Social Perception of the industrial pollution at local scale. The case of Jáuregui in the Metropolitan Area of Buen

1. Social Perception of the industrial pollution at local scale. The case of Jáuregui in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires city in Argentina. MARÍA CRISTINA LUCHETTI . National University of Luján, Argentina. E - mail: luchetti@mail.unlu.edu.ar OBJECTIVE: To contribute by theoretical, methodological and empirical elements to the interpretation and environmental management of social perception on contamination process at local scale. +RESEARCH PROBLEM STUDY AREA In 1969 a small leather tannery was built adjacent to the village, which was later bought by an Italian investment group in 1994. This group increased its productive capacity and generated pollution to the local environment, including groundwater, air and the Luján river, with heavy metals and organic matter. The apparent indifference or ignorance of the major part of Jauregui´s inhabitants on the process of industrial contamination which affects them. PROBLEMATIC BASIS Jauregui (4000 inhabitants), founded in 1910 and situated in the expansion border of the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires city. The Lujan river, typical river of plain, crosses the smooth hills of the Argentina pampas region, and it constitutes the axis of the natural configuration of the zone. §THEORICAL CONTEXT @RESEARCH METHOD R E S E A R C H S P A C E S PERCEIVEDPollution of local environment (Groundwater, air and the Lujan river) 1 Analysis and selection of indicators. 2 Descriptive Statistics. Quantitative Map. Comprises the space, which is a substantial element of environmental problems I N T E G R A T E D Qualitative 1 Social Spatiality It is intended to demonstrate that theinhabitants´ rationality about pollution (perceived space) is mediated by attitudes and beliefs of inhabitants´ (space lived) and conceptual images projected by actors of power in the agora of mass media. (conceived space) Complex Systems CONCEIVEDConceptual images projected by “actors of power”(Entities of resistance, -NGOs- , governmental organs, labor unions and industries) 1Contents Analysis of the news 2 Discourses Analysis of conceptual images. This approach explores how the environment works IN Social building of the reality LIVED Inhabitants´ consolidated models of representation (Includes attitudes and beliefs Opinions were also considered) 1 Survey. Descriptive Statistics. 2 Interview. Identification of beliefs and attitudes,and then building models of representation. Quantitative 2 Includes the approach to social perception of researched environmental problem DIAGRAM OF MAIN CONCLUSIONS Customary: They are accustomed to pollution and then they don´t perceive it. Integrated:They are conscious about pollution, its uncertainties and its future meanings. INHABITANTS´ CONSOLIDATED MODELS OF REPRESENTATION CONCEPTUAL IMAGES OF ACTORS OF POWER (*) MORE INFO VALUES MORE INFO Integrated Entities of Ecological Resistance Environment Spreading of studies about the deterioration of the environment Technological Lujan Town Stereotyped:They are ignore to the research problem, because they have stereotypes about pollution. Thecnological They think that technology solves all the problems and then they are indifferent to pollution. Stereotyped Leather Tannery CONCEPTUAL IMAGES Work Customary Leather Labor Union REFERENCES POTENTIALITIES OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT OF THE POLLUTION PROBLEM OBSTACLES TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT OF THE POLLUTION PROBLEM (*) THE MASS MEDIA HAS BEEN NOT ONLY A POTENTIALITY BUT ALSO AND OBSTACLE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT IT APPEARS IN THE DISCOURSE AND, TO A LESSER EXTENT, IN ACTIONS Most of the inhabitants´ consolidated models of representation and the conceptual images projected by the actors of power about industrial pollution, are obstacles to its environmental management, because they legitimize one rationality that undermines the basis of local and regional development.The attitudes and beliefs of inhabitant´s integrated model and the work of Entities of Ecological Resistance provide potentialities for environmental education and planning.