The mega hydroelectric dams planned to be constructed in the Madeira River, San Antonio and Jirau were promoted by the government as the only solution to restrain energy rationing starting in 2012. As part of the main portfolio of projects of the Growth Acceleration Plan (PAC), the bidding process of the hydroelectric dams was done under pressure, justified by the priority given to growth in energy demand, regardless of the costs.
The book “Águas Turvas: alertas sobre as conseqüências de barrar o maior afluente do Amazonas" (“Muddy Waters: alerts on the consequences of damming the biggest tributary of the Amazon”), explains the contradictions of the Hydroelectric Complex and the hydroways of the Madeira River and the questions that still don’t have an answer with regards to its socio-environmental feasibility, in a situation in which the companies are waiting to receive the permits to initiate the construction in July of this year. The objective of Aguas Turvas is to serve as a tool for those that seek to understand the history of the project and its implications for the Amazon region
Roundtable
The launching of the book, organized by Amigos da Terra – Amazonia Brasilera, will take place in Porto Velho, Rondonia, on June 25th, at the Vila Rica Hotel. Among the panelists; Glenn Switkes, Latin America Manager of International Rivers and organizer of the book, the event will also have a roundtable of experts and communities affected by the dams.
Zuleica Castilhos will explain the risks for the populations in the region given the increase in mercury concentration on fish in the Madeira river; fish being the basis of the food for these populations. Castilhos is the author of two of the chapters of Aguas Turvas, she has a PhD in Geoscience (Geochemistry) and is a researcher for the Center for Mining Technology (CETEM) from the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Carolina Diniz is a lawyer for Amigos da Terra – Amazonia Brasilera, and will discuss the illegal actions in the environmental bidding and what is being done in the legal arena to guarantee the rights of the affected communities and the protection of the environment. The organization submitted two Public Civil Actions and is waiting for the legal procedure of the Federal Justice of Rondonia. This month, the Federal Justice of Maranhao stopped the construction of the Estreito Hydroelectric, whose bidding problems were very similar to the ones of the Madeira.
The representative of the Riberena Community of São Domingos, José Riqueta, will condemn the pressure that the Madeira Energy S.A consortium has faced in order to give up plots, before receiving the license for the works. São Domingos is located where the construction works will take place in the quarries of the San Antonio hydroelectric dam. Several representatives of affected indigenous group representatives will also be there to share their opinions.
To obtain more information on the event please go to www.amazonia.org.br/agenda
Book
The initiative for the publication of the book comes from Bank Information Center (BIC) as part of a series of case studies under the BICECA Project. Funding for the publication was granted by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the Kendeda Foundation, the Blue Moon Fund and the Ford Foundation
International Rivers coordinated the case study, The articles were written by experts from different prestigious brazilian and foreign institutions, including the National Institute for the Research of the Amazon (INPA), Yale University, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés (Bolivia), among others.
The book will be distributed at the event at no cost and will then be put on the Internet on e-format.
Contacts
Glenn Switkes, International Rivers
11 8460.9513, glenn@internationalrivers.org
Gustavo Pimentel, Amigos da Terra – Amazônia Brasileira
11 3887.9369 / 8622.4682, gustavo.pimentel@amazonia.org.br