The Latin American Network Against Dams and for Rivers, their Communities and Water (REDLAR), launched a public call on its website “to carry out actions to mark this day, to remember those who died, to step up our struggle, to realize that the alternative is to fight for a different society” “Rivers for life, not for death!”, concluded the network which comprises 15 social organizations.

The MAB was officially founded on March 14 of 1991, at the First National Meeting of People Affected by Dams, which took place in Goiania, state of Goiás.

To mark March 14th, the movement is orgnizing a fishing expedition in Xingu river, in Para state, against Belo Monte dam project, in order to expose the impacts that this project would have and to raise public awareness about the issue. The fish caught there will be given to the impoverished communities in the area.

Belo Monte would be the world’s third largest dam, after the Three Gorges dam in China and the binational dam of Itaipu in the border between Brazil and Paraguay. It would have 11,000 megawatts of installed capacity. It is estimated that its construction would flood nearly 500 square kilometers of land which are currently occupied by indigenous communities. 20,000 to 50,000 people would be displaced to build the dam.

The MAB will also be carrying out activities and demonstrations in other areas of Brazil. For example there will be a Meeting of People Affected by Dams in Rondonia state. MAB’s press release issued today, says there is a stronger commitment “to organize and join the struggles against transnational corporations, in defense of rivers, water and life”.

Meanwhile, in Colombia the National Network of People Affected and Threatened by Dams is carrying out mobilizations in different regions. They are saying that the ongoing hydroelectric and mining projects in Colombia would displace 10,000 people and will affect the livelihood of thousands more. They warn that the dams are imposed through intimidation and deceit. There will be a demonstration in the country’s capital Bogota, next Wednesday.

The network issued a press release that reads “They are flooding thousands of hectares of fertile land, privatizing water and endangering the country’s food production; in the current crisis Colombia should ensure food supply rather than prioritizing the selling of energy”.

Meanwhile, in Mexico members of the Council of Ejidos and Communities against La Parota Dam made an offering on Sunday in the river Papagayo in Parotillas (Guerrero state) to mark the International Day of Action Against Dams. The peasants rejected La Parota dam and said they will do whatever it takes to defend their land, reported La Jornada newspaper.

La Parota dam has faced strong opposition by the local communities in the recent years and the project was even canceled in 2009. But the authorities have announced the dam will be built. Its operation would flood almost 20,000 hectares of cultivable land, affecting 25,000 peasants from 30 communities of Guerrero.

Photo: Eduardo Seidl / Friends of the Earth Brazil.