Ecobreves – BRAZIL: Opposition to Amazon Dam

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec 15 2007 (IPS) - The Brazilian hydroelectric dam Santo António, on the Madeira River in the Amazon, will continue under attacks from environmental and social movements, although its construction between 2008-2012 was sealed in bidding on Dec. 10, with a consortium headed by the Odebrecht firm coming out on top. “The project will affect 5,000 families who live near the river,” Wesley Ferreira, activist with a movement of communities harmed by the construction of dams, told Tierramérica. The movement represents one million Brazilian families.

“Prices will go up as a result of real estate speculation, imbalances in family farming and the extractive activities of indigenous and river communities,” he added.

It will mean the concentration of thousands of workers, “and the news about the increased supply of energy and jobs will attract many more people,” said André Muggiati, speaking on behalf of Greenpeace's Amazon campaign.

Four hydroelectric dams are planned to be built along the Madeira River.