Impactos sócio-ambientais no contexto dos grandes projetos de desenvolvimento no Município de Açailândia – MA: luta e resistência dos camponeses do Assentamento João do Vale

Abstract

This study deals with the social and environmental impacts resulting from inherent contradictions development projects under the Greater Carajás Programme which constitutes the mineral-siderúgico sectors and agribusiness in the municipality of Açailândia-MA levied on peasant communities. Currently, the mining company responsible for the dynamics of related activities such as charcoal, steel, eucalyptus monoculture has triggered several processes that make up the reality of the city: environmental pollution, slave labor, peasant expulsion of their plots due to the planting of advance eucalyptus, land concentration, short reconfiguration of the agrarian question and social struggles by peasants and the social movements because of the expansion of capital by transnational corporations whose VALE S.A is the largest expression. The expansionist strategy of mining company centers on a mega infrastructure project such as the doubling of the Carajás-EFC railroad to ensure the reproduction of capital. This venture, has caused negative impacts in areas that are cut by the railway line as in the case of rural settlements and in particular in the Settlement John Valley, among the six settlements located in the New East region. The agrarian conflicts have been increasing by the imposition of the undertaking that is marked by economic, political, ideological field and territory the company VALE S.A in a context in which prevails an industrial hegemonic development project that causes socioeconomic transformations, cultural and political in social fabric. The settlement João Vale inserted into this all is constituted as resistance against the excesses of capital and their costs to the community from the political organization with MST support, Union of Rural Workers-STR's and civil society, engendering their strategies fighting to mitigate the impacts senses.