Hydroelectric dams on the Juruena River

The state government of Mato Grosso plans to build a large number of hydroelectric dams on the Juruena River, upstream of the Enawene Nawe’s land.

Five dams are already under construction, despite the fact there has been no proper environmental and social impact assessment, nor proper consultation with the tribes affected. Three other dams have been given environmental licences so construction work can now begin.

Another dam is built in the Amazon rainforest.

Some dams are being funded by the Maggi company to benefit their soya business. The family is the world’s largest producer of soya and one member, Blairo Maggi, is the governor of Mato Grosso state.

In total, up to 80 dams are planned for the Juruena River basin although the Indians were initially told the number was five. The Enawene Nawe believe they will cause irreversible damage to their way of life by polluting the water and killing the fish which are a major part of their diet.
Desperate struggle

The Enawene Nawe and neighbouring tribes have mounted road blockades and invaded a dam construction site in protest against the dams.

In 2008, a federal prosecutor managed to obtain a court order halting dam construction work. However state governor Blairo Maggi took the case to the Supreme Court, which overturned the suspension order in June.

Construction work continues swiftly. The Enawene Nawe say they are ‘very sad’, and tired of writing to the authorities about the dams as their concerns fall on deaf ears. In a letter to the UN they state ‘We don’t want the dams dirtying our water, killing our fish, invading our lands.’

The tribe is at a critical point. If the dams are built they will no longer be able to fish, which is crucial to their survival and to their important relationship with the spirit world.

ENDS

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