/* Written 10:08 AM Mar 19, 1997 by irn in ax:ax.ambiente */
/* ---------- "Dam-Affected Call for Moratorium" ---------- */
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 18:10:19 -0800
From: patrick@irn.org (Patrick McCully)
Subject: PR: Conf Calls for Int. Moratorium on Lge Dam Bldng
To: irn-bakun@igc.org
PRESS RELEASE
Monday, March 17, 1997
Patrick McCully
Campaigns Director
(510) 848 1155
CALL FOR INTERNATIONAL MORATORIUM ON LARGE-DAM BUILDING:
Dam-Affected People Demand Reparations For Losses
Delegates at the First International Meeting of Dam-Affected People, held
March 11-14 in Curitiba, Brazil, have demanded an immediate international
moratorium on the building of large dams [1]. The delegates said the
moratorium should last until a number of demands are met, including the
provision of reparations to the millions of people whose livelihoods have
suffered because of dams.
The "Declaration of Curitiba," which was endorsed by around 100
representatives of dam-affected people and dam opponents from 20 countries
[2], also demanded that no dam be built without the approval of the
affected people "after an informed and participative decision-making
process."
Other conditions on lifting the moratorium include:
* "the restoration of environments damaged by dams - even when this
requires the removal of the dams,"
* "a halt to all forms of violence and intimidation against people
affected by dams," and
* the establishment of an "international independent commission" to
review all large dams financed by international aid and credit agencies.
The declaration states that "it is both necessary and possible to bring an
end to the era of destructive dams. It is also both necessary and possible
to implement alternative ways of providing energy and managing our
freshwaters which are equitable, sustainable and effective."
All over the world, the declaration states, "dams force people from their
homes, submerge fertile farmlands, forests and sacred places, destroy
fisheries and supplies of clean water, and cause the social and cultural
disintegration and economic impoverishment of our communities."
The declaration describes the growing strength of the international
movement to oppose large dams: "We have occupied dam sites and offices,
marched in our villages and cities, refused to leave our lands even though
we have faced intimidation, violence and drowning. We have unmasked the
corruption, lies and false promises of the dam industry . . . We are
strong, diverse and united and our cause is just. We have stopped
destructive dams and have forced dam builders to respect our rights. We
have stopped dams in the past, and we will stop more in the future . . .
From the villages of India, Brazil and Lesotho to the board rooms of
Washington, Tokyo and London, we will force dam builders to accept our
demands."
To symbolise the growing unity of dam opponents around the world, the
Declaration of Curitiba announces that 14 March, currently the Brazilian
Day of Struggles Against Dams, will from now on become the International
Day of Action Against Dams and for Rivers, Water, and Life. The organizing
committee of the First International Meeting of People Affected by Dams,
comprised of groups from Chile, Brazil, India and the US, will coordinate
the International Day of Action.
-30-
NOTES
[1] The conventional international dam industry definition of a large dam
is one over 15 metres high (around the height of a four-storey building).
There are currently around 40,000 large dams in the world which have
together displaced more than 30 million people and submerged more than
400,000 square kilometers (roughly the area of California).
[2] Delegates at the conference included 70 representatives of dam-affected
groups from many regions of Brazil, from the Uruguay River Basin in the far
south to remote Amazonian tributaries in the north. The 30 international
delegates came from countries including Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, France,
India, Lesotho, Mexico, Norway, Paraguay, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan and
Thailand. The declaration is posted on IRN's web site: http://www.irn.org/
For more information:
Patrick McCully, International Rivers Network, USA: Tel. +1 510 848 1155
Fax. +1 510 848 1008 patrick@irn.org
Glenn Switkes, International Rivers Network, Brazil: Tel. +55 65 627 1689
Fax. +55 65 627 1689 glen@nutecnet.com.br