ANALYSIS OF THE BELO MONTE HYDROELECTRIC PLANT: A PORTRAIT OF THE SOCIO-ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS

Abstract

The construction of the Belo Monte Hydroelectric Plant represents a paradigmatic milestone to illustrate the contradiction between capitalist economic interests and socio-environmental rights, violently disrespected to consolidate this enterprise. Thus, through qualitative research based on the hypothetical-deductive method using bibliographic and documentary materials, the general objective is to analyze the main characteristics and impacts of the enterprise, relating them to the foundations that support the socio-environmental crisis. To this end, we initially address the general aspects and main socio-environmental impacts caused by the project and then analyze the foundations that support the existence of the socio-environmental crisis and how they are identified in the case of Belo Monte. It is concluded that there is a socio-environmental crisis resulting from the capitalist production model based on economic progress, disregarding natural limits to the point of compromising the subsistence of future generations without this model resulting in a higher quality of life for everyone.