The movement in defense of the Chilean Patagonia in the Southern region of Aysen has been in the public eye these past weeks due to the strong protest by different social sectors against the privatizing policies of Sebastián Piñera’s administration. This administration is characterized by a strong repression.

Even though in the past months the mobilizations have been broader (going from land tenure, to education and public services) their origin is the resistance to the installation of HidroAysen, which includes five dams in that area, and which was halted by a judicial order.

Luis Infanti is member of the Council in Defense of Patagonia and has been actively participating in the struggle of this region against megaprojects, including going to the Presidential Building itself.

In 2008, Infanti published a Pastoral Letter called "Give us This Day our Daily Water" which deals with the reality of water and its uses, and also the generation of energy and the impacts caused to the environmentsby hydropower megaprojects such as the one planned for his region.

When the letter was launched, Infanti said that its aim was to contribute with an "ethical perspective based on faith about the responsibility of human beings in terms of the Creation".

Recently, on March 9th, Infanti also published a Letter to the Church of Aysen where he points out from his Christian perspective that when "nature, a work of God, suffers, when we mistreat it, when we predate it, when we grab it by marginalizing others, we destroy it (ecocide), and we offend the Creator and ourselves". “Can we remain indifferent to our brothers and sisters who are suffering, to environmental destruction, to the privatization and commodification of elements that are essential for life (land, water, air, food, common goods), increasing poverty and marginalizing so many brothers and sisters?”, he added.

The environmental activist talked to Real World Radio far from his Chile, in France, while participating in the Alternative World Water Forum. In the interview with our correspondent, Infanti also talked about the origins of Aysen’s struggle, made reference to his Pastoral Letter and highlighted the importance of making the voices of his community be heard at the global meeting taking place in Marseille.

He also linked the struggles against the privatization of nature in different Latin American Countries and spoke of a common learning.

Photo: ical.cl