SPEECHES ON DISASTERS IN SOUTHERN PERNAMBUCO

Abstract

The present research had as its scenario the Southern Agreste of Pernambuco, aimed to analyze the discourses of representatives of Governmental and Non-Governmental Organizations regarding disasters, specifically droughts and extreme rainfall. It adopted a qualitative approach, conducting nineteen semi-structured interviews and a workshop. Both were recorded, transcribed and submitted to discourse analysis guided by Discursive Social Psychology. As a result, we found that both droughts and heavy rains have a negative impact on the economy, work, living conditions and the environment. With the exception of one organization, all the strategies presented by the participants to deal with the disasters mentioned are of an emergency nature. In the actions carried out there is no popular participation or the presence of psychologists, even though there are studies that indicate the negative repercussions of disasters for mental health. We conclude that although droughts and heavy rains are natural phenomena, their effects cannot be naturalized. It is necessary to improve public policies aimed at disaster prevention, with a focus on the involvement of the population and also the insertion of professions in the human and social sciences, such as Psychology.