150 Amazon Indians Occupy Belo Monte Dam Site

Written by Stephen Messenger

Despite decades of legal and political wrangling to halt the building of a massive hydroelectric dam facility at Belo Monte, in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon, all seemed lost as earth-movers and construction teams began arriving in drove to the site earlier this year. But where the words and appeals of those indigenous tribes destined to be displaced by the dam had failed, nearly two-hundred native Amazonians have now gathered in a last ditch effort to protect their homeland using their bodies.

According to a spokesperson from the mostly indigenous protesters, Cleanton Ribeiro, more than 150 members from four local tribes began occupying a portion of the construction site where, when completed, the world’s third largest hydroelectric dam would flood thousands of acres upon which they currently reside.

“They are demanding demarcation of their lands, the expulsion of invaders, an improved health system and running water,” says Ribeiro, via the AFP. “They no longer believe in the promises made (by the consortium) and say they will leave only when concrete steps begin.”

According reports from Al Jazeera in Brazil, the tribespeople have so far been effective in halting the dam’s construction, to point. A federal judge has rejected requests from the builders to forcibly remove the protesters, though work on the unoccupied portions is still scheduled to continue.

This post was originally published by TreeHugger.

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vee s.

3:29AM PDT on Jul 18, 2012

RUTH - Amazon Watch have been supporting and fighting for the Indians for decades. They emply lawyers and transport Indians to places where they can make their case. Have a look at their website.

July 18
send a green star

Ruth R.

1:44AM PDT on Jul 18, 2012

Thank You!
"According reports from Al Jazeera in Brazil, the tribespeople have so far been effective in halting the dam’s construction, to point. A federal judge has rejected requests from the builders to forcibly remove the protesters, though work on the unoccupied portions is still scheduled to continue."

Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/150-amazon-indians-occupy-belo-monte-dam-site.html#ixzz20xhY3V7X

1:42AM PDT on Jul 18, 2012

Who is stopping this dam? Where are the new and continueing petitions? What other actions can be taken to stop the Belo Monte dam?

Sarah M.

11:12AM PDT on Jul 17, 2012

Never stop fighting!

July 17
send a green star

Anna M.

5:44PM PDT on Jul 11, 2012

Dear President Dilma,

The days of the conquistadors are over, and we have learned from their mistakes.
Ancient cultures and pristine wildernesses are the jewels of the world, and to bulldoze stubbornly through them in the name of progress is no longer acceptable. Because this is not true progress. True progress in this day and age MUST honor the planet on which we live, it MUST strike a balance between scientific ingenuity and natural law. Because we are not removed from nature, much as our human arrogance likes to forget this.
This is why I urge you to oppose the Belo Monte Dam construction, which is displacing thousands of native americans and desecrating the world's last great wilderness. Brazil deserves better than this.
It is pride and greed on our part to think the rush to industrialize at any cost is so urgent. Especially when there are brilliant minds in this world who have already found smart solutions that allow us to harness energy and simultaneously let wild areas live and sustain life.
True progress is supporting those minds and that technology, that can carry us to a future that is clean, smart, green, just and humane. This future needs the will and commitment of a strong leader. Are you that leader, President Dilma? Because if you are not, the people that are committed to this future will have to lead themselves. And there are MILLIONS of them, across the world, and in your own country, that wish to participate in this better future, MILLIONS that hav

July 11
send a green star

Yulan L.

1:10PM PDT on Jul 7, 2012

I've signed the amazon watch petitions and checking to see if there are any to sign here on Care2. International Starseed Network is also going to be working on this to stop it from happening. Join in if you want.