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GOT, Revista de Geografia e Ordenamento do Território
On-line version ISSN 2182-1267
Abstract
VIANNA, Raphael and PENNA-FIRME, Rodrigo. Fluid space: political ecology of mineral water in southern Minas Gerais, Brazil. GOT [online]. 2019, n.16, pp.371-389. ISSN 2182-1267. https://doi.org/10.17127/got/2019.16.016.
The article proposes a geo-historical description of the southern Minas Gerais formation, by focusing on the influence which varying uses and perceptions of mineral waters have had over three distinct but interconnected moments: (1) the medicinal interest in the waters; (2) the origin of the ongoing controversy over the current definition of mineral waters as being a ‘mineral’ rather than a water resource, and therefore regulated by the Mining Code under the National Mining Agency; and (3) the current "water war" in southern Minas Gerais, characterized by conflict economic and social interests. Social groups have advocated community-oriented participation on mineral waters management, for it is perceived as a public good, and, therefore, should be subjected to the National Water Resources Policy regulations. The multiplicity of interests and perspectives over mineral waters fosters unique spacial formations, which geo-historical and territorial analytical perspectives are suited for as a means to describe its dynamics. Finally, we contend that thinking of another present with the mineral waters seems a responsible way not to interrupt the geo-historic alliance between the cities and the mineral water of the south of Minas Gerais.
Keywords : Mineral Water; Minas Gerais; Political Ecology; Geo-History; Geography.