Protest by traditional communities paralyzes mining company for 9 days in Sento Sé Published 7 hours ago on February 7, 2023 By **riel Filiph
Since January 30, the company Tombador Iron Mineração has suspended activities in the municipality of Sento Sé (BA) thanks to a protest by traditional communities that blocked the BA-210 for the mining company's trucks to pass. The families demand the immediate paving of around 100km of the state highway.Residents of the eleven communities in Serra da Bicuda say that the heavy flow of trucks on the unpaved road has negatively impacted their daily lives. During the rains, the road is impassable for small cars due to the mud and, in the dry season, the clouds of dust spread through houses and plantations, affecting the health of people and crops, in addition to the increase in accidents involving trucks and small vehicles. vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.The BA-210 connects the communities to the urban center of the city of Sento Sé and has been used by Tombador Iron Mineração to transport the iron ore extracted in the Serra da Bicuda mines. The road block has prevented the passage of only the mining company's vehicles, small cars are transiting normally.LifestyleCommunities see traditional ways of life threatened by large developments in the hinterland / CPT-BAThe Pastoral Land Commission (CPT) has provided assistance to the affected communities and argues that the greatest impact of a large undertaking like this in the region is the threat to traditional ways of life. CPT agent Marina Rocha explains that the residents of the territory are mainly artisanal fishermen, riverside dwellers, peasant farmers and bottom communities and pasture closures. And he says that the arrival of the mining company brought insecurity to the communities that were already affected by the construction of the Sobradinho dam in the 1970s.“This undertaking arrives, without any respect for the communities. They were only informed about this project when the technicians started to arrive in the municipality”, says Marina Rocha. She explains that the development arrived in the region promising jobs and a better life, but, in fact, it has caused a lot of inconvenience, even making it difficult for residents to get to the city center. Another impact that worries the population is the arrival of a large flow of workers from outside who started to circulate through the locality. “There is an impact because people from outside arrive in the communities, with other customs, other ways of living. The communities are traditional, the people already know everyone who lives there. Now, suddenly, a very large flow of men arrives to work in the community, using drinks and other things, a lot of noise... So, all this creates great uncertainty in the communities”, explains the CPT agent. In the process of resistance, communities even use these ways of life as a flag of struggle. In the roadblock camp, masses and a large circle of São Gonçalo, a manifestation of local popular culture, have already been held. Marina Rocha recalls that the entire Sertão do São Francisco region has been the target of several large projects that bring many negative impacts to traditional communities. “If these projects, in addition to mining, move forward, we will lose the way of life in these communities, because life in these territories will become unfeasible”, he concludes. Text: Pastoral Land Commission
It doesn't sound good. What is the company's plan?
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