Despite criticism from indigenous groups, environmental organizations, and celebrities, as well as two court-ordered suspensions,a proposed massive hydroelectric project is set to ahead in Brazil.

Relocation, Relocation, Relocation

The proposal includes the building of what would be the third largest dam in the world. This would divert the flow of Xingu River—a tributary of the Amazon River— which in turn would flood 500 square kilometres of pristine rainforest. As well as the hugely damaging implications for wildlife in the rainforest, it is estimated that 12,000 indigenous people living in the area would be forced to relocate, while wider effects of changing the ecosystem could negatively impact 45,000 indigenous people who depend on the river.

No Stopping It

Courts had previously forced a suspension of the project, the most recent of which came last Friday. Judge Antonio Carlos de Almeida Campelo suspended the dam’s preliminary license, writing in his decision that “it remains proven, unequivocally, that Belo Monte’s plant will exploit the hydroelectric potential of areas occupied by Indigenous people who would be directly affected by the construction and development of the project.” But as happened with the previous suspension, developers quickly managed to overturn the decision.

Not Giving Up The Fight

Yesterday, Sheyla Yakarepi Juruna urged the President of the Appellate Court for Region 1, Jirair Meguerian, to uphold the second injunction on the dam, and insisted that they would continue to oppose the plans.

“The Lula government is clearly pressuring the courts to approve Belo Monte against the rights and interests of indigenous people and the local populations of the Xingú, and it’s our lives at stake. Even so, the people affected by this dam are united and determined to stop the project, we will not give up this fight,”

Real Life Avatar?

Director James Cameron recently brought international attention to the issue after travelling to Brazil and visiting some of the indigenous groups the dam will impact. Cameron’s most recent film, Avatar, is the science-fiction story of an alien group living in harmony with their jungle planet who are forced to fight off a human-run corporation bent on mining the fragile ecosystem.

“Avatar was based on real but abstract stories. It came out of articles in National Geographic and documentaries on TV,” Cameron told the AFP. “But after meeting the indigenous people of the Amazon with whom we communicated very clearly and emotionally, it’s real for me. And it’s personal.” Cameron said he would like to film some of the indigenous tribes he met with in Brazil “and let the world see how they live in harmony with the forest.”

Protests

According to the environmental organization, International Rivers, protests against the dam in nine Brazilian cities were going forward today. Indigenous people were also arriving to the proposed dam site on Pimental Island on the Xingu River to establish a permanent village in an effort to block any dam construction.