Write a letter for peoples affected by the Belo Monte dam

Kayapó dance at an anti-dam protest, 2006
© Terence Turner

A series of mega dams is being planned as a central part of Brazil’s Accelerated Growth Programme, which aims to stimulate the country’s economic growth by building a huge infrastructure of roads and dams, mainly in the Amazon region.

The size of these projects threatens to harm or destroy vast areas of land, upon which numerous tribal peoples, including several groups of highly vulnerable uncontacted Indians, depend for their survival.

The Belo Monte dam on the Xingu River is an example of such a mega-dam.

How you can help

Write a letter to the President Rousseff to express your concern at the dam and its effect on nearby tribal communities.

Either use the template below or amend it with your own words.

HE Presidente Dilma Rousseff
Presidente da República Federativa do Brasil
Gabinete do Presidente
Palácio do Planalto
Praça dos Três Poderes
70150-900
Brasilia DF
Brazil

February 09, 2012

Your Excellency

I am concerned about the possible construction of the Belo Monte mega-dam on the Xingu river in the Amazon.

The dam would flood a large area of land, dry up certain parts of the Xingu river, cause huge devastation to the rainforest and reduce fish stocks upon which the indigenous peoples in the area depend for their survival.

The construction of the dam would attract large numbers of migrant workers and colonists who are likely to bring diseases to the Indians, putting their lives at risk. Invasions of indigenous territories and violence would increase.

The livelihoods of thousands of tribal people who depend on the forest and river for food and water would be destroyed.

The Indians have not been properly consulted about the dam, in violation of Brazilian and international law.

FUNAI has said that uncontacted Indians may live in the area. They are most at risk. They have little or no resistance to outside diseases and the impacts of the dam could be fatal for them.

I call upon your Excellency to suspend plans to build the dam until and unless indigenous communities have given their free, prior and informed consent to it, and the land where the uncontacted Indians live has been officially recognized and protected.

Yours sincerely,

Will my letter make a difference?
Yes. Time and again, letters from Survival supporters have called governments and organisations to account. Policies have changed and lives have been saved.

Should I post, fax or e-mail?
The most powerful way is to print and post your letter. We will e-mail you a ready-to-print PDF of your letter, together with postage information.

We sometimes also publish e-mail addresses or fax numbers where there is a realistic chance of these being read. However, e-mail addresses change and fax machines get unplugged. If you can, please post your letter.

Write a letter for peoples affected by the Belo Monte dam

1. Write your letter, then 2. Complete it and 3. Mail it

How you can help