The Ayesn region of southern Chile is the location of a series of proposed dams on the Baker and Pascua rivers by the Spanish-owned mega corporation Endesa. This pristine environment is a living testament to the beauty of wild rivers. The region is also home to many local ranchers and farmers who have lived there for over 100 years, along with burgeoning fly fishing and ecotourism businesses that depend on the section of the river that would be flooded. We have supported several groups, including CODEFF, the Defenders of the Spirit of Patagonia, and the Tehuelche Youth Association, in their campaign to halt this project. The below article is from Peter Hartmann, one of our grantees, reporting on a protest organized to complement the International Day of Action Against Dams on March 14.
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More than 100 people from Chile Chico, Chochrane, Bertrand, Guadal, Puerto Tranquilo, and Coyhaique, among other places, came together last Sunday to commemorate the ‘International Day of Action Against Dams’, celebrated on March 14.
The activity, organized by the Citizen Coalition for the Aysen Life Reserve and the Defenders of the Spirit of Patagonia, brought together the principle regional leaders of the campaign against the construction of the dams on the Baker and Pascua rivers. These leaders included environmental leaders, local community members, the Tehuelche Youth Association, and national media representatives, and they met right at the confluence of the Neff and Baker rivers.
The participants arrived early in the morning with placards and flags to the second meeting of this array of representatives, with the objective of consolidating and strengthening the commitment of those who are against this type of ‘development’ intervention in the region.
“We are here again, just like last year, to have a presence, and to say that we are wholeheartedly against the construction of these projects. As a community member said last year, this dam would ‘cap’ the Baker river – the largest river in Chile. It’s impossible to do this type of thing, because it will also destroy our culture, destroy all of us. The arrival of 4,000 workers [to construct the dams”> will have a huge impact for all of us”, noted Alejandro del Pino, president of Costa Carrera and member of the Coalition for the Aysen Life Reserve.
The demonstration allowed for comments from each of the local leaders, who warned people not to be tricked by the possible ‘solutions’ that they [the dam backers] might suggest, because the social and environmental costs that the community sees are much higher than the company lets on. In agreement, Peter Hartmann, director of CODEFF(Committee in Defense of Flora and Fauna) Aysen, referred to the natural value of water and the global scarcity of this resource. “There are many who want to take advantage of this ‘cash cow’ and get rich, without thinking about those who live here. They tell this story to the people, about how they’ll see lots of benefits, that there will be cheap energy. Maybe part of this will happen, but what will we lose in the exchange? This is what we have to balance. I don’t think that anyone would like to have the places that they’ve lived all their lives, where their grandparents lived and where they hope their children will live, to be flooded out by the dams. This is why we don’t want to cut off the arteries of the planet.”
This peaceful protest, organized by the Coalition for the Aysen Life Reserve, ended with people holding up signs and posters with messages such as “No to Dams in Aysen” and “Free and Alive Rivers” as a way to call attention to the plight of the region. The protestors want to let the nation of Chile know that the waters of Aysen, their people, their culture, and their history, are important for everyone.
The event ended with participants sharing a roasted sheep barbeque, where, aside from just enjoying one of the most mouth-watering traditions of the region, people were able to share their experiences. Mr. Cecilio Olivares, a community member, told a powerful story that not only called for reflection, but whose words also deeply moved those in the audience.
“I feel like a truly brave man for defending what is ours as Chileans. I would like to thank all of those who have made a sacrifice to support us. I’m 80-something years old, I don’t expect anything. But I’m not going to stop fighting for my country, I’m not going to stop fighting for my people, I’m not just going to stop my sacrifice. I’ve suffered a lot here along the Baker river, all of my 80-something years I’ve lived here. And I want to ask our government, our House of Representatives and Senate, to put their hands over their hearts and hear our voices. And tell them to those people from outside our country who come here to fill their pockets that are just too large. As our ex-president Ricardo Lagos said when he was here, – They should leave this place to those of us who have smaller pockets. They should help us to build what Chile needs, but they shouldn’t come here to give us lessons from outside.”
It was after this speech and other emotional testimonies, with tears in many people’s eyes, that the participants’ community members, supporters, leaders and press – decided to convoke a third peaceful protest against the dams, already in the planning stages, for 2008.