AMAZONIAN MILITANCE

This story was originally published in the 1st edition of Voices for Just Climate Action Magazine in June 2023. Read the full magazine here

Faced with the problems of disputes and threats to the Tapajós territory in recent years, such as agribusiness, mining, deforestation, and prospecting, among others, it was perceived the need to create a training space to strengthen and engage militancy in the region, thus the Amazonian Socio-environmental Militance School – EMSA was born.

EMSA, an initiative of the Tapajós Vivo Movement – MTV in partnership with the School of Activism, took place in 2022 in the NÓS Coalition – Education, Communication, and Popular Mobilization in Defense of the Juruena and Tapajós River Basins, formed by the Tapajós Vivo Movement – MTV, School of Activism, Tapajós de Fato, Movement for Popular Sovereignty in Mining – MAM – Lower Tapajós/Amazonas Collective and Juruena Vivo Network.

EMSA, which uses a popular teaching methodology, proposes a more horizontal, participatory, and democratic education which values dialogue and the exchange of experiences between people. In this sense, it emphasizes the importance of education as a collective construction process of knowledge and action, valuing popular and local knowledge and incorporating critical and reflective perspectives on social and environmental reality. (FREIRE, 2013).

The school is the result of actions and partnerships with internal and external subjects from the territory of the Tapajós basin, who are concerned with the progress of the large projects already implemented and those that are in planning. Consequently, EMSA is thought of as a “tool to strengthen the struggles of local actors through grassroots training”.

EMSA has been idealized and dreamt of since 2019 in the Encontro das Águas. The meeting gathered in Santarém-PA movements and organizations from the Tapajós river basin: Juruena and Teles Pires, with participation from the Madeira, Amazonas, and Xingu rivers. At the meeting, the Tapajós basin and the lives of people in the region were the subject of discussion regarding threats. Ways to strengthen the struggle for the lives of the people of this basin were also considered. Therefore, in the indications of the joint actions, the proposal, and the commitment to grassroots training of the militants of these territories appeared. Later, at the meeting to consolidate the activities in Sinop/MT (2019), a proposal was prepared for a training school for grassroots militancy in the Amazon. Amidst this scenario, today Amazonian Socio-environmental Militancy School (EMSA) emerges.

EMSA’s mission is: “To offer knowledge and sharing of knowledge (scientific and popular) to strengthen the critical awareness and commitment of the various residents affected or threatened by the projects that destroy the territory and peoples of the Amazon and the strategies of the joint struggle of the three basins of the Tapajós”.

In 2022, EMSA held six in-person modules and two online seminars, debating and Agitation and Popular Communication. The modules had the participation of several collectives and urban and traditional social organizations, always paying attention to gender equity, and guaranteeing cultural diversity, expanding the debate on challenges and tools for our resistance.

In the 2022 training courses, it was possible to bring students to spaces for major debates. Examples of this were in May 2022, with the participation of students in the Public Hearing that aimed to discuss the impacts of mercury contamination in the Tapajós basin and the creation of the Forum to Combat Mercury Contamination. For most, it was the first time in a Public Hearing, as well as participation in direct action, with the partnership of the School of Activism, Juruena Vivo Network and Tapajós de Fato.

Previously, there was a division into groups to participate in the Public Hearing, managing to organize the action in three stages: (1) communication, using mass publicity shortly before the hearing, as well as a call to give visibility to the audience with photos and denouncements on site; (2) preparation of speeches for the audience and production of posters always emphasizing the dangers of mercury contamination, the importance of the Unified Health System – SUS and mass testing of mercury levels, as well as the expansion of scientific research in the Tapajós Basin; (3) Artivism action to raise awareness and make visible mercury contamination.

Another important activity was the participation in the X Pan Amazon Social Forum – FOSPA in Belém. EMSA’s objective at FOSPA was to create an exchange and a training space on Popular Communication. In addition, the NÓS Coalition held a conversation circle to discuss climate change and transform territory in the Juruena-Tapajós Basin. The presence of the coalition and EMSA was also marked by the presence of a large scenographic pirarucu fish and banners at the opening march of FOSPA. It was a very positive experience for the students who participated for the first time in the largest international pan-Amazonian forum, organized by the Social Movements of the Amazon, having the opportunity to exchange and connect with the many Amazons inside the Amazon.

In this sense, Popular and Environmental Education is a critical educational approach that aims to promote short-term awareness and long-term awareness of social transformation through the active participation of people in their education and the search for sustainable solutions to environmental issues (GADOTTI, 2016). The first year of the militancy school was essential for experimenting with methods, exchanging knowledge, and strengthening organizations and movements that show resistance inside our territory. We hope that this 2023 year, we can reach more people and instigate the fight for the good life of all.

FREIRE, Paulo. Pedagogia do oprimido. 58. ed. Rio de Janeiro: Paz e Terra, 2013.

GADOTTI, Moacir. Pedagogia da Terra: Ecopedagogia e Educação Sustentável. 5. ed. São Paulo: Editora Peirópolis, 2016.

Voices for Just Climate Action Magazine is a publication collectively produced by the VCA Brazil Regional Team and the organizations supported by the program in the country.