Global environmental changes, vulnerability, risk and subjectivity: a study on the North Coast of São Paulo

Abstract

This project seeks to continue two research projects, coordinated by the responsible of this proposal. One already completed that examined depression among residents of the North Coastline of São Paulo (FAPESP, 2004 /10685-1) and another in progress that attempts to analyze the implications of global environmental changes on human health of the population of São Paulo State North Coastline, which is inserted in a broader project that examines Urban Growth, Adaptation and Vulnerability: ecological and social dimensions of climate change in São Paulo Coastline, 2009 - 2012 (FAPESP Program on Global Climate Change, 2008/58159-7). The analysis of human health comes on the assumption that global environmental changes alter the epidemiology of morbidity and mortality of coastal communities in the State of São Paulo. These changes are related with infectious morbidities, especially those transmitted by vectors, as well as cardiovascular and respiratory conditions. Consequently, these analyses will focus on how the residents deal with such changes in their daily lives, especially the fishermen and their families, that by their trajectory of life and work are those who first perceive environmental changes in their routine, and eventually hold knowledge that could contribute to understanding these dynamics and their effects on their subjectivities. Thus, this proposal aims to achieve four main objectives: 1) complement the socio-environmental diagnosis prepared for the North Coastline of São Paulo (FAPESP 04/10685-1), covering the risks that people face from the global environmental changes, 2) evaluate impacts on the subjectivity of the residents from the risks they are subjected, chosen as reference the residents Cocanha beach (previously selected on the basis of social organization they present around the fishing activity), Caraguatatuba county, North Coastline, 3) to evaluate the implication of the perceptions of environmental change and its impacts on the subjective health of these populations, mainly related to the study of depression and 4) consolidate new partnerships that have already been built, and that they will increase the theoretical and methodological gaze on the North Coast reality. Using this information we intend to expand the knowledge that has been accumulated over the region and contribute to public policies that can mitigate the socio-environmental problems facing the population. (AU)