Fóruns virtuais de REDD: análise da função comunicativa na construção de políticas orientadas por organizações da sociedade civil

Abstract

In the face of evidence that point the deforestation of the Amazon as a major factor in the release of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere and the consequent intensification of global climate change, non-governmental organizations and environmentalists have created thematic forums on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD). Based on the premise of exchanging information and promote cooperation and public debate, these initiatives meet different social actors, under the coordination of organizations of civil society, having the Internet as the primary place of reference. Considering the democratic perspective opened by the habermasian notion of public sphere and based on criteria that are fundamental to social advertising, related to the functions of visibility and promote public debate, the analysis of four virtual spaces tends to permit a reflection on the contemporary form of activity of non-governmental environmental organizations and the potentialities of political action brought by new Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), but not yet appropriate so full or effective by this and other sectors of society. The research results indicate that, in practice, such forums satisfactorily meet any of the functions: users do not clarify on the matter and so little are able to foster discussions that result in outcomes in favor of the collective. This results in the loss of democratic quality that they propose and even enhances the effect of "silencing" on the local population, who see the desires and needs represented by these NGOs, entities not really or necessarily representative of their interests.