The Brazilian dam of Belo Monte is well known worldwide, mostly for its controversial environmental impacts and the ongoing efforts of indigenous communities to resist the project. Here’s a look at the indigenous struggle against the Belo Monte hydropower plant, a fight Global Greengrants Fund has supported with over 20 grants and almost $90,000 through our partnership with the Brazil-based organization, CASA Fund.
In 1975, the Eletronorte company assumed ownership of a hydroelectric plant in the middle of the Xingu River and began operation. The local indigenous community immediately resisted to the project, standing up to protect the land they depended on to survive. The original meeting held in resistance of the project was attended by more than 600 indigenous people, hundreds of environmentalists, and even the singer Sting.
These initial protests helped to temporarily halt the project, but the win was short lived. Construction started up again in 2010 as part of Brazil’s new energy plan, which included the construction of 14 other power plants.
The company and government started work on the Belo Monte project without consulting the indigenous people living in the region. The environmental and social impacts of the dam on the local communities was immediate. An overwhelming number of people moved into the city of Altamira to construct the dam, increasing problems of health, violence, drugs, and prostitution in the area. The dam also caused flooding of an area the size of Chicago, forcing the locals to be relocated without basic means of survival. Additionally, overfishing and the reallocation of the river for the construction of an artificial basin caused several species to disappear, impacting entire areas where indigenous tribes live.
Throughout the 10 years of operation of the CASA Fund, the partnership with Global Greengrants has been fundamental for local indigenous groups defending their socio-environmental rights against the dam. Over twenty grants have been awarded to groups fighting against the dam. Some of the achievements and advancements associated with this funding include:
- The movement attracted national attention and international support from many organizations.
- The lessons learned from Belo Monte helped to build inform action for other movements across the country.
- The grants awarded by CASA and Greengrants were placed directly in the hands of the affected groups, who had absolutely no access to any other type of support.
Among the positive results of the struggle have been the connections made with other groups and movements. Although it was not possible to stop the Belo Monte construction work, movements grew and were strengthened by this struggle. Lessons from the struggle against Belo Monte can also be shared with other movements around the country, where indigenous people face hostility and violations of environmental laws.
And so, the fight lives on.
By Maha Amaral, CASA Fund
Photo: Lesanta / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0