Don't Build the Belo Monte Dam!
- by: Care2.com
- recipient: Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva
Construction on the world's third largest hydroelectric dam -- Belo Monte -- is set to begin in 2015. The Brazilian government claims that the dam will provide electricity to 23 million people and curb greenhouse gas emissions. But the reality is that this dam will have devastating environmental consequences.
In addition to 100km of land left without wildlife or water, and damage to fish stocks, as many as 40,000 people will be affected. At least 12,000 of those people will have to relocate.
The energy created by the damn will not be clean, and will actually emit large quantities of methane, which is far worse than carbon dioxide.
The benefits of building this dam do not outweigh its certain destruction to the earth and indigenous communities in the nearby provinces of Altamira and Vitoria do Xingu.
Tell Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva: do not build this dam!
Dear President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva:
I am writing to urge you not to build the hydroelectric dam called Belo Monte. If built, this dam will cause devastating results.
In addition to 100km of land left without wildlife or water and damage to fish stocks, as many as 40,000 people will be affected -- and at least 12,000 of those people will have to relocate. The "clean energy" created by the damn will actually emit large quantities of methane, which is worse for the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.
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The benefits of building this dam do not outweigh its certain destruction to the earth and the indigenous communities in the nearby provinces of Altamira and Vitoria do Xingu.
