Environmental Racism and Indigenous Marginalization: Lessons From the Mariana Dam Disaster in Brazil
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This case study examines the environmental disaster that occurred in the municipality of Mariana, Minas Gerais, Brazil, with particular emphasis on its impacts on the Krenak Indigenous people. Using a qualitative bibliographic methodology, the study analyzes selected scientific articles and reliable news reports to reconstruct the events surrounding the dam collapse, identify the key actors involved, and assess the resulting environmental and social damages. The analysis highlights how historical patterns of violence, marginalization, and structural inequality have heightened the vulnerability of Indigenous communities such as the Krenak to environmental harm. The study further discusses the extent of ecological degradation, disruptions to livelihoods and cultural practices, and the legal implications of the disaster, including the criminal offenses associated with environmental negligence and corporate responsibility. By situating the Mariana catastrophe within a broader framework of environmental injustice, the report underscores the need for stronger legal accountability and protective mechanisms for Indigenous peoples in Brazil.
Author: Santos, Rafael Augusto Costa
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7128033328
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