Drought cancels Carnival in many parts of Southeast Brazil

World Today

Serious drought conditions in Brazil’s southeast have officials calling off Carnival celebrations in around 15 cities.

Brazil’s most famous party, a week-long street festival held around the country in various degrees is an important tradition in Latin America’s largest country. This year the states of Minas Gerais and São Paolo have already canceled all or part of their Carnival festivities because of extreme drought that has managed to last for several years now.
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In the city of São Paulo, official celebrations are set to happen, while in many other smaller towns residents will have to choose if they’ll revel in private. Conserving water is such an important issue through this Carnival season that a campaign to help save the current supply is the slogan of this year’s festivities. The phrase translates to, “No Carnival doesn’t mean economize your happiness, but without water no one is happy.”

The slogan of “No Carnival doesn’t mean economize your happiness, but without water no one is happy.”

The slogan of “No Carnival doesn’t mean economize your happiness, but without water no one is happy.”

Brazil drought affects the iconic Carnival

“Actually, there has been organized a campaign about saving water in different ways in many cities of the country. For example, reduce the bath time, save the rain and use it reasonably, wash the whole family`s clothes together, these are tiny things we can do during the daily life. The government even created a prize for people with the best ideas to save water and has fined those who waste water to remind people to use water reasonably.” Jose Eduardo, Member of the Superior Council of Environment said.

CCTV’s Liao Junhua reported on this story from São Paulo.