Next Monday, December 10th, the Brazilian government will offer private companies, including Suez, Endesa, Odebrecht, and the Votorantim group the contract to build a $6 billion dam on the Madeira River in the Amazon. This they want to do in an auction behind closed doors in Brasília. But, you too can take part in this Day of A(u)ction!

Tell the Brazilian government how much you value the Amazon´s principal tributary river! How much is its biodiversity worth, as well as the lives of thousands of river bank dwellers and indigenous peoples? How can the rainforest be auctioned?!

Call, fax, and e-mail the Brazilian Consulate in your city, for example using the sample letter below. Make sure the Brazilian government knows you are aware of the incalculable value of the Madeira River, that you are opposed to its damming, and that you know Brazil has better ways to meet its energy needs than by destroying the Amazon.

And, then let us know about your action so that we can get the word out to the national and international media!

Addres and telephones of Brazilian embassies and consulates in cities around the world can be found at: http://www.mre.gov.br/portugues/enderecos/consulados3.asp (consulates)
or http://www.mre.gov.br/portugues/enderecos/embaixadas3.asp (embassies)

Also, please take part in the simple cyberaction set up by FoEI affiliate member International Rivers at http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2486/t/4352/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=20665


Best wishes and thank you for your support,

Lucia Ortiz, FoE Brazil
Janneke Bruil, FoEI


SAMPLE LETTER FOR THE BRAZILIAN EMBASSY IN YOUR COUNTRY:

Dear Sr. / Madam

We are writing to express to Brazilian authorities our indignation to the auctioning of the Santo Antonio Dam project on the Madeira River to private investors.
The Madeira is the Amazon river´s principal tributary, and is a hot-bed of biodiversity.
The environmental license for the project was issued despite the recommendations of independent experts and the technical staff of the Brazilian environmental protection service, Ibama.
Brazil has better energy options than destroying the Amazon!
Nature, water and energy are not for sale!

Yours sincerely,

(name and country)