410
T. L. Cruz
Economic benefits and improvements in infrastructure led the community to
recognize the legitimacy of the business, but its credibility was still weak—it lacked
transparency and engagement with the community. Quantitative analyses demonstrated that procedural fairness, good company-community interactions and improvements in infrastructure favored trust and the SLO, whereas economic and environmental hazards harmed perceptions towards regional mining projects (Cruz et al.
2020).
The 190 interviewees lived mostly in urban areas. Furthermore, many respondents
declared not to trust in the local government to hold mining companies accountable
for environmental impacts, and to properly manage the mining taxation. Cruz et al.
(2020) suggested future studies in the region should assess the influence of governance in the levels of SLO, and to include more respondents from rural areas in the
sample.
2.2 Social Conflicts and Mining Industry in the State
of Pará—Brazil
In fact, rural communities are prominent in protests against mining industry, due to
the uneven distribution of benefits and their vulnerability to negative impacts, because
of their proximity to mines and dams. Mining companies prioritize the development
of urban areas and paving roads where their employees live and work, despite the
importance of agriculture and livestock for economic diversification (Hoelscher and
Rustad 2019).
Historically, small farming settlements where predominant in the region of
Carajás—Pará. But the discovery of abundant mineral and ore reserves in the 2000s
changed the dynamics of the region, as mining companies expanded their operations
and had to acquire lands from rural workers’ properties.
Besides the expropriation process, mining production caused issues to rural
workers who remained in the region, due to environmental hazards such as water
pollution, dust emissions and damages to households and livestock due to explosions (Cabral et al. 2011). Negative impacts, grieavances and violent conflicts
increased significantly. National reports indicate that over 8400 people were involved
in conflicts related to land use and mining impacts in the state of Pará (CPT 2018).
Hoelscher and Rustad (2019) analyzed the historical mining exploration in other
municipality in the state of Pará, Barcarena. When the company Vale controlled
mining operations there, it followed the same procedures as Samarco in Brumadinho—Minas Gerais (Demajorovic et al. 2019). Vale secured its interests and minimized conflicts through a paternalist approach to SLO. It provided housing to its
workers, constructed infrastructure and financially supported certain community
leaders and social projects. Politics of resignation alienated the inhabitants, accustoming them to support the company to get benefits the state failed to provide (Benson
and Kirsch 2010).
T. L. Cruz
Economic benefits and improvements in infrastructure led the community to
recognize the legitimacy of the business, but its credibility was still weak—it lacked
transparency and engagement with the community. Quantitative analyses demonstrated that procedural fairness, good company-community interactions and improvements in infrastructure favored trust and the SLO, whereas economic and environmental hazards harmed perceptions towards regional mining projects (Cruz et al.
2020).
The 190 interviewees lived mostly in urban areas. Furthermore, many respondents
declared not to trust in the local government to hold mining companies accountable
for environmental impacts, and to properly manage the mining taxation. Cruz et al.
(2020) suggested future studies in the region should assess the influence of governance in the levels of SLO, and to include more respondents from rural areas in the
sample.
2.2 Social Conflicts and Mining Industry in the State
of Pará—Brazil
In fact, rural communities are prominent in protests against mining industry, due to
the uneven distribution of benefits and their vulnerability to negative impacts, because
of their proximity to mines and dams. Mining companies prioritize the development
of urban areas and paving roads where their employees live and work, despite the
importance of agriculture and livestock for economic diversification (Hoelscher and
Rustad 2019).
Historically, small farming settlements where predominant in the region of
Carajás—Pará. But the discovery of abundant mineral and ore reserves in the 2000s
changed the dynamics of the region, as mining companies expanded their operations
and had to acquire lands from rural workers’ properties.
Besides the expropriation process, mining production caused issues to rural
workers who remained in the region, due to environmental hazards such as water
pollution, dust emissions and damages to households and livestock due to explosions (Cabral et al. 2011). Negative impacts, grieavances and violent conflicts
increased significantly. National reports indicate that over 8400 people were involved
in conflicts related to land use and mining impacts in the state of Pará (CPT 2018).
Hoelscher and Rustad (2019) analyzed the historical mining exploration in other
municipality in the state of Pará, Barcarena. When the company Vale controlled
mining operations there, it followed the same procedures as Samarco in Brumadinho—Minas Gerais (Demajorovic et al. 2019). Vale secured its interests and minimized conflicts through a paternalist approach to SLO. It provided housing to its
workers, constructed infrastructure and financially supported certain community
leaders and social projects. Politics of resignation alienated the inhabitants, accustoming them to support the company to get benefits the state failed to provide (Benson
and Kirsch 2010).