Los Chilenos

Chileans remember the violence of the dictatorship all too well. Social reform imposed with brute physical force. Another type of violence resulted from the radical neoliberal economic reforms implemented by Pinochet: poverty, destitution, inequality and injustice. Only strict military rule was to deter the rise of crime. To this day Chile has not completely recovered or recuperated social equality. And so crime rates have risen alongside democracy.

Around the world, Chile is seen as the most democratic, stable, and economically developed country in Latin America. This all depends on the definition of democracy that is applied. An electoral democracy it certainly is, but social justice and equality are still lacking for many. Voices of dissent and protest are all too often repressed by the military police. Macroeconomic development benefits those that have resources and access to the formal market and education. Meanwhile, those that do not enjoy these opportunities are punished in their efforts to survive, as the informal market and petty theft are still reprimanded strictly by the police force. Again and again, no matter how you look at it, the ´little guy´ always gets the short end of the stick. The big guys are given the go ahead as if there is no tomorrow. But there is, and it is for our children and our children’s children that we must plan ahead. Currently, a theft so large it is almost impossible to fathom is occurring in the capitalist democracy that is Chile.

The drive for sovereignty and the growth of the GDP take shape in the form of powerful multinational entrepreneurs and investors who extract natural resources at such a high rate and at an enormous cost of the local peoples and their environment. These foreigners do not seem to have the same love and pride for Chile that Chileans share. The love for the land, with all its natural beauty, and for the kind, warmhearted and generous people. Chileans are proud of their history, the leaders of the past, and of their artistic icons, such as Victor Jara and Violetta Parra. It is a love and pride of Chile that I have come to share with them.

Natural resource-based industrialization has nothing to do with love, peace, equality, justice or democracy, which is something that people generally strive to achieve in their lives. No, it is simply the rape of Chile, leaving a token of GDP growth behind for the father el gobierno, who turns a blind eye.

For More information, see:

http://www.patagoniasinrepresas.cl/

http://www.pellaifanewen.blogspot.com/

http://pellaifanewen.blogspot.com/2007/12/comunidades-de-carrirrie-convocan.html

http://www.termasvergara.cl/todos-contra-las-represas/

http://www.mapuexpress.net/?act=news&id=2096

http://www.minesandcommunities.org/Action/press1111.htm

http://www.mapuche.nl/english/natives_rights120507.html

http://www.ecoterritorios.blogspot.com/

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.