By Marcella Torres | Attorney, Human Rights & Environment
As part of the Amazon Basin, the Xingu river is a key component of livelihoods, culture and ecosystems in the Northern Region of Brazil. However, it has been threatened by infrastructure developments and extractive activities such as dams and mining. AIDA has been working closely with indigenous leaders and environmental defenders in order to ensure its protection.
Following up on our work to evidence the damage and impacts of the Belo Monte Dam case, we are now working closely with communities close to the Xingu River to protect it from the impacts of a gold mine Belo Sun. This mine is located about 10 km from the Belo Monte dam project. Gold mining possess a significant threat to the health of the Xingu River since the extraction utilizes mercury, a potentially deadly pollutant for water systems.
Environmental defenders denounced several anomalies with the operation license that was received by Belo Sun, especially regarding the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and its faults in fully determining the real impacts this mine could have on the region. AIDA prepared an analysis of the EIA for the project, signaling the anomalies and potential dangers of this assessment and how the mine could really affect the ecosystems that depend on the Xingu River and in consequence, the livelihoods and human rights of those who inhabit the region. This analysis was used by the Public Environmental Defense Office in litigation to stop the operations of Belo Sun, this resulted in a suspension of the operating license. This is a very important first step toward protecting the Xingu River and the Brazilian Amazon, and we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure the protection of these ecosystems and those who depend on them.
However, despite the suspension of the operating license, several environmental defenders and indigenous leaders have been receiving threats for their efforts in stopping this project. AIDA has continued our work with environmental defenders at the site, assessing them on security measures and plans in response to the multiple threats they have received from other stakeholders. We will continue to work on ensuring their safety and giving them the necessary tools for protection.
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