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The Brazilian Belo Monte dam
Brazil's environment agency gave its definitive approval on 1 June 2011 for construction of the Belo Monte hydroelectric dam in the Amazon that has drawn criticism from native Indians and conservationists. Originally conceived 30 years ago, progress on Belo Monte has been slowed over the years by protests, including an incident in 2009 in which Kayapo Indians armed with clubs and machetes attacked a state electricity official.
Construction of dams in Brazil has caused enormous social and environmental impacts. The "Brazilian Dam Affected Peoples Movement" (MAB) estimates that one million Brazilians have been impacted by dam construction, and that 70% of these people have not received compensation for their losses. MAB, which was originally formed by people affected by Itaipu dam in the 1970s, has today grown into a national movement, and is one of the strongest organizations of dam-affected people in the world. Considered an "obstacle" to business interests, indigenous peoples are particularly vulnerable. Mega-projects typically confront indigenous communities with disease, loss of food and clean water sources, cultural disintegration and human rights abuses by illegal loggers, migrant workers and land speculators. The indirect and long term impacts of Belo Monte are of even greater concern as other unsustainable industries such as aluminum and metal refineries, soy plantations, logging, and mining expand into the area. 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. The government has said the 11,200-megawatt and $17 billion project, due to start producing electricity in 2015, is crucial to provide power to Brazil's fast-growing economy. The 6-km-long (3.75-mile) dam will displace 30,000 river dwellers, partially dry up a 100 km stretch of what is known as the "Big Bend" of the Xingu river, and flood large areas of forest and grass land. It will be the world's third biggest hydroelectric dam after China's Three Gorges and Itaipu on the border of Brazil and Paraguay. Read on: "An Environmental and Economical Evaluation" "New hydro-power dams in remote Siberia" to feed power-hungry China. Ethiopia says it will build four more hydroelectric dams on the Nile river as part of a plan to become a power hub for Africa.
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