Educação ambiental crítica: superando narrativas simplificadas sobre o lixo marinho

Abstract

Marine debris has often been discussed through narratives that place direct responsibility on coastal and riverside communities, disregarding structural factors related to production systems, waste management, and public policies. In this context, this study aimed to analyze the perceptions of residents of a riverside community regarding marine debris before and after an Environmental Education intervention, seeking to understand how these perceptions change through a critical and contextualized approach. This is a qualitative, exploratory study that used semi-structured interviews with different community members, including shellfish gatherers, fishers, shopkeepers, students, and long-term residents. The results indicate that, prior to the intervention, there was a predominant discourse of self-blame, focused on individual behavior and the lack of care by the community itself. After the educational intervention, participants demonstrated a broader understanding of the issue, recognizing the role of ocean currents, rivers, companies, industrial fishing activities, and the lack of effective public policies in the generation of marine debris. The study concludes that Environmental Education developed from a critical perspective plays a key role in promoting a fairer understanding of environmental problems, breaking with moralizing narratives and highlighting situations of environmental injustice experienced by traditional communities.