Source: Cool Earth
The proposed Belo Monte dam in Brazil and the proposed Pakitsapango dam in Peru - both reported in earlier Cool Earth News items - have driven these three leaders from different Amazonian communities to get together and travel the world to jointly raise awareness of their plight. Both dams are projects headed by Electrobrasil, Brazil's state owned electricity generating company and represent only a small percent of the total hydro electric schemes proposed by them for the Amazon Basin.
Both Belo Monte and Pakitsapango projects would cause huge devastation to the rainforest and river ecosystems as well as forcing scores of thousands of indigenous peoples from their best traditional village and garden sites. Their joint message is for the controversial schemes to be halted.Sheyla Yakarepi, an indigenous leader from the Juruna people in Para, Brazil, has been fighting to protect their land for more than 20 years and is an unwavering opponent of the Belo Monte proposal. Also from Brazil, Almir Narayamoga represents the Surui indigenous nation and is committed to working for the rights of indigenous peoples.
From the Peruvian Amazon, the third indigenous leader is Ruth Buendia, President of the Central Ashaninka del Rio Ene, which represents most of the Ashaninka communities on the river where the Pakitsapango dam threatens to be built. She, too, battles energetically against this dam, one of six proposed by the Brazilians for development in Peru, together forming an enormous US$16 billion investment. Ruth argues that in international law a megaproject such as this can not go ahead without full consultation and consent by the communities effected. No social and/or environmental impact assessment has been completed yet and the communities have not been consulted.The three leaders will be in London for only a few days, during which they plan to speak at an event organised by the Rainforest Foundation and lead a demonstration with the help of Survival International. More information on these dam projects and the campaigns against them can be found on the International Rivers website.