This week, International Rivers joined a group of organizations from Latin America and the United States in addressing a letter to the president of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Ilan Goldfajn. The open letter asks that the Bank strengthen its work by ensuring respect for human rights and the environment, as well as by creating…
Read More
Press Release | COP27: Groups warn of severe climate and human rights risk of new hydropower dams and schemes
Dams and hydropower schemes create major loss and damage, including producing significant amounts of methane, biodiversity loss, and community displacement. In a warming world, droughts and flooding make hydropower an unreliable energy choice and an increasing danger to downstream communities. An urgent shift away from false solutions that harm people and ecosystems is essential. For…
Read More
Guinea is at a crossroads in meeting its energy needs and respecting rights
New study shows solar alternatives would cost less and outperform the proposed Koukoutamba Dam in Guinea by Josh Klemm & Ibrahima Kalil Bamba During a trip to Guinea last month, International Rivers and Centre de Commerce International pour le Développement (CECIDE) hosted a launch event for our latest study, “The feasibility of solar PV to…
Read More
Geopolitics are not accounting for local communities
Originally published in Centre on Asia and Globalisation Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy’s newsletter Guest Column by Pianporn Deetes is Regional Campaigns Director, Southeast Asia Program at International Rivers Whatever the geopolitics of hydropower brings to the Mekong River, the people living alongside it must have a greater say in its future development….
Read More
“We need infrastructure for the Amazon and not just in the Amazon” asks NGOs in letter to presidential candidates during 2022 Infrastructure Working Group (GT Infraestrutura) annual meeting
Alter do Chão (Pará) – More than 60 participants reunited this week in Alter do Chão, Pará, for 2022 GT Infraestrutura Annual Meeting, a group formed by environmental NGOs, social movements, and indigenous organizations. The resolution from the encounter was the Letter from Alter (bellow the full content) where entities aimed at Brazilian society with…
Read More
Defenders of Brazilian Amazon travel to Europe to Denounce Threats and Rights Violations by Industrial and Illegal Mining
A delegation comprised of Brazilian Indigenous and community leaders from the Amazonian Xingu and Tapajós regions is traveling to Belgium and Switzerland to meet with European Union officials and denounce the invasions in their territories by mining companies such as the Canada’s Belo Sun and by illegal gold miners, who are driving the genocide of…
Read More
International Rivers joins Acampamento Terra Livre, “Free Land Camp” event in Brasília
By Flavio Montiel – Interim Director International Rivers – Brazil Brasília (DF) – International Rivers is actively participating in the Acampamento Terra Livre (ATL) in Brasília, which has been taking place since April 4 and will continue until tomorrow, April 14. The ATL brings together more than 6,000 indigenous people from 200 ethnic groups from…
Read More
Honoring Women River Defenders
All over the world, women play a critical leadership and community role in providing, managing and safeguarding water resources. Yet too often, governments ignore women’s lives and perspectives when making decisions about water. Years of experience have shown us that dams and other water infrastructure impact communities in gendered ways. Hydropower dam projects often exacerbate…
Read More
PRESS RELEASE: Klamath Dam Removal Process Enters Home Stretch: Environmental Review Confirms the Benefits of Dam Removal
Karuk Tribe • Yurok Tribe • American Rivers • Trout Unlimited • Institute for Fisheries Resources • California Trout • Sustainable Northwest • Salmon River Restoration Council • Native Fish Society • Northern California Council, Flyfishers International • Friends of the Shasta River • Save California Salmon • Mount Shasta Ecology Center • American Whitewater…
Read More
Landslides: Large Hydropower worsening the disaster for the Lepcha’s of Dzongu
By Ayesha DSouza, South Asia Program Coordinator One of the most visible things one sees when travelling from Siliguri in West Bengal up the winding roads to Northern Sikkim are huge streaks down the sides of the mountains. You can clearly see them sliding all the way to the River Teesta. These streaks or scratches…
Read More
Women and Rivers’ Defender Spotlight: Zerin Ahmed
by Petro Kotze and Nalori Chakma Connecting to riverine communities gave direction to her career Globally, young activists have increasingly taken a stand calling for social change. Zerin Ahmed is one of those inspiring young leaders. The 25-year-old activist and educator is based in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, where she promotes environmental education and…
Read More