Political ecology contributions for deconstruction of narratives linked to environmental injustices

Abstract

Researchers linked to Political Ecology have highlighted, analyzed and fought against environmental injustices. Permeating these injustices, there are several types of narratives that contribute to their concealment or relativization. In this sense, this article discusses the pertinence of identifying and seeking to deconstruct biased narratives, which have minimized or even justified environmental injustices, and, at the same time, to strengthen the construction and replication of other narratives, which substantiate the importance the fight for environmental justice. To this end, the methodology used was based on readings by authors adept in the vast and multidisciplinary field of knowledge of Political Ecology, especially of Latin American Political Ecology, in addition to the author's experiences and reflections, as a researcher and citizen. It is argued that, just as it is necessary to “deconstruct” certain narratives that support and sustain injustices, it is also necessary to identify, know, analyse and strengthen the process of “building” alternatives that contribute to environmental justice and for new relationships between human beings and, with them, with nature, including narratives, actions of resistance and demonstration regarding the feasibility of materializing such alternatives in the concrete plane, as well as in the imagination / perception of people.