Blogs

Typically we keep our focus on rivers outside the U.S., but on Septemeber 18 we'll see an important action happening here at home on the West Coast. The Klamath Justice Coalition is organizing the first annual Day of Action Against PacifiCorp: The Most Destructive Power Company in the West. 

Brazilian Military in Amazon (archive)

I know I should be working, but this one caught my eye: "Brazil defends Amazon dam in simulated war. Beginning yesterday, the `Green´ country (Brazil) will be invaded by the `Yellow´ country, which will occupy Balbina Dam and mineral-rich areas in the Amazon." The Brazilian Navy, Army, and Air Force will mobilize to halt the nefarious "Yellow" plans. According to the operation´s site, the principal objective is to protect the dam and electric system installations.

Dilma Rousseff, Lula´s Chief-of-Staff (Antônio Cruz/ABr)

Like a stern mother scolding disobedient children, President Lula´s Chief-of-Staff Dilma Rousseff has threatened the Madeira dams consortia that if they go to court to contest the terms of project concessions, the Brazilian government will build the dams itself.

The maternal comparison is fitting because Rousseff, being groomed as the Workers Party candidate in the 2010 presidential election, has been declared by Lula to be "the Mother of PAC", the government´s Plan to Accelerate Growth, based upon building large-scale infrastructure projects.

Hurray - Yesterday we were acknowledged for the strong impact of the flash presentations we've been producing to highlight our work. The goal of these slideshows is to bring our message to a wider audience and convey a powerful feeling of why we do this work, and what's at stake for the people and places threatened by large dams.

In characteristic heavy-handed fashion, Brazil´s electricity bureaucracy last week went through the motions of assuring the public and environmental licensing authorities that Belo Monte will be stand-alone dam on the Xingu River. In attempting to explain the decision, Jerson Kelman, Director-General of the electrical energy regulatory body, ANEEL, said "Technically, there´s no reason not to build other dams (on the river)". Kelman termed the decision "political", designed to satisfy those who want the dam. "It´s a typical case of giving up your rings to keep your fingers", he said. (Ouch!)

 

Lula, Minc and others protest Angra III nuclear plant, 1989 (archive)

What happens when activists, or idealists enter in the government? The papers are full of accounts of government corruption, but is the converse also true - that governments corrupt, turning activists into staunch defenders of vested interests? Case in point - yesterday´s approval of a provisisonal license for the Angra III nuclear plant by Environmental Minister Carlos Minc.

Amid continued calls by dam builders to accelerate environmental licensing in Brazil, a battle looms between industry giants which could delay the damming of the Madeira River.

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