Displacement

Brazilian Dams

Tucuruí Dam, Brazilian Amazon
Xingu Encounter 2008 - May 19-23 About the Encounter Blog Image Gallery Video Introduction (Al Jazeera) Brazil is one of the world’s leading dam–building nations, and is already highly dependent on hydropower for its electricity, with about 80% of its electrical energy coming from large dams. Despite recent initiatives to diversify the country’s sources of electrical energy generation, energy planners and industries are pressing for a major expansion of hydroelectricity in Brazil, saying it is cruci

World Bank’s Broken Promises to Displaced Communities Exposed

Mwanza villagers would be affected by further dam development at the Inga site in DRC
As ministers, business leaders, NGOs and policymakers descended on Washington last week for the World Bank’s semi-annual high-level meetings, the Bank’s carefully cultivated image of respectability was tarnished by a damning new report on its role in financing large-scale evictions and forced displacement. Following an 11-month-long investigation, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) published an exposé that identified “systematic gaps” in the Bank’s ability to ensure that those impacted by its projects are not left worse off – as required by Bank polic

Dammed, Displaced and Forgotten

People displaced by the Sardar Sarovar Dam in India
The World Bank has promised to learn from its past mistakes. Yet a new report about the Bank's resettlement projects shows that for the development financier, poor people literally don't count.

Xekaman 1 Dam Brings Displacement and Underdevelopment

The numbers of construction workers at the Xekaman 1 site are increasing
Part 2 (Continued from previous posting) At the edges of the construction zone of the Xekaman 1 Dam, located close to the confluence of the Sekaman and Sekong rivers, three villages of ethnic minority people have been living for over a decade in temporary makeshift homes. They were forced to move from the surrounding hillsides when authorities told them a proposed dam project would inundate the area. At the time, villagers heard promises that they would be able to move to a permanent settlement with housing, roads and basic services. However, until such a place could be identified and develop

International Court Finds Guatemala Guilty for Rio Negro Massacres

Carlos Chen Osorio, who lost his wife and two toddler daughters in the massacre, leads the row during the Via Crucis
Carlos Chen Osorio, who lost his wife and two toddler daughters in the massacre, leads the row during the Via Crucis. Photo by James Rodriguez For more than 20 years, the Maya-Achi people displaced by the Chixoy Dam have sought justice for the massacre of their husbands, wives and children that took place during Guatamala's civil war in the early 1980s. Last week their years of effort were finally recognized when the Inter-American Court on Human Rights found Guatemala guilty of the violation of human rights against the communities of Rio Negro. “After so many years struggling to seek justi

Ongoing Problems Faced by Communities Affected by Nam Song and Nam Leuk Dams

Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Oct. 24, 2012 Anthony Jude, Director Energy Division, Southeast Asia Department Asian Development Bank 6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong City 1550, Philippines Re: Nam Song and Nam Leuk Hydropower Projects, Lao PDR Dear Mr. Jude, I am writing to follow up on the implementation of the Nam Song-Nam Leuk Environmental Mitigation Plan and review missions conducted by the ADB. In March 2012, an International Rivers’ consultant conducted a site visit to eight villages affected by the Nam Song Dam and three villages affected by the Nam Leuk Dam to assess the state of the mitigation plans. In light of

Letter to THPC About Ongoing Concerns of Affected Communities

Thursday, September 20, 2012
Robert Allen Jr. General Manager Theun-Hinboun Power Company Ltd. P.O. Box 3382 Vientiane, Lao PDR RE: Concerns about Theun-Hinboun Expansion Project Relocation and Resettlement Sites Dear Mr. Allen, I am writing to follow up on THPC’s response to the letter International Rivers sent to you on February 3, 2012 and to communicate unresolved matters of concern reported to International Rivers by headmen and villagers in the relocation sites of Ban Phousaat, Ban Tha, Ban Phoumakgneng, Ban Thasala (new and old sites), the resettlement site of Ban Nongxong, and affected villages in Zones 3B and

Drawing Lessons from Dams and Displacement

Carpenter in front of his home, before and after it was demolished
Carpenter in front of his home, before and after it was demolished Linda Butler, 2001 and 2003 "Art goes around our neatly arranged arguments. Art allows us to see beauty, feel joy and anger. Art doesn't follow a party line, but punches us in the stomach when we least expect it."- Peter Bosshard, opening of Artists Respond to Three Gorges. For the Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest and most (in)famous dam, you could throw around some impressive facts and figures and everyone would shake their heads at them: 1.3 million people displaced and 13 cities, 140 towns and 1,350

Nam Theun 2 Delays Reaching Critical Stage: International Rivers' Report

Tuesday, February 26, 2008
The Nam Theun 2 Hydropower Project in central Laos is not ready for reservoir impoundment, according to a report released today by International Rivers. The report, based on a recent site visit by International Rivers’ staff, shows that shortcomings and delays in programs to compensate villagers and restore their incomes have not been addressed. Furthermore, it is unclear if resettlement infrastructure for more than 6,200 villagers on the Nakai Plateau will be completed on time for reservoir filling to begin in June 2008.Shannon Lawrence, Lao Program Director for International Rivers, says:

Nam Ngum Hydropower Cascade Threatens Poverty Reduction in Laos

Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Poor sector planning, lack of public participation aggravate social and environmental impacts described in ADB report A report presented in Vientiane today on the cumulative impacts of hydropower development in Laos' Nam Ngum river basin indicates that proposed dams would have serious impacts on the livelihoods of tens of thousands of Laotians. But the flawed planning process makes it unlikely that this Asian Development Bank (ADB)-supported cumulative impact assessment (CIA) will have any influence over decisions taken on whether or how to proceed with these hydropower schemes. The CIA con

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