The Belo Monte & Tapajos Dam The Belo Monte & Tapajos Dam and Brazil's Plans for and Brazil's Plans for

Hydroelectric Expansion in the Hydroelectric Expansion in the AmazonAmazon

Christian Poirier, Amazon Watch Brazil Campaigner

Belo Monte: gateway to Belo Monte: gateway to Amazon DestructionAmazon Destruction

The Belo Monte and Madeira dam complexes are the The Belo Monte and Madeira dam complexes are the first of a wave of new dam projects executed by the first of a wave of new dam projects executed by the Brazilian government, under the country’s “Accelerated Brazilian government, under the country’s “Accelerated Growth Program” (PAC).Growth Program” (PAC).

60-70 large dams planned in the Amazon over the next 60-70 large dams planned in the Amazon over the next 20 years with devastating consequences to ecosystems, 20 years with devastating consequences to ecosystems, communities, and our global climate.communities, and our global climate.

The construction of the Belo Monte dam alone could The construction of the Belo Monte dam alone could lead to more than 5000 km2 of deforestation. lead to more than 5000 km2 of deforestation.

Disastrous Belo MonteDisastrous Belo Monte

Social ImpactsSocial ImpactsThe impacts on traditional and indigenous The impacts on traditional and indigenous

riverine communities as well as many rural and riverine communities as well as many rural and urban communities is immeasurable. urban communities is immeasurable.

Altamira and surrounding municipalities are Altamira and surrounding municipalities are suffering a huge influx of migrants that has led suffering a huge influx of migrants that has led to a collapse in health, sanitation, and to a collapse in health, sanitation, and education infrastructure and precipitated a education infrastructure and precipitated a spike in criminality. spike in criminality.

New Amazonian mega-projects bring mega-risks New Amazonian mega-projects bring mega-risks for social conflict, widespread deforestation, for social conflict, widespread deforestation, and unchecked human rights abuses. and unchecked human rights abuses.

What’s at StakeWhat’s at Stake

Indigenous and traditional communities have the most to lose.

Indigenous Peoples of Indigenous Peoples of the Xinguthe Xingu

The Xingu is home to The Xingu is home to over 25,000 indigenous over 25,000 indigenous peoples from 18 ethnic peoples from 18 ethnic groups, including the groups, including the Juruna, Xikrín, Arara, Juruna, Xikrín, Arara, Xipaia, Kuruaya, Xipaia, Kuruaya, Parakanã, Araweté, and Parakanã, Araweté, and Kayapó.Kayapó.

Belo Monte threatens to put an end to their way of life.

““The River is Our Life’s The River is Our Life’s Blood”Blood”

National ControversyNational Controversy

Belo Monte is one of the world’s most controversial projects, provoking major protests

Protests Around the Protests Around the WorldWorld

A Global PolemicA Global Polemic

Brazil’s Hydroelectric Expansion Brazil’s Hydroelectric Expansion PlanPlan

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The Tapajós River basin: The Tapajós River basin: next to fall to Brazil’s dam next to fall to Brazil’s dam

agenda?agenda?The Brazilian government is steamrolling The Brazilian government is steamrolling

forward with plans for unprecedented series of forward with plans for unprecedented series of massive dams on the mighty Tapajós River and massive dams on the mighty Tapajós River and its major tributaries: the Teles Pires, Jamanxim its major tributaries: the Teles Pires, Jamanxim and Juruena.and Juruena.

All of these dams would be part of a larger All of these dams would be part of a larger complex of water infrastructure projects in the complex of water infrastructure projects in the region, including industrial waterways for region, including industrial waterways for transporting agribusiness and mining transporting agribusiness and mining commodities out of the Amazon rainforest. commodities out of the Amazon rainforest.

Repeating the tragedy Repeating the tragedy of Belo Monteof Belo Monte

The three dams of the Tapajos Complex alone would The three dams of the Tapajos Complex alone would flood 198,400 hectares including indigenous flood 198,400 hectares including indigenous territories and 34,000 hectares of national parks and territories and 34,000 hectares of national parks and forests, accelerating the destruction of the Amazon forests, accelerating the destruction of the Amazon Basin. Basin.

Belo Monte’s Legal Belo Monte’s Legal PrecedentsPrecedents

A 2012 federal count ruling against the A 2012 federal count ruling against the indigenous right to consultation (ILO 169) indigenous right to consultation (ILO 169) will take the case to Brazil’s Supreme will take the case to Brazil’s Supreme Court. Court.

Brazil’s Federal Public Ministry has filed Brazil’s Federal Public Ministry has filed 16 lawsuits against the Belo Monte Dam.16 lawsuits against the Belo Monte Dam.

The Inter-American Commission on The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights demanded Brazil observe Human Rights demanded Brazil observe “precautionary measures” and suspend “precautionary measures” and suspend the dam.the dam.

The Right to The Right to ConsultationConsultation

The struggle to halt the expansion of dams in the Amazon is a defining issue for indigenous rights in Brazil and beyond.

This is a struggle for our This is a struggle for our collective futurecollective future

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THANK YOU!THANK YOU!

CHRISTIAN@AMAZONWATCH.ORG