I wanted to bring
this issue to people's attention as it reflects many of the case studies we've
discussed in class, unfolding in real time.
The building of the
huge Belo Monte Dam in northern Brazil has incited controversy since the
project's inception. The dam would be the world's third largest dam, costing
roughly $14 billion and flooding about 400 square kilometers of Amazonian
Forest. The dam is being built by Norte Energia, a consortium of ten mining,
construction, and engineering companies, but the project is also heavily
supported by the Brazilian government, who has named the area around Belo Monte
and its zone of impact as areas of "public interest." The government
supports this project as a way to meet Brazil's growing energy demands using
clean, renewable energy.
Indigenous groups
and environmentalists have tried to stop dam construction, asserting that the
economic benefit the dam might bring would only serve the local companies, and
not the local people. While environmental assessments of the project have been done,
environmentalists argue that the dam will cause irreversible damage to the
Amazon, a valuable source of natural resources and biodiversity. Additionally,
the project will destroy the local people's main source of livelihood: fishing.
In fact, one local group has already reported that the dam construction is
dirtying the Xingu River, which they use for drinking and fishing. Furthermore,
the workers brought in to construct the dam are transforming the nearby city of
Altamira, which has seen increased crime and higher housing prices since the
workers arrived.
The biggest social
impact of the dam, however, is the displacement of roughly 24,000 people that
have had to sell their homes and flee the areas affected by the dam's
construction. Advocates for the local people attest that they have not received
just compensation for their lost property and community; most of these
residents were forced to agree to monetary settlements as the government's
support for the project has left them with little legal recourse and no
alternatives.
As the article and
video discuss, is this dam worth the social and environmental costs? While the
fact that this question is even being asked shows progress in the discourse
about development projects and their impact on indigenous populations, with the
dam already under construction it might be too little too late. With other
viable alternatives to satisfy growing energy needs and debate over the true
effectiveness of the dam, it's curious that the dam project has been able to
push forward. Unfortunately this seems to be another case where economic
interests of corporations and politicians overpower the social and
environmental interests of the local people.
This is yet another act of disregard on the part of corporate companies and the government. It seems that such initiatives will always face opposition as they will inevitably have a major impact on the environment and the people who inhabit these areas and it is a shame that more effort was not taken in understanding the impact of the displacement of such a large population. As the dam is already underway, the only logical step is a close look at the impacted population so that a federal or other aid is allotted towards a more fair compensation than what is realistically offered. While this is quite optimistic, I believe it is this sort of fairness that these large corporations should be accountable for and strive towards.
ReplyDeleteIn response to the comment that "it's curious that the dam project has been able to push forward," I think that the initiative is driven by money. This was most likely the most economical solution for Brazil... even though the cost of $14 billion is enormous. However, building a dam is not always an environmentally degrading process (although it alters the landscape in some unavoidable way). Dams provide clean hydroelectric power when the water flows through the dam and creates pressure to turn turbines. This does not generate greenhouse gases or create a dependence on foreign oil. Additionally, hydroelectric power is often less expensive and more sustainable for future use.
ReplyDeleteThe social impacts of the dam project were not adequately addressed, and while I agree that the local people need to be justly compensated, I do not think that we can condemn construction of the dam so quickly.
Good comments here.
ReplyDelete