Affected People

Dam Construction and the Rights of Original Inhabitants to Participation

Abstract As a villager living along the Jinsha River, I totally believe that the area of First bend of Yangtze River and Tiger Leaping Gorge is a real “Shangri-La”. The area covers the grandest scenery of the Three Parallel Rivers and owns abundant and unique natural resources, in addition, a great quantity of cultural relics and heritages can be found in this area. Many ethnic groups such as Naxi, Bai, Tibetan, Yi, Lisu live in the area, and create brilliant ethnic culture. From the viewpoint of economic development, the Jinsha River valley is the most fertile land in Lijiang municipa

Dams, Rivers and Rights

An Action Guide for Communities Affected by DamsAround the world, people are fighting to protect their rivers and their livelihoods from new dams. They are seeking compensation for problems caused by old dams. They are proposing better alternatives for energy, water supply and flood management. All of them are fighting to have their voices heard in decisions that affect their lives. To support their efforts, International Rivers has published “Dams, Rivers and Rights: An Action Guide for Communities Affected by Dams”. The guide now exists in 19 languages, including Spanish, Thai, Urdu, Fr

Inter-American Development Bank

Father and son displaced by Cana Brava Dam, Brazil
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is the largest regional multilateral development bank in Latin America. Over the past decade, the IDB has approved $69 billion in loans, and has been a major driver of regional infrastructure integration programs, such as the Initiative for the Integration of Infrastructure in South America (IIRSA). The IDB has also been a consistent funder of large dams. The IDB’s environmental and social record is spotty, at best.

Power, Progress, and Impoverishment

Thursday, June 14, 2007
Plantations, Hydropower, Ecological Change and Community Transformation in Hinboun District, Lao PDRFrom 2004-2006 Keith Barney was in Laos to investigate the effects of industrial tree plantations upon rural livelihoods. In cooperation with the National University of Laos and provincial forestry authorities, Mr. Barney selected a rural village in Hinboun District as his primary field site. This village, Ban Pak Veng, is located within a plantation concession zone awarded to BGA-Oji Laos Plantation Forestry Ltd. (LPFL). After some time in the village, Barney learned that the plantation project

Doing Dams Wrong: World Bank’s “Model” Project Leaves Lao Villagers in the Lurch

Thursday, June 7, 2007
World Rivers Review article detailing the problems with Nam Theun 2, based on International Rivers' recent visit to the project area.

Human Impacts of Dams

Ibaloi Women
Ibaloi Women Toots S., Philipine Daily Inquirer Large dams have forced some 40-80 million people from their lands in the past six decades, according to the World Commission on Dams. Indigenous, tribal, and peasant communities have been particularly hard hit. These legions of dam refugees have, in the great majority of cases, been economically, culturally and psychologically devastated. Those displaced by reservoirs are only the most visible victims of large dams. Millions more have lost land and homes to the canals, irrigation schemes, roads, power lines and industrial developments that acco

Nam Theun 2 Investigation Exposes Project Failings

Wednesday, May 23, 2007
"Model" Project Leaves Lao Villagers in the Lurch The Nam Theun 2 (NT2) hydropower project in central Laos, touted by the World Bank and others as a "model" dam and development project, is in danger of becoming yet another failed effort, according to a report released today by International Rivers.The report, based on a recent site visit by International Rivers staff, shows that as Nam Theun 2’s construction hits the halfway point, the dam’s social and environmental programs lag critically behind. The failures revealed by International Rivers are in three impact

Nam Theun 2 May 2007 Trip Report and Project Update

Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Halfway through Nam Theun 2's construction, livelihood restoration programs for affected villagers are in jeopardy. IRN visited the area in March 2007 and gathered first-hand information from communities about how the project is affecting their lives.

Letter to Nam Theun 2 Power Company Regarding Inadequate Compensation for Downstream Channel Villagers

Thursday, July 20, 2006
Letter to NTPC outlining problems with compensation for villagers affected by downstream channel construction, as identified during IRN's July 2006 Nam Theun 2 site visit.

Nam Theun 2’s First Year Marked by Delays in Implementation

Thursday, March 30, 2006
One year after World Bank approval for the Nam Theun 2 Hydropower Project in Laos, delays in implementation are causing concern amongst NGOs monitoring the project.While construction is proceeding rapidly, key elements vital to reducing the project’s negative impacts on people and the environment are behind schedule. International Rivers is concerned about the following aspects of project implementation: Many key documents have not yet been completed, including wildlife management plans for critically endangered species living on the Nakai Plateau, the Project Implementation Plan, and detail

Pages

Subscribe to RSS - Affected People