An Update from the Ninth Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII)
Side event on Hydroelectric Dams and Indigenous Peoples' Rights, followed by a march in solidarity for the indigenous peoples impacted by dams in the Amazon.
NB: Photos from the event can be found HERE including several of actress Sigourney Weaver who supported the event.
The Rainforest Foundation UK co-organised a side event at UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) along with a number of NGOs and indigenous organisations working with communities that are impacted by the construction of large hydroelectric dams. All over the world, indigenous peoples have been faced with the threat of dam building on their lands - most often without any form of consultation, let alone free, prior and informed consent. The threat is becoming larger all the time with a race to find solutions to energy deficits, and renewable energy sources. The side event brought together indigenous peoples' organizations and NGOs working with indigenous peoples whose lands are currently faced with huge threats from the construction of hydroelectric dams, and other indigenous peoples' organizations that have already had experiences in dealing with these threats.
The panel members consisted of:
• Joji Carino (Philippines), who has worked prominently with the World Commission on Dams;
• Ruth Buendia Metsoquiari from Central Ashaninka del Rio Ene (RFUK's local partner organisation in Peru);
• Chief Randy from Canada;
• Eleanor Gorah (Malaysia), Indigenous Peoples Network of Malaysia (JOAS)
• Tom Goldtooth (USA) Indigenous Environmental Network.
Ruth Buendia Metsoquiari, head of RFUK's partner organisation in Peru, CARE, did a very emotional presentation, telling the audience how the Peruvian Government has failed to consult or even inform the Ashaninka people of the Ene River Valley about the Pakitzapango dam project, which will effectively flood communities in the Ene valley, impacting more than 10,000 people. She called for the people in the audience to join them in solidarity and protest against the Brazilian Government's plans to build more than 6 dams in Peru and up to 80 dams in Peru, Brazil and Bolivia as a part of a large infrastructure development initiative.
More than 300 people participated in the Side Event. Representatives of the from the Peruvian and Brazilian delegations to the UNPFII also attended, and Ruth responded excellently to the Peruvian delegate's statements that the Peruvian Government had indeed consulted with the Ashaninka people. When Ruth asked "when, where and how", it became clear that they had only worked with one organisation, based in Statipo and not even Ashaninka.
However, the event was a great success, and there were many other groups there from Asia and Africa who are also impacted by dams and wanted to express their solidarity to the panel speakers.
As follow-up to the event, RFUK and CARE participated in a march to the Brazilian mission to the UN, along with a number of indigenous groups. This march was initially organised by AmazonWatch, but then a number of other NGOs and indigenous peoples groups got involved in making it happen. The march was focused on the Belo Monte dam, but CARE's role was as important, and Ruth was spearheading the march and brought with her a declaration against the Pakitzapango dam.
A delegation of indigenous representatives, including CARE, went up to meet the Brazilian delegation to present their cases, later joined by Sigourney Weaver, who came to support the march and speak out against the Belo Monte dam.
The focus of the meeting was Belo Monte, however the other indigenous representatives also had an opportunity to present their cases, thus Ruth from CARE argued against the case of Pakitzapango, a Waorani from Ecuador presented his case in a very emotional manner, and a representative from Kenya talked about similar situation in Kenya, indicating their solidarity with the people fighting against the dams in the Amazon region.
There has been a lot of media coverage of the march, and it has nicely used quotes from some of the indigenous representatives that were there, and Sigourney Weaver, who asked the Brazilian Government to stop the plans to build the Belo Monte dam, and instead invest in renewable energies and alternative technologies.
All in all, these events were a great success - we had a huge audience at the side event, from all across the world, as well as official delegates from Brazil and Peru, so we could initiate a dialogue and the indigenous groups could resent their cases; there was great networking opportunities for the indigenous groups involved, and there is now scope for building a regional campaign to focus on dams in the Amazon; and the march nicely concluded the event, where the Dassin of indigenous people joined in solidarity to oppose the construction of dams in the Amazon. A great effort was made by everyone involved, which led to a couple of amazing days!
