Belo Monte Dam in Brazil - WITH UPDATES

[Vawm tsamsiyu]

* Starts to plan how to destroy the dam.* 

Watch an old movie called "dam busters" they have a plan

[ExLibrisMortis]

Destroying the damn, as mentioned prior, will do nothing to stop them. People are already to heavily invested at the point that the dam actually goes into construction to not rebuild it. And when you rebuild over a rubble, even more resources are used and even more people are affected. Not to mention that consider the dam is finished, and it begins doing its job. Popping the dam would cause a cascading wall of water that would destroy anything in its path, including the forests and wildlife.

[Vawm tsamsiyu]

I was just saying that it seems the only thing these people will listen to is something extreme, like destroying the dam the second it's finished or every major country in the world putting a trade and travel embargo on brazil or something major like that.

And if someone did fire missiles at it and destroyed it, they could rebuild it but, they'd have to go back to their investors and ask for more money and after losing millions to some group with some missiles, it would not be a good investment anymore.

[Teylar Ta Palulukankelku]

Let's put their backs against the wall  !

[Txura Rolyu]

If you wanted to do it right you would get HUGE amounts of people to go lay down in the areas that the dam is to be built. They would have to arrest and remove each person there or start a riot and make a huge scene. This could hit CNN and get world coverage. Might slow it down enough to stop it.

[Toruk Makto]

I am more afraid that the indigenous will be there with their bows and arrows and that the Brazilian government will ban the press so that the world can't see what they do to these people. Even moderate governments with evil agendas always try to hide what they are doing.

[Teylar Ta Palulukankelku]

I am more afraid that the indigenous will be there with their bows and arrows and that the Brazilian government will ban the press so that the world can't see what they do to these people. Even moderate governments with evil agendas always try to hide what they are doing.

Sad, but true  .

[Tonbogiri]

It is a sad case, but not the first. In Sarawak, back in the 1990s, a tribe called the Penan resisted the efforts of logging companies aiming to establish bases in the primary rainforest. In a real-life Avatar way, Bruno Manser (from Switzerland) went to assist the Penan - her learned their ways, lived as one of them, and organised them, concentrating on non-violent protests. His efforts almost resulted in victory, but then the government declared him an enemy of the state and sent in a military unit to forcefully remove him. When he tried to return again in 2000, he disappeared. Conspiracy theorists claim that he was assassinated by the local government - they argued that even if he did get lost in the Borneo jungle, his years spent with the tribe would have enabled him to survive and seek aid.

Seems like the Avatar situation doesn't always work out. Maybe in this case the government may have more of a heart...

What also strikes me is how much we talk about this problem, even here on the forum, but actually do very little. Obviously geographical difficulties may occur (hard to help when you're 2000 miles away) but still. Sigh.

[Toruk Makto]

You may be surprised. More happens behind the scenes than is discussed on these forums. Suffice it to say that significant support is fostered and garnered on the net (including LN) is channeled to the organizations mentioned here.

ta Markì

[Eyawng te Klltepayu]

Bad news:

http://www.upi.com/Science_News/Resource-Wars/2011/04/29/Miner-Vale-invests-in-mega-dam/UPI-12811304107780/

[Tsyal Maktoyu]

*sigh* Pigs...

[Toruk Makto]

The 11% claim of land "set aside" is a complete crock. As soon as somebody can make a profit from exploitation of those lands, they will be taken just as they have taken the Xingu. Little things like promises, treaties and covenants mean nothing to those mad with the promise of wealth.

The Brazilian government is showing the world how little they can be trusted.

[ExLibrisMortis]

Bad news:

http://www.upi.com/Science_News/Resource-Wars/2011/04/29/Miner-Vale-invests-in-mega-dam/UPI-12811304107780/

Blatant disregard for the request from the OAS, how cute. Meh, its the Brazilian governments rights to do that though. The OAS has little power when it comes to the sovereign decisions of a nation's government.

I am more afraid that the indigenous will be there with their bows and arrows and that the Brazilian government will ban the press so that the world can't see what they do to these people. Even moderate governments with evil agendas always try to hide what they are doing.

Funny thing about the majority of these people is that although they are the "indigenous" people, their understanding of technology and the world around them is not quite limited. I'm pretty sure they'd show up with more than bows and arrows if it came to that. This is judging by the videos I have scene from these activist groups regarding the people.

What also strikes me is how much we talk about this problem, even here on the forum, but actually do very little. Obviously geographical difficulties may occur (hard to help when you're 2000 miles away) but still. Sigh.

Oh if you only knew what has been done from "2000 miles away"...

The 11% claim of land "set aside" is a complete crock. As soon as somebody can make a profit from exploitation of those lands, they will be taken just as they have taken the Xingu. Little things like promises, treaties and covenants mean nothing to those mad with the promise of wealth.

The Brazilian government is showing the world how little they can be trusted.

[sarcasm]As much as I don't like bashing governments[/sarcasm] this is just another tally mark to the list of atrocities that Brazilian gov't has done. Honestly, they are acting like little kids that have been given way too much authority. It's like giving the bully the hall monitor pass, and the hall is one of that largest/richest, in terms of natural resources, economies in the world. Here's to hoping its the straw that finally breaks the camel's back. Although with recent actions by the leaders of the world, one of them being our glorious, illustrious President giving them 2 billion dollars for offshore drilling when he won't even let US drill.... Yeah...

[Toruk Makto]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 17, 2011

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Astrid Puentes, AIDA:     +52 1 55 23016639 (Mexico cell)  [email protected]
Christian Poirier, Amazon Watch:     +1 510 666 7565 (U.S. cell)   [email protected]
Brent Millikan, International Rivers:     [email protected]

Brazilian Government Pressured Over Human Rights Resolution on Amazon Dam
Organizations Worldwide Call on Brazil to Respect a Resolution from Inter-American Commission to Suspend the Belo Monte Dam

Washington, D.C. – In a series of letters sent to Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, nearly 100 prominent Brazilian and international human rights and environmental organizations, have expressed "deep concerns" over her government's refusal to comply with a resolution of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), part of the Organization of American States (OAS), that requested the immediate halt of construction on the Belo Monte Dam Complex in order to protect indigenous communities in the Brazilian Amazon.

The letters reached President Rousseff after Brazil's virulent and strongly worded rejection of the Commission's resolution sparked the first diplomatic crisis of her administration. Yet in spite of sharpening criticism around the government's planning of the Belo Monte Dam, the project is slated receive a license to begin construction as soon as this month.

Appeals to President Rousseff come from organizations specialized in human rights and environmental and scientific research, representing Latin American countries that work with the IACHR, as well as the United States, Europe and Asia. These include The Social-Environmental Institute (ISA), Brazilian Association of NGOs (ABONG), Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL), Amnesty International, Friends of the Earth (FOE) and The Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights.

The letters question the Rousseff government's refusal to cooperate with a request from an international body, as well as the wisdom of an aggressive and retaliatory response to the Commission, precisely at a moment when Brazil aspires to greater status among multilateral organizations, including the UN Security Council.

The petition states: "As organizations that work in the promotion of human rights, it is in our interest that the Brazilian government respects the decision from such an important body for the protection of human rights in the OAS. This is especially crucial given Brazil's binding commitments under both the American Declaration and Convention of Human Rights to guarantee the human rights of all people in its jurisdiction."

The Commission's resolution for "precautionary measures" came in response to a request filed late last year by local grassroots movements and other civil society organizations alleging that Brazil failed to guarantee the rights of indigenous peoples and other local populations in the Amazon that would be affected by Belo Monte, slated to be the world's third-largest dam project. The petition argued that in its rush to push forward with dam construction, the Brazilian government denied indigenous peoples' right to free, prior and informed consultations and consent, as well as special measures to protect tribes living in voluntary isolation.

In response, the Brazilian foreign ministry issued a statement, claiming the decision was "precipitated and unjustifiable", followed by an announcement that Brazil was withdrawing its candidate from next year's election to renew commissioners at the IACHR. Subsequently, reports leaked to the Brazilian press alleged that the Dilma administration has threatened the OAS with other retaliatory measures, including a cancellation of funding.

Earlier this month, Brazil's Energy Minister Edison Lobão complained about pressures from international public opinion and denied that the Belo Monte Dam would negatively affect indigenous peoples. He also affirmed that the government is "absolutely confident" that dam construction will commence by the end of June.

However, the Brazilian media revealed last week that the dam-building consortium Norte Energia has not complied with the vast majority of social and environmental conditions that are required prior to receiving an installation license for the Belo Monte Dam. These include measures to protect indigenous lands and improve basic health and sanitation infrastructure in the city of Altamira, where up to 100,000 job-seeking migrants are expected to arrive.

Minister Lobão's announcement that dam construction will begin in June provoked a strong reaction from Brazil's Federal Public Prosecutor's Office. Last Wednesday, it issued a formal recommendation to the federal environmental agency IBAMA that it not approve a full installation license for the mega-project, given "the evident failure to comply with numerous conditionalities and the potential damages associated with issuing another license at this early stage."

"It can be expected that IBAMA will yield to political pressure coming from Lobão and the office of President Dilma, thus issuing a full installation for Belo Monte in June, despite overwhelming evidence of non-compliance conditionalities and other violations of human rights and environmental legislation," said Brent Millikan of International Rivers. "This is precisely the sort of political interference that led to the decision among grassroots movements to file a petition with the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights in the first place."

Click here to see copies of the letters and an international list of signatories.


For more information:

    www.aida-americas.org
    www.amazonwatch.org
    www.internationalrivers.org
    www.xinguvivo.org.br

###

[Toruk Makto]

From Amazon Watch:


This has been a time of tragedy in the Amazon. This week the Brazilian government green-lighted construction on the monstrous Belo Monte Dam despite searing local, national and international opposition. Yet despite the initiation of this criminal operation, I can assure you that the battle to defend the Xingu River and its people is far from over.

Watch and share this video and join our Cause on Facebook.
A Last Stand for the Xingu
I have just returned from the Brazilian Amazon, where Chief Raoni gathered with hundreds of Kayapo warriors, indigenous leaders from 18 ethnicities, and leaders from the Xingu Alive Forever Movement (MXVPS).

"This is the last chance we have to paralyze Belo Monte's construction," Renata Pinheiro told the indigenous assembly. "The future of the Xingu is in your hands, indigenous peoples and social movements. You succeeded in stopping Belo Monte for 30 years – now more than ever we need to strengthen our resolve, joining forces to stop the beginning of construction."

It's now more important than ever that we take this campaign to the next level.

Take a stand, stop this monstrous project by joining the Cause on Facebook "Stop the Monster Dam: Protect the Xingu River and its People". Your donation today will support the travel of indigenous leaders to Brasilia and Altamira to make their voices heard.

Xingu Alive Forever! Xingu Vivo Para Sempre!

Christian Poirier
Brazil Program Coordinator

[Teylar Ta Palulukankelku]

The endgame is about to begin...

[Toruk Makto]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 7, 2011

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Brent Millikan
International Rivers:     +55 61 8153 7009
[email protected]
Christian Poirier
Amazon Watch:     +1 510 666 7565
[email protected]
Ruy Marques Sposati
Movimento Xingu Vivo:     + 55 93 9173 8389
[email protected]


As Tensions Rise, Controversial Belo Monte Dam Faces New Legal Challenge
Federal Public Prosecutors allege 40% of social and environmental conditions have not been met by project consortium

Brasilia, Brazil – Last week's decision by IBAMA, Brazil's federal environmental agency, to grant a license allowing full-fledged construction on the controversial Belo Monte Dam Complex on the Xingu River has spurred a new wave of legal challenges and protests throughout Brazil.

Yesterday, Brazil's Federal Public Prosecutor (MPF) filed its 11th civil action lawsuit against the Belo Monte project, demanding immediate suspension of the installation license due to non-compliance with a series of social and environmental safeguards that IBAMA itself stipulated as prerequisites for dam construction to commence. According to an internal IBAMA report, at least 40% of required actions—in such areas as health, education, sanitation and protection of indigenous lands—were not met by the dam consortium Norte Energia, S.A. (NESA).

The Brazilian government's insistence on fast-tracking the Belo Monte project in violation of its own laws, along with growing evidence of the project's lack of economic viability, have intensified opposition throughout the country. Since the installation license was issued last week, street protests have erupted in seven Brazilian cities, including São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Belém. Over the weekend, the Kayapó indigenous people, led by legendary Chief Raoni, staged a protest in the town of Colider and vowed to put their lives on the line to resist the Belo Monte Dam.

"IBAMA's decision to issue the installation license maintains a longstanding pattern of authoritarian disregard for environmental law and the rights of indigenous peoples and other local communities," said Antônia Melo, coordinator of the Movimento Xingu Vivo para Sempre. "The consequences of Belo Monte in the city of Altamira are already painfully clear: urban violence and land speculation have intensified in recent months, while health, education and sanitation facilities are increasingly overstretched. We're living in a state of chaos."

According to public prosecutors, the consortium has yet to implement critical improvements in health, education and sanitation in the city of Altamira. Worse still, the lawsuit notes that the developer claimed to have begun several projects in health and education, which IBAMA found did not exist in early May. The lawsuit alleges that this potentially amounts to criminal misconduct by the dam consortium.

"The failure by the NESA consortium to comply with conditionalities, and to lie about it, bodes badly for the future," said Brent Millikan, Amazon Program Director at International Rivers. "What's even worse is the Brazilian government's apparent willingness to violate all its own laws in order to steamroll through a project that is not in the best interests of the Brazilian people. The growing protests across the country show that Brazilians will not stand for such injustices. The battle is not yet over."

Over the last two weeks, leading Brazilian scientists and academics have sent letters to President Dilma Rousseff calling on the federal government to rethink its steamrolling of the mega-dam project. A major source of criticism from civil society groups, both in Brazil and abroad, has been the federal government's aggressive response to recommendations from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, part of the Organization of American States (OAS), regarding the need to respect indigenous peoples' rights. This week, Brazilian and international NGOs denounced the Belo Monte project in New York at the general assembly of the OAS and the UN Human Rights Council. Concerns are growing throughout Brazil that the Belo Monte Dam and attempts to roll back the country's forestry code may become a major international embarrassment, just as the country prepares to host the Rio +20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development in 2012.

More information:

   Press release by Federal Public Prosecutors on lawsuit
   www.internationalrivers.org
   www.amazonwatch.org
   www.xinguvivo.org.br

###

[Toruk Makto]

The endgame is about to begin...

Ma oeyä 'eylan, you could be quite right...

"The Brazilian government's insistence on fast-tracking the Belo Monte project in violation of its own laws, along with growing evidence of the project's lack of economic viability, have intensified opposition throughout the country. Since the installation license was issued last week, street protests have erupted in seven Brazilian cities, including São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Belém. Over the weekend, the Kayapó indigenous people, led by legendary Chief Raoni, staged a protest in the town of Colider and vowed to put their lives on the line to resist the Belo Monte Dam."

I wish I could get down there for that.

[Tsyal Maktoyu]

Eletronorte is a pimp, and the Brazilian government is their whore.

[ExLibrisMortis]

Um... uh oh... These protests arn't looking good. And when I say good I mean for the stability of the entire South America... Details are hazy right now and unconfirmed, but this is not good...