thinking this?  I would love to hear others opinions.  

I was searching through the 1,000′s of photos I have, to find a good shot of what Madeiro USE to look like, and for some reason all I could find was ocean shots!!  So I will work on getting more photos for you.  But for now, I will end with one of Malu on Madeiro, you can see just how beautiful the beach really is.  Ohh… and Maluzita too