The passage discusses the Great Drought that struck Brazil's Northeast region between 1877 and 1879. The drought was a result of extreme weather events caused by climate phenomena, leading to widespread death and displacement. The affected population was forced to eat anything they could find, leading to a rise in diseases such as smallpox. The drought and smallpox resulted in an estimated 500,000 deaths, more than 10% of the region's population at the time.
The passage also touches on the possibility of such a disaster happening again due to climate change. It mentions that residents of the Northeast have faced other severe droughts in the 1930s and 2001. The passage suggests potential solutions, such as irrigation during droughts for farmers, technology to condense moisture from the atmosphere, and transposition of the São Francisco River to supply water to smaller rivers and reservoirs. The passage concludes by emphasizing the importance of global action on climate change to prevent such tragedies in the future.
1. The text discusses a historical event in Brazil, specifically a great drought that occurred between 1877 and 1879.
2. This drought caused significant deaths, with an estimated 500,000 fatalities.
3. The drought was so severe that it led to mass graves, with corpses collected daily.
4. The children were particularly affected, with their small bodies piled up in bags.
5. The drought was not just a historical event but a climate phenomenon linked to global warming.
6. The most affected region was the Northeast of Brazil, which had a history of droughts.
7. From January to March of 1877, the Northeast did not receive any rain.
8. The drought led to the deaths of crops and livestock, and the disappearance of native forests and wild animals.
9. The drought forced people from the northeastern Sertão to abandon their homes in search of survival.
10. The government's response to the drought was slow and inefficient, leading to further suffering.
11. A highly contagious virus, likely smallpox, spread during the drought, causing further deaths.
12. The drought and smallpox resulted in 500,000 deaths in the Northeast region.
13. The drought was so severe that people resorted to eating poisonous plants, dog meat, reptiles, and even vultures.
14. The drought continued until 1879, resulting in an estimated 500,000 deaths.
15. The drought was one of the worst natural disasters in Brazil's history.
16. The residents of the Northeast have faced other violent droughts in the 1930s and 2001.
17. Climate change is believed to be a contributing factor to these droughts.
18. Possible solutions to mitigate the effects of drought include increasing the number of trees, using rainwater stored from the wettest season, and transposing the São Francisco River.
19. The transposition project began in 2007 and has been ongoing since then.
20. The drought led to a power imbalance, with water resources remaining in the hands of a few powerful individuals.