“Wake up, humanity, there’s no more time...” Berta Cáceres

Latin America, September 2021

The International Hydropower Association (IHA) will hold the World Hydropower Congress from September 7 to 24, 2021 in Costa Rica. Governments and companies of the world seek to strengthen national and transnational investments arguing that hydroelectricity is "green," "sustainable," "clean," and "socially responsible" energy, when in reality, dammed rivers die, and people suffer the destructive impacts of dams.

Hydroelectric plants cause deforestation, irreparable alteration of river ecosystems, death of fauna including fish that are food for people, loss of biodiversity, mangroves and aquifers, and indiscriminate exploitation, commodification, and privatization of water. They have moreover displaced many people who have been left without water to drink, fish, and crops, and with their cultures and the social fabric of their communities destroyed. Many of the victims are Indigenous peoples, whose rivers and territories are looted for corporations. Dams also lead to persecution, intimidation and murder--such as that of our colleague Berta Cáceres, killed March 2, 2016 in Honduras. Dams unleash rampant corruption and bribery, often leading to international conflicts.

Technology involved with building dams does not benefit nature or generate human well-being. Its contribution to global warming is undeniable. Overall, dams are based on an extractive model and unlimited exploitation of ecosystems that accentuate droughts and floods, putting millions of people at permanent risk. There is no scientific evidence that supports the “sustainable” construction of dams.

In this time leading up to the IHA congress, communities of the world call for an urgent, just, and respectful energy transition, a review of the conditions and impacts of every proposed technology related to building dams, and prioritizing the rights of people and rivers. No energy source will be sustainable if Mother Earth is destroyed, common goods are privatized and wealth is concentrated, dispossessing people, monopolizing gigantic territories, and violating the rights of nature, especially the rights of rivers.

REDLAR / Latin American Network of People Affected by Dams and in Defense of Rivers, their communities and Water, invites people, movements and social organizations that defend life to JOIN THE GLOBAL MOVEMENT FOR RIVERS AND PEOPLE.

Free rivers for LIFE !

https://www.facebook.com/movidaglobal

#movidaglobal

REDLAR/Red Latinoamericana de Afectadas/os por las Represas y en Defensa de los Ríos sus comunidades y el Agua
FECON/Federación Ecologista Costarricense/ Costa Rica
PROAL-PACUARE/Asociación Proyectos alternativos/ Costa Rica
International Rivers/ Estados Unidos
Otros mundos, Chiapas/ México
COECO-CEIBA /Amigos de la Tierra /Costa Rica
Ríos Vivos/ Costa Rica
Rivers Without Bondaries /
Water Keepers Alliance /
Ríos libres Turrialba/ Costa Rica
Alinaza de Comunidades por el Agua en Puntarenas /Costa Rica
AIDA

Movimento de Los Afectados por Represas de America Latina (MAR)

APROCSARA
Mesa provincial Misiones/ Argentina
Grupo ecologista Cuña Pirú/ Argentina
Servicios para una Educación Alternativa A.C. / Oaxaca, México
Consejo Cívico de Organizaciones Populares e Indígenas de Honduras (COPINH) /Honduras
Consejo de Pueblos Unidos en Defensa del Río Verde / Oaxaca, México
Organización Fraternal Negra Hondureña (OFRANEH)
Consejo del Pueblo Maya CPO / México
Fundacion Chile Sustentable /Chile
Colectivo Educación para la Paz y los Derechos Humanos A.C. (CEPAZDH) / Chiapas, México
"Perifèries del Món"/ Valencia
Ecosistemas / Chile
Procesos Integrales para la Autogestión de los Pueblos/ México
Red Mexicana de Afectadas/os por la Minería (REMA)
Acción Colectiva Socioambiental, AC./ León, Gto. México
Iniciativas para el Desarrollo de la Mujer Oaxaqueña (IDEMO)/ México Universidad Itinerante de la Resistencia en Haití (UNIR-INITE)
Coalición de Tendencia Clasistas (CTC-VZLA)/ Venezuela
Frente Popular en Defensa del Soconusco, Chiapas/ México
Movimiento Mexicano de Afectados por las Presas y en Defensa de los Rios (MAPDER)/ México
Entrepueblos/Entrepobles/Entrepobos/Herriarte/ Barcelona