Mato Grosso Forum for the Environment and Development – Formad (Mato Grosso)

Objectives and target population:

Disseminating information on the socio-environmental impact of the 2014 World Cup on Cuiabá is the focus of the supported project. The proposal is to create a critical environment to guarantee the population’s rights, especially, at first, those of around 800 families threatened with eviction due to proposed construction projects.

Formad plans to produce counter-factual information about the future legacy of the World Cup and its deployments on civil rights, public services and structural policies. In this way, the group hopes to pressure the local government into re-positioning the planned projects from a social perspective.

Main activities:

– Mobilizing the target population to be aware of the project and participate effectively in the activities;

– Holding workshops to exchange information with the communities that will be affected;

– Presentation of socio-economic and environmental research already conducted by the public authorities;

– Seeking partnerships together with the Federal University of Mato Grosso – UFMT for participation in future research;

– Production of communications materials to disseminate the information collected.

Context:

Cuiabá is one of the seats of the 2014 World Cup. Like the others, it has suffered urban interventions, implemented without any prior consultation with the public. Updates to the highway system, possible construction of a light rail, expansion of the Marechal Rondon airport and construction of the Pantanal Arena are some of the projects planned.

Around 800 families will be transferred to outlying areas due to these projects and, as in other host cities, the population has no access to information on the impacts foreseen.

About the organization:

Formad – the Mato Grosso Forum for the Environment and Development looks to integrate organizations from different sectors of civil society for discussions about collective action. Its objective is to guarantee the improvement of the population’s living conditions through sustainable development alternatives.

The forum is composed of twenty-six organizations that work with diverse topics in the socio-environmental field (human rights, indigenous rights, environmental rights, health care, etc) and monitor public policies, through participation in other forums and councils.

Partnerships:

The group will carry out this project in partnership with the communications group of the Popular World Cup Committee of Cuiabá and with the group Popular Resistance. Formad is also networking with the Human Rights and Land Forum of Mato Grosso and the Social Mobilization and Employment Group of Mato Grosso.