Mega Dams - Belo Monte - Christian Poirier

Rights of Nature Tribunal

1. The Belo Monte & Tapajos Dam and The Belo Monte & Tapajos Dam and
Brazil's Plans for Hydroelectric Brazil's Plans for Hydroelectric
Expansion in the AmazonExpansion in the Amazon
Christian Poirier, Amazon Watch Brazil Campaigner

2. Belo Monte: gateway to Belo Monte: gateway to
Amazon DestructionAmazon Destruction
The Belo Monte and Madeira dam complexes are the The Belo Monte and Madeira dam complexes are the
first of a wave of new dam projects executed by the first of a wave of new dam projects executed by the
Brazilian government, under the country’s “Accelerated Brazilian government, under the country’s “Accelerated
Growth Program” (PAC).Growth Program” (PAC).
60-70 large dams planned in the Amazon over the next 60-70 large dams planned in the Amazon over the next
20 years with devastating consequences to ecosystems, 20 years with devastating consequences to ecosystems,
communities, and our global climate.communities, and our global climate.
The construction of the Belo Monte dam alone could The construction of the Belo Monte dam alone could
lead to more than 5000 km2 of deforestation. lead to more than 5000 km2 of deforestation.

3. Disastrous Belo MonteDisastrous Belo Monte

4. Social ImpactsSocial Impacts
The impacts on traditional and indigenous riverine The impacts on traditional and indigenous riverine
communities as well as many rural and urban communities as well as many rural and urban
communities is immeasurable. communities is immeasurable.
Altamira and surrounding municipalities are suffering Altamira and surrounding municipalities are suffering
a huge influx of migrants that has led to a collapse in a huge influx of migrants that has led to a collapse in
health, sanitation, and education infrastructure and health, sanitation, and education infrastructure and
precipitated a spike in criminality. precipitated a spike in criminality.
New Amazonian mega-projects bring mega-risks for New Amazonian mega-projects bring mega-risks for
social conflict, widespread deforestation, and social conflict, widespread deforestation, and
unchecked human rights abuses. unchecked human rights abuses.

5. What’s at StakeWhat’s at Stake
Indigenous and traditional
communities have the
most to lose.

6. Indigenous Peoples of the Indigenous Peoples of the
XinguXingu
The Xingu is home to over The Xingu is home to over
25,000 indigenous peoples 25,000 indigenous peoples
from 18 ethnic groups, from 18 ethnic groups,
including the Juruna, including the Juruna,
Xikrín, Arara, Xipaia, Xikrín, Arara, Xipaia,
Kuruaya, Parakanã, Kuruaya, Parakanã,
Araweté, and Kayapó.Araweté, and Kayapó.
Belo Monte threatens to
put an end to their way
of life.

7. ““The River is Our Life’s Blood”The River is Our Life’s Blood”

8. National ControversyNational Controversy
Belo Monte is one of the world’s most controversial projects, provoking major protests

9. Protests Around the WorldProtests Around the World

10. A Global PolemicA Global Polemic

11. Brazil’s Hydroelectric Expansion PlanBrazil’s Hydroelectric Expansion Plan
11

12. The Tapajós River basin: next The Tapajós River basin: next
to fall to Brazil’s dam agenda?to fall to Brazil’s dam agenda?
The Brazilian government is steamrolling forward The Brazilian government is steamrolling forward
with plans for unprecedented series of massive with plans for unprecedented series of massive
dams on the mighty Tapajós River and its major dams on the mighty Tapajós River and its major
tributaries: the Teles Pires, Jamanxim and Juruena.tributaries: the Teles Pires, Jamanxim and Juruena.
All of these dams would be part of a larger All of these dams would be part of a larger
complex of water infrastructure projects in the complex of water infrastructure projects in the
region, including industrial waterways for region, including industrial waterways for
transporting agribusiness and mining commodities transporting agribusiness and mining commodities
out of the Amazon rainforest. out of the Amazon rainforest.

13. Repeating the tragedy of Repeating the tragedy of
Belo MonteBelo Monte
The three dams of the Tapajos Complex alone would flood The three dams of the Tapajos Complex alone would flood
198,400 hectares including indigenous territories and 34,000 198,400 hectares including indigenous territories and 34,000
hectares of national parks and forests, accelerating the hectares of national parks and forests, accelerating the
destruction of the Amazon Basin. destruction of the Amazon Basin.

14. Belo Monte’s Legal Belo Monte’s Legal
PrecedentsPrecedents
A 2012 federal count ruling against the A 2012 federal count ruling against the
indigenous right to consultation (ILO 169) indigenous right to consultation (ILO 169)
will take the case to Brazil’s Supreme Court. will take the case to Brazil’s Supreme Court.
Brazil’s Federal Public Ministry has filed 16 Brazil’s Federal Public Ministry has filed 16
lawsuits against the Belo Monte Dam.lawsuits against the Belo Monte Dam.
The Inter-American Commission on Human The Inter-American Commission on Human
Rights demanded Brazil observe Rights demanded Brazil observe
“precautionary measures” and suspend the “precautionary measures” and suspend the
dam.dam.

15. The Right to ConsultationThe Right to Consultation
The struggle to halt the expansion of dams in the Amazon is a defining issue for
indigenous rights in Brazil and beyond.

16. This is a struggle for our This is a struggle for our
collective futurecollective future
aa

17. THANK YOU!THANK YOU!
[email protected]