Development Progress | Since the construction of the Belo Monte dam began, the city of Altamira has been in a state of "complete chaos in all social and public policy areas, especially health, public safety, and housing," says Antonia Melo, leader of the movement Xingu Alive Forever. "There has been rampant population growth as well as rises in drug abuse and child...
Development Progress | Given the growing scrutiny of Brazil's dam-building boom, the Tapajós River is now a key battleground in the global debate on the true costs of our development model and its fate could determine the future of the Amazon region.
If the Belo Monte disaster set a grim paradigm for human rights and environmental protection in the Amazon, then the manic race to dam the nearby Tapajós River confirms that the Brazilian government will stop at nothing to produce energy at any and all cost.
Last Sunday the world – and likely you, our readers – took notice as powerful actions took place in over 2,000 locations around the world for the People's Climate March. Where I live in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 400 people braved pouring rain, marching for hours as we called for clean energy, not mega-dams in the Amazon.
As critical climate negotiations take place this week in New York, Amazon Watch joined a coalition of 52 NGOs working in Latin America to insist that large dams should not be considered a clean energy source, nor an energy solution to climate change.
New York Times | One reason this dynamic has been overlooked is that earlier studies evaluated dams' economic performance by considering whether international lenders like the World Bank recovered their loans – and in most cases, they did. But the economic impact on host countries was often debilitating.
"Used to blaming all of the problems and postponements of project developers on [the environmental agency] IBAMA and [indigenous agency] FUNAI, developers tend to hide their own technical incompetence behind alleged delays in environmental licensing."
International Rivers | The Xingu River Alive Forever Movement, which represents communities affected by the Belo Monte Dam, with support from International Rivers and Amazon Watch, has compiled the most comprehensive history of the destructive dam from its inception to today, in a new, interactive web timeline.
Despite Brazil's devastating loss to Germany in the World Cup semi-final, Brazil still has a chance to be a world champion in clean and renewable energy rather than continuing to rely on destructive and outdated hydroelectric dams like Belo Monte.
Brasilia, Brazil – Civil society organizations submitted to the Supreme Federal Court an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief that demonstrates that the Congressional decree authorizing the controversial dam is illegal because the government didn't consult with the affected communities.
The Globe and Mail | "Belo Sun has already shown they want to do the absolute minimum to receive their license to drill and it's encouraging that the federal courts have shown they are not going to let this slide," said Christian Poirier, an activist with the organization Amazon Watch. "Clarifying that you're going to use this much arsenic or dump that much slag by...
Reuters | Judge Claudio Henrique de Pina said it was "unquestionable" that the mine would have a "negative and irreversible" impact on the quality of life and cultural heritage of the Paquiçamba, Arara da Volta Grande and Ituna/Itatá indigenous communities that straddle the Xingu river.
Mining.com | A Brazilian federal court has revoked Canadian miner Belo Sun Mining's license for the Volta Grande project, which would have become the country's largest gold mine, in the Amazonic state of Para. The ruling, which established the miner failed to assess the impact on local indigenous communities, is a major blow to Belo Sun's ambitions, said...
...Brazil! Many predict Brazil will win the 2014 World Cup. But when it comes to social justice, Brazil is no winner. I say this from the perspective of a Brazilian human rights campaigner who has struggled on these "fields" with my fellow players for a long time.
While the world watches Brazil host the global sporting spectacle, its powerful agribusiness sector is laying the groundwork for a massive land grab, intent on gutting indigenous rights riding a wave of racism and intolerance.
RTCC | Hydropower is responsible for more than three quarters of Brazil’s electricity generation, making the present drought a topic of energy security. Notwithstanding the energy security risks, Brazil is in the process of building the world’s third biggest dam, on a tributary of the Amazon.
"I like football, and the children in our village play it well," said legendary Kayapó Chief Raoni. "But we also have our own sport, hitting coconuts with our war clubs. If the canopy of the forest disappears, and the sun is hot, and strong winds blow – our lifestyle will also disappear."
The Independent | Chief Raoni Metuktire, the Brazilian tribal leader who enlisted Sting to help save the Amazon rainforest, has accused the developed world of being intent on "destroying everything" and urged its citizens to fundamentally change the way they think.
Huffington Post | At first glance the inhabitants of Brazil's favelas and the indigenous people of the Amazon may not seem to have a common cause. But both groups face violence with impunity, poverty, land insecurity, and neglect.
The Ecologist | A delegation of Xikrin Indigenous People were attacked this week with blast grenades and rubber bullets when they tried to enter the Belo Monte construction site to talk with representatives of Norte Energia S.A., responsible for the project. Four of them were wounded.
Last week over 150 indigenous people began a new peaceful protest of construction of the Belo Monte Dam complex in Brazil and were attacked with tear gas and rubber bullets.
In honor of Indigenous Peoples Day in Brazil last month, a group of high-profile Brazilian artists announced that they were fed up with the mounting attacks against Brazil's indigenous peoples and called on the public to take urgent action in support of indigenous rights.
"It was the happiest day of my life that I never saw coming. It was a victory and now I know I can smile again to life. On that day nothing else, not even all of what my family had been through, mattered."
As the Brazilian government ramps up reckless plans to build another mega-dam complex – this time on the Amazon's Tapajos River – tensions reached a fever pitch last week with a hate-driven mob raining violence on a peaceful protest gathering of Mundurukú people.
Paris, France – A spirited protest targeted GDF Suez today at the its annual shareholder meeting, calling for the company's divestment from destructive dam projects in the Brazilian Amazon. The protest was a solidarity action with Brazil's indigenous movement, which sent an open letter to GDF Suez CEO Gérard Mestrallet last week, denouncing...
Agência Pública | "Each day more police arrive in our villages, more armed forces. They think they will intimidate us but they never will. We are fighting for our people, our children, our nature. We have to save all this."
Xingu Vivo | Belo Monte has not killed the resistance. Its cement has not blinded all people’s eyes, nor has its money bought all consciences. Its repression has not deadened courage or silenced mouths; its lies have not deafened all ears.
The Guardian | Beckham's expedition was, or is, "top-secret." However, photos of him meeting a Yanomami leader, Davi Yanomami make it clear he paid a visit to their territory in northern Brazil and suggest some Yanomami will feature in the film.
Xingu Vivo | Judge José Batista heavily criticized Belo Monte, affirming, "The only concern [in this project] was economic, with a small amount of environmental [concern] and no social concern, especially in regards to indigenous peoples."
