It’s already clear that the calamity that is plaguing the state of Rio Grande do Sul is the effect of climate change. In the last year alone, there were four episodes of extreme rain that hit the region, confirming scientists’ predictions about the effects of global warming.
Extreme events, increasingly frequent throughout Brazil, with historic droughts or floods, are directly related to deforestation caused by predatory agribusiness and the increase in greenhouse gas emissions.
In 2020, agriculture was responsible for more than half of the 84.3 million tons of CO2 emitted in Rio Grande do Sul. In Brazil, this ratio was around 27%.
Every initiative that aims to help victims is important. But many of those now mobilizing for donations contributed to the disaster, refusing to acknowledge the role of environmental destruction in climate change.
Now, however, even those who historically denied the effects of man on the climate have been affected. More than half of the municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul are inundated by floods. It is estimated that more than 100,000 people are homeless, and the number is expected to be much higher. At least 75 people have already died.
To help without getting ripped off, we selected serious initiatives to immediately support victims of the floods in Rio Grande do Sul. Important: this is a post that is constantly updated.
How to donate food and personal hygiene products
All over Brazil:
From May 6th, post offices in the states of São Paulo, Paraná and part of the units in Rio Grande do Sul will receive donations of food from the basic basket, personal hygiene products and clothes. Transport of items will be free of charge.
Federal Highway Police units are also receiving donations, mainly of warm clothing, bedding, basic food baskets and hygiene and cleaning kits.
In Sao Paulo:
USP, Unesp, Unicamp, the Hospital das Clínicas of the Faculty of Medicine of USP and the Foundation to Support the University of São Paulo are collecting drinking water and cleaning supplies. The material will be collected until May 8th and then sent to the Civil Defense of the State of São Paulo, which will take the products to Rio Grande do Sul.
On the USP campus in Butantã, donations can be made at any time in the USP/Ipen Incubator warehouse, close to the University Hospital, on Avenida Professor Ernesto de Moraes Leme, nº 40.
It is also possible to donate using the following pix key: [email protected].
In Porto Alegre:
The State Civil Defense Logistics Center has been the main location for donations. In the city of Lajeado, in the Taquari Valley, volunteers and Civil Defense employees are at the headquarters of Esporte Clube União Campestre collecting mainly cleaning materials, ready-made food and water.
The Grêmio has four points to receive donations of soap, soap, towels, alcohol, sponges, diapers, sanitary pads, toothpaste and toothbrushes, drinking water, plastic cups, as well as single mattresses, sheets and pillows. Products can be delivered:
- At the Olympic Stadium, at Largo Patrono Fernando Kroeff, number 1, from 9am to 6pm.
- At the women’s training center in Canoas, at Av. Farroupilha, 8001, from 7am to 9:30pm.
- At the Cristal training center, in front of Barra Shopping, in Porto Alegre, from 9am to 6pm.
- At Hotel do Grêmio, in Porto Alegre, which will receive donations 24 hours a day.
It is also possible to donate to medical organizations. The Rio Grande do Sul Medical Association is accepting donations via drive-thru system at Avenida Ipiranga, 5.311, Partenon neighborhood, from 9am to 6pm. The Rio Grande do Sul Medical Union has a collection point at Rua Corte Real, 915, in the Petrópolis neighborhood, 24 hours a day. The Regional Council of Medicine of the State of Rio Grande do Sul also collects donations at Rua Bernardo Pires, 415, in the Santana neighborhood, from 9 am to 7 pm.
How to donate money
The state government, Porto Alegre city hall, the Rio Grande Sul Public Ministry and the state Public Ministry Association also announced PIX keys for donations. The amount raised will be used for humanitarian support for flood victims and the reconstruction of the cities’ infrastructure. The CNPJ are:
- Government of Rio Grande do Sul: 92.958.800/0001-38
- Porto Alegre City Hall: 92.963.560/0001-60
- Public Ministry of Rio Grande Sul: 25.404.730/0001-89
- Public Ministry Association of Rio Grande do Sul: 87.027.595/0001-57
International donations must be made via the current account code (IBAN: BR48 0036 0305 0282 2000 0713 361C 1; name/business name: Municipality of Porto Alegre; CPF/CNPJ: 92.963.560/0001-60; account: 2822 0006 000000071336- 1; swift code: CEFXBRSP).
The Rio Grande do Sul Judges Association also launched a solidarity campaign to purchase food and clothing. Donations can be made using the Pix key: de54af32-c5c3-48fe-b2ae-378b2559648e.
Popular movements
Since May 3, the Movement of People Affected by Dams, the Homeless Workers Movement and the Popular Youth Uprising have set up solidarity kitchens and are distributing lunch boxes to those affected by the floods.
The objective is to have at least 10 solidarity kitchens in three affected areas that are isolated and without land access: five in Vale do Taquari, four in lower Jacuí and one in Azenha.
PIX of popular movements: 73.316.457/0001-83
PIX of Levante Popular (Mariana): 51999726020.
Donation account:
Bank of Brazil
Current account: 118806-2
Agency 1230-0
Non-profit organizations
The Rio Grande do Sul Food Bank Network is accepting donations via bank deposit or via the official Doe Alimentos website.
Pix: 04.580.781/0001-91
Banco Santander Current account: 13,000,284-4
Agency: 1001
The Southern Citizenship Action, an organization to combat hunger founded by sociologist Herbert de Souza, receives donations via the website or PIX: [email protected].
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