Critical environmental education with family farmers in Brazil: The first steps of an action research against pesticide contamination

Abstract

This study aims at the formation of knowledge about the fight against risk situations by the use of pesticides in plantations. It was held in a community of family farmers, located in the district of Joanapolis, in the state of Goias, Brazil. It consists of an action research developed by a center of research that seeks to favor the empowerment of the subjects in the face of risk situations. The study is carried out at farmers' production sites and at the rural school where their children study, being carried out by the students of the Chemistry Major Degree at IFG – Anapolis Campus. By the use of qualitative instruments the main adverse situations in this context were identified and we report actions of the Center of Research. The critical perspective of environmental education is the theoretical and methodological basis assumed for intervention. Considerations about the initial process of intervention are presented.