Damnation in Patagonia

The New York Times writes a surprisingly damning editorial on plans for a series of major hydroelectric dams in Patagonia today. The editorial goes beyond criticizing the damming of "one of the wildest and most beautiful places on earth" in defense of the Chilean Patagonia region. It also asserts that these giant hydroelectric plants, promoted and defended by the international development banks, should have become a thing of the past by now.

"Building large-scale hydroelectric dams is an old-world way of obtaining energy. It is too late in the environmental life of this planet to accept such ecologically destructive energy solutions or the model of unfettered growth they are meant to fuel. "

Hear, hear. Americas Policy Program partner on issues of biodiversity and sustainable development, the International Rivers Network (http://internationalrivers.org/), is working with local groups to develop an international campaign to save the Patagonia . The hydroelectric project is funded by two private companies--the Italian energy conglomerate Enel and the Chilean wood products firm Matte. It would dam two rivers, the Baker and the Pascua. These rivers run through 14 protected areas and provide habitat for endangered species like the huemul deer. The proposed dams would flood over 10,000 acres of farmland and forests, irreparably destroying the landscape, flora and fauna of a unique region of the planet. Watch for a report on the Patagonia project and how to get involved, soon to be posted on the Americas site. You might also want to check out our series "Re-mapping Latin America's Future."

Patagonia isn't the only place threatened by huge and destructive dam projects and happily it isn't the only place where local people have united with international networks to reject them.

Here in Mexico, indigenous and campesino communities of the southern state of Guerrero have been opposing the construction of the La Parota dam for years. This white elephant has been the darling of successive administrations, financiers and businesses salivating over construction contracts.

But the communities' resistance has so far prevented construction of the over $1 billion-dollar project. Designed to provide energy to Acapulco and local industries, the La Parota dam has been held up by a federal injunction and a constitutional challenge filed by the communities and public-interest lawyers. If built, it would flood 17,000 hectares including communities and archeological sites, and displace 25,000 farmers and their families.

National and regional networks have formed throughout Latin America to oppose damming our rivers and flooding out forests and small farmers. For more information, check out MAPDER and REDLAR.