Justice and Environmental Governance: A Case Study of an African-Brazilian Mining Community

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  • 環境ガバナンスにおける環境正義の問題点――アフリカ系ブラジル人の鉱山コミュニティに対する環境保全と開発支援の事例研究――
  • カンキョウ ガバナンス ニ オケル カンキョウ セイギ ノ モンダイテン : アフリカケイ ブラジルジン ノ コウザン コミュニティ ニ タイスル カンキョウ ホゼン ト カイハツ シエン ノ ジレイ ケンキュウ

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Abstract

<p>This paper attempts to examine the limitations of the legitimacy of environmental governance based on environmental justice.</p><p>In Brazil, environmental disruption is beginning to be managed strictly, although the racial discrimination that began in the colonial era still strongly affects both developmental patterns and environmental conservation policy. Such racial discriminatory policies restrict the access to resources for racial minorities, for example, the Quilombolas who are descendants of African slaves brought to Brazil during the colonial period. Post-colonial racism prevents these groups from participating in economic growth, and leads to them having to accept insufficient benefits either from the developmental system or the environmental conservation system. The consequence is a ‘resources curse’ whereby the uneven exploitation of the country’s rich natural resources results in an unfair distribution of wealth and corruption in politics, which in turn means the poor become poorer.</p><p>In the case study in question, environmental NGOs and the local government, based on their ideas about environmental justice, have attempted to help the Maroon-Quilombolas. They have advised the Quilombolas to follow proper legal procedures rather than rely on verbal promises in matters such as land registration and have tried to provide some measures to help alleviate their economic hardships. The Quilombolas, however, have not accepted the support on offer. Why has the support not been accepted? This paper examines the reason and investigates the nature of the Quilombolas’ legitimacy, focusing on the ‘blessing-function’ of using inherited land, as the Quilombolas have pride in the belief that their land is a gift from their ancestors and therefore ‘blessed’.</p>

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