Brazil begins preliminary damming of Xingu River as protests continue
Jeremy Hancemongabay.com
January 19, 2012
"We will continue to resist this monstrosity and work to call attention of the Brazilian public and the world that this wanton destruction of the Amazon will hurt us all," said Antônia Melo, coordinator of the Xingu Vivo movement that organized the protest. "To take away the river is to take away the life of its people, because water is life."
 A section of the Xingu River as viewed by Google Earth. |
Indigenous tribes say they were not notified that Norte Energia (NESA) had begun constructing coffer dams until the river became red-colored with mud.
"When we learned what they were doing, it practically killed us with sadness," Josinei Arara, a member of the Arara indigenous community 10 miles downstream on the Xingu from the Pimental dam site, told International Rivers. "The dam builders have kept none of their promises to compensate our village; in they meantime, they’re assassinating our river."
The Brazilian government says the megadam must be built to meet the rising nation's power needs. The dam would provide enough energy to power 23 million homes, yet during three to four months of the year critics say it will run on only 10-30 percent capacity due to low waters, an issue climate change will likely exacerbate.
Last November, a Brazilian court ruled that indigenous communities do not have a right to free, prior and informed consultation regarding the Belo Monte dam because it is physically located on tribal lands.
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