Press Release

Brazilian social movements and civil society organizations are facing politically motivated prosecutions for their lawful opposition to the Belo Monte dam complex.

A recent investigation of the Xayaburi Dam site by International Rivers revealed that Thai company Ch. Karnchang has already undertaken significant resettlement and construction activities, contrary to claims that only preliminary work is underway. Despite Ch. Karnchang’s recent statements that it will comply with the Lao government’s commitment to postpone construction until there is regional agreement, International Rivers found construction activities underway during a visit last week to the dam site and 15 affected villages.

Altamira, Brazil – Indigenous peoples affected by the controversial Belo Monte Dam in the Brazilian Amazon have occupied a coffer dam that cuts across channels of the river since June 21.

The strategy proposes using public spending to offset private sector risk for eleven large, regional infrastructure projects that it claims will boost economic growth.

Amazonian Communities Occupy the Belo Monte Dam Site To Free the Xingu RiverOn the Eve of the Rio+20 UN Conference, Community Resistance Calls Attention to Brazilian Government's Unsustainable Energy Policy FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE High-Resolution Images and Broadcast-Quality Video Footage Available Upon Request Altamira, Brazil – While the Brazilian Government prepares to host the Rio+20 United Nations Earth Summit, 3,000 kilometers north in the country's Amazon region indigenous peoples, farmers, fisherfolk, activists and local residents affected by the construction of the massive Belo Mont

Affected peoples of Belo Monte and other mega-dams will hold a protest summit around Rio+20 from June 13-17. While Rio de Janeiro hosts some of the most powerful figures in global politics and economics at the Rio+20, the Xingu River will be the stage for ongoing popular protests against the Belo Monte dam complex.

Infrastructure lending has once again become the World Bank's core business. A new report by International Rivers reviews the Bank's track record in the sector, and calls on the new Bank President to replace the top-down approach to infrastructure with a strategy that prioritizes the needs of the poor. In November 2011, the World Bank and the Group of 20 prepared new strategies for infrastructure development. They proposed concentrating public finance on large projects with private participation that can transform whole regions. The Bank and the G20 identified the giant Inga hydropower sche

Representatives from more than 130 civil society organizations proposed a new Power Development Plan to Thailand’s policy makers and the public on April 30, 2012.

Two dynamic river activists from Kenya and China became the latest winners of the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize. These two river defenders - Ikal Angelei, Director of Friends of Lake Turkana, and Ma Jun, founder of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs - join four other inspiring leaders from around the globe in accepting the prize in 2012

Pver 150 demonstrators from communities and workers affected by the operations of Brazilian multinational giant Vale staged a protest at its corporate headquarters in downtown Rio de Janeiro, coinciding with an annual shareholders meeting.