News and Politics | October 17, 2008 | 13 comments

Amazon tribe lays waste to hydro dam site

source: http://intercontinentalcry.org/amazon-tribe-lays-waste-to-hydro-dam-site/

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goldenways
In an attempt to protect the Juruena river in western Brazil, an estimated 120 members of the Enawene Nawe tribe occupied the construction site of a hydroelectric dam on October 13, and then burned it to the ground.

“They came armed with axes and pieces of wood, banished the employees and later set fire to everything” said Frederico Muller, a coordinator working at the site. At least 12 trucks were destroyed, along with a number of offices and housing units. All told, Muller suggests that there was at least a million dollars in damages.

Reporting on the action, Survival International says that right now, there are 77 dams slated for construction along the river. “The Enawene Nawe say [these dams] will pollute the water and stop the fish [from] reaching their spawning grounds.”

The Enawene Nawe see this is a major threat because the relatively isolated tribe depends on fish for survival. They are one a few tribes in the world that do not hunt or eat red meat. Fish also plays a crucial role in their customs and traditions… They say that if the fish get sick and die, then so will they.

Before the Enawene took action, they had been taking part in a “consultation process” (information exchange) with authorities, where they learned the full extent of the development. It exceeded far beyond what they had been told up to now, prompting the Enawene to immediately walk away.

Given the Enawene’s loud response, some form of reprisal can unfortunately be expected.

If you would like to support the Enawene Nawe, you can send a letter online that urges the demarcation of their land (http://www.survival-international.org/actnow/writealetter/enawenenawe). For more news and background, visit Survival International’s page on the Enawene Nawe.
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13 comments // Amazon tribe lays waste to hydro dam site

  • donkeyfly69
    • 0
      donkeyfly69  

    • good for them. they have to take a stand to protect their lives, their families, and the earth.

      it is odd though that rnc/dnc protesters or anarchists get a different reaction. they're told they should write their congressmen while everyone praises these guys. what's the difference between their direct actions?

    • 4 years ago
  • PlatoTacius
    • 0
      PlatoTacius  

    • It's too bad that they couldn't use diplomacy and reason to inform the developers that they didn't want the damn dam in the first place... sounds like they were bated, then found out too late what the real story was...

      Is this the state of affairs in our world..? Innocent people being conned time after time for the benefit of the developers and the elite nation builders...also known as empire builders...corporate backed efforts at attempting to and succeeding at stealing their natural resources...

    • 4 years ago
  • Denica_Cassandra
    • 0
      Denica_Cassandra  

    • Now that's hot. lmao... I love it. They are not destroying anyone else(s) property because water belongs to the Earth as we do. The plant is on their ancestral land and is starving their tribe (and the land) of resources. Wouldn't you defend your mother? ;)

    • 4 years ago
  • khromadjo
  • krush_productions
    • 0
      krush_productions  

    • we need to take one from these guys and burn some walmarts. Actions speak louder than words. Plus no one got killed and some shit got burned down, kudos Enawene Nawe kudos

    • 4 years ago
  • satanskidney
  • VivienFloyd
    • 0
      VivienFloyd  

    • I think this is great. Aside from the fact that the dam would affect their livelihood, dams are extremely inefficient and environmentally unfriendly.

    • 4 years ago
  • myowndesignjf
  • Virtual_Will_Rogers
    • 0
      Virtual_Will_Rogers  

    • ...this reminds me of the old movie....Emerald Forest....if you ever want to get real sad...rent it...this has been going on far too long...and too many have turned their backs...Golden Ruler...Will.....

    • 4 years ago
  • redvelvet1278
  • pokesmot
  • asherp
  • bonemachine
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