Mexico| Costa Rica | Dominican Republic

 

Mexico

Sister Clubs from Mexico and New York Travel Down Usumacinta River

Lower Eastside Girls Club joins with sister club in Mexico

The Lower East Side Girls Club of New York joined with their sister club, Club Balam, in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico to travel on the Usumacinta River to Yaxchilan. The Usumacinta River has been threatened by a hydroelectric dam that the Mexican government has proposed and withdrawn several times.

 

Contact

Dave Pentecost
Center for Community
Lower East Side Girls Club
Email: dave [dot] pentecost [at] gmail [dot] com
Web: www.girlsclub.org

 

Radio Program

In Sonora, Mexico a radio program discussed dams and rivers with scholars, activists and affected communities.

Manifesto Delivered to President

El Consejo de Ejidos y Comunidades Opositores a la Presa La Parota (CECOP), el Consejo de Pueblos Unidos por la Defensa del Río Verde (COPUDEVER) and el Comité Salvemos Temacapulín delivered a manifesto, called "In Defense of our Lands, Territory and Water" to the president of Mexico on March 19^th. The manifesto was a response to construction projects on the Green River that threaten residents near the projects and it declared the refusal of these communities to become displaced, affirming their right to defend and inhabit their lands.

Read the Manifesto (in Spanish)

Regional Conference on Electricity

A regional conference against high electricity fees was held by groups, communities and citizen's movements in solidarity the people affected by Paso de Reyna, La Parota and El Zapotillo dams.

Cultural Event

A "Save the Rivers" cultural event was organized by El Vavos Demaca.

Magazine Feature

The magazine "La Revisita Fragua" is featuring a close-up on water.

 

Costa Rica

Free Flowing Rivers Project

Activists held a rally at the University of Costa Rica on March 14^th to educate students as well as motivate them to voice their concerns and be active in protecting natural resources. Additionally, hundreds of people assembled in the plaza of UCR to form the phrase "Free Rio Pacuare" and the date for the International Day of Action for Rivers (March 14, 09).

University Students in Costa Rica

A forum against dams was also held at the University of Costa Rica Rica.

The Free Flowing Rivers project visited schools, educating students about the Rio Pacuare and informing them about future hydro projects in the country and alternatives.

Over 4,000 signatures were collected to support local activists who want to protect hydro resources and push for public ownership.

Other activities in Costa Rica included creative workshops themed "free rivers for life", cultural meetings, and distribution of information within communities.
On April 3^rd and 4^th, a university rafting race will be held on the Pacuare River.

Contact

Rodolfo Rada
Email: rodolforada [at] gmail [dot] com
Web: www.freeflowingrivers.org
Blog: http://freeflowingrivers.blogspot.com/

National Forum

There was a national forum for the defense of rivers and the rights of affected people. Representatives from national communities will participate in this event.

 

Dominican Republic

River Cleaning

Activists took action at the Ozama River in Santo Domingo, by mobilizing people to clean the river and pushing authorities to take action to protect the river.

Contact

Email: oppacma [at] gmail [dot] com