Amazon being dammed
transcript excerpts:
On destroying the forest ecosystem:
The Brazilian government has just approved construction of a huge hydro-electric dam. And 60 such dams are being planned all along the Amazon...For 30 years scientists and environmentalists have been fighting against the Belo Monte dam. Last month Brazil's environment watchdog controversially gave it the go-ahead - but only after the previous head of the agency resigned in protest.
On destroying a part of humanity:
Every day they don't need to worry about much. They go fishing, they go get some water, they do some cooking and life is good...For me, it truly is a window into our humanity...When the Amazon is dammed the largest most powerful river in the world will never be the same again...and we will all be the poorer for it.
from Amazon Watch
Hydroelectric energy is touted as both a solution to Brazil's periodic blackouts and as a "clean development" approach to global climate change. However, Philip Fearnside of the National Amazon Research Institute (INPA) has calculated that the forests flooded by Belo Monte's reservoirs will generate enormous quantities of methane, a greenhouse gas that is 25 times more potent than CO2.Belo Monte will also attract 100,000 migrants to the region. However, at the height of construction, only 40,000 jobs - only 2,000 of them long-term - will have been created. The remaining labor pool will be driven to resort to illegal logging and cattle ranching, the two main causes of deforestation in the Amazon. In addition, new migrants could fuel social tensions as they look for work, pushing into indigenous territories and protected areas to carve out a livelihood. Meanwhile, the needs of those who do find jobs will add pressure to an already weak infrastructure and social services in the largest cities.
from same page as above
What the Electricity is For
The government claims that Belo Monte's cheap energy will power the houses of Brazilian families. In reality, only 70% of Belo Monte's energy will be sold for public consumption. Meanwhile, the remaining 30% has been purchased by state electric utility Eletrobras to resell to inefficient and energy-intensive industrial mining and other operations. The government has planned a USD $40 billion investment in mining expansion for the Amazon region through the year 2014. The heavily subsidized electricity from Belo Monte and other hydroelectric dams planned for the region would power the expansion of export-oriented mining at the Vale corporation's Carajás iron mine and Salobo copper mine, Alcoa's Juriti bauxite mine, and Anglo American's Jacaré nickel mine, among others. Meanwhile, Brazilian citizens would continue to pay among the highest energy tariffs in the developing world in exchange for electricity from perhaps the most inefficient dam in the country's history.
Belo Monte will be one of the most energy inefficient dams in the history of Brazil. It will produce only 10% of its 11,233 megawatt (MW) installed capacity during the 3-5 month-long dry season, an average of only 4,462 MW throughout the year, or 39% of its nominal capacity....
Sustainable Alternatives
WWF-Brazil released a report in 2007 stating that Brazil could cut its expected demand for electricity by 40% by 2020 by investing in energy efficiency. The power saved would be equivalent to 14 Belo Monte hydroelectric plants and would result in national electricity savings of up to R$33 billion (US$19 billion).2
Retrofitting existing hydroelectric infrastructure would also add thousands of megawatts to the energy grid without needing to dam another river. A first step would be to reduce the startling amount of energy lost during transmission, replace energy-inefficient household products, and update old and failing generators. Rather than invest in large, inefficient dams, Brazil has the potential to be a global leader in energy efficiency and renewables such as wind and solar power, conserving the Amazon ecosystem and drastically cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
video narrated by Sigourney Weaver
http://amazonwatch.org/news/2010/0830-defending-the-rivers-of-the-amazon...
I first got truly frightened when I heard they were planning on building a highway into the Amazon basin. That was in 1978.
People, something really has to be done to publicize this more broadly. John and Jane C Average has no idea that this madness is only excellerating. Seriously now. If we do have to prioritize environmental problems (NOT at the expense of others) then time is shortest on this. Some say just a few more years before all large tropical eco-systems will be too far gone to reclaim. There will be no going back then.
People, something really has to be done to publicize this more broadly... time is shortest on this.
Indeed. I'm a bit disappointed at the lack of responses on this thread! Turning rainforests to methane emissions from rotting vegetation is insane. Especially when the relatively flat terrain will mean the hydroelectric generation will be very inefficient, and if, as claimed in the video, the energy needs can be met through better efficiency and harnessing of wind and solar power.
Also, this is a good example of how the word "development" is a full of value judgements. It's downright bigoted to call the Kayupo an "undeveloped" people. The entire human race loses if their ancestral territory is flooded.
The Kayapo and all the others never needed 'developing' did they, we need it. But we want their resources instead. As we always have. Sigh, but I too have to get back to my own small world again. My big dream now is waking up in the morning and hearing others are too.
27 October 2011 Last updated at 19:22 ET
"Hundreds of campaigners have occupied the construction site of the Belo Monte dam project in the Brazilian Amazon...
The protesters, many of them members of indigenous groups, said they would stay at the site indefinitely."
Meanwhile, International Day of Action for Rivers (on Facebook)
March 14 2012 - International Day of Action for Rivers-- consider lighting a candle or a bonfire for the river you love.