Healthy rivers are essential for a healthy planet, especially in light of the additional stresses that climate change will have on river-dependent communities and ecosystems. However, governments, financial institutions like the World Bank, and industry have positioned large hydropower projects as a solution to climate change despite its risks and impacts.
Large dams impose a huge risk, particularly to regions already susceptible to the impacts of climate change. Climate change will make river flows increasingly unpredictable, more frequent droughts will make hydropower projects uneconomic, and extreme rainfall will increase the risk of dam failures and catastrophic flood releases. In addition, dam reservoirs, particularly in the tropics, are globally significant sources of methane, while free-flowing rivers play a crucial role in trapping carbon.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) helps countries reach a consensus on climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies. Lend your voice to the global movement to protect rivers and defend communities. Tell the UNFCCC that there are better water and energy solutions than large destructive dams!
In today's changing climate, we need decentralized and diversified water and energy solutions that can best respond to increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. What we're getting instead is a push for more large dams.
Large dams are part of the problem because:
they won't produce enough electricity during droughts to make them worthy investments,
more extreme rainfall will increase the risk of dam failures and catastrophic flood releases, and
large dams further degrade our freshwater ecosystems, which are already reeling from the impacts of climate change.
In spite of this, the World Bank’s Draft Energy Strategy recommends the Bank increase funding for large dams, including the world's largest proposed hydropower scheme – the controversial Grand Inga Dam on the Congo River.
Tell the World Bank that we want investment in decentralized, truly renewable energy solutions such as wind, solar and off-grid projects that will expand access to electricity, reduce poverty and strengthen resilience to climate change at the same time.
Here's how you can help: 1. Send the letter below to Ms. Anna Brandt, the chair of the World Bank Committee on Development Effectiveness. 2. For even greater impact, find your country's World Bank Executive Director, copy/paste the letter below, customize it, and send the letter to him or her.
Only by working together can we bring about a shift from large, outdated and destructive development investment to renewable, sustainable and decentralized energy projects that provide electricity to those who truly need it, alleviate poverty, and help people adapt to our changing climate. Thank you for being part of the solution!
If you can't attend a protest on August 22, please show your support by calling your nearest Brazilian Embassy or Consulate now!
Here are some talking points:
The construction consortium Norte Energia has not met the environmental conditions for the Installation License; therefore, the Installation License was granted illegally.
Belo Monte Dam is illegal and should be cancelled immediately.
The Forest Code should not be weakened.
The murder and intimidation of people who are trying to protect the Amazon must stop immediately.
US Consulates (Scroll to the bottom of the page to find the corresponding jurisdiction for each Consulate.)
Atlanta, GA (404) 949-2400
Boston, MA (617) 542-4000
Chicago, IL (312) 464-0244
Hartford, CT (860) 760-3100
Houston, TX (713) 961-3063
Los Angeles, CA (323) 651-2664
Miami, FL (305) 285-6200
New York, NY (917) 777-7777
San Francisco, CA (415) 981-8170
Washington, D.C. (202) 461-3000
After you make your call, please send us an email using the form below so we can let our Brazilian colleagues know of the strong international outpouring of support.
International Day of Action
to Defend the Brazilian Amazon
August 22, 2011
Scroll down to see a list of planned international actions.
Over the last two months, Brazilians have witnessed an alarming assault on the Amazon and the people who live there.
The government approved construction of the disastrous Belo Monte Dam, allowing heavy machinery to break ground on the banks of the Xingu River.
The Brazilian Congress is on the verge of approving a major rollback of the Brazilian Forestry Code, already causing a huge spike in deforestation.
Leading forest guardians have been victims of murder and intimidation.
This is one of the defining environmental struggles of our times; the assault on the Amazon must stop! We, the international community, need to stand in solidarity with the growing numbers of Brazilians calling for environmental sanity and respect for human rights in the Amazon. Together, we can make a difference.
You can help protect the Amazon!
Brazilians are increasingly organizing protests throughout the country. Saturday August 20 was a massive day of action in at least 22 Brazilian cities. Antonia Melo, a key leader of the movement to stop the Belo Monte Dam, has asked people to organize protests around the world on Monday August 22 in front of their local Brazilian Embassy or Consulate. Watch a report of the actions in Brazil on August 20.
Take action!
Below find a list of the international actions already planned.
Organize an event in front of an Embassy or Consulate during business hours on Monday, August 22, 2011. It can be anything from a small gathering of a few individuals handing out leaflets and holding up signs to a high-profile public action, including theatrical or musical presentations. The more creative and visual, the better.
Register your action by filling out the form below.
Send a letter to the Chilean Embassy to support the Chilean demand for democracy and truly sustainable development.
On May 9th, 2011 the Environmental Impact Assessment for the destructive HidroAysén project in Patagonia was approved, despite flaws and irregularities in the entire process. A team of lawyers, activists and affected people in Chile filed a lawsuit soon after, citing the irregularities in the EIA process. The Supreme Court is set to rule on the case in December of 2011 or January 2012.
Chileans have held massive demonstrations throughout Chile and around the world calling for a Patagonia Sin Represas (Patagonia Without Dams), and another one is scheduled for December 10.
The government of Chile should respect the 74% of Chileans who are opposed to damming the rivers of Patagonia, and who are instead calling for a truly sustainable energy future.
Please join this amazing movement for sustainable development by sending a letter to the Chilean Embassy now.
Healthy rivers are essential for a healthy planet, especially in light of the additional stresses that climate change will have on river-dependent communities and ecosystems. However, governments, financial institutions like the World Bank, and industry have positioned large hydropower projects as a solution to climate change despite its risks and impacts.
In spite of this, the World Bank’s Draft Energy Strategy recommends the Bank increase funding for large dams, including the world's largest proposed hydropower scheme – the 
