2012
Exploitation vs. Human Rights in the Amazon Delta
The Problem &
Our Solution
Brandon Stewart, Karen Ochaeta,
Vici Wewel, Stuart Wagner, and Viktor
Sundman
11/26/2012
Table of Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 2
Background ................................................................................................................................................... 3
Location .................................................................................................................................................... 3
Population ................................................................................................................................................. 4
Economic Situation ................................................................................................................................... 6
History ...................................................................................................................................................... 6
Capitals ......................................................................................................................................................... 8
Natural Capital-Environmental Consultant ............................................................................................... 8
Economic Capital – Corporate Social Responsibility Officer ................................................................ 10
Cultural Capital – The Kayapo Indians................................................................................................... 11
Human Capital- Citizen of São Paulo ..................................................................................................... 13
Social Capital - Head of an NGO............................................................................................................ 15
Physical Capital - Urban Architect ......................................................................................................... 16
Action Plan.................................................................................................................................................. 18
Conclusion .................................................................................................................................................. 21
List of References ....................................................................................................................................... 22
Introduction
The Amazon rainforest is a vast creation of natural beauty. Stretching over 5.5 million square
kilometers, it is home to one tenth of all known species on Earth, making its biodiversity one of
the greatest in the entire world (WWF, 2012). The rainforest is inhabited by over 400 different
indigenous groups, and more than a quarter of the Amazon basin is designated indigenous
territory (Amazon Watch, 2012).
This incredible landscape is currently under serious threat. Loggers, miners, cattle ranchers,
farmers and energy companies are exploiting the Amazon cutting down large parts of the forest
in order to use the wood or the land for financial gains (National Geographic, 2012). This
disturbs the complex ecosystem of the area, and is killing a lot of species exclusive to the region.
It also threatens the physical and cultural survival of the indigenous people, whose rights to the
territory and the natural resources are protected by the Brazilian constitution (SAIIC, 2012).
Among other projects, the building of 20 new hydroelectric power plants along the rivers of the
Amazon rainforest (Smith, 2012), a project that will have devastating effects on the area.
But it is not just the Amazon that suffers from the exploitation of the rainforest. The region
has been called “the Lungs of our Planet”, since the rainforest produces about 20% of the oxygen
in the world (Blue Planet Biomes, 2003). The destruction of this area, and deforestation in other
parts of the world, would have serious global consequences. It is of great importance that we
work to preserve the Amazon rainforest, and stop the exploitation it currently suffers.
It is clear that many of the problems that the Amazon Delta face today are connected whether
they be environmentally, ecologically or socially, they appear to be man-made and need to be
remedied using different methods. Possible actions include better equipped legal representation
for indigenous populations, lobbying by environmental groups to government and private
sources outlining the serious consequences of the degradation to the Amazon Delta, media
exposure both domestically and internationally, mobilizing citizenry through active participation
in protests and finally open dialogue between the various groups who have a stake in the region.
Background
Location
As stated before our objective location is the Amazon rainforest as well as the cities that
surround it such as São Paulo. The Amazon rainforest is the greatest remaining biological
resource on the planet today and is continuously being destroyed by governments, multi-national
logging companies and land owners each day It covers over a billion acres of land in South
America while spreading through 9 different countries and makes up 54% of the total rainforests
left on Earth (Raintree Nutrition, 2012).
Recently a lot of the main concern for the rainforest isn’t completely on exploitation of the
forestry but on the Amazon Rivers and waterways. One example in particular is the Xingu River
where a main dam is being built to help divert water to other channels to help with the boosting
of electrical turbines of Belo Monte (more details later).
One of the biggest affects is the reduced water flow for the Paquicamba tribe which is located a
little further down river. Then again this is just one of the damns being built and there are said to
be multiple.
Population
The groups and communities that will be affected by the construction of the dams and the
consequently changes in volumes and levels of water, flooded forest and land conflict due to the
migration of more than 100,000 people to the region are: the indigenous communities of Juruna
of Paquiçamba, Arara da Volta Grande, and indigenous families of the Xipaya, Kuruaya, Jururu,
Arara, Kayapó ethnic groups, as well as the river bank dwellers who live in diverse localities
(Barbosa and Moral, 2009).
According to Fearnside (2006), if the government goes through with the construction of five
upstream dams that will support the electricity generation of Belo Monte, an estimated 37
ethnicities will be affected.
The official number of people directly affected is 19.000, but a revision made to the
Environmental Impact Report by a panel of experts, considers that this number is unreal and that
the population living in the rural areas has been underestimated due to statistical errors, therefore
the number of people affected could be doubled (Barbosa and Moral, 2009).
Many of the residents of the area that will be destroyed by the dams are being displaced, but
the migration of workers and people interested on buying land that is rising in value is creating
serious conflicts among the dwellers (Smith, 2012). Other consequences are the changes in the
availability of natural resources, climatic conditions and possible increase in the population and
spread of diseases that are not being taken into account by the companies in charge of the
project.
Economic Situation
When talking about the economic situation in Brazil you immediately think about its uprising as
becoming one of the developing nations. The economic state of Brazil is rather good for right
now the only related problems are those that deal with the destruction of the rainforest yet that is
where all their economic power seems to come from. “Since 2003, Brazil has steadily improved
its macroeconomic stability, building up foreign reserves, and reducing its debt profile by
shifting its dept profile” (Index Mundi, 2012).
It is listed as one of the countries with the highest GDP for the last couple years and still
continues to make huge strides towards a more powerful nation. Now for our target city, São
Paulo, its economy is run by its industries and agricultural departments and is one of the richest
cities in the world. The fact that this city is so rich and powerful and full of big businesses makes
it a good place to start and action plan to help with the rainforest since the city is affect so much
by its presence. Since the country is doing so well they tend to want to invest a lot of money into
these huge projects such as the huge dam project. Back in August some steps were taken to stop
these dam buildings but were denied and the process continued for these buildings.
History
The Belo Monte hydroelectric dam is part of the “2010 Plan” proposed by ELETROBRÁS (the
agency under the Ministry of Mines and Energy of Brazil, responsible for the country’s energy
development) in 1987. The plan comprises the construction of 79 dams in the area covered by
the Amazon rainforest, being the Belo Monte dam the first one to be built by 2000
(Fearnside,2006).
According to the president of Brazil’s Energy Research Agency, “Brazil is pouring money
into big dams because they can generate electricity more cheaply and pollute less than plants
fueled by natural gas or coal” (Smith, 2012). Nevertheless, the location of the dam is an
important factor to take into account, since the Amazon rainforest plays a crucial role in the
functioning of carbon sequestration cycle and the protection of biodiversity (Barret, 1991), and
because the vulnerability of the area is enhanced by the presence of indigenous communities who
depend on the river and related resources for their survival.
Many environmental impact assessments have been undertaken since the project of the Belo
Monte dam was proposed, but the lack of credibility and inconsistences in the reports have
caused the delay of the project’s approval by the Brazilian Institute of Environment and
Renewable Natural Resources –IBAMA- ; nevertheless, increasing pressure on the authorities to
approve the project has continued since 2003 (Fearnside, 2006), and finally a construction
license was issued in 2011 (Smith, 2012).
The companies in charge of the design and construction of the dam are ELETRONORTE (the
government company responsible for electrical power in Brazil’s northern region),
ELECTROBRÁS, Camargo Correia, and other firms hired to conduct viability studies; the name
of the consortium is Norte Energia. According to Fearnside (2006), the industry of aluminum
plays also an important role in the investment of the project, since it involves an energy intensive
production process and the Brazilian government is interested on promoting the expansion of this
industry in the near future.
Capitals
Natural Capital-Environmental Consultant
The natural capital is represented by an independent environmental consultant who is interested
on evaluating the impacts that the construction of the hydroelectric dam across the Xingu River
will have on the natural resources of the Amazon River and rainforest. The main goal is to carry
on a qualitative assessment in order to determine if the benefits that the hydroelectric will bring
to the society will counteract or compensate in some way the damage and loss of natural
resources in the area.
The construction of hydroelectric dams in general has environmental repercussions, which
are: landscape destruction due to flooding of huge areas of forest to form reservoirs, water
diversion that causes desiccation in some areas and floods in others, and possible emission of
greenhouse gases (Rosenberg et al., 1995). These emissions are caused by different factors, the
first of them is the decay of biomass that is left along the areas flooded, which can be compared
to clearings for agriculture and ranching purposes; then, the microbial decomposition of dead
vegetation under anaerobic conditions at the bottom of the reservoir releases methane (CH4),
which has 21 times more impact on global warming than CO2, the methane is then released at a
high rate when water passes through the turbines, because this water is taken from near the
bottom of the reservoir (Fearnside, 2005).
Reviewers of the official environmental impact report presented to IBAMA (Brazilian
Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources) have arrived to the same
conclusion, which basically is that the losses caused by the construction of the dam will not be
compensated by the economic and social benefits it is supposed to bring to the country. Among
the damages that it will cause to the ecosystems in the area are: threats to aquatic biodiversity
due to the diversion of more than 80% of the river´s stream flow; drastic reduction of water
tables causing shortage of water and changes in the climate conditions, and deforestation that
will also imply negative effects on terrestrial fauna (Barbosa and Moral, 2009).
Biodiversity loss is one of the environmental damages that have no possible mitigation action
plan due to the unique characteristics of the Xingu River, which is formed by a series of
channels, rapids, and special habitats that will lose their functionality. The reductions in the
stream flow along the stretch of the river called the Big Bend (about 100 km) will endanger
hundreds of fish species, since this river is, according to Hermes Medeiros, doctor in ecology,
one of the richest in aquatic biodiversity with about four times the total amount of species found
in all Europe (Barbosa and Moral, 2009).
Prevention of emissions of methane is being contemplated during the construction phase. The
area flooded by the Belo Monte dam will be of 440 km2, and all the vegetation and felled giant
logs are being removed from the area in order to decrease the possible generation of methane in
the future. However, this mitigation action does not take into account the construction of a chain
of upstream dams to boost the efficiency of Belo Monte, that will flood vast areas of indigenous
land of approximately 6140 km2 and will contribute to global warming, altering the seasonal
dynamic of the Big Bend and increasing the probability of spread of diseases like malaria
(Fearnside, 2006; Barbosa and Moral, 2009).
All the impacts mentioned above and the fact that the energy generated will be used to
support current policies to subsidize multinational aluminum companies (Fearnside, 2006) while
depriving many indigenous communities and other bank dwellers from their livelihood and
homes, lead to the conclusion that the construction of the Belo Monte dam will only generate a
series of irreversible environmental and socioeconomic problems, that have to be communicated
to the rest of the Brazilian population in order to put pressure on the government and
construction companies to find other ways of generating renewable energy and use the current
available flow of energy in a more efficient manner. For this purpose, the natural consultant will
join efforts with a local NGO to spread the information about the natural and social costs of the
Belo Monte dam.
Economic Capital – Corporate Social Responsibility Officer
For the purpose of this paper, my name is Thiago da Silva I am a Brazilian citizen and a
representative of an international conglomerate named BrazilCo that is charged with financing
electricity-generating ventures within the Brazilian Amazon Delta for the company Norte
Energia SA. My background lays in investment analysis but as such I have since moved on to
different duties within BrazilCo.
Currently the group that I represent would seek to finance projects that would involve
building several dams to generate electricity; however there are serious concerns from numerous
stakeholders including local residents, environmental groups, media representatives and
government bodies at local, federal and international levels. There is a strong push from a
number of these groups to look at more sustainable and environmentally friendly methods of
electricity generation that will allow the pristine surroundings to be spared their destruction and
that the forceful removal of indigenous populations that may come from the construction of dams
to not occur.
My personal sentiments regarding the proposed dam construction is one of restraint and
concern, as a progressive, concerned and environmentally conscious Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) officer my obligations to my employer and the affected groups cause great
divide. There is immense pressure from senior management to ensure that the dam construction
goes ahead, for reasons that typically pertain to economic viability, insofar however I believe it
is possible to instil a change of thought within upper management through rigorous cost
evaluations and lobbying to prove that more environmentally and socially respective methods are
more effective and viable at an economic level.
Effectively as the CSR Officer it is my duty to bridge the connection between a business and
the numerous stakeholders within the Amazon Delta region of Brazil, so that all voices are heard
- to the benefit of all. By creating solid relationships within the Amazon Delta community, it is
only then can we develop a successful business plan. One of the primary concerns is that human
exploitation would be allowed to go unhinged throughout this project, however the group that I
represent believe it is only a detriment to our business model, we do not intend to finance groups
that would otherwise harm others, we seek to redress such issues and more importantly hope to
ensure they do not happen. It must be said however, that first and foremost it is the shareholders
expectations and legal obligations that need be met. We have a legal duty to ensure the
maximum return on investment (ROI) for our shareholders; this unfortunately is at conflict with
environmental sustainability but is in line with the plans for Norte Energia SA to construct dams.
Analyst from BrazilCo have suggested that any dam project may possibly be targeted and
sabotaged by local populations and conservation groups, and as such affect the investment of
BrazilCo, this in itself is enough reason to warrant a re-evaluation of the planned dam
construction.
Effectively by communicating with indigenous leaders, environmental officers from
government and non-government groups, labour leaders, media, construction and legal
representatives I will be able to address any problems that might surface. The community can
work together to find solutions to problems that might occur with the introduction of new
electricity generating projects. This is why I have proposed to the relevant groups affected by
this project to hold regularly scheduled meetings initially of at least once every two weeks, then
monthly. This is so we are able to find out what each groups wants, needs and expects, to brief
stakeholders of important changes and the direction of the electricity generation project. To
promote new developments in a positive but honest light, hold seminars to educate as well as
relevant training sessions for local labourers. Broader issues within the Amazon Delta would
seek to primarily include the environment and social capitals, the mixing of indigenous persons
with business leaders who may not speak the same language nor understand each other’s
background or concerns - in all it can be said that community outreach is the core activity in
which a business maintains its presence and of the duties for a CSR officer.
Cultural Capital – The Kayapo Indians
The Kayapo Indians are an indigenous group inhibiting the shores of the Xingu River, a tributary
to the great Amazon River in the Eastern part of the Amazon rainforest. The Kayapo population
consists of a few thousand individuals living in different villages scattered over a larger area,
constituted by both rainforest and grassland. The traditional way of living is still dominating in
the Kayapo culture, although increased contact with the world outside of the tribe has added
some aspects to the daily life of the indigenous people, such as the addition of for example rice
and milk to the diet which traditionally has been dominated by fish, fruit and nuts (Countries and
Their Culture, 2012).
The contact with non-indigenous people has also had more explicitly negative impacts on the
Kayapos. The people have been attacked because of their land, which has on occasions been
taken away from them by force. Many Kayapos were also forced to work in the gold mines in the
1980s and 1990s under very poor working conditions and for very low wages. The mining also
polluted the rivers of the rainforest with mercury, which led to diseases among the indigenous
people (Countries and Their Culture, 2012). At the moment, the biggest threat to the Kayapo
culture is the building of the dams in the Amazon rainforest. Especially the Belo Monte project
threatens to leave parts of the Xingu River almost completely dry, which would significantly hurt
the Kayapo people, since they are so dependent on fishing. The altering of the flow would also
lead to a degradation of the environment in the area, challenging the existence of the Kayapo
culture with additional threats (Mongabay, 2012).
My name is Mibengukra, and I am born and raised in the Kayapo culture. Instead of pursuing
the traditional Kayapo way of life, I have devoted myself to deal with the outside world on
behalf of my people. As an indigenous representative of the Kayapos, it is my job to ensure that
the voice of the indigenous people is heard when it comes to issues that directly will affect our
way of life, such as the building of the dams in the Amazon rainforest. However, just protesting
against the dams on behalf of the indigenous people of the area will not be enough: it is also vital
that a big part of the Brazilian community joins the protests in order to really change the way the
decision-makers think and behave. Therefore, my most important task in solving this issue will
be to engage the Brazilian community to take action and actively show its discontent with the
dams.
One way this could be done is through events inviting city dwellers to take part of the
indigenous culture, focusing their attention to the importance of a diverse culture and
preservation of the traditional ways of living practiced in the Amazon, which is an important part
of enhancing the cultural capital needed to create a sustainable situation (Roseland, 2005: 12). As
an indigenous representative, I would be a key actor in arranging such an event, since I am the
link between the indigenous people and the broader community. It would be my responsibility to
get my people to partake in this initiative, and to share our history and traditions with people
from the outside world. Teaching citizens of big Brazilian cities how to use blowguns, painting
children with our traditional body paint and showing people our rich culture of singing and
dancing (Countries and Their Culture, 2012) would all be entertaining and educational activities
to open up people’s minds toward the importance of our cultural heritage.
Other opportunities to promote the indigenous culture, thus contributing to the end of the
exploitation, are by making deals with the regional media, for example to create a series of
documentaries focusing on the lives of different Amazonian tribes, or by getting a newspaper to
write an article about different aspects of the Kayapo culture once a week. Yet another way is to
make a deal with local universities to give classes about indigenous peoples and their traditions.
All these actions would serve to educate the community about indigenous culture, and increase
the support for preserving it.
Human Capital- Citizen of São Paulo
My role for this project is clearly labeled as a citizen of São Paulo. I will be part of the middle
class of São Paulo with a stable job and around the age of 26 years old. I will portray how life in
São Paulo is as a “normal” person trying to live and to be able to give their perspective on this
whole challenge as well as I can. Now when dealing with this challenge of exploitation and
human rights I feel that the human capital is one of the most important of these capital’s because
in any way or decision it will affect my life.
As I stated before my character is a young middle class citizen of São Paulo. My character is
named Mario Garcia. Currently I work for Klabin which is the leading paper producer in Brazil.
This company also is leading in the exporting and recycling of the paper and is very much into
supporting the environment in any way they can. So when it comes to solutions to help protect
the environment I am is usually involved in it by going to community meetings and expressing
my thoughts on the subject and things that can be done to help not only the rainforest but ways to
inform the people on what is going on and how they can help.
So when thinking about these affects you want to look as to how my person is going to react
and how I am going to benefit from these in which a lot of these changes with the Amazon do
benefit myself greatly as I live in the city and want to support my family. As a citizen of São
Paulo my job will be able to take the information given to myself from what the other capitals
give me and not only spread the word but change little things in my everyday life to be able to
help the cause. My character is going to want to help the Amazon in any way he is told he can.
Other ways that my character will be able to help is through his job; since it is so
environmentally friendly and want to help they can also spread some notice to the people in ways
with their products.
As a human citizen a lot of the reason these changes are happening are because of my
consumption so if I am able to work down and be able to get this information and use it for my
future advantage then things will become less stressful on the Amazon environment. Now myself
doing the right thing won’t be the only thing that will be asked of me, I will have to also be able
to spread the word, have stands out with my family telling about what is happening around us
and simple ways to avoid the dramatic impact that would be soon to come if we continue with
our current consumption. I will be reacting to what every other capital does and it will be based
on my opinion of what is going on which will decide what exactly my role for being a citizen
will portray. Yet coming from an environmentally friendly company and view on things my
character will join and help in any way possible that he can do. Whether it be to sign petitions or
anything that will help get an upper hand in stopping or at least put a hold on what the
government as well as companies in São Paulo plan to do with the resources in the Amazon. The
bigger picture of what the human capital does is that they have connections to other sources that
are within the community and the peoples voice matter when being able to stabilize a society.
Social Capital - Head of an NGO
As social capital I represent the leader of a local NGO. I am a young active woman with origins
from a Native American rainforest tribe. My mother was forced to move into the city in the early
80ies because of threats from people who were illegally logging in her community's region. She
is a strong woman, she found work and enabled me thus to get a good education. To give the
natives and all people interested in this issue a forum of discussion and exchange of information
I try to campaign as much as possible for the NGO I work for. In order to raise awareness among
the people threatened about their rights and among the Brazilian population to sympathize with
those in need, the NGO creates a friendly environment for connecting. My motivation is to raise
awareness of the fact that human rights are completely overlooked in a number of economic
projects which are contributing to Brazil's growth but damaging to an important, already
threatened part of the population, not to mention the environment. Since I feel very connected to
them because of my family bonds it is a personally very important challenge.
Working together with indigenous organizations and an environmental consultant my role is
to go and contact in this case the native rainforest tribes contactable and understand these
people's needs and fears, whose rights are neglected and act according to them, to help them
being able to trust again and feel valuable. As project leader of an NGO my goal is to make as
many people as possible interested in the matter and make them feel part of it. I need people to
feel responsible for how their fellow Brazilian inhabitants are treated and make them want to
make a change.
Part of my plan is to lead discussions where solutions can be developed and everybody can
contribute with their knowledge and expertise to help. We already have some lawyers and people
with other special skills on board, which is very important to attain our aim in order to develop
our claim in a convincing and legally accurate way. After formulation of our goal, which is to
stop the dam building and to make industry and government shift to other sustainable power, we
need to go to the people in the cities to reach the broader public and collect signatures for the
petition we are going to send to the government. We will try to motivate people to sign by
attending festivals and cultural event in the big cities like Sao Paolo, Rio, Brasilia, Salvador etc.
We are lucky that we have members scattered all over Brazil, facilitating logistics significantly.
The facts and plans developed together are to be sending to the CSR of the Norte Energia SA,
the company responsible to a large extend for the dam building, trying to convince them to halt
the constructions. We will also ask them for a meeting where we would explain our proposition
and show how they would make a profit out of it, by turning to solar or wind power.
The next step if the CSR is not willing enough is contacting and communicating with higher
authorities, pledge for our interests as an NGO with support of the petition, having been signed
by a high number of people. This will put high pressure on the government who will certainly
forward this pressure to the companies involved in the dam projects at least to closer consider
our solution.
Protests will also be organized, announced and spread via Facebook, Twitter and similar
social networks, attracting a great number of people. These protests might be combined with a
gathering and a speech by one of the indigenous community members and the environmental
consultant. To make this event more attractive we will try to find sponsors who want to advertise
their products by offering free drinks and snacks.
These ideas and forces all combined will hopefully make a change and show ones again that
everybody's voice counts and together it is possible to make the future a little bit better.
Physical Capital - Urban Architect
Now lastly we were missing someone from the physical capital side of the project in our team so
we decided to look and recruit one. The role for physical capital is really involved in the
implement of our action plan not only at the start of it but working for future projects with it. We
were finally able to find one and his name is Frank Bontez and he works as an urban architect
and works with Studio Arthur Casas. He went to college at Fluminense Ferderal University
where he would study in civil engineering and then start working for Studio Arthur Casas in
2000. He couldn’t partake in this writing part for he went on a business trip to Africa but he was
able to leave most of his work and such behind for us to write the parts he contributed. His part is
very important because it will help give us illustrative data on how our plan would lay out and
make a possible investment in the future. He holds plenty of skill in this field and was more than
willing to help out with the cause. He is a very busy man but he was able to do all he could and
with what he contributed he did plenty. With his current work experience he has worked on
projects that have been a part of São Paulo so he isn’t foreign to this kind of work which was a
great thing to add to the group.
Now what he planned to contribute through all of this was basically setting up regions to
where we will be able to make alternative energy solutions which relates to our action plan and
can help tremendously in the data backup of our idea. To get this done he will need to look up
multiple regions in the area that are suitable to be used in this way, meaning these areas will not
be negatively affected. There are a lot of factors that can cause to the action of not building in
one particular area so it smart to have multiple locations to work with. He will also work on
designs to make it so it the most efficient way of using the space and just finding the viable land
that can used for this major project to help show people that our proposal is a possible project.
This part is the glue to the whole proposal because it shows that it can really work and creates a
great argument to be able to believe in it. He has offered to help fund some of the setups for
promotion of the new idea to the public as well as coming up with innovative ideas to get the
public’s interest. In the end he has also offered us a discount on building the small facilities next
to the farms to keep all equipment in good condition. Most of the work done by Frank is based
on things that will happen in the future of the bigger picture of the action plan, and that is
moving away from the hydroelectric power in the Amazon Delta which will be explained more
thoroughly.
Action Plan
In order to stop the violations of human rights and the exploitation of the Amazon rainforest, and
more specifically, stop the building of the hydroelectric dams, we need the support of the
Brazilian people. Creating a sustainable society requires the support of citizens and that “both the
gain and the pain of adjustment should be shared fairly by community members” (Roseland,
2005: 26). Getting the society to back us in our struggle to stop the dam-building requires that we
successfully inform the society that there is a problem in the first place, and let them know how
we can solve it. We have identified several ways to spread this message.
Our main focus will lie in arranging events in the major cities of the country, such as São
Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia. These events will be formally arranged by the NGO and will
focus on the Amazon rainforest and the threats posed to this incredible natural creation. The
findings of the environmental consultant about the impact of different projects on the
biodiversity and the complex ecological system of the forest will be presented, and the
indigenous representative will arrange for the visitors to engage in different parts of the culture
of the indigenous people living in the Amazon. Attendees will also be presented with the
opportunity to sign petitions and receive invitations to protests against the dams. These petitions
will later be presented to relevant officials at the company building the dams, such as the CSR
officer, and to governmental authorities to show the lack of support for the expansionist plans.
Another way to spread the message is through local, regional and national media. Of course,
our events will attract journalists who will later talk about our initiative in TV and newspapers,
but our aim is to also create a media interest for this issue separate from the events. By writing
articles about the impact companies have on the rainforest, making documentaries about the
indigenous people and appearing in interviews talking about the exploitation we will lay the
foundation for this interest, and hopefully media will catch on and engage in their own
investigations and projects. Interactive campaigns in social media such as Facebook and Twitter
will also be used to reach an even broader audience.
A vital part of our presentation of the problem of the dams will be our suggested alternative.
If successful, the outcome of this action plan will be that the decision-makers regarding the dams
along the rivers of the Amazon rainforest realize that they do not have the support of the
Brazilian people to go ahead with their plans, and that there is a better alternative to, both
economically and environmentally. The energy needs of Brazil will be met at the same time as
the Amazon rainforest is preserved in its current state. However, there are many obstacles that
have to be overcome to reach a successful outcome.
Energy generation in Brazil is accounted for by hydro-electricity at a staggering 91.4%, it is a
centralised system and the country is clearly dependent on it, further to which, with it comes
seasonal challenges such as the Brazilian dry season (Filgueiras and Silva, 2003: 441). This
indicates the need for other sources of energy that can account for any shortfalls during periods
of drought. By implementing strategic wind and solar farms across appropriate regions of the
Amazon Delta it is therefore possible to ensure a carbon-free source of energy that can pick up
shortfalls to rectify possible black-out periods.
It is suggested that strategic wind farm locations be placed at higher altitude locations or areas
in which there is wind diversity as per the recommendations found in the Zero Carbon Australia
Stationary Plan (Energy Research Institute, 2012: 64). By installing wind turbines in the areas
where there are local indigenous populations, it would mean a low-impact on any current
agricultural practises that take place which is in stark comparison to hydro-electricity that would
devastate entire regions. Additionally it may be then possible for local communities and/or
farmers to reap the benefits of electricity being generated on their land by leasing out optimal
areas to Norte Energia SA and in-fact selling electricity back to the company at a profit.
It has been estimated that by 2020 the capital cost of wind-generated electricity will be
€826/kW (Energy Research Institute, 2012: 66) (not to be confused with running cost, the initial
investment, in example the capital cost which is important for BrazilCo and Norte Energia SA),
this is in stark comparison to nuclear power which costs US$5500-8100 (€4240-6244) (Biewald
and Schlissel, 2008: 2), and hydro-electricity which comes in more than wind energy at US$1500
(€1156) (Jcmiras, 2008).
It is these figures that must be therefore used to persuade both BrazilCo and Norte Energia SA
that there are more efficient, environmentally friendly and cheaper ways to produce energy
within the Amazon Delta.
It is our further recommendation that the already logged and deforested areas of the Amazon
Delta be put to better use, either through the replanting of natives species to rejuvenate
communities and ecosystems or for the generation of solar energy through solar farms. This
comes with the suggestion that by employing local labourers in this endeavour to maintain and
monitor solar farm Norte Energia SA can remain a positive force within the community.
The first challenge is to engage the community. The facts presented to them must be
compelling enough to make them want to do more to save the rainforest, and they must be
presented with a clear way to do this. We have to raise enough civilian support to be able to
convince the company to scrap their plans, which is the second challenge. In addition to showing
the company that the people are against them, we also need to present a viable alternative for
their investment. This is the third challenge; constructing a viable plan for meeting Brazil’s
energy needs while at the same time being sustainable.
Succeeding in all these challenges is not an easy task. However, we believe that the action
plan we have presented can overcome the obstacles on the road to sustainability, and if we work
together, we can improve the prospects for a future where the Amazon rainforest is not just a
story of the past, but a living natural wonder for all to see.
Conclusion
The Amazon Delta of Brazil is rich with culture, wildlife and resources and consequently there is
a delicate balance between all of these systems. By removing one you put the fate of others at
serious risk, so consequently any decision to change the natural order such as the establishment
of hydro-electric dams needs to come under tight scrutiny.
Between the different capitals of social, economic, human, cultural, and physical there is a
positive working cohesion, many of the groups work well together and share similar ideals and
goals. Indigenous groups seek to preserve their lands and culture, the media seeks to promote
their cause and natural capital agrees that the construction of dams is extremely detrimental to
the Amazon Delta ecosystem. It is generally accepted that renewable energy generation via solar
and wind, and not hydro-electric, is the pertinent way to proceed.
The most resistance comes from economic capital as a means of disagreement on how to
proceed with the halting of the dam project and instead turning towards more sustainable and
ecological methods. This resistance can be met with thorough (costed) economic, environmental
and social research to prove that there are superior ways to establish an electrical grid based in
the Amazon Delta, in that there is several established studies that can be used as relevant
arguments pertaining to which.
While the economic means are the cause of the most resistance, each capital cannot deny the
existence of human exploitation within the Amazon Delta. This exploitation stems not only from
the removal of indigenous populations from their ancestral lands, nor is it restricted to the
pollution of water ways and the natural environment which directly affects food security for both
man and animal, but also the employment of and working conditions of locally employed staff in
the proposed dam construction and the consequential shift to more environmentally friendly and
renewable methods of solar and wind energy generation. The protection of the rights of the local
populations and the promotion of their voice is central to any future project relating to electricity
generation in the Amazon Delta.
Through a unified approach between all capitals, it will be possible to establish the means of
incorporating environmentally friendly electricity generation while at the same time preserving
the delicate Amazon Delta with minimal adverse effects to man and environment.
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