THE (MIS)PATHS OF “DEVELOPMENT” AND ITS IMPACTS ON SOCIETY AND EDUCATION IN JURUTI-PA

Abstract

This article discusses how the economic exploitation of the Amazon does not benefit communities, corrupts leaders and conceals the profit-making intentions of entities called Non-Governmental Organizations (third sector). This section is part of the doctoral research on the social and political-educational activities of Franciscan nuns in the city of Juruti, in the far west of the state of Pará, Lower Amazon Mesoregion (1970 to 1992). In the first part, we discuss the economic exploitation of natural resources in Juruti, comparing the devastation of the rosewood tree in the early 20th century with the extraction of bauxite ore and the consequences for local society. In the second part, we highlight the inconsistencies of the leaders of social opposition movements who were corrupted by money. And the last part contemplates the disguised market intentions in the activities of third sector companies linked to mining ventures. Each part of this article will refer to a location where a preschool managed by Franciscan nuns operates or operated. The first will be the Terra Preta Preschool (now closed), located in the rural community with the same name as the school; then the Esperança Preschool, located in the rural village of Muirapinima (still in operation) and, finally, the São Francisco School, located in the Palmeiras neighborhood, urban perimeter (still in operation).