Juruti Mine is approved by 89% of the population of the municipality
A survey carried out by the Brazilian Public Opinion and Statistics Institute (IBOPE), between January 19 and February 1, 2008, shows that 89% of the population of Juruti, in the west of Pará, thinks that the setting up of a bauxite mine by Alcoa in the municipality is something positive.
IBOPE also established that 54% are expressly in favor of the initiative and a further 35% accept it and have no restrictions against it. Furthermore, 61% say that Alcoa’s Juruti Mine has improved their lives and that of their families; 64% see the project as important for themselves and for members of their families; 76% believe it is important for the development of Juruti; and 79% reckon the mine is important for the development of the State of Pará.
The opinions are based on the various different benefits mentioned by those interviewed, which range from the creation of jobs and improvements in urban and rural infrastructure to the investments Alcoa has already made in training people for a profession and in bolstering the public health system.
The institute heard some 600 people from the areas that fall under the direct and indirect influence of the project, a total sample of 37 communities from the region, in addition to those living in the urban area.
Those interviewed mentioned the creation of jobs and the increase in work opportunities for local people (55%); improvements in streets and roads in the municipality, resulting especially from asphalting (24%); reinforcements in the area of education, with the creation of professional training courses and improvements in the structure of public schools (17%), and other benefits that form part of the actions provided for in the Environmental Control Plans (PCAs) and in the Positive Agenda (complementary voluntary actions by Alcoa to benefit communities), as well as projects supported by the Alcoa Institute and the Alcoa Foundation, as the main positive points resulting from the presence of Alcoa in the region.
Reliability and transparency
Some declarations were recurrent among those interviewed about reliability and transparency: more than 80% of people from Juruti think that Alcoa is an honest company that pays its taxes, is competent and upright and that provides quality service. Some 70% believe that the Company is reliable and 77% believe that Alcoa respects the law. With regard to the environment around 68% of those interviewed declared that Alcoa is a company concerned with the it and more than half agree that the Company tries to return to the environment everything it takes from it.
In the aspect of social commitment almost the whole population agreed that Alcoa creates a lot of jobs (94%), in addition to other benefits being mentioned, such as the development of the local labor force and support for the areas of culture, education and health. Alcoa is also recognized as a Company that is constantly growing, is profitable and a global leader.
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