Journals

7/17/07       We are introduced to our first speaker on our stay here in Brazil, as our professor Dr. Chernela informs us there will be many more to come.  Dr. Himundo speaks to us on behalf of the Ministero Publico, or what we would call the Public Ministry in English.  He handles criminal and civil cases, and most recently, environmental issues; holding large corporations accountable for their destructive actions, or I should say, trying to, is the main topic of our discussion.  He informs us that the human resources society within Brazil is not fully ready to defend their interests, and that in addition, the government is plauged by its own conflict of interests: lining their own pockets while watching the green of the amazon turn black, or standing firm behind the pledge in the 1988 Constitution to make conservation an attainable goal for the future.  But, environmental injustice is a far-reaching epidemic in his country.  Mr. Himundo tells us that there are big companies making large sums of money from exploiting the natural resources of Brazil's fertile soil.             The people who are most affected by such exploitation are the same ones who are the most vulnerable - those whose very lifestyle is teetering on the dangerous edge of extinction.  A case study: ALCOA - the largest aluminum company in the world, was granted a permit in 2005 to extract boxide from a site in the state of Para.  Their investment for the project was estimated at 1 billion U.S. dollars spread over 50 years.  As a standard part of its ability to carry out such deeds, it is required to conduct an environmental impact assessment.    After the Ministero Publico conducted their own careful review of ALCOA's so-called assessment, they concluded they had failed to adequately identify the social impact their business would have on the land.          The area they desire to possess for their boxide extraction is the home of some 9,000 individuals living in 60 different communities - indigenous people who rely heavily on the land's natural resources.  This contested area lies on the edge of a lake between two plateaus, an area ALCOA planned to deforest without any considration for the displacement it would cause to the indigenous communities.  Had they researched their plan of destruction they would have known that it was neither economically or socially viable.  Still, the project was authorized by the state of Para, by a person who Mr. Himundo labels as a career politician.  In the most recent election, this same man received a large amount of his financial support from the mining companies.  This is no coincidence he says.        The land and its people still await their fate as federal courts decide whether or not to reject the approval  given by the state.  Fighting on behalf of the once invisible people living on the plentiful land is INCRA. organized to defend their rights.  They now have the ability to question the decisions that are made without them.  This does not mean the process will be fair or just, but merely that the verdict will be disputed.  The opinion of Mr. Himundo's agency is that ALCOA intruded on the land without permission, and has urged the state of Para to re-assess its decision to grant them a liscense.  He, however, admits the corporate entity has powerful government ties and ability to control public opinion.  At its heart, this is not a judicial issue, but a social one; consciousness raising is now necessary.             The president of Brazil has chosen to side with the powerful.  This saddens Mr. Himundo not only because he voted for him, but becuase he realizes the actions his country takes on environmental issues are being veiwed by the rest of the world with increasing interest.  Environmental issues after all, he says, translate into moral issues for mankind.  And so I wonder, why has man abused what he has been given to care for?  Somewhere along the line, he dropped the care and turned into the taker.  But who will step up and take it back?