May 2011 protest on the Pan-American Highway

Panama Report Back by Task Force on the Americas

Date: 
Friday, April 26, 2013

In February, participants from the first Task Force on the Americas delegation to Panama visited and took testimony from members of the Ngäbe-Bugle community near the Barro Blanco Hydroelectric Dam on the Tabasará River. Despite unresolved issues around a lack of consultation with the local indigenous peoples and allegations of human rights abuses, the reservoir created by the dam will likely start flooding fertile agricultural land and destroy the river’s fish and shrimp as early as May or June of this year. Hear from delegation participants at three community report-backs and learn more about the international coalition that is fighting to protect the river and rights of the Ngäbe-Bugle people.

Times and locations:

This free event will include the screening of Nagare Barro Blanco, a 40-minute documentary featuring interviews with the Ngäbe-Bugle people about their fears and frustration with the government and dam project. Trip leader Diane Dunn of Collective Voices for Peace in Seattle will discuss the Ngäbe-Bugle protests that closed the Pan-American Highway. She will also discuss the recent murder of a protester by four alleged masked plainclothes policemen. International Rivers Climate Campaigner Katy Yan will speak at the San Rafael event about the international campaign to protect the Tabasará River and the Ngäbe indigenous peoples that depend on it. Attend these events to learn how you can help!

For more information, contact Marin Task Force on the Americas at (415) 924-3227.

All venues wheelchair accessible. $5-10 donation suggested to cover cost of hosting the event. No one turned away for lack of funds. Sponsored by Fellowship of Reconciliation and International Rivers.

More information: