Freshwater Sources

Protecting the Santurban Páramo from mining's damages

Victory: Panama Bay is Legally Protected

Belo Monte Dam may lead Brazil to OAS High Court

Local communities and NGOs deliver petition exposing human rights violations to Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Brasilia, Brazil—Local communities and NGOs delivered a petition to the Organization of American States’ (OAS) human rights body today claiming that Brazil has steamrolled human rights in its rush to fast-track construction of the controversial Belo Monte Dam, slated for construction on the Xingu River in the Amazon interior. The petition, signed by representatives of indigenous communities and other populations threatened by the dam, denounced the Brazilian government and called on the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to declare human rights violations and order the Brazilian government to cancel the project and pay damages. Two weeks ago the Brazilian government defied IACHR’s demand that Brazil halt the dam’s licensing process. Brazil instead granted Belo Monte’s installation license, clearing the way to commence construction despite blatant non-compliance with social and environmental protections. Petition-signers scrutinized illegal aspects of the dam’s licensing process, especially with regard to the rights of indigenous peoples living along the Big Bend of the Xingu River, where 80% of the river's flow would be diverted to an artificial reservoir, undermining livelihoods and potentially leading to the forced displacement of thousands of people in clear violation of Brazil’s Constitution and international law. NGO and legal groups expect the Commission to determine that the Brazilian government has violated the rights of local peoples, and will recommend compensation. If the government continues to ignore the IACHR, the case could go to the Inter-American Court on Human Rights, which could formally condemn the Brazilian government for violations of its international obligations. The petition delivery today follows an initial complaint submitted last November that led to the granting of "precautionary measures" by the IACHR in April 2011. These measures recommended to the Brazilian government that urgent action be taken to guarantee the rights of indigenous peoples—as required by the Brazilian Constitution and international agreements such as the American Convention on Human Rights, Convention 169 of the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples—before proceeding with dam construction. That decision by the IACHR provoked a defensive response from the administration of President Dilma Rousseff, which refused to take additional measures to protect indigenous rights. Eleven civil actions lawsuits against the Belo Monte Dam, filed by the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office, are still pending in Brazilian courts. “It is clear that the Brazilian judicial system is not working to protect human rights in the case of mega-infrastructure projects such as Belo Monte, given the tremendous economic and political pressures, often linked to corruption,” said Antonia Melo, coordinator of the Xingu Forever Alive Movement (Movimento Xingu Vivo para Sempre). “As a result, we have no alternative but to request the support of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.” “Our community is under threat and the leaders are the ones who suffer the most,” stated José Carlos Arara, an indigenous chief of the Arara village in the Big Bend region of the Xingu. “I am stuck in my village and no longer leave my community after receiving death threats.” "Brazilian diplomacy is in serious danger of an international embarrassment,” said Roberta Amanajás, a lawyer with the Pará Society for the Defense of Human Rights. “The Rousseff administration's aggressive response to the IACHR, followed by the Brazilian Senate’s vote to censure the OAS last week is a dangerous sign.” "The Brazilian government's position on Belo Monte goes against the image it promotes as a regional leader and its role as the host of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio +20) in 2012," said Astrid Puentes, Co-Director of the Inter-American Association for Environmental Defense (AIDA). "We hope that the governments of the region stop promoting environmentally and socially harmful projects and instead seek truly sustainable development based on respect for human rights.”

Organization of American States requests immediate suspension of Belo Monte Dam in the Brazilian Amazon

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights considered that Indigenous Peoples must be consulted BEFORE the dam’s construction begins. Altamira, Brazil / Washington, D.C., USA - The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), part of the Organization of American States (OAS), has officially requested the Brazilian Government to immediately suspend the Belo Monte Dam Complex in the Amazonian state of Para, citing the project's potential harm to the rights of traditional communities living within the Xingu river basin. According to the IACHR, the Brazilian Government must comply with legal obligations to undertake a consultation process that is "free, prior, informed, of good faith and culturally appropriate" with indigenous peoples threatened by the project before further work can proceed. The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs must inform the OAS within 15 days regarding urgent measures undertaken to comply with the Commission's resolution. The IACHR's decision responds to a complaint submitted in November 2010 on behalf of local, traditional communities of the Xingu river basin. The complaint was presented by the Xingu Alive Forever Movement - (MXVPS), the Coordination of Indigenous Organizations in the Brazilian Amazon (COIAB), the Prelacy of the Roman Catholic Church in the Xingu region, the Indigenous Missionary Council (CIMI), the Pará Society for the Defense of Human Rights (SDDH), Global Justice and the Inter-American Association for Environmental Defense (AIDA). According to the complaint, there were no appropriate consultations with affected indigenous and riverine communities regarding the impacts of the mega-dam project. The document argues that the dam would cause irreversible social and environmental damage, including forced displacement of communities, while threatening one of the Amazon's most valuable areas for biodiversity conservation. "By recognizing the rights of indigenous people to prior and informed consultations, the IACHR is requesting that the Brazilian Government stop the licensing and construction of the Belo Monte dam project to ensure their right to decide," said Roberta Amanajas, SDDH lawyer. "Continuing this project without proper consultations would constitute a violation of international law. In that case, the Brazilian Government would be internationally liable for the negative impacts caused by the dam." The IACHR also requests Brazil to adopt "vigorous and comprehensive measures" to protect the lives and personal integrity of isolated indigenous peoples in the Xingu river basin, as well as effective measures to prevent the spread of diseases and epidemics among traditional communities threatened by the project. "The IACHR's decision sends a clear message that the Brazilian Government's unilateral decisions to promote economic growth at any cost are a violation of our country's laws and the human rights of local traditional communities," said Antonia Melo, MXVPS coordinator. "Our leaders no longer can use economic "development" as an excuse to ignore human rights and to push for projects of destruction and death to our natural heritage and to the peoples of Amazon, as is the case of Belo Monte." "The OAS's decision is a warning to the Federal Government and a call to Brazilian society to broadly discuss the highly authoritarian and predatory development model being implemented in this country," said Andressa Caldas, Global Justice director. Andressa recalls examples of human rights violations caused by other infrastructure projects within the federal government's Accelerated Growth Program (PAC). "There are numerous cases involving the forced displacement of families without compensation, as well as serious environmental impacts, social disruption of communities, rising violence in areas surrounding construction sites and poor working conditions." Criticism of the Belo Monte dam comes not only from civil society organizations, and local communities, but also from scientists, researchers, and government institutions. The Federal Public Prosecutor's office in Pará state has already filed ten civil lawsuits against the mega-project that are still awaiting final decisions. "I am very moved by this news," said Sheyla Juruna, an Indigenous leader of the Juruna community in Altamira. "Today, more than ever, I am sure that we were right to expose the Brazilian Government - including the federal judicial system - for violations of the rights of indigenous peoples in the Xingu and of all those who are fighting together to protect life and a healthy environment. We will maintain our firm resistance against the implementation of the Belo Monte Dam Complex." The IACHR's decision is founded on international law established by the American Convention on Human Rights, Convention 169 of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the United Nations Declaration on Indigenous Rights (UNDRIP), and the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), as well as the Brazilian Constitution itself.

Colombian Ministry of Mines announces wetlands protection from open pit mining

Bogotá, Colombia – Colombia has signaled it will halt construction of one of the world’s largest open-pit gold and other metals mine. In a surprisingly bold step March 17, Colombia’s Minister of Mines Carlos Rodado announced “Pursuant to Colombian law, mining projects cannot be developed in wetlands areas.” If enforced, this would prevent construction of the massive Angostura mine in the Santander department, on the Santurban paramo.   "This is an important step in fulfilling Colombia’s obligations to its constitution and international wetlands protections,” said Natalia Jiménez Galindo, AIDA's legal adviser in Bogotá. “The State should refrain from approving any phase of the Angostura project, including any additional infrastructure."   If built, the Angostura mine would jeopardize the Santurban paramo, a sensitive high-altitude wetland that supply freshwater to more than 1 million people in nearby communities. In collaboration with various partners, AIDA has advocated for the protection of the paramo ecosystems against mining and provided related legal advice to organizations and sending to the authorities an analysis on the international law applicable.   “We applaud the Ministry of Mines for recognizing the prohibition against mining in paramos and we expect this will be reflected in an official decision” said Astrid Puentes Co- Director of AIDA. “This will send a strong message from the Government that it is truly interested in protecting paramos and making a difference in climate change”.   AIDA calls upon the Colombian government to formally reject the entire Angostura mine project as proposed by Greystar Resources Corporation of Canada. This is the only decision consistent with the norms, the pronouncement by the Ministry of Mines and the Alexander von Humboldt Institute concept.

Organization of American States questions Belo Monte Dam project

Human rights body of the OAS solicits official inquiry while Amazonian communities stage major protests. Altamira, Brazil - The Organization of American States (OAS) officially requested the Brazilian government to clarify information on the Belo Monte Dam’s licensing process, which moved forward without ensuring proper consultation with local indigenous groups. This request comes amid heightening local and international controversy around plans to construct the dam complex on the Xingu River in the Brazilian Amazon. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) of the OAS, solicited the request in response to a complaint filed by several organizations including the Xingu Alive Forever Movement (MXVPS), the Inter-American Association for Environmental Defense (AIDA) and the Para Society for the Defense of Human Rights (SDDH), and supported by another 40 institutions advocating for the rights of indigenous and traditional communities of the Xingu River basin. The complaint demands that the Brazilian government immediately suspend the licensing process for the Belo Monte Dam, stop construction of the project, and guarantee the human rights of affected people and communities. The IACHR gave the government ten days to clarify the steps taken to ensure free, prior and informed consultations with local peoples and the legality of the dams "partial license," among other issues. The request is the first step in a longer proceeding in which local communities are alleging human rights violations stemming from the proposed dam. "When Brazil signs a treaty, it is obliged to comply with its resolutions," said Roberta Amanajás, a lawyer for the Para Society for the Defense of Human Rights (SDDH). "As a signatory to the Inter-American Convention on Human Rights, Brazil must recognize its legitimacy to examine cases such as Belo Monte." "With huge development projects like the Belo Monte Dam Complex, all governments must be held accountable for protecting human rights and the environment of local communities," said Jacob Kopas, a lawyer with AIDA. "The Inter-American Commission has already recognized this in other cases and has urged the suspension of a large dam project in Panama and as large gold mine in Guatemala." Meanwhile, hundreds of fisherman staged a protest on Friday in the city of Altamira to show their opposition to a project that could destroy their livelihoods by decimating the region's migratory fish species. The event, blessed by Dom Erwin Kräutler, Bishop of the Xingu and historic opponent of the hydroelectric plant, was marked by dozens of fishing boats setting out on the Xingu River to symbolize the importance of defending the river and preserving their way of life. "The fisherfolk of the Xingu are committed to organizing in defense of their river," said Kräutler. "From it they pull sustenance for themselves and their families, while their hard work supplies all of the cities along the Xingu. It was very powerful to see them set out in large numbers to fish last week. Their return today has shown that the river is alive and that they want to see it remain alive forever." Today, dozens more fishing boats from surrounding communities affected by the dam have joined the protesters in a show of solidarity, where they will greet the fishermen on their return and share their catch to mark the International Day of Action for Rivers.

Public Hearing on the Angostura Mine Suspended: AIDA Publishes Brief Urging the Colombian Government to Protect the Páramos (Spanish Text Only)

PARA PUBLICACION INMEDIATA CONTACTO: Natalia Jiménez, [email protected] Teléfono: (+57) 310-5734176 Suspendida audiencia pública del proyecto minero Angostura: AIDA publica su intervención en la que insta al Gobierno colombiano a proteger los páramos.   Marzo 8 de 2011, Bogotá, Colombia – La audiencia pública programada para el viernes 4 de marzo en la ciudad de Bucaramanga (Departamento de Santander, Colombia) por el Ministerio de Ambiente, Vivienda y Desarrollo Territorial en el proceso de licenciamiento ambiental del proyecto de gran minería de oro a cielo abierto "Angostura" fue suspendida debido a situaciones que impidieron el normal desarrollo de la misma. Por esta razón, la Asociación Interamericana para la Defensa del Ambiente, AIDA hará llegar al gobierno colombiano su escrito de intervención sobre las obligaciones internacionales y constitucionales del Estado colombiano de proteger los páramos, que no pudo presentar en la suspendida audiencia. En los próximos días, el Ministerio de Ambiente, Vivienda y Desarrollo Territorial colombiano deberá pronunciarse sobre la cancelación total de la audiencia o sobre la posibilidad de reanudarla. Estaremos atentos a dicha notificación y nos aseguraremos de que los argumentos aportados por AIDA sean conocidos abiertamente y considerados dentro del proceso de solicitud de la Licencia Ambiental al proyecto Angostura. La misión de AIDA es fortalecer la capacidad de las personas para garantizar su derecho individual y colectivo a un ambiente sano por medio del desarrollo, aplicación y cumplimiento efectivo de la legislación nacional e internacional. La protección de agua dulce es una de nuestras líneas mediante la cual buscamos proteger el derecho al agua y asegurar recursos de agua dulce adecuados para las comunidades y los ecosistemas en las Américas AIDA, 426 17th Street, Oakland, CA 94612 T. (510) 550-6753, F. (510) 550-6740 AIDA Atlixco 138, Col. Condesa, México, DF, 06140, T/F (5255) 52120141 AIDA Diagonal 40 A No 14 – 75, Tel. (57 1) 3381277, Bogotá - Colombia AIDA Costa Rica, San Pedro c/o Centro de Derecho Ambiental y de los Recursos Naturales (CEDARENA) T. (506) 22837080 E-mail: [email protected], Website: www.aida-americas.org

The Colombian Government Should Reject the Angosture Mining Project in the Páramos (Spanish Text Only)

PARA PUBLICACION INMEDIATA CONTACTO: Natalia Jiménez, [email protected] Teléfono: (+57) 310-5734176 El Estado colombiano debe rechazar proyecto de gran minería de oro "Angostura" en zona de páramo Desconocería obligaciones constitucionales internacionales   Marzo 4 de 2011, Bucaramanga, Colombia – Hoy, La Asociación Interamericana para la Defensa del Ambiente (AIDA) instará al gobierno colombiano a detener un proyecto de gran minería de oro y otros metales que sería un precedente perjudicial para los ecosistemas frágiles en América Latina. El proyecto de minería a cielo abierto Angostura, planeado en el páramo de Santurbán, se encuentra en proceso de aprobación por parte del Ministerio de Ambiente, Vivienda y Desarrollo Territorial colombiano. Hoy se celebra una audiencia pública en la que el Ministerio recibirá argumentos de diferentes sectores. AIDA argumentará que las obligaciones internacionales y constitucionales del Estado colombiano de proteger el ambiente, especialmente áreas de gran importancia ecológica como los páramos, impiden la autorización. "Los páramos son ecosistemas altamente frágiles y la minería a cielo abierto causaría daños graves e irreversibles," dijo Natalia Jiménez, abogada de AIDA. "De acuerdo con la Constitución Política y los Principios de Río, la Convención de Biodiversidad y la de Cambio Climático, todos ratificados por Colombia, el Estado está obligado a conservar los páramos y procurar su intangibilidad." De ser aprobado el proyecto Angostura afectaría de forma definitiva por lo menos 575 ha del páramo de Santurbán (más del 50%), pudiendo afectar un área mayor. En Colombia, como en el resto de la región Andina en los páramos se origina la mayor parte del agua dulce que consumen los habitantes. Tienen una alta capacidad de purificar el ambiente, de estabilizar los suelos y el clima, de prevenir los deslaves y los derrumbes y de contener un alto nivel de animales y plantas. En efecto, son el hábitat de especies únicas en el mundo como el oso de anteojos y el cóndor de los Andes. La Procuraduría General de Colombia, miembros del Parlamento Andino y ex ministros de ambiente, así como organizaciones y expertos ambientales se oponen a la licencia. El proyecto carece de un adecuado Estudio de Impacto Ambiental integral, pues los impactos de la mina y los de la infraestructura complementaria, se analizan en dos procesos de forma fragmentada. Por ello, AIDA también solicita que el Ministerio los unifique y analice el impacto global del proyecto. Así lo ordenan los estándares internacionales y la Corte Suprema de Canadá, país de origen de la empresa Greystar Resources Ltds. que promueve el proyecto. La misión de AIDA es fortalecer la capacidad de las personas para garantizar su derecho individual y colectivo a un ambiente sano por medio del desarrollo, aplicación y cumplimiento efectivo de la legislación nacional e internacional. La protección de agua dulce es una de nuestras líneas mediante la cual buscamos proteger el derecho al agua y asegurar recursos de agua dulce adecuados para las comunidades y los ecosistemas en las Américas. AIDA, 426 17th Street, Oakland, CA 94612 T. (510) 550-6753, F. (510) 550-6740 AIDA Atlixco 138, Col. Condesa, México, DF, 06140, T/F (5255) 52120141 AIDA Diagonal 40 A No 14 – 75, Tel. (57 1) 3381277, Bogotá - Colombia AIDA Costa Rica, San Pedro c/o Centro de Derecho Ambiental y de los Recursos Naturales (CEDARENA) T. (506) 22837080 E-mail: [email protected], Website: www.aida-americas.org

Victory: Crucitas gold mine cancelled for environmental harm

Indigenous and Riverbank Communities Call on the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to Suspend the Massive Belo Monte Dam in the Brazilian Amazon

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 11, 2010 Media Contacts:   Astrid Puentes, AIDA - +1 510 984 4610, [email protected] Andressa Caldas, Justiça Global: +55 21 2544 2320 / 21 8187 0794, [email protected] Renata Pinheiro, Xingu Alive Forever Movement: + 55 93 9172 9776, [email protected] Christian Poirier, Amazon Watch: +1 510-666-7565, [email protected]   As the government prepares to issue the dam’s construction license, communities urge the Commission to denounce illegalities in licensing and violations of human rights   Washington, D.C., Brazil- Today international and Brazilian human rights and environmental organizations submitted a formal petition to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), denouncing grave and imminent violations upon the rights of indigenous and riverine communities that will be affected by the construction of Belo Monte Dam Complex on the Xingu River in the Brazilian Amazon. Signed by the Xingu Alive Forever Movement as well as the representatives of affected communities – the Conselho Indigenista Missionário (CIMI), Coordenação das Organizações Indígenas da Amazônia Brasileira (COIAB), Prelazia do Xingu, Sociedade Paraense de Direitos Humanos (SDDH), Justiça Global, and the Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense (AIDA) – with the support of over twenty organizations and social movements, the petition urgently calls on the Commission to adopt “precautionary measures” that would compel the Brazilian government to halt plans to build the dam, slated to be world’s 3rd largest.   The petition documents the Brazilian government’s violation of international treaties, ignoring the fundamental rights of indigenous peoples from the lower Xingu Basin, including the Arroz Cru, Arara da Volta Grande, Juruna do Km 17 and Ramal pas Penas communities. It also highlights major threats posed by the Belo Monte Dam, including forced displacement of communities without insuring their free, prior and informed consent, threats to food security and access to drinking water.   “The government claims that the Juruna will not be affected, but we do not believe this. We have not been consulted and we do not want the government to speak for us,” said Sheyla Juruna, member of a Juruna indigenous community that will be affected by Belo Monte. “We are against the Belo Monte Dam and we are committed to fight with our bodies and souls to defend our lives and the life of our river.”   The IACHR petition comes on the same week as prosecutors from Brazil’s Federal Public Ministry (MPF) sent a document to Brazil’s environmental agency IBAMA advising that the agency not issue an installation license until the dam-building consortium Norte Energia can comply with an obligatory set of social and environmental conditions. Norte Energia and the Brazilian government have been pushing IBAMA to issue a “partial” installation license, which would allow the project to break ground without complying with legally binding conditions on the dam’s provisional license.   Based on assessments from government agencies – like IBAMA [Brazil’s environmental agency] and the Federal Public Ministry – and those from groups of specialists, the organizations affirm that the construction of Belo Monte will increase illness and poverty, while causing a surge of disorderly migration to the region that will overload health, education, and public safety infrastructure. The petition concludes: "Despite the gravity and irreversibility of the impacts of the project to local communities, there were no appropriate measures taken to ensure the protection of human rights and the environment."   “It worries us how the Brazilian government is ignoring national and international standards to accelerate this project, even at the expense of human rights and the environment,” affirmed Astrid Puentes Riaño, the co-Director of the Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense (AIDA). “Moving forward without taking precautions required by international norms will only result in human rights violations and the irreversible destruction of a critically important region of the Amazon.”   In addition to calling attention to the illegalities and human rights violations associated with the Belo Monte Dam, the petition cites an important precedent, pointing out that in 2009 the IACHR implemented similar precautionary measures, leading to the suspension of the Chan-75 hydroelectric dam in Panama due to possible violations of indigenous communities’ rights.   ###   For more information on the Belo Monte Dam, visit: http://xingu-vivo.blogspot.com http://www.aida-americas.org http://www.internationalrivers.org http://amazonwatch.org /