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FMR 64 Climate crisis and local communities 37

June 2020 www.fmreview.org/issue64

drawing on their creativity, solidarity, 2018, destroying much of the community’s
traditions, and a lot of work. AMEB material past, the community had by then
arranged the division of the area of land for successfully created a new beginning.
houses, establishing a pyramid of priority
where the most vulnerable were placed New challenges
first. Any improvements to the original
house structures had to be negotiated “I’m very sad to leave here, but we are forced to by
with the administrators of the park, since danger.” Erci Malaquias (former matriarch)
they were were not allowed to exceed the The effects of the climate crisis are continuing
original number of square metres of each to change the dynamics of fishing, water
house being rebuilt in the new location. salinity, and the island’s vegetation. Other
communities that live on the island are
Strategies also experiencing changes, and a new era
To achieve their objectives, the community is beginning – that of dialogue between the
instituted mutirões – a system of collective communities in an attempt to understand
mobilisation to achieve a common what is happening. By continuing the
goal, based on free, mutual help. These work that has been started, and in the
involved the participation of the extended spirit of solidarity that has been built
community (tourists, friends and family through this long and difficult process of
from other regions and countries). relocation, the islanders are hopeful of
Through such community networks, devising ways to protect their community
they raised funds to cover the cost of before a new crisis arises. They currently
construction activities and materials and plan to continue defending their territory,
organised the transport of the materials. especially from speculation from the
private sector and from a State-backed
“Without resources, the test of our resolve begins: proposal to privatise the management of
you have to buy and transport the materials needed the island that threaten the integrity of
... all predominantly through using the mutirões the territory, life and permanence of the
system of mobilisation.” Tatiana Cardoso
Caiçara communities on Cardoso Island.
Throughout the process, the entire
community worked every day to rebuild their What have we learned?
homes – construction work that prevented
them from pursuing any income-generating “Each community has its way of working, its way
activities. Women worked the land, cooked of living.” Antonio Mario Mendonça
for the community, and soothed the children The experience of the Nova Enseada
who missed their hammocks in the trees. The community is a successful case of relocation,
health of many people deteriorated because enabled by years of empowerment and
of the physical and emotional effort required. political awareness. However, it is also
The elderly had long been living in fear a case of climate injustice, given their
of relocation but for the younger people it abandonment by the State. Despite greater
was a time of renewal and the opportunity global awareness around the need for
to seek and use new sources of knowledge. recognition and protection of those affected
This attracted young people from the by the impacts of climate change, many
community who had emigrated to cities in local communities remain invisible for
search of work. The community saw their several reasons. In the case of Enseada
work as an example of resistance, where we identify the following reasons:
traditions combine with the ability to reinvent
skills. The community took up residence in Legal invisibility: The lack of normative
the new location, called Nova Enseada, in and institutional governance for these
June 2017. When the force of the sea finally contexts meant a series of ad hoc strategies
broke through the strip of sand in August had to be devised by the community. This