Seventeen years after the indigenous woman, Tuíra, challenged Eletronorte, civil society prepares to fight against the huge scale project of the 21st century

Over 200 people, representing environmentalist and social groups, indigenous peoples and independent specialist will meet in Porto Velho, May 3 to 6, for a public debate of the campaign "Long Live the Madeira River Alive", promoted by the Forum of Debates on Energy in Rondônia (FOREN), Movement of Persons Affected by Dams (MAB) and the Energy WG of the Brazilian Forum of NGOs and Social Movements (FBOMS), with support from a number of organizations, among them the Nucleus of Friends of the Earth-Brazil and Friends of the Earth - Brazilian Amazonia.

The purpose is to discuss the implementation of the project, in light of the grave environmental and social consequences that the project will bring and the uncertainty regarding its economic feasibility. The project has been defended by the Brazilian government as the best means to ensure energy for the next decade. Nevertheless, the initiative is facing opposition from such different groups as businessmen in the energy sector, indigenous, social, environmental movements and researchers.

"We want to demand that the federal government conduct a broad discussion so that we do not once again build works where the profits are to benefit the few and the people are left with the environmental liabilities", states Sergio Leitão, an activist with Greenpeace.

*Endangered environmental equilibrium and social loss*

The region is one of the richest in the Amazon region in terms of biodiversity, with 650 fish species and 700 bird species. Damming the river will harm fish migration, hindering their reproduction and causing impacts on fauna in the region. Moreover, the building of the dams will also cause loss to several indigenous groups and riverbank communities whose staple food source is fish.

There is also great concern regarding disorderly land occupation that this type of project can trigger, beginning with the influx of thousands of laborers relocated from other parts of the country to work on the construction. (*) Land speculation that results from this process has proven to be one of the main vectors of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest. (**)

"It is amazing how the invention of questionable infrastructure needs with no deep discussion in society creates this monster trying to convince all of us as Brazilians that we can rest assured, that our future is safe", stated Telma Delgado Monteiro, representative of the Energy Working Group of FBOMS in the regional discussions on IIRSA.

*Economic unfeasibility*

The power plants on the Madeira River should cost US$ 1,400 per installed kW, 40% more than power plants being built in southeastern Brazil. This amount does not include the cost of transmission lines. Silting of the river in the flooded area will lead to a 53% drop in power potential at the plant in the first 28 years of its operation.

To the President of the Brazilian Chamber of Electric Energy Investors (CBIEE), Cláudio Salles, this is a megalomaniacal project. According to his statement to the Valor Econômico newspaper, "there are already concessions for 5,000 MW plants in the region, in more advanced projects in terms of environmental analyses and closer to consumer centers. More
economic solutions exist for Brazilian consumers".

Roberto Smeraldi, Director of Friends of the Earth - Brazilian Amazonia, adds: "The licensing of such a complex project takes years, while they attempt to tell the market that it is possible in just a few weeks".

*Discussion and enhancements*

The event will provide the local population a chance to discuss the issue with experts in the fields of the environment and energy, as well as watch presentations of unpublished studies that question several aspects not yet contemplated in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Training in environmental licensing will also be provided by technicians from the Ministry of the Environment (MMA).

* - Analogous cases of this type of land occupation in Amazonia have resulted in increases in contagious/ infectious diseases, such as malaria, hepatitis and Hansen's Disease (leprosy), in addition to increasing child mortality rates and alcoholism and drug use.

** - Power produced by the hydro power plants will be transmitted to the National Integrated System by means of a 1,500 km long Transmission Line that will impact 45 municipalities, 22 indigenous lands and conservation units. According to project estimates, some 3,000 people will have to be relocated due to construction of the dams.

Press contacts:
Friends of the Earth - Brazilian Amazon - +55 (11) 3887-9369

To contact the organizers:
Artur de Souza Moret- Foundation of the Federal University of Rondônia +55 (69) 2182-2126
Lucia Schild Ortiz - Center: Friends of the Earth - Brazil - Coordinator of the Energy Working Group of FBOMS +55 (51) 3332-8884