Água: direito humano e mercadoria: análise do ciclo hidronormativo do Canal do Sertão Alagoano

Abstract

This dissertation seeks to understand the influence of global logic in local policies connected to water resources. In order to do so, observation was carried on perspectives of access to water as a human right and as an asset with economic value, examining in which ways present international outlook on the matter was introduced into national and state water resources normative policies, specially when it comes to anti-drought measures applied to Brazilian’s Northeast Semi-arid, with a highlight to the study of the Canal do Sertão Alagoano [Alagoas’ Hinterland Canal]. The methodology used was based mainly on bibliographical revision, encompassing three distinct phases: exploratory, descriptive and explanatory. The method brought by Clarissa D’Isep was also used, by means of the study of the hydronormative cycle, which comprises social-economical and political-juridical aspects. In the end, it was possible to ascertain that despite the Government official speech posing Canal do Sertão as a means to ensure protection to the human right to access to water, historical precedents show that such endeavour is not bound to protect local population’s dignity because the concept of human dignity is wider than the aspect of access to water only as means to quench thirst, also encompassing the possibility of social and economical development by access to water, which could only be achieved, in this case, by social restructure of the region.