URGENT: REQUEST FOR LETTERS TO GOVERNOR OF
SAO PAULO TO SAVE RIBEIRA DE IGUAPE RIVER
IN BRAZIL'S ATLANTIC COAST RAINFOREST
October 31, 1995
THE FOLLOWING IS AN URGENT ACTION REQUEST FROM
BRAZIL'S MOVEMENT OF DAM VICTIMS
Background: The Ribeira de Iguape River is one of
the few remaining free-flowing rivers in Brazil's
Sao Paulo state, and flows through one of the few remaining
vestiges of Brazil's Atlantic Coast rainforest.
The Atlantic Coast forest is one of the earth's hotbeds
of biodiversity.
In addition, the Ribeira valley is the homeland of
4,000 riverine families, including descendents of
former black slaves who found refuge in the valley
more than a century ago in communities known
as quilombos, and who use the forest sustainably.
A Brazilian aluminum company has proposed a series
of hydroelectric dams which would severely impact the river's
ecology and the inhabitants of the Ribeira valley.
On October 25, 1995, the State Legislature of Sao Paulo
approved Law 802/93 which:
- prohibits construction of hydroelectric dams on
the Rio Ribeira de Iguape, until the Ecological-Economic
Zoning of the Ribeira valley is completed, and
- prohibits construction of any engineering works which
impede the natural flow of the Rio Ribeira do Iguape
or impact the environment in the areas of the Atlantic
Coast rainforest or the lake estuaries of Iguape and
Cananeia, without prior environmental impact analysis.
This is a crucial step forward in stopping the Ribeira dams!!!
However, the governor of Sao Paulo, Mario Covas, has said
he plans to veto the legislation. It is crucial that Governor Covas
and the state Environmental Secretary, Fabio Feldman
receive letters urging the governor to sign the legislation.
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PLEASE WRITE LETTERS URGENTLY TO:
Exmo. Sr. Mario Covas
Governador do Estado de Sao Paulo
Av. Morumbi, no. 4.500
05698-900 Sao Paulo, SP
Brazil
fax: +55-11-845-3301
PLEASE SEND COPIES TO:
Exmo. Sr. Fabio Feldman
D.D. Secretario Estadual do Meio Ambiente
R. Tabapua, no. 81 - 9 andar
04533-010 Sao Paulo, SP
Brazil
fax: +55-11-822-8291
Ask the governor to sign this landmark
legislation to protect the Ribeira de Iguape
River and the Atlantic Coast rainforest.
Please mention that the dams will impact
the inhabitants of the quilombos in the
Ribeira valley who are seeking recognition
of their right to their traditional lands.
Urge the governor to take measures to protect
the Ribeira valley, and to make it a model
of sustainable development in one of the few
remaining intact expanses of the Atlantic
Coast rainforest.
For more information:
Glenn Switkes,
International Rivers Network
Berkeley, California, USA
tel: +510-848-1155
fax: +510-848-1008
email: glenirn@igc.apc.org
or
Sandra Inez G. Paulino
Movimento dos Atingidos por Barragens - Brasil
Rua da Consolacao, 21 - 9 andar - cj91 - centro
01301-000 Sao Paulo, SP
Brazil
telefax: +55-11-256-0839