stop gas pipeline threatening uncontacted tribes
André Muggiati | 09.11.2001 15:34
Brazil's government-owned oil company, Petrobras, is seeking quick approval for a 520 kilometer natural gas pipeline that risks opening up the most isolated and best-preserved section of the Amazon to large-scale logging and ranching, as well as devastating a completely isolated, uncontacted indigenous group. Amazon grassroots organizations are asking the president of Brazil's Environmental Agency (IBAMA) to postpone public hearings on the Environmental Impact Analysis and to give due consideration to practical, safe alternatives to the pipeline.
The planned pipeline would run from the Urucu oilfield in Amazonas state to Porto Velho, capital of Rondonia state, to supply energy to Porto Velho.
Environmentalists - and even the state government of Amazonas - argue that there are much safer practical alternatives. The gas could be transported by river, on an industrial waterway already in operation.
The current plan calls for clearing a permanent
right- of - way , through 520 km. of the most remote region of the Amazon.
Petrobras has not explained how it can prevent loggers and ranchers from coming over the route and cutting the forest. This may be impossible on the lawless Amazon frontier. The pipeline route also runs through the territory of an uncontacted indigenous group, extremely vulnerable to outsider's diseases. Infrastructure projects on such groups' lands are invariably disastrous - the Indians can lose 50% - 80% of previous populations in months.
Petrobras is trying to rush approval for construction by holding "stealth" public hearings on the Environmental Impact Analysis without giving local people and environmentalists time to analyze or comment on it. Grassroots and environmental organizations are asking that the President of the Environmental Institute, IBAMA, postpone the public hearings until February, 2002, so that an informed public discussion involving all the stakeholders
can take place.
Click here to send a letter to Ibama's president, Hamilton Casara, and ask for a proper public consult:
http://www.amazonia.org.br/english/cyberaction/
Environmentalists - and even the state government of Amazonas - argue that there are much safer practical alternatives. The gas could be transported by river, on an industrial waterway already in operation.
The current plan calls for clearing a permanent
right- of - way , through 520 km. of the most remote region of the Amazon.
Petrobras has not explained how it can prevent loggers and ranchers from coming over the route and cutting the forest. This may be impossible on the lawless Amazon frontier. The pipeline route also runs through the territory of an uncontacted indigenous group, extremely vulnerable to outsider's diseases. Infrastructure projects on such groups' lands are invariably disastrous - the Indians can lose 50% - 80% of previous populations in months.
Petrobras is trying to rush approval for construction by holding "stealth" public hearings on the Environmental Impact Analysis without giving local people and environmentalists time to analyze or comment on it. Grassroots and environmental organizations are asking that the President of the Environmental Institute, IBAMA, postpone the public hearings until February, 2002, so that an informed public discussion involving all the stakeholders
can take place.
Click here to send a letter to Ibama's president, Hamilton Casara, and ask for a proper public consult:
http://www.amazonia.org.br/english/cyberaction/
André Muggiati
Homepage:
http://www.amazonia.org.br/pdf/urucu_english.pdf
