The Belo Monte hydroelectric dam is under construction on the Volta Grande section of the Xingu River. It is already having a substantial impact on the lives of the Juruna, Arara and Xicrin indigenous people who live there. Since the construction of a ‘coffer’ dam – a temporary dam to enable construction work on the main installations to take place – the water quality has deteriorated dramatically. The river is the principal source of drinking water and is the bathing place for these villages, so the dramatic rise in the amount of sediment in the water is a serious issue, directly affecting their health, their hygiene and their ability to feed themselves.

Human Banner Protest, Rio+20

The dam construction company was supposed to provide alternative sources of clean water before they undertook work which would affect the river in this way, but they have failed to do so. Several other provisions were included in an ’emergency fund’ package and a Basic Environmental Plan, but so far nothing has been put in place. The company has not even ensured the maintenance of river transport, the vital and only connection the villages have to town for emergency medical treatment, purchasing goods and trading products.

Protest Banner, Belo Monte; courtesy Amazon Watch

“They are not complying with what they promised to do in our villages,” said indigenous leader Mukuka Xicrin, “principally the [legally required] conditions [imposed by Brazil’s environment agency], everything is being left to fall behind. We are seeing that the destruction of nature and of the river is very great, and we are not going to let them carry on with the work any more. We need the press to come here to let the whole world know what is happening here. The government keeps saying that we are OK, but no, the situation here is really bad, we people who will bear the impact don’t have any guarantee about our rights whatever. And we’re asking the courts to call a halt to the works of Belo Monte.”

Rivers For Life, Rio+20. Courtesy Amazon Watch

More about the occupation from Amazon Watch here
and from International Rivers here

Indigenous groups have occupied the site for over a week in an attempt to force the construction company to fulfill its legal undertakings. While the occupation was taking place in the Amazon, a group of over 1,500 indigenous people and their supporters made a sympathetic living work of art on Flamengo beach during the Rio+20 People’s Summit, joining their bodies together to make the design of an Indian chief holding his hand up symbolically to the sun. This followed a similar protest at the site of the dam, where people formed the words ‘Pare Belo Monte’ (Stop Belo Monte) using their bodies. They also dug a symbolic break through the temporary dam.

Pare Belo Monte images here

Rio+20 Human Artwork images here

The construction company has attempted to get the courts to order the forcible removal of the protestors, but the local court sided with the protestors and ordered the company to enter into negotiations. It remains to be seen if they will comply, or merely appeal the ruling to a judge in Brasilia. In past cases judges in the capital have been more amenable to the company’s views than the local judges, who have a direct understanding of the situation. A report from the inter-American lawyer’s organisation which is supporting the protestors can be found here.