[Excluded mountain populations, unsustainable cities: the enigma of public participation]

By highlighting the extreme event of 11-12 January 2011 in the mountain cities of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, an attempt is made to exemplify the triad paradigmatically: contemporary problems / government inability to adapt / low public participation, and highlight the issue with some reflections on the gap between discourse on social participation and its inexistence. The goal is to elicit reflection that generates a polemic regarding the technical nature of the scientific reports produced and thus be able to integrate the overriding question into the set of reflections: How can one plan more resilient locations that are simultaneously socially equitable, have economic vitality, are environmentally compatible and less vulnerable to disasters? The reflections are the result of the analysis of technical and scientific documents.