(Re)thinking (re)connection: Young people, “natures” and the water–energy–food nexus in São Paulo State, Brazil

• DOI: 10.1111/tran.12277
• Publication Date: 2018-11-12T01:44:30Z
• Authors: Peter Kraftl; Jose Antonio Perr...; Arminda Eugenia M...; Benjamin Coles; Sophie Hadfield‐Hill; John Horton; Paulo Valladares ...; Mateus Ricardo No...; Catherine Walker; Cristana Zara
• Keywords: Water energy; Food energy

This paper critically analyses pervasive contemporary discourses that call for children and young people to be “reconnected” with nature natural resources. Simultaneously, it reflects on emerging forms of nexus thinking policy seek identify govern connections between diverse sectors, especially water, energy food. Both these fields scholarship are concerned connections, different kinds, at spatial scales. Based a large‐scale, mixed‐method research project in São Paulo State, Brazil, this explores how rather literatures could combined order (re)think notions (re)connection operate across spatial, political material registers. Through Brazilian professionals about their experiences of, learning about, the water–energy–food nexus, makes several substantive contributions childhood, youth, environmental education thinking. Centrally, is argued that, than dispense them, there manifold possibilities expanding complicating (re)connection, which rely more nuanced analysis logistical, technical, social contexts nexuses constituted. Thus, our work flips dominant by privileging “bottom‐up” (especially) people's everyday, embodied engagements food energy. Our resultant findings indicated “connected” natures both fairly conventional ways significantly extend beyond childhoods–natures (and particularly articulating importance care community). Consequently, approach advocated enable nuanced, politically aware conceptualisations within