Maquete-lousa: social technology as a tool for a collective construction of territorialities - the case of the popular plan of collective resettlement in Gesteira/ Barra Longa/MG

Abstract

The break of Fundão dam, in 2015, and Feijão Stream dam, in 2019, as well as the evacuation of communities in several regions of Minas Gerais due to the possibility of ruptures of these structures built by the upstream elevation process, has brought to light debates on mineral extraction practice and its impacts that extend beyond mined regions. Among the many consequences of these created disasters, one of them is the expulsion of people from their territories. It is in this context that the Grupo de Estudos e Pesquisas Socioambientais (GEPSA/UFOP) has been acting to contribute to the complete reparation of the affected territories. Among the work developed by the group, the development of social technologies has been an important tool for reparation processes with the purpose of, altogether with the affected people and their technical advisors, collectively build responses to the violations suffered. More specifically, we will present the creation and application of a social technology called “Maquete Lousa” (whiteboardmodel), developed from the cartographic method, within the scope of the Plano Popular do Reassentamento Coletivo de Gesteira, in order to elaborate the preliminary project for the resettlement of people expelled from their territories. Part of the town of Gesteira, in Barra Longa/MG, was completely destroyed by the tailings of Fundão and the reparation processes under Renova Foundation's responsibility have been based on instruments that, besides making the situation of affected people less visible, deepens the violation of their rights to housing and restoration of their ways of life and life projects.