After more than 25 years working to protect rainforests and now as the Amazon Program Director in International Rivers, I’m well acquainted with the Amazon Rainforest. And yet I can’t help being blown away by its beauty and richness. One of the most social and biodiverse places in the world, the Amazon Rainforest is home…
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On September 21, a Jatoba tree was accepted as a refugee at the Norwegian embassy in Brasilia, Brazil. The symbolic gesture was an action proposed by indigenous umbrella organization, the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB) and GT Infra, to raise awareness about the destruction of the Amazon rainforest. Yesterday morning, the native tree…
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By Hydro Empowerment Network (HPNET) Originally published on HPNet’s website The river basins of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Meghna, and Salween (GBMS) Rivers are endowed with rich natural resources, exceptional biodiversity, and vibrant indigenous cultures. Yet social and environmental well-being continue to be undermined by large hydro development, as decision makers seek economic prosperity and economic…
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***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*** Manila, Philippines –Civil society groups across South, Southeast and Central Asia are raising the alarm as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) gears up to announce a new Energy Policy that — unless recalibrated — will fail to reflect the realities of climate science and local peoples’ burning concerns. On September 6th, the…
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With informations by APIB. APIB launched earlier this week a International Complaints Dossier of Brazil’s indigenous people. The document brings together a series of data and information that demonstrate that president Bolsonaro selected indigenous peoples as enemies of his government, and turned his hate speeches into state policy. The document also relates Bolsonaro’s actions and…
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The common narrative of the hydropower industry is that hydroelectric dams only bring welfare and progress. But for the communities that rely on rivers for food, income, clean water, recreation and cultural values, this promise rings hollow. Instead they endure the destruction of ecosystems, food systems and may be forced to relocate. Hydropower dams require…
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 29, 2021 Thursday, July 29, 2021. In a complaint to the Ontario Securities Commission, an international coalition of civil society organizations calls attention to the repeated dissemination of misleading information by Belo Sun Mining Corp (TSXV:BSX), including statements by CEO Peter Tagliamonte, downplaying socio-environmental, legal, and financial risks of the company’s…
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By: Phairin Sohsai, Thai-Mekong Campaign Coordinator for International Rivers This article was originally featured in Bangkok Tribune. Countless examples of dam disasters, the Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy hydropower project in Southern Laos included, point to a countless number of risks to local communities and environments, but these risks are seldom integrated into the costs of the project. Instead,…
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by Shannon Farley, guest writer Flowing from high in Costa Rica’s Talamanca Mountains, past indigenous Cabecar communities, through dense jungle populated with jaguars, the Pacuare River travels 85 miles to the Caribbean Sea. It is one of Costa Rica’s most acclaimed rivers for its scenic beauty and is revered by whitewater paddling enthusiasts. Thanks primarily…
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 12th, 2021 Contacts: Constanza Prieto Figelist (cpfigelist@earthlaw.org, +1 202-621-3877), Monti Aguirre (monti@internationalrivers.org, +1 707-591-1220) Lima, Peru—On July 5th, a coalition of international organizations filed an Amicus Curiae brief before the Celendín Court of Justice, Civil Court, requesting the recognition of the inherent rights of the Marañón River associated with the exercise…
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by Gary Lee, Southeast Asia Program Director for International Rivers, Sarinee Achavanuntakul, Head of Research for Fair Finance Thailand, and Eugene Simonov, Co-founder, Coordinator and Conservation Science Expert for Rivers without Boundaries. This article originally appeared in Mongabay This month’s World Heritage meeting represents a critical opportunity for the UNESCO World Heritage Committee (WHC) to protect…
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