“Aguas Turvas”: new book that explains the never ending socio-environmental problems of the Madeira Complex
23 June 2008
A major new book, jointly published by the Bank Information Center, International Rivers and other partners, aims to explain the contradictions of the Hydroelectric Complex and the hydroways of the Madeira River. "Aguas Turvas" will serve as a tool for those that seek to understand the history of the project and its implications for the Amazon region.
The mega hydroelectric dams planned to be constructed in the Madeira River, San Antonio and Jirau were promoted by the government as the only solution to restrain energy rationing starting in 2012. As part of the main portfolio of projects of the Growth Acceleration Plan (PAC), the bidding process of the hydroelectric dams was done under pressure, justified by the priority given to growth in energy demand, regardless of the costs.
The book “Águas Turvas: alertas sobre as conseqüências de barrar o maior afluente do Amazonas" (“Muddy Waters: alerts on the consequences of damming the biggest tributary of the Amazon”), explains the contradictions of the Hydroelectric Complex and the hydroways of the Madeira River and the questions that still don’t have an answer with regards to its socio-environmental feasibility, in a situation in which the companies are waiting to receive the permits to initiate the construction in July of this year. The objective of Aguas Turvas is to serve as a tool for those that seek to understand the history of the project and its implications for the Amazon region.
Roundtable
The launching of the book, organized by Amigos da Terra – Amazonia Brasilera, will take place in Porto Velho, Rondonia, on June 25th, at the Vila Rica Hotel. Among the panelists; Glenn Switkes, Latin America Manager of International Rivers and organizer of the book, the event will also have a roundtable of experts and communities affected by the dams.
Zuleica Castilhos will explain the risks for the populations in the region given the increase in mercury concentration on fish in the Madeira river; fish being the basis of the food for these populations. Castilhos is the author of two of the chapters of Aguas Turvas, she has a PhD in Geoscience (Geochemistry) and is a researcher for the Center for Mining Technology (CETEM) from the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Carolina Diniz is a lawyer for Amigos da Terra – Amazonia Brasilera, and will discuss the illegal actions in the environmental bidding and what is being done in the legal arena to guarantee the rights of the affected communities and the protection of the environment. The organization submitted two Public Civil Actions and is waiting for the legal procedure of the Federal Justice of Rondonia. This month, the Federal Justice of Maranhao stopped the construction of the Estreito Hydroelectric, whose bidding problems were very similar to the ones of the Madeira.
The representative of the Riberena Community of São Domingos, José Riqueta, will condemn the pressure that the Madeira Energy S.A consortium has faced in order to give up plots, before receiving the license for the works. São Domingos is located where the construction works will take place in the quarries of the San Antonio hydroelectric dam. Several representatives of affected indigenous group representatives will also be there to share their opinions.
Finally, the book will be launched on Wednesday, July 2nd in Brasilia at a breakfast with the Congressional Environmental Caucus, in conjunction with the release of a new report by GTA on deforestation in Rondonia. The book will also be launched on July 4th in Sao Paulo at a roundtable event broadcast by live webcast by IG (IG.com.br). (2nd press release forthcoming)
To obtain more information on the event please go to Amazonia website.
Book
The initiative for the publication of the book comes from Bank Information Center (BIC) as part of a series of case studies under the BICECA Project. Funding for the publication was granted by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the Kendeda Foundation, the Blue Moon Fund and the Ford Foundation
International Rivers coordinated the case study, The articles were written by experts from different prestigious brazilian and foreign institutions, including the National Institute for the Research of the Amazon (INPA), Yale University, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés (Bolivia), among others.
The book will be distributed at the event at no cost and will then be put on the Internet on e-format
Contacts
Glenn Switkes, International Rivers
+11 8460-9513,
Gustavo Pimentel, Amigos da Terra – Amazônia Brasileira
+11 3887-9369 / 8622-4682,
Documents
Dan plazo hasta el 3 julio para que Evo rechace las represas en el río Madera (Acrobat pdf, 137 KB) - en español - This document is a press release by the campesino and indigenous community organizations of Northern Bolivia (mentioned in the first paragraph) are demanding that the Bolivian government come to the region on July 3 to formalize its rejection of the proposed San Antonio and Jirau dams by the government of Brazil and to proceed with the preferred alternative of building smaller mini-hydroelectric dams in area rivers.
Uma análise do Projeto Básico Ambiental do AHE Santo Antônio by Leanne Farrell, International Rivers (Acrobat pdf, 317 KB) - em português - This document is an analysis of the 33 conditions that the Brazilian environmental licensing agency, IBAMA, placed on the preliminary license of the first Madeira dam – San Antonio, in July 2009. The study by Leanne Farrell for International Rivers finds that planned environmental mitigation actions by the Madeira Energia S/A (MESA) consortium that will operate the San Antonio consortium, fall far short of those outlined by the IBAMA conditions and will not attenuate the devastation to the Madeira river basin caused by the planned hydroelectric dam. Farrell’s analysis underscores the lack of adequately detailed information, absence of clear institutional responsibilities or robust commitments to implement minimal mitigation measures before construction, underestimated impacts, all of which point to a clear intention to ignore or avoid the conditions imposed by IBAMA on the granting of the construction license.
Resources and updates
Current cost to build Madeira dams is 129% greater than originally planned, Amazônia, July 10, 2008 (Amazônia website)
Convidam para o "Talk Show" com jornalistas "Perguntas sem resposta sobre o complexo do rio Madeira", seguido lançamento do livro "Águas Turvas" International Rivers and Amigos da Terra, July 4, 2008 (Acrobat pdf, 885 KB) - Flyer for event
International Rivers Madeira page in English, Spanish, and Portugese
Amazonia website
Fobomade
Rio Madeira Complex (BICECA website)
Initiative for Integration of Regional Infrastructure in South America (IIRSA) (BIC website)
Rio Madeira Vivo Campaign