Press Release

Investigative Report Exposes Forced Evictions and Fraudulent Claims at Chinese CDM Hydropower Project A field visit by Germany's GEO Magazine finds that the Taijiang Yanzhai Hydropower Project located in Guizhou province, China, does not deserve to receive carbon credits through the UN's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). GEO Magazine found that the project does not result in real greenhouse gas emission reductions and also violates the rights of the local population. Local dam-affected farmers assert that they were forcibly evicted from their homes. The Project Design Document (PDD)

More than 30 activists peacefully demonstrated yesterday at the Mexican Consulate in San Francisco to demand the cancellation of El Zapotillo Dam in the state of Jalisco, Mexico.The protest included many expatriate residents of Temacapulín, one of the towns threatened by the dam. They were joined at the Mexican Consulate in San Francisco by their allies from International Rivers, International Accountability Project, Amazon Watch, and Adapting to Scarcity. Many of those present recently spent a memorable week in the town as part of the Rivers for Life gathering of dam-affected people from aro

Indigenous and Riverbank Communities Call on the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to Suspend the Massive Belo Monte Dam in the Brazilian Amazon 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.- Today international and Brazilian human rights 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 af

Actions planned in over 10 countries in solidarity US activists and Mexican nationals will organize a protest at the Mexican consulate in San Francisco on November 10 to demand the cancellation of the Zapotillo Dam. Many of the protestors recently returned from Mexico and witnessed the illegal construction of the project. The protest will take place from 12-1PM at 532 Folsom Street in San Francisco. Thousands of people are planning to participate in demonstrations on November 10 as part of an International Day of Action to Cancel the Zapotillo Dam. So far, actions are planned in Argentina, Au

Hundreds of River Activists Gather to Discuss Strategies This week, more than 300 people from 60 countries will gather in the small village of Temacapulín, Mexico, for "Rivers for Life 3," a global gathering of dam-affected people and their allies. From October 1-7, Temacapulin will almost double in size and become the hub of the global movement to protect rivers from the ravages of destructive dams. 
"Rivers for Life 3 will bring together people whose lives have been harmed by dams, activists, and experts in clean energy and sustainable water projects from all corner

Foreign Relations Committee warned of impacts to 40 million people if Xayaburi and other mainstream dams go forward The US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations held a hearing yesterday on the plans to build a series of 12 dams on the Mekong Mainstream. The Committee, chaired by Senator Jim Webb of Virginia, was notified of the extensive impacts to the river and livelihoods that could be expected if mainstream dams were to go forward. As the US is a donor to the Mekong River Commission (MRC), the Committee was urged to do everything in its power to ensure that mainstream dams do not pro

NGOs are outraged after confirmation that the world’s largest bank will finance the destructive Gibe 3 hydropower dam. The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) is underwriting a $500 million contract awarded May 13 to Dongfang Electric Corporation for the dam’s turbines and electro-mechanical works. Although ICBC has not publicly announced the loan, an official confirmed September 8 by email that the financial agreement between ICBC and the Ethiopian government was signed in July. The funding undermines ICBC’s efforts to build a global reputation as a socially and environmental

A group of 51 NGOs from northeast India are calling for a halt to build numerous dams on the Yarlung Sangpo (in China) / Siang (in India) River. In a joint letter to the Chinese Premier and the Indian Prime Minister, the groups propose that all dam construction on the river be stopped and the river be protected as a Heritage River. The river, which runs through the Tibet Autonomous Region and India’s Arunachal Pradesh state, has spiritual and cultural importance to local communities. India is aggressively pursuing construction of over 100 large hydroelectric dams in northeast India in a bid

Bangkok, Thailand: Today at 1pm representatives from Mekong communities in North and Northeast Thailand will submit a letter to the Thai Prime Minister asking him to cancel the plan to purchase electricity from the Xayaburi Dam project planned for the mainstream Mekong River in northern Laos. The letter is signed by community groups representing about 24,000 people in five provinces along the Mekong River. Community representatives will personally present the letter to Mr. Satit Wongnongtaey, Minister for the Office of the Prime Minister. They will also meet with the Senate Sub-Committee

On September 7, dam builders, governments and NGOs are meeting at World Water Week in Stockholm to discuss appropriate social and environmental standards for future dams. They convene on the 10th anniversary of the World Commission on Dams (WCD), which proposed a new decision-making framework for dams emphasizing the rights of affected people and the protection of the environment. Peter Bosshard, Policy Director of International Rivers, pointed out at the Stockholm event that the principles of the WCD have become the most legitimate benchmark for water and energy projects. Recent experience wi