Dam-Affected People Occupy HQ of Belgian Multinational Tractebel in Rio

(Zie ook bericht over 11.11.11 actie in Belgie tegen Tractebel, gepost op de IMC-site op 5 november
See also message about 11.11.11. action against Tractebel in Belgium, posted on IMC-site on november 5)

Dam-Affected People Occupy Headquarters of Belgian Multinational Tractebel in Rio de Janeiro

About 350 men, women, and children from various regions of Brazil, have taken over the headquarters of the Belgian transnational Tractebel in Rio de Janeiro. Tractebel is the owner of the utility Gerasul, and is constructing
various dams in Brazil, including It (Rio Grande do Sul/Santa Catarina states) and Cana Brava, on the Tocantins River, central-western region.

The takeover is part of a National Mobilization by the Brazilian Movement of Dam-Affected People (MAB), with various dams occupied and public demonstrations taking place in different regions. MAB charges that Tractebel
has failed to address outstanding resettlement and compensation issues at It (200 affected families still with problems unresolved), despite the fact that the dam is now fully operational.

At Cana Brava, a dam financed by the Inter-American Development Bank, the situation is even more serious, with hundreds of families still not receiving compensation, and most of the compensation already proscribed being of extremely low values which will not permit the rehabilitation of displaced families. In addition, most of the sharecroppers, renters, fishermen, and artisanal gold miners who worked along the river are being ignored by the company, as well as many families who will be isolated by the formation of the reservoir. According to national coordinator H‚lio Mecca of MAB, "Tractebel has refused to consider the needs of populations who will lose everything when the floodgates on Cana Brava are closed".

The dam-affected are hoping to convince Tractebel to open negotiations. Tomorrow, communities affected by the Corumb IV dam (Goi s state) will be in Bras¡lia to deliver their complaints to the federal government. Protests took place yesterday at Manso dam (Mato Grosso) and Fuma‡a dam (Minas Gerais), among others. The dam-affected suspended their occupation of the headquarters of state electric company Furnas, following the company's agreeing to review resettlement and compensation measures at Manso and at Serra da Mesa dam.

MAB is working to raise a discussion regarding the construction of a different energy model for the country, the product of a participatory debate, which will prioritize energy alternatives and halt the construction of large dams, which cause incalculable environmental and social damages.

arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)