The Political Ecology of Extractive Industries and Changing Waterscapes in the Andes
Lead Research Organisation:
The Open University
Department Name: Geography
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
Jessica Budds (Principal Investigator) |
Description | The project found that water is an arena through which key contestations regarding the development of mining and its social and environmental effects on local lives, livelihoods and landscapes play out. Unlike some other effects of mining, water has the specific characteristic of constituting a medium through which the effects of mining are felt far beyond the mine site and legally defined affected populations, leading to injustices that are not addressed and patron-client relationships emerging between highland communities and private mining companies. The project argued for a more precise definition of the concept of 'waterscape', and its mobiliastion as a way of conceptualising the temporal and scalar reach of water issues in the context of the mining industry, as well as the two-directional relationship between mining and water. In Peru, water has become a key challenge to the mining industry as a whole as well as specific mines, and, importantly, these challenges have also shaped material and discursive relations with water in that context. |
Exploitation Route | The data could potentially inform water management and/or policy in mining contexts, especially in Peru and Latin America; although it should be recognised that water and mining issues are extremely sensitive and also dominated by technocratic practices and technical knowledge production. |
Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice |
Description | Gold of the conquistadors |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Edition of BBC Radio 4 Costing the Earth based upon the research project (the idea was pitched to BBC by Budds), with interviews and field material recorded on location by the PI, and text and photographs provided for the webpage for this edition. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b015p871 Radio 4 programme with interview and recorded material from southern Peru. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b015p871 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b015p871 |