From dianne Sat Nov 23 01:11:05 1996 Received: (from dianne@localhost) by lox.sandelman.ottawa.on.ca (8.7.5/8.7.3) id BAA22794; Sat, 23 Nov 1996 01:11:03 -0500 (EST) Date: Sat, 23 Nov 1996 01:11:03 -0500 (EST) From: Dianne Murray Message-Id: <199611230611.BAA22794@lox.sandelman.ottawa.on.ca> X-within-URL: http://xp9.dejanews.com/getdoc.xp?recnum=9506638&server=dnserver.db96q4&CONTEXT=848729160.20383&hitnum=0 To: dianne@sandelman.ocunix.on.ca Subject: getdoc.xp?recnum=9506638&server=dnserver.db96q4&CONTEXT=848729160.20383&hitnum=0 Status: OR [Previous] [Next] [Hitlist] [Get Thread] [Author Profile] [Post] [Post] [Reply] [LINK][LINK] _________________________________________________________________ Article 1 of 6 Subject: Brazilian Dam Threatens Indigenous People: Faxes needed From: rich@pencil.math.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel) Date: 1996/10/26 Message-Id: <54t6pc$r7m@news.missouri.edu> Followup-To: alt.activism.d Resent-From: rich Organization: PACH Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive Originator: rich@pencil.math.missouri.edu Article Segment 1 of 2 (Get All 2 Segments) /** headlines: 127.0 **/ ** Topic: Brazilian Dam Threatens Indigenous People: Faxes needed ** ** Written 9:55 PM Oct 23, 1996 by econet in cdp:headlines ** /* Written 1:01 PM Oct 23, 1996 by irn@ax.UUCP in rainfor.general */ /* ---------- "URGENT FAXES: AVA' CANOEIRO INDIANS" ---------- */ From: Glenn Switkes /* Written 1:00 PM Oct 23, 1996 by irn in ax:ax.ambiente */ /* ---------- "URGENT FAXES: AVA' CANOEIRO INDIANS" ---------- */ URGENT! URGENT! URGENT! URGENT! URGENT! FAXES NEEDED IMMEDIATELY TO GUARANTEE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES THREATENED BY BRAZILIAN DAM Background The Brazilian Congress has scheduled an urgent vote on a measure which would grant approval for the closing of the floodgates of Serra da Mesa Dam, on the Tocantins River, a major tributary of the Amazon. The dam would flood 10% of the reserve of the Ava'-Canoeiro indigenous people, of whom nomadic groups live in the area which would quickly be underwater if the reservoir were filled. Under the Brazilian Constitution, hydroelectric projects affecting indigenous lands can only be authorized by special act of the Congress, in consultation with the indigenous people affected. In the case of Serra da Mesa, the Congressional authorization may come as early as this week, without any consultation with the affected people, and without preparation of an adequate environmental impact statement, as is also required under Brazilian law. A Federal Judge in Tocantins state issued a restraining order on October 15th, prohibiting the filling of the reservoir. Now, the case will be decided by a Federal Judge in Brasilia. This is an important test of Brazilian laws protecting the environment and indigenous peoples, and we ask that you send a fax this week to the judge who will be deciding on the case. Requested Action Please send a fax immediately to the Federal Judge Mauro Leite Soares (fax: +55-61-322-1022), asking him to uphold the prior Federal Court decision until the following actions are guaranteed: * approval by the National Congress of authorization for the Serra da Mesa dam; * completion of an adequate environmental impact study (EIA/RIMA) and its approval by environmental agencies of the states of Goias and Tocantins, where the dam is located; * participation by IBAMA, the federal environmental protection agency in the environmental licensing process, as the dam is being built on a river which crosses state boundaries. A sample letter follows: Exmo. Dr. Juiz Federal Mauro Leite Soares Presidente do Tribunal Regional Federal - 1a Regiao Brasilia DF Fax: +55-61-322-1022 We respectfully ask you, Your Honor to maintain the restraining order issued by Dr. Marcelo Dolzany da Costa, Federal Judge of the 1a. Vara of the Judicial Section of Tocantins, on October 15th, which upheld prior orders of September 28 and 30, imposing conditions on the closing of the floodgates of the Serra Da Mesa hydroelectric plant, initially scheduled for October 1, 1996. We urge you to provide the legal continuity contemplated in the Federal Constitution of 1988. In agreement with the decision of Judge Marcelo Dolzany da Costa, this would require the implementation of a series of actions, which we submit for your consideration: * Approval by the National Congress of the request by the Executive branch for authorization of the use of the hydrological potential of this stretch of the Tocantins River, located in the Ava'-Canoeiro Indigenous teritory. * Carrying out Environmental Impact Studies and Environmental Impact Report for the project, and approval of the EIA/RIMA by environmental agencies in the states of Goias and Tocantins. * Required participation by IBAMA in the environmental licensing process, the river being inter-state. (Get Next Article Segment) [LINK][LINK] _________________________________________________________________ [Previous] [Next] [Hitlist] [Get Thread] [Author Profile] [Post] [Post] [Reply] _________________________________________________________________ Home Power Search Post to Usenet Ask DN Wizard Help Why use DN? | Advertising Info | New Features! | Policy Stuff Copyright © 1996 Deja News, Inc. All rights reserved.