Care and Solidarity as Praxis in Chile’s Sacrifice Zones

Abstract

In this article, the authors explore the body–territory framework to analyze care and solidarity practices in Chile’s sacrifice zones—Calama, Quintero-Puchuncaví Bay, and Coronel. The framework emphasizes the body as the first site of resistance, deeply intertwined with the sociopolitical and ecological dimensions of territory. Three core arguments structure the analysis: (a) solidarity and care are interdependent, forming a reciprocally nourishing system; (b) the body–territory framework connects neglected bodies, individuals, and territories within human and nonhuman networks through embodied multi-territorialization; and (c) it enables care and solidarity practices to transcend borders, fostering multi-territorial connections embodied by participants, transforming struggles into collective resistance.