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Belo Monte Dam project on the Xingu River |
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by Luiz Bispo | 08-06-2015 06:15
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I have heard about indigenous people in Australia so called "Aboriginal". I could see Australians history through them and their traditional artworks made a big impression to me when I studied in Sydney. In Brazil we also have about 200 tribes the population of them is approximately 300,000 in 1997. However, the recent Brazilian government project has had a negative impact on indigenous peoples in The Xingu River basin.
The Brazilian government started to build the world third largest hydroelectric dam called Belo Monte Dam on the Xingu River. The Xingu River Basin is the symbol of the Brazil s cultural and biological diversity. 25,000 native people from 40 ethnic groups have lived this area but up to 40,000 indigenous people have to be driven out of their home because Belo Monte Dam was constructed by devastating an area of over 1,500 square kilometers of Brazilian rainforest.
The Xingu River has been an essential part of the ecosystem having a rich biodiversity of species. In particular, water plays a crucial role in food supply for native people. They hunted and gathered fishes here, which is a main protein supplement. However, the construction of dam influences the quality of the river s water, which threaten the Xingu's inhabitants food security. It is no doubt that the reduction of biodiversity of fish species will be worse if the construction is completed.
However, in terms of producing aluminum and consumer goods with low price of energy, the government and the multinational companies support this project. Even the FUNAI (National Foundation for the Indio- organization to protect indigenous people) do not object to this project as well.
Fortunately, Amazon Watch (protect indigenous lands in the Amazon regions with native communities) has conducted a campaign to stop this dam project since 2010. They put effort to raise an awareness of the environmental chaos and disadvantages of traditional people to the world. Working with a coalition of Brazilian and international organizations is expected to influence social movements against Belo Monte.
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4 Comments
I agree with fellow ambassadors.
Development must go on & side-by-side the economic long term interest of affected population must be compensated suitably by the Govt.
Poor must not suffer in the pretext of development.
Posted 08-06-2015 21:13
It is clear that this dam would flood native people's land (who rely heavily on the river for their livelihoods), would also have a devastating effect on many animals and plants species , thereby threatening the biodiversity ,the forest and wetlands on this stretch of the river will also be irrevocably changed . Inspite of these concerns , Brazilian govt is proceeding with this for so called economic development and meeting energy needs. This is certainly not a sustainable development. Government should find out ways and means to look into the interest of these local tribes . They could probably fund them for possible relocation and employment.
Thanks for reporting the issue here .
Posted 08-06-2015 11:37
Exactly, the major hydroelectric project has several disadvantages over the advantages especially to the indigenous people who love living in river basin and survive their livelihood with the aquatic flora and fauna. I am sorry to know that nearly 40000 people were driven out of their home due to Belo Monte Dam on the Xingu River.
In my opinion there should be negotiation between government and indigenous people to ensure win- win condition, instead of protesting to stop the project.
Thank you for sharing dear Luiz :)
Posted 08-06-2015 10:33
Development process should go on, but in doing so we must gurantee judicial subsides to the people who have owned such natural resources since prehistoric time and made their way of life.
thanks for sharing report and concern Luiz
Posted 08-06-2015 10:03