Glenn Switkes's blog

In the third and final part of my interview, I venture into the shifting sands of Brazilian politics - along with football and religion, talking politics is always risky behavior.

In the second part of my interview, I talk about irregularities in the Madeira River dams licensing process, and why I feel there is still a chance to halt projects planned for the Madeira and Xingu.

I recently was interviewed by Brazil´s Instituto Humanitas Unisinos, and probably said a lot more than I should have. The first part of my interview, translated into English is about energy alternatives for Brazil.

Kayapó leader Tuira receives Tenotã-Mõ book from women activists

The attack on the Eletrobrás official set off a series of recriminations, aimed at discrediting the movement. But, the Kayapó re-oriented their actions towards moving forward in their defense of the Xingu.

Calling the regional Federal Attorney to the table, the Kayapó brought all their chiefs to address him, saying "we are authorities of our people, too. We want to make it very clear how we stand regarding the dams planned for the Xingu."

One chief brought his daughter with him. Embracing her, he said "What I am saying is not for me - it is for her, and for my grandchildren. We want the waters of the Xingu to be clean, and full of fish."

Kayapó dance at the Belo Monte protest

Shock. Despair. I was on the panel discussing the impacts of Belo Monte Dam, when about eight Kayapó Indians incensed at the defense of the project by state company Eletrobrás' project manager, Paulo Fernando Rezende who had been invited to the encounter, suddenly rushed him. They threw him to the ground about ten feet from me. Chanting and waving machetes, the Kayapó pushed NGO leaders raising their hands and calling for calm out of the way, and in the scuffle, Rezende emerged with a cut on his shoulder. He was treated at the Transamazon Hospital and released later in the evening.

Parakanã celebrate arrival with dance

Preparations are heating up for the opening of the Xingu Indigenous Gathering. Buses arrive every hour from distant towns such as Redenção, Tucumã, and Colíder, bringing indigenous families to Altamira, to discuss the future of the Xingu Basin.

I spend the early part of the afternoon talking with leaders of the Xikrin indigenous group, who have been approached by Brazilian state electric company Eletrobrás to "accept" the Belo Monte Dam project. We talk awhile and it becomes clear that the company has never mentioned the impacts the world's third largest dam would have on their land and resources, drying out the Bacajá, affecting water quality and quantity, fish stocks, and the health of the Xikrin.

former Brazilian environment minister, Marina Silva (Roosewelt Pinheiro/ABr)

Marina Silva´s resignation yesterday as environment minister has shredded the last guise of any environmental credibility in the Brazilian government. It´s not that Marina´s tenure was so incredibly successful - her opposition to GMOs resulted only in getting two companies to put a tiny "T" symbol on their soy oil, and we´ll never be able to forgive Marina, as good soldier dismantling the environmental protection agency Ibama, and pulling the switch executing the Madeira River at Lula´s orders.

Dorothy Stang, murdered American nun (archive)

Seeing him waving the "V' for victory sign yesterday, and hearing him thank divine justice for his acquittal on appeal after initially being convicted and sentenced to 30 years, rancher Vitalmiro de Moura Bastos, or "Bida" reminded me of the killers of civil rights workers in the South who smirked when were absolved for their crimes. But, this is the Amazon, not the South, and it´s 2008. And, the murder Bida was absolved of was that of an American nun, Dorothy Stang, rather than a Black youth who dared to assert his rights.

Fernando Lugo, new Paraguayan president (Antônio Cruz, ABr)

The victory by Fernando Lugo last Sunday in Paraguay´s presidential elections has sent ripples through the energy ministries of Brazil and Argentina, based upon his assertion that the Itaipu and Yacyretá Dam treaties must be re-negotiated to guarantee a fair deal for his country.

There was a time when Brazil´s groundbreaking environmental laws, based upon its
constitution (article 225) which guarantees its citizens the right to a healthy environment were considered a global model. Not anymore.