Amazon Basin / Blogs

Brazil: Protests in Seven Cities Across the Country
Via Campesina, of which MAB is part, organized to take action on March 11th in honor of the Day of Action. Protestors mobilized against and questioned the current energy models being used, and sensitized the population to the robbery they are being submitted to as the price of energy continues to skyrocket. Events took place in Tocantins, Rondônia, Minas Gerais, Ceará, Erechim, Paraíba, Paraná and at the border between Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul.

The Real News interviews Glenn Switkes and Amazon Indigenous Indian protesters who say the social and environmental costs of the Belo Monte dam, the world's third largest proposed dam, will destroy their way of life and wreck the Xingu river's ecosystem.

Sonia Legg of Reuters reports on the angry reaction from environmentalists and tribal Indians to Brazilian plans to build a hydro-electric complex on the Xingu River.

Brazil: Resistance in Tibagi
The Comissão Pastoral da Terra in Brazil is organizing a "Celebration of the Waters" to draw attention to the need to preserve and protect rivers. Participants will walk on the bridge along the Tibagi River in the state of Paraná, praising the life that it provides to people and to nature, and will also kneel in prayer asking for pardon for maltreatment of the river.

Julie McCarthy, NPR’s South American correspondent filed this in-depth, detailed and evocative feature about the struggle of the Amazonian Indians to stop the damming of the Xingu River. Her eyewitness report on the Xingu Encounter aired May 31 on Weekend Edition—NPR’s most widely listened to show.

There was a time when Brazil´s groundbreaking environmental laws, based upon its
constitution (article 225) which guarantees its citizens the right to a healthy environment were considered a global model. Not anymore.

Brazilian Military in Amazon (archive)

I know I should be working, but this one caught my eye: "Brazil defends Amazon dam in simulated war. Beginning yesterday, the `Green´ country (Brazil) will be invaded by the `Yellow´ country, which will occupy Balbina Dam and mineral-rich areas in the Amazon." The Brazilian Navy, Army, and Air Force will mobilize to halt the nefarious "Yellow" plans. According to the operation´s site, the principal objective is to protect the dam and electric system installations.

Another great video about the event and what's at stake, from the Real News Network.

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