Nothing is harder to do, more doubtful of success, or more dangerous to manage than to start a new order of things.
Machiavelli
With this statement, Sérgio Médici, professor at the Poli-USP, initiated his lecture. And it provided the underlying guideline for the Workshop: doubts about innovations and cultural changes and the need for compromise and purposeful participation.
One of the actions of Votorantim Cimentos in prol of the environment was the organization of the First International Workshop on Mining and the Environment, held November 28-30 in Lagoa Santa, (state of Minas Gerais). Managers from around Brazil and their confederates from North and South America presented and exchanged information about the topics of the event.
Edvaldo Rabelo, Technical Director, opened the event by transmitting his desire for innovation and the commitment of the company, especially the collaborators, for dealing with present-day environmental, social, and economic issues; these are not only in urgent need of resolution, but also of fundamental importance for the environment. The first day was devoted to the presentation of topics related to mining, especially concern with technological innovation in the areas of provision of energy and preservation of natural resources, as well as improvements in the productive process.
Nelson Mitihiro, Manager for Mining, pointed out the important advances of Votorantim Cimentos in relation to these issues and the difficulties facing those undertaking a new path, as well as the advantages offered..
The lectures dealt with a wide range of topics, including Environmental legislation, the deactivation of mines , the productive process, and mineralogical research, but all represented an attempt to make development compatible with conservation and to make sustainability something socially and economically feasible.
The second day of presentations was reserved for environmental and social issues. Although they had already been dealt with on the first day, the focus was shifted to actions which integrate mining activities with the environment and the community.
During the morning, the new Environmental policy of Votorantim Cimentos was presented; among other issues, it deals with caves and archeological remains and a concern with the plants and animals of the Atlandic Coastal Rain Forest. Patrícia Montenegro, Manager for environmental issues, reminded the audience of the importance of the participation of all in the process of implementation and the responsibility of each one in relation to society.
Case studies of projects of Votorantim Cimentos involving mining, the society, and the environment and the stimulating results obtained were presented. These presentations were complimented by lectures by Paulo Boggiani of the Geosciences Institute of USP about Geoparks and mining and by Clayton Lino of the Biosphere Reserve of the Atlantic Coastal Rain Forest about the Brazilian natural heritage, especially caves.
Regiane Velozo presented the agreement for Technical Cooperation between the Brazilian Spelelogical Society, Votorantim Cimentos and the Bioshpere Reserve of the Atlantic Coastal Rain Forest, highlighting the fundamental objectives, including research and the protection of the Brazilian natural heritage, as well as good mining practices, and environmental education. The results already obtained were also presented.
In the afternoon, for the closing of the Workshop, a visit to the Cave of Lapinha was organized, guided by local monitors. All were enchanted by the cave and conscious of the importance of sharing economic development with social and environmental responsibility.
