Redenção ou repetição? Projeto Apolo entre estratégias e questionamentos em torno do neoextrativismo minerário em Caeté-MG

Abstract

This thesis examines the trajectory of a large-scale mining project planned for the city of Caeté, Minas Gerais, specifically in the Morro Vermelho district. The project, known as Apolo, is a project run by the mining company Vale-S.A., which has been investing in the project for over a decade and attempting to obtain the necessary environmental permits for installation and operation. Based on this research problem, I explore this topic through ethnographic analysis, interviews, promotional materials, bibliographic references, and other sources, particularly from the perspectives and experiences of the city and district's residents. I also address the positioning of the environmental movement and the mining company itself. Based on this ethnographic case study, the thesis expands into broader discussions such as the Anthropocene and Neoextractivism, always grounded in a dialogue with the realities of the city and district, which face dilemmas and aspirations arising from the onslaught of a large-scale project.