Articulating Agroecology and Environmental Justice with young peasants from the central sertão of Ceará: an experience at PRONERA / Agrarian Youth Residence

Abstract

The concept of Environmental Justice points to the asymmetries of power that result in the imposition
of environmental risks and vulnerabilities to populations less endowed with financial,
political and informational resources. This work reports a training experience with 35 young
peasants from 8 communities in the central sertão of Ceará, who are experiencing a conflict
about the possible exploitation of a uranium and phosphate deposit and their health and environmental
risks. In this experience, the main themes worked were Agroecology, Work-Environment-
Health, Communication and Culture. In the field of Agroecology, workshops, experiences,
visits, exchanges and practices were held. The project aimed to promote the protagonism
of peasant youth and the strengthening of peasant life movement in the context of vulnerability
imposed by the mining enterprise.