Tuesday – 12/01/2016
KRENAK HEAD OF EARTH We stay the night at the smallholding of our friends Bianca and Dante Pavan from GIAIA, who are also engaged in the defence of the Doce. They live at the small town of Itapina, close to the border with Minas Gerais24. Their house is a few metres away from an old ferry boat station used to cross to the city of Ipaba. After a long day of intense contacts and harsh reality, we arrive at the farmhouse; the amount of mosquitoes is absurd, and keeps us awake. Throughout this journey, we hear reports of the increase in the number of insects, a fact that many attribute to the river and its orange colour. Could it be due to the possible lack of amphibians?
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Talking for a while with Geraldo, the caretaker, again shows the simplicity of the people, a fact that will be deepened from now on. The real magnitude of the matter is unknown to them (and to me), as is the correct measurement of the impact and even their options for resistance, often non-existent. All the while they believe in the sufficiency of a few litres of water at a steadily reduced frequency. The indifference with which Samarco evades its responsibilities, as well as their unfairness in defining those affected is frightening, and causes the most vulnerable to be even more impacted. As there is little traditional occupation along the river, due to lack of time and to avoid large metropolitan areas, we have decided not to carry out surveys between Itapina and Resplendor.
