Belo Monte Dam Research Paper
Target for severe criticism from biologists, environmentalists, and the Brazilian population, the construction of the Belo Monte dam is becoming increasingly unfeasible, both for environmental and social reasons. It is certain that the Belo Monte dam will bring benefits to the country, but the damages caused to the population and the environmental health of the region surpass any positive aspect of this dam. The dam's installed capacity of at least twelve thousand megawatts is the third largest in the world. This dam means a major breakthrough for Brazil in terms of the supply of renewable energy, which is free of polluting emissions. It also generated jobs and favored economic development, not only in the region, but also in the country. But all of this glory falls apart when considering the absolute damage to nature and society. The Belo Monte dam will soon flood the history of several Indians,
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only to satisfy a nation that from its beginnings already normalized treating the Indians like nonhumans.
Similar to the Brazilian Belo Monte, the Canadian Lubicon Cree is also territory to indigenous people.
In the case of the Lubicon Cree, the indigenous people were directly affected due to an oil spill which contaminated the river that was their main source of water. Although the dam in Belo Monte is not meant to directly affect the indigenous tribes in a negative way, the Indians are still being forced to move due to the redirection of the Xingu river. The river is not only their main source of water, but also of food and income. Additionally, the redirection the reduces the flow of the river, impeding the navigation of riverside and indigenous populations, as well as allowing the contribution of the formation of small lakes with standing water, which could lead to the spread of diseases—such as dengue and malaria. In both cases, basic human rights and environmental issues were neglected in order to ensure that the projects would continue to be executed. That is because the interests of the social stratification come before the basic survival needs of a minority
group.
Another important consequence of the construction of the Belo Monte dam has been the social impact caused by the arrival of thousands of workers to assist in the construction. The nearest cities, such as Altamira, have seen their population grow more than fifty percent in the last five years. The result of this was an unprecedented social chaos: overcrowding of hospitals, housing crisis (many people lost their homes or were violently forced to move out), rising costs of living, and an increase in the number of homicides and traffic accidents. In fact, the latest homicide data put Altamira as the fifth city where most are killed in Brazil. (Diamond, 2010)
Not only has the increase in population caused social chaos in the cities, it has also ignited an increase in social tensions between the different indigenous tribes and the population of the regional cities. Leaders of Indian tribes have regularly reported harassment and physical violence, such as destruction of properties and even homicides. Yet neither the local police or the government has done anything about it. Such misconduct of treatment for indigenous tribes of the Brazilian government was strongly criticized around the world. Even the United Nations Council of Human Rights issued an announcement of grievance, where they evidently discuss about the approach in which is paying little to no consideration for crucial rights of the indigenous people. The United Nations Council also suggests that the Norte Energia group, which is formed by the numerous companies involved on the construction of the Belo Monte dam, has violated most of the articles of The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Mainly the articles that specify the right to cancel or postpone—veto power—any project that is on the region of or influence indigenous regions, or that may affect indigenous traditions or survival. (Diamond, 2010) Even the International Labor Organization has focused on that the traditions of the (ILO, 2009) have been over and again abused. In spite of these rehashed global notices, the mission came about Xingu of the Conselho de Defesa dos Direitos da Pessoa Humana (completed in 2011) portraying affirmations of human rights infringement have been overlooked, if not intentionally avoided, from the evaluation of the Secretary-legislative Human Rights Maria do Rosario Nunes.
In response, Norte Energia has released an official statement. In this statement, they showed their concern for social chaos due to the construction and promised to invest billions in promoting socio-economic development in the surrounding regions affected in order to fix the issue. But Norte Energia has yet to completely fulfill its promise and the people are still having difficulties. Although new houses were built for a middling percentage of the population, the others struggle with finding housing elsewhere and even jobs. Due to the demobilization of labor, jobs and income are lost. In addition, there are losses to fishing, one of the main economic activities of the region. Other problems in the indigenous tribes, such as internal division, alcoholism, and depression have surfaced as a common effect of social deterioration.
When using the term clean energy, dams like the Belo Monte should not receive this title. Because in order for the Norte Energia to produce the clean energy, tit had to stain, "trample", override the indigenous stories and traditions. Brazil has means, like wind energy, that have been used since the beginning of the great civilizations and that with the same investments can be able to produce energy without hurting the dignity of a people. The environmental racism against Indians could not be more obvious. The dam is located in a territory that only affects lower class citizens and Indians. Large companies in the electrical industry need to form partnerships to encourage other forms of energy generation that lessen the environment and society, such as wind and solar energy. It is a fact that the expenses to support these options are much greater, but when considering the damage that the construction of a hydroelectric plant of this size can cause, they are much more rational ways of producing energy. The economic expansion of Brazil does not fully depend on the energy of the Belo Monte's Xingu River, the development that it brings in the region has its price.
Such an invasion threatens the continuity of the only culture that is truly originated in Brazil, the indigenous culture. Fronting the Indians as barriers of our expansion and growth, denying them their land, traditions, and voice, should never have been an acceptable practice and normalized behavior of our society. We must fight beside them, and join the struggle of indigenous peoples for survival. The Indians deserve to be treated like any human being, if not better. Their roots must be preserved. Their voice must be heard. Their people must be protected. But until the last river has not yet dried down and the last indigenous tribe has not been instinct, I do not believe that there will be any changes. Unfortunately, the short-term rewards are more important than the long-term consequences, and change is only going to come when it is too late.
only to satisfy a nation that from its beginnings already normalized treating the Indians like nonhumans.
Similar to the Brazilian Belo Monte, the Canadian Lubicon Cree is also territory to indigenous people.
In the case of the Lubicon Cree, the indigenous people were directly affected due to an oil spill which contaminated the river that was their main source of water. Although the dam in Belo Monte is not meant to directly affect the indigenous tribes in a negative way, the Indians are still being forced to move due to the redirection of the Xingu river. The river is not only their main source of water, but also of food and income. Additionally, the redirection the reduces the flow of the river, impeding the navigation of riverside and indigenous populations, as well as allowing the contribution of the formation of small lakes with standing water, which could lead to the spread of diseases—such as dengue and malaria. In both cases, basic human rights and environmental issues were neglected in order to ensure that the projects would continue to be executed. That is because the interests of the social stratification come before the basic survival needs of a minority
group.
Another important consequence of the construction of the Belo Monte dam has been the social impact caused by the arrival of thousands of workers to assist in the construction. The nearest cities, such as Altamira, have seen their population grow more than fifty percent in the last five years. The result of this was an unprecedented social chaos: overcrowding of hospitals, housing crisis (many people lost their homes or were violently forced to move out), rising costs of living, and an increase in the number of homicides and traffic accidents. In fact, the latest homicide data put Altamira as the fifth city where most are killed in Brazil. (Diamond, 2010)
Not only has the increase in population caused social chaos in the cities, it has also ignited an increase in social tensions between the different indigenous tribes and the population of the regional cities. Leaders of Indian tribes have regularly reported harassment and physical violence, such as destruction of properties and even homicides. Yet neither the local police or the government has done anything about it. Such misconduct of treatment for indigenous tribes of the Brazilian government was strongly criticized around the world. Even the United Nations Council of Human Rights issued an announcement of grievance, where they evidently discuss about the approach in which is paying little to no consideration for crucial rights of the indigenous people. The United Nations Council also suggests that the Norte Energia group, which is formed by the numerous companies involved on the construction of the Belo Monte dam, has violated most of the articles of The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Mainly the articles that specify the right to cancel or postpone—veto power—any project that is on the region of or influence indigenous regions, or that may affect indigenous traditions or survival. (Diamond, 2010) Even the International Labor Organization has focused on that the traditions of the (ILO, 2009) have been over and again abused. In spite of these rehashed global notices, the mission came about Xingu of the Conselho de Defesa dos Direitos da Pessoa Humana (completed in 2011) portraying affirmations of human rights infringement have been overlooked, if not intentionally avoided, from the evaluation of the Secretary-legislative Human Rights Maria do Rosario Nunes.
In response, Norte Energia has released an official statement. In this statement, they showed their concern for social chaos due to the construction and promised to invest billions in promoting socio-economic development in the surrounding regions affected in order to fix the issue. But Norte Energia has yet to completely fulfill its promise and the people are still having difficulties. Although new houses were built for a middling percentage of the population, the others struggle with finding housing elsewhere and even jobs. Due to the demobilization of labor, jobs and income are lost. In addition, there are losses to fishing, one of the main economic activities of the region. Other problems in the indigenous tribes, such as internal division, alcoholism, and depression have surfaced as a common effect of social deterioration.
When using the term clean energy, dams like the Belo Monte should not receive this title. Because in order for the Norte Energia to produce the clean energy, tit had to stain, "trample", override the indigenous stories and traditions. Brazil has means, like wind energy, that have been used since the beginning of the great civilizations and that with the same investments can be able to produce energy without hurting the dignity of a people. The environmental racism against Indians could not be more obvious. The dam is located in a territory that only affects lower class citizens and Indians. Large companies in the electrical industry need to form partnerships to encourage other forms of energy generation that lessen the environment and society, such as wind and solar energy. It is a fact that the expenses to support these options are much greater, but when considering the damage that the construction of a hydroelectric plant of this size can cause, they are much more rational ways of producing energy. The economic expansion of Brazil does not fully depend on the energy of the Belo Monte's Xingu River, the development that it brings in the region has its price.
Such an invasion threatens the continuity of the only culture that is truly originated in Brazil, the indigenous culture. Fronting the Indians as barriers of our expansion and growth, denying them their land, traditions, and voice, should never have been an acceptable practice and normalized behavior of our society. We must fight beside them, and join the struggle of indigenous peoples for survival. The Indians deserve to be treated like any human being, if not better. Their roots must be preserved. Their voice must be heard. Their people must be protected. But until the last river has not yet dried down and the last indigenous tribe has not been instinct, I do not believe that there will be any changes. Unfortunately, the short-term rewards are more important than the long-term consequences, and change is only going to come when it is too late.