WATER ABLAZE - Patagonia Sin Represas

climate change experts point out that the Brazilian government’s
decision to proceed with this megaproject ignores the impacts of
global warming. Various independent studies by scientists show that
the water flows of the São Francisco River will decrease by 20 per cent
due to global warming impacts in the North-East region.
As you know, there has been widespread opposition to this
megaproject not only by people in the North-East region, but also
by Brazil’s mass social movements. The Landless Workers’ Movement
(MST), Movement of Dam-Affected People (MAB), Movement of Small
Farmers (MPA), the Pastoral Land Commission (CPT), the Pastoral
Fishers’ Commission (CPP) and many other social movements have
formed a unique alliance with fishing communities and indigenous
people to halt the beginning of dam and canal construction through
non-violent actions.
Recently, this resistance has been personified and galvanized by the
hunger strike of the Catholic bishop in the region, Dom Luiz Cappio.
Two years ago, Dom Cappio agreed to forego his initial fast in protest
against the São Francisco megaproject when the Brazilian government
promised to halt construction and begin a dialogue with the affected
communities and social movements. However, when the government
abandoned its commitment to dialogue and sent in the military to
begin the construction of dams and canals, Dom Cappio resumed his
hunger strike on November 27.
Your Excellency, the Polaris Institute joins with Dom Cappio and
the mass social movements of Brazil in drawing public attention, here
in Canada and elsewhere in the world, to the potentially disastrous
consequences of the massive water diversion of the São Francisco River
project. We also join in calling for a halt to this megaproject and urge
that the much more viable alternatives proposed for water distribution
in the region be pursued. We respectfully request that you convey
our concerns to President Lula and the appropriate ministries in the
government of Brazil.
Yours sincerely, Dr. Tony Clarke
President and Director Polaris Institute
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