Small-scale gold mining and the COVID-19 pandemic: Conflict and cooperation in the Brazilian Amazon

J. Calvimontes; L. Massaro; C.H.X. Araujo; R.R. Moraes; J. Mello; L.C. Ferreira; M. de Theije

doi:10.1016/j.exis.2020.08.013

Small-scale gold mining and the COVID-19 pandemic: Conflict and cooperation in the Brazilian Amazon

J. Calvimontes, L. Massaro, C.H.X. Araujo, R.R. Moraes, J. Mello, L.C. Ferreira, M. de Theije

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Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic exposes both conflict and cooperation in artisanal and small-scale gold mining in the Brazilian Amazon. Reporting on the experiences of artisanal and small-scale gold miners (garimpeiros, in Brazilian Portuguese), we show how, on the one hand, the pandemic challenges an already precarious working system that could lead garimpeiros, often invisible to public policies, to positions of further vulnerability; and, on the other hand, highlights the capacity of garimpeiros to self-organize and navigate the difficulties by finding alternative solutions to cope with the crisis. This leads us to argue that emerging strategies of cooperation, related to self-organization and communication channels have the potential to provide experiences useful for processes of conflict transformation in the post-crisis. We acknowledge that much depends on the severity of the crisis and its manifestations in the region; nevertheless, the potential for constructive outcomes from the crisis should not be disregarded.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1347-1350
Number of pages	4
Journal	The Extractive Industries and Society
Volume	7
Issue number	4
Early online date	3 Sept 2020
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exis.2020.08.013
Publication status	Published - Nov 2020

Funding

The authors would like to acknowledge Prof. Eleanor Fisher for her valuable contribution to this manuscript. We are also grateful for the recommendations and advice from the anonymous reviewer. This work was supported by S\u00E3o Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) [grants 2018/50033-6, 2020/07985-6 and 2019/09709-9]. The project \u2018Gold Matters. Transformations to Sustainability in Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining: A Multi-Actor and Transregional Perspective\u2019 is financially supported by the Belmont Forum and NORFACE Joint Research Programme on Transformations to Sustainability, which is co-funded by DLR/BMBF, ESRC, FAPESP, ISC, NWO, VR, and the European Commission through Horizon 2020 [grant no 462.17.201]. The authors would like to acknowledge Prof. Eleanor Fisher for her valuable contribution to this manuscript. We are also grateful for the recommendations and advice from the anonymous reviewer. This work was supported by S\u00E3o Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) [grants 2018/50033-6, 2020/07985-6 and 2019/09709-9]. The project \u2018Gold Matters: Transformations to Sustainability in Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining: A Multi-Actor and Transregional Perspective\u2019 is financially supported by the Belmont Forum and NORFACE Joint Research Programme on Transformations to Sustainability, which is co-funded by DLR/BMBF, ESRC, FAPESP, ISC, NWO, VR, and the European Commission through Horizon 2020 [grant no 462.17.201].

Funders	Funder number
Economic and Social Research Council
Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
European Commission
Institute for the Study of Social Change, University of Tasmania
Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt
Not added	462.17.201
Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo	20/07985-6, 19/09709-9, 2018/50033-6, 2019/09709-9, 18/50033-6, 2020/07985-6
Horizon 2020	462.17.201

Keywords

COVID-19
Artisanal and small-scale mining
Gold
Brazil
Amazon

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.exis.2020.08.013

Smallscale gold mining and the COVID19 pandemic_Conflict and cooperation in the Brazilian AmazonFinal published version, 739 KBLicence: Article 25fa Dutch Copyright Act

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214790X20302537

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title = "Small-scale gold mining and the COVID-19 pandemic: Conflict and cooperation in the Brazilian Amazon",

abstract = "The COVID-19 pandemic exposes both conflict and cooperation in artisanal and small-scale gold mining in the Brazilian Amazon. Reporting on the experiences of artisanal and small-scale gold miners (garimpeiros, in Brazilian Portuguese), we show how, on the one hand, the pandemic challenges an already precarious working system that could lead garimpeiros, often invisible to public policies, to positions of further vulnerability; and, on the other hand, highlights the capacity of garimpeiros to self-organize and navigate the difficulties by finding alternative solutions to cope with the crisis. This leads us to argue that emerging strategies of cooperation, related to self-organization and communication channels have the potential to provide experiences useful for processes of conflict transformation in the post-crisis. We acknowledge that much depends on the severity of the crisis and its manifestations in the region; nevertheless, the potential for constructive outcomes from the crisis should not be disregarded.",

keywords = "COVID-19, Artisanal and small-scale mining, Gold, Brazil, Amazon",

author = "J. Calvimontes and L. Massaro and C.H.X. Araujo and R.R. Moraes and J. Mello and L.C. Ferreira and {de Theije}, M.",

year = "2020",

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AU - Calvimontes, J.

AU - Massaro, L.

AU - Araujo, C.H.X.

AU - Moraes, R.R.

AU - Mello, J.

AU - Ferreira, L.C.

AU - de Theije, M.

PY - 2020/11

Y1 - 2020/11

N2 - The COVID-19 pandemic exposes both conflict and cooperation in artisanal and small-scale gold mining in the Brazilian Amazon. Reporting on the experiences of artisanal and small-scale gold miners (garimpeiros, in Brazilian Portuguese), we show how, on the one hand, the pandemic challenges an already precarious working system that could lead garimpeiros, often invisible to public policies, to positions of further vulnerability; and, on the other hand, highlights the capacity of garimpeiros to self-organize and navigate the difficulties by finding alternative solutions to cope with the crisis. This leads us to argue that emerging strategies of cooperation, related to self-organization and communication channels have the potential to provide experiences useful for processes of conflict transformation in the post-crisis. We acknowledge that much depends on the severity of the crisis and its manifestations in the region; nevertheless, the potential for constructive outcomes from the crisis should not be disregarded.

AB - The COVID-19 pandemic exposes both conflict and cooperation in artisanal and small-scale gold mining in the Brazilian Amazon. Reporting on the experiences of artisanal and small-scale gold miners (garimpeiros, in Brazilian Portuguese), we show how, on the one hand, the pandemic challenges an already precarious working system that could lead garimpeiros, often invisible to public policies, to positions of further vulnerability; and, on the other hand, highlights the capacity of garimpeiros to self-organize and navigate the difficulties by finding alternative solutions to cope with the crisis. This leads us to argue that emerging strategies of cooperation, related to self-organization and communication channels have the potential to provide experiences useful for processes of conflict transformation in the post-crisis. We acknowledge that much depends on the severity of the crisis and its manifestations in the region; nevertheless, the potential for constructive outcomes from the crisis should not be disregarded.

KW - COVID-19

KW - Artisanal and small-scale mining

KW - Gold

KW - Brazil

KW - Amazon

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JF - The Extractive Industries and Society

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Small-scale gold mining and the COVID-19 pandemic: Conflict and cooperation in the Brazilian Amazon

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

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Gold Matters: Visualizing Mining Worlds

Covid-19 for garimpeiros in Brazil: vulnerability and cooperation

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