Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Coñaripe, Chile











Coñaripe, situated to the north of lake Calafquen, near the Villarrica National Park, which was declared a UNESCO sight in 1999, in the XIVth region in Southern Chile. The environment of a large part of the seven lakes region will be seriously affected and its sustainability will be threatened by the plans of a foreign energy company, SN Power, to build a series of hydroelectric plants, in a hydroelectric megaproject.





In the Mapuche language, Mapudungun, ‘Mapu’ means earth, or land, and ‘che’ means people; they are the people of the land. This linguistic symbolism signals the historic importance of land and its resources to the Mapuche people, and it is an integral and significant part of their existence to this day. Yet, it has also been the cause of most of their grief and strife. Most anthropologists and observers recognize the integral role the land and the environment play in the Mapuche culture. The valley in which Coñaripe is located has always been Mapuche land. The Mapuche originally populated the mountain ranges of Challupén, Traitraico y Pucura. Throughout history, they have been resettled and their land has been reduced significantly, so that they now live on a handful of reserves in and around Coñaripe. Now SN Power´s plan threatens to further reduce their living space and ability to survive, displacing them even further.

If this project will be effectuated, flora, fauna and the local people will no longer be able to survive as they currently do. Water will diverted from flowing its natural course through this area, and inundate other parts of the region. One of the rivers that will be largerly affected is the Llancahue, which presently provides water to the surrounding flora, fauna and people alike for their survival, as well as there sustenance needs such as sustainable fishing, a sustainable energy source, and sustainable tourism such as hotsprings, rafting and trekking. This form of income will be lost if the plans go through. This will further affect the local businesses in the region who profit indirectly from tourism. This area does not currently have any other industry that can provide employment. Therefore, if the plans for the hydroelectric megaproject by SN Power take effect, the livelihoods of approximately 1400 people (30 families and communities) will be threatened, as well as causing unforeseeable consequences for the ecosystem, surrounding region, and mountains, not to mention the pollution the construction will cause.

Currently, the energy company holds an agreement with the Ministry of Economy, Promotion and Reconstruction, so that it may perform ´studies´ in the next two years. These ´studies´ commenced on October 22nd of this year, on indigenous lands, without permission of the inhabitants, which is in contradiction with Chile´s 1993 Indigenous Law. Leaders of the Antimilla community, part of the Round table Pellaifa Newen, are willing to talk and defend their rights. But they have been victims of acts of force by SN Power, as the installation of materials and machinery for exploration sites without permission from the community forced them to take physical action to make the company withdraw its materials and leave the unauthorized sites. The affected communities will continue to raise awareness and conduct protests locally.

However, due to the ethnic and socio-economic politics in Chile, their voices are not being heard, their protest is not being headed. This situation has long historical premises, and indigenous rights have repeatedly been negated in the quest for industrialization and capitalist expansion. The most recent example was the prolific and polemic Pangue and Ralco dams built on the Bio Bio river in the XVIIth region from 1997-2004, comissioned by ENDESA. (see previous post)Approximately 92 Mapuche families were relocated away from their ancestral lands, burial grounds and sacred sites, which were inundated due to the damming of the river. The Mapuche comunities in Coñaripe fear that they will also see a similar fate, as the actions of the energy company have shown absolute disregard for their lands, customs and the Indigenous law to date. This is why we feel it is imperative that this project does take any physical shape. Experience has taught us that once construction has commenced and investments have been made, the power of capital will overrule any human or environmental right. Taking away their water will be literally taking away their last drop of life.

1 comment:

LA MESA said...

hola!! te agradecemos tu post, necesitamos visibilizar este conflicto en otras partes del mundo, nuestras leyes permiten que el despojo continúe, que el pueblo mapuche continúe aislado y vulnerado, y que las comunidades que intentan desarrollo sustentable finalmente tengan que someterse al crecimiento acelerado que impone el modelo económico dominante en Chile.
Te invitamos a ver nuestro blog, http://pellaifanewen.blogspot.com/
y a seguir compartiendo esta causa común.
Lemoria.
Mesa Pellaifa Newen