Saturday – 09/01/2016
Marvellous REGÊNCIA After leaving Vitória, bestowing upon the trip an opening tone, finally I will see the river, which I already knew, but which is now another… Feeling gratified, especially for having travelled the road that separates the capital from the mouth of the Doce along the coast. From the mountain range onwards, the whole coast is spotted by a stretchby-stretch decreasing number of touristic cities, the wind remains strong and constant. The traditional population, now more in need than ever, is extremely close to the river. I witness the richness of a complete occupation here. Seeing camps and settlements of the MST10, native Indian territories, quilombo11 remnants, a harbour, oil extraction wells and one of the largest pulp and paper mills in the country.
2
At the same time, the diversity of my country consolidates the presence of large public or private projects. They are widespread, and their impacts are as absurd as they are evident. More than in our cities, the contradictions of those above versus those below are evident. The conflicts over land have pushed the population towards a situation of severe need. I perceive this all along the route, especially since the dam has collapsed. The impacts of the toxic waste on the region are obvious and profound... The sea? turns orange, half bloody, half rusty and riverside dwellers – if not everyone – claim their rights here.
