BELO MONTE HYDRO ELECTRIC ⚡️ DAM — A short reflection

A picture with myself and fellow activists at one of the largest hydro electric dams in the world 🌎

The debate

At what ‘cost’ does investing in particular energy solutions have on the health of our planet?

Economic

The energy provided from this output of power is obvious in the sense that it provides cities and towns access to more ‘clean’ energy. Some will argue this is positive because it allows for more jobs, and access to education in rural areas.

This is not the side of the debate I want to spend to much time on — as it is fairly obvious.

How ‘clean’ is this energy actually ?

What is less obvious is the social and ecological cost that comes as an outcome of this development.

Ecology

It is, in a sense, an ecological genocide to the part of the Amazon river that is dammed — why ? Because naturally the dam forces water to sit and the take over land surrounding the dam wall — killing habitat for local wildlife such as jaguar, howling monkeys, ancient trees etc… Can we afford to keep losing more biodiversity for the cost of our civilisation?

Hypothetically if we choose more development over ecosystems- we may create ecological collapse.

Gaia theory, otherwise known as earth system science suggests that the planet is alive and deeply inter- connected. Naturally, through feedloops — a loss of the Amazon will have an impact to the regulatory state of our planet.

Therefore we need biodiversity to thrive to regulate our planet.

Social

It comes as a huge social cost, because the local, indigenous people of this land are impacted as they are forced to move away from their land.

Governments promise them up-liftment benefits — healthcare ( ironic as they need the health care as a result of losing their home — alcoholism, depression etc…).Yet the wealth-fare of these tribes have been through playing, living and learning from the river herself.

Moving to a city will only force them to work and live in a way that is new and disconnected for both themselves and the way their ancestors have be living for centuries

— — a short a reflection — — do you have any comments?