The Belo Monte Dam currently under construction on the Xingu River in the state of Para. The Xingu is part of the Amazon Basin and is important for many indigenous groups. For years, the government has been wanting to build this dam, and it is now currently about half-way finished. However, this dam was built by ignoring the rights of indigenous groups, and refused to consult them in the project. While this is happening in the northern state of Brazil, it illustrates that water and development of natural resources are a hot button issue for Brazil. Does the government have the right to remove these indigenous groups for the sake of progress, when this river has been important for their culture and way of life for hundreds of years? I came across this advocacy video created by Amazon Watch, a non-profit based in San Francisco. I found it very
interesting because it contrasted clips of President, Dilma Rousseff, giving a speech on the importance of protecting the environment with the opinions of the indigenous groups.
-Catie
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