DECLARATION
OF CURITIBA
Affirming
the Right to Life and
Livelihood of People Affected by Dams
APPROVED
AT THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL MEETING
OF PEOPLE AFFECTED BY DAMS
CURITIBA,
BRAZIL
MARCH
14, 1997
We,
the people from 20 countries gathered in
Curitiba, Brazil, representing organizations
of dam-affected people and of opponents of
destructive dams, have shared our
experiences of the losses we have suffered
and the threats we face because of dams.
Although our experiences reflect our diverse
cultural, social, political and
environmental realities, our struggles are
one.
Our struggles are one because everywhere
dams force people from their homes, submerge
fertile farmlands, forests and sacred places,
destroy fisheries and supplies of clean
water, and cause the social and cultural
disintegration and economic impoverishment
of our communities.
Our struggles are one because everywhere
there is a wide gulf between the economic
and social benefits promised by dam builders
and the reality of what has happened after
dam construction. Dams have almost always
cost more than was projected, even before
including environmental and social costs.
Dams have produced less electricity and
irrigated less land than was promised. They
have made floods even more destructive. Dams
have benefited large landholders,
agribusiness corporations and speculators.
They have dispossessed small farmers; rural
workers; fishers; tribal, indigenous and
traditional communities.
Our struggles are one because we are
fighting against similar powerful interests,
the same international lenders, the same
multilateral and bilateral aid and credit
agencies, the same dam construction and
equipment companies, the same engineering
and environmental consultants, and the same
corporations involved in heavily subsidized
energy-intensive industries.
Our struggles are one because everywhere the
people who suffer most from dams are
excluded from decision-making. Decisions are
instead taken by technocrats, politicians
and business elites who increase their own
power and wealth through building dams.
Our common struggles convince us that it is
both necessary and possible to bring an end
to the era of destructive dams. It is also
both necessary and possible to implement
alternative ways of providing energy and
managing our freshwaters which are equitable,
sustainable and effective.
For this to happen, we demand genuine
democracy which includes public
participation and transparency in the
development and implementation of energy and
water policies, along with the
decentralization of political power and
empowerment of local communities. We must
reduce inequality through measures including
equitable access to land. We also insist on
the inalienable rights of communities to
control and manage their water, land,
forests and other resources and the right of
every person to a healthy environment.
We must advance to a society where human
beings and nature are no longer reduced to
the logic of the market where the only value
is that of commodities and the only goal
profits. We must advance to a society which
respects diversity, and which is based on
equitable and just relations between people,
regions and nations.
Our shared experiences have led us to agree
the following:
1) We recognize and endorse the principles
of the 1992 'NGO and Social Movements
Declaration of Rio de Janeiro' and the 1994
'Manibeli Declaration' on World Bank funding
of large dams.
2) We will oppose the construction of any
dam which has not been approved by the
affected people after an informed and
participative decision-making process.
3) We demand that governments, international
agencies and investors implement an
immediate moratorium on the building of
large dams until:
a.
There is a halt to all forms of violence and
intimidation against people affected by dams
and organizations opposing dams.
b.
Reparations, including the provision of
adequate land, housing and social
infrastructure, be negotiated with the
millions of people whose livelihoods have
already suffered because of dams.
c.
Actions are taken to restore environments
damaged by dams - even when this requires
the removal of the dams.
d.
Territorial rights of indigenous, tribal,
semi-tribal and traditional populations
affected by dams are fully respected through
providing them with territories which allow
them to regain their previous cultural and
economic conditions - this again may require
the removal of the dams.
e.
An international independent commission is
established to conduct a comprehensive
review of all large dams financed or
otherwise supported by international aid and
credit agencies, and its policy conclusions
implemented. The establishment and
procedures of the review must be subject to
the approval and monitoring of
representatives of the international
movement of people affected by dams.
f.
Each national and regional agency which has
financed or otherwise supported the building
of large dams have commissioned independent
comprehensive reviews of each large dam
project they have funded and implemented the
policy conclusions of the reviews. The
reviews must be carried out with the
participation of representatives of the
affected people's organizations.
g.
Policies on energy and freshwater are
implemented which encourage the use of
sustainable and appropriate technologies and
management practices, using the
contributions of both modern science and
traditional knowledge. These policies need
also to discourage waste and overconsumption
and guarantee equitable access to these
basic needs.
4)
The process of privatization which is being
imposed on countries in many parts of the
world by multilateral institutions is
increasing social, economic and political
exclusion and injustice. We do not accept
the claims that this process is a solution
to corruption, inefficiency and other
problems in the power and water sectors
where these are under the control of the
state. Our priority is democratic and
effective public control and regulation of
entities which provide electricity and water
in a way which guarantees the needs and
desires of people.
5) Over the years, we have shown our growing
power. We have occupied dam sites and
offices, marched in our villages and cities,
refused to leave our lands even though we
have faced intimidation, violence and
drowning. We have unmasked the corruption,
lies and false promises of the dam industry.
Nationally and internationally we have
worked in solidarity with others fighting
against destructive development projects,
and together with those fighting for human
rights, social justice, and an end to
environmental destruction.
We are strong, diverse and united and our
cause is just. We have stopped destructive
dams and have forced dam builders to respect
our rights. We have stopped dams in the past,
and we will stop more in the future.
We commit ourselves to intensifying the
fight against destructive dams. From the
villages of India, Brazil and Lesotho to the
boardrooms of Washington, Tokyo and London,
we will force dam builders to accept our
demands.
To reinforce our movement we will build and
strengthen regional and international
networks. To symbolise our growing unity, we
declare that 14 March, the Brazilian Day of
Struggles Against Dams, will from now on
become the International Day of Action
Against Dams and for Rivers, Water, and
Life.
Įguas
para a vida, nćo para a morte!
”Aguas para la vida, no para la muerte!
Water
for life, not for death!
Source:www.irn.org
Added
at Kurdforum: February 26, 2001
