A Nutty Ban

It's Black Friday, which we celebrated 5 years ago by visiting Rio de Janeiro for a couple weeks.  Rio is one of the world's most unique and beautiful cities for countless reasons.  Incredible beaches lace the city; good food is abundant for all budgets; and the city seems stuck in 1960, with abundant mid-century and retro architecture that other cites would have demolished years ago.  My mood today is black because one of Rio's simple pleasures may soon disappear:  sipping fresh coconuts on one of Rio's beaches--soon to be banned.

 

Rio's top government officials are behind the ban, offering many reasons:  the used coconut shells are "unhygienic," an eyesore, and costly to remove from the city's iconic beaches like Ipanema and Copacabana. 

 

Indeed, these politicos have a point.  One of my memories of visiting Rio was watching the clean up crews work their magic in the early evening, after Rio's residents and visitors turned these perfect white sand beaches into a heinous carpet of garbage.  When we'd visit Ipanema beach early the next morning, the beach was almost spotless . . . only to be filthy again hours later.

 

The solution:  a typical bureaucratic one that leaves you shaking your head.  Beach visitors can still buy coconut milk, but only in cans or bottles.  Many vendors are furious for a good reason.  In a city that has huge disparities between the rich and poor, Rio's beaches are venues where everyone is equal.  Anyone can go for a morning run at Ipanema, kick a football in the afternoon at Copacabana, and meet their friends in Leblon after school or work.  Plus, having a tanned, perfect body doesn't seem to favor an economic class in Rio.  But more importantly, Rio is where many of the city's poor can eke out a living, whether it's selling açai juice, sunscreen, souvenirs, or . . . coconut juice.  And now banning coconuts, only to allow a product in cans or juices, not only raises the price from a few coins to a few dollars, but . . . kicks the poor in the knees while favoring corporations.

 

Rio's actions are predictable.  The city will host World Cup games in 2014 and the Summer Olympics in 2016.  Cities hosting such events always want to spruce up their images and put on a good show for a global audience.  I think, however, that Rio has other problems, such as violent crime, despairing poverty, public works projects that are behind in construction and over budget, and choking traffic.

 

Rio could start with educating its visitors and providing the proper waste recepticles in which the beach goers can pitch their trash.  As for the coconuts, this fruit grows like a weed, is sustainable with a capital S, and gives Rio and its beaches character--not to mention nutrition and hydration.  A more logical solution would be to separate those coconut shells, shred them, and mulch them.

 

So Rio, don't get rid of those coconuts.  If anything, start with the plastic bottles!