CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2024
| Author | Olmedo Romero, Ana Elena |
|---|---|
| Title | Environmental Justice and Defense of Territory: The Perspective of Women Defenders Against the Tren Maya Megaproject |
| Summary | This research examines the implications of the Tren Maya megaproject on the Yucatán Peninsula from the perspective of decolonial environmental justice, emphasizing the role of women defenders of the territory. The Tren Maya envisioned to boost economic and touristic development, intersects deeply with Indigenous territories and cultures, particularly affecting the Maya communities. This research addresses how the project perpetuates colonial dynamics, imposing a Eurocentric model of development that disregards the holistic concept of territory intrinsic to Indigenous cosmologies. Through semi-structured interviews and field observations, the study captures the voices of Maya women, who face a dual colonization of their bodies and land. The findings highlight significant environmental damages, socioeconomic impacts, increased militarization, and gender-based violence linked to the project's implementation. The defense strategies employed by these women reveal a complex resistance against the threats posed to their territory and identity. By exploring the interplay between development discourses, environmental justice, and indigenous epistemologies, this thesis contributes to a broader understanding of the impacts of megaprojects on marginalized communities. It underscores the necessity of integrating Indigenous perspectives, especially the conception of territory, into environmental justice frameworks to ensure more equitable and sustainable development practices. The study's conclusions call for reevaluating development paradigms and advocating for the recognition and respect of indigenous rights and territories. |
| Supervisor | Steger, Tamara |
| Department | Environment Sciences and Policy MSc |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2024/olmedo-romero_ana.pdf |
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