The Power to Silence: Quiescence and Denial in Cases of Environmental Contamination in Argentina

• In Event: 254 - Section on Environment and Technology Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 06. Agriculture

Abstract

Over 20 million hectares are now covered with genetically modified (GM) soy in Argentina, fields that require regular agrochemical spraying. This has resulted in an increase of cancer rates and other health hazards among rural inhabitants, which has prompted the emergence of environmental health movements.

It is interesting however that considering the extent of sprayed fields, contestation is not widespread. While some limited contestation has emerged, most remain quiescent. Is it because agrochemical spraying isn't a problem in these places? In this paper I narrate the exchanges among women in a ‘soy town’ in the Pampas. In close confidence, women would allow their fears and worries to arise, alarmed by rising cancer rates among neighbors and concerned for their children’s health. Most striking is that, despite their fears, these women would never attempt to find out more. Most on the contrary, by the time a doubt was raised, it was almost automatically suffocated: De eso no se habla, “We don’t talk about that,” they would say, and thus put a sudden end to our conversation.

How does power create quiescence and consent? Through an ethnographic account, this study explores how collective denial of environmental hazards is expressed in everyday practices and emotions. Findings are relevant to an analysis of grievance-formation, quiescence, and contestation against the GM soy-for-export model in Argentina.

Author

• Amalia Leguizamon, Tulane University