For the Rivers!

The Teesta Youth Parliament asked participants to raise their voices in protest of the continuing dam projects in the Teesta Basin at an event held on March 28th at the National Press Club in Dhaka. Supporters of their cause were asked to send letters of solidarity to the Youth Parliament at angikarbd [at] yahoo [dot] com.

After nine days of protest, demonstrators at the Estreito Dam were offered an agreement which maintains that organs under the the Brazilian presidency will convene meetings to discuss the ongoing social and environmental concerns that the dam project presents.

MAB's occupation of the Estreito Dam worksite continues in its eighth day - MAB says it will remain until a Permanent Forum, involving MAB, government, companies to discuss pending issues on environment, compensation and indigenous peoples is established. The police have been mobilized near the site.

Iceland: Keeping Dams out of the Beautiful Scenery
In solidarity with farmers in Pjorsa, the group Saving Iceland took action to protect a beautiful, fertile region of the country that is threatened by heavy industry plans to place a new dam on a waterfall in order to power new aluminum smelters and other industries. They built a small "dam" in front of the Landsvirkjuns office entrance so the workers had to either to step over the dam to get inside or use a different entrance. With this peaceful demonstration, Saving Iceland wanted to protest the development of three dams that Landsvirkjun, the national energy company, hopes to build on the Pjorsa. They also held a movie/discussion evening at a local cafe with the theme of the global impact of heavy industry and big dams. Between movies there were discussions about potential actions against the dam.

Burma: Looking Out For Burma's Natural Resources
The Kuki Students Democratic Front (KSDF) and Burma Rivers Network(BRN) staged a mass rally. Participants criticized and protested against the military regime's misuse and mismanagement of Burma's natural resources by the building of destructive mega dams across the rivers. Ethnic Karen people living along Burma’s Salween River gathered in colorful traditional dress to pray to the spirits of the river and the land around it for protection against the planned construction of the Hut Gyi Dam, which threatens to devastate the area’s fragile ecosystem. Over 250 villagers from over 18 villages in the area affected by the proposed dam took part in the ceremony, and were joined by Burmese opposition politicians, environmentalists and student activists.

Canada: Creative Ways to Ensure that our Rivers are Protected!
Free Flowing Rivers Environmental Society, a non-profit that is based out of Vancouver, planned two exciting events to celebrate the Day of Action. On the 14th, they sent as many letters as they possibly could to the provinical government in protest of the construction of a private run-of-river power project and transmission line on the Upper Pitt River that would cut across pristine wilderness.

Berkeley, California: Saving Patagonia's Pristine Rivers
In Berkeley, California, International Rivers hosted an evening that highlighted the powerful and lasting effects that damming the Baker and Pascua rivers will create. A slideshow of a recent exepdition to the Pascua River was shared. Environmental activist/ folk musician and Bay Area-based Chilean band, Los Materos performed! Event was FREE and was held at La Peña Cultural Center at 3105 Shattuck Avenue. Over 100 guests were in attendance.

Brazil: Resistance in Tibagi
The Comissão Pastoral da Terra in Brazil is organizing a "Celebration of the Waters" to draw attention to the need to preserve and protect rivers. Participants will walk on the bridge along the Tibagi River in the state of Paraná, praising the life that it provides to people and to nature, and will also kneel in prayer asking for pardon for maltreatment of the river.