People affected by dams protest at the headquarters of Furnas in Rio de Janeiro

About 600 militants of the Movement of People Affected by Dams (MAB) protested in the lobby of the headquarters of Furnas, on the morning of Wednesday, March 14, International Day of struggle against dams, for rivers, water and life. The demonstration is part of the national day of struggle of the MAB, which takes place in various Brazilian capitals, from 13 to 15 March.

Goal is to pressure the federal government for changes in the current energy model and to charge more attention for families displaced by the dams. “The Brazilian government plans and coordinates all energy policy and finances up to 80% of works with public funds from the National Bank for Development (BNDES). However, there is no state policy to those affected by dams. It is a contradiction in a country with so many power plants such as Brazil” says Soniamara Maranho, the national coordination of MAB.

Among the main demands of the Movement are the creation of a national policy that establishes criteria and guidelines for the treatment of the rights of the affected and of an aid fund whose resources would be used to repair the losses ensuring appropriate resettlement, technical assistance, credit and a budget for maintenance.

During the journey MAB criticises the construction of the Belo Monte Dam and other dams in the Amazon region and claims that the Government should position in favour of the renewal of concessions in the electricity sector that expire in 2015. According to MAB, the renewal of concessions is a way to prevent further privatisation of state owned power plants, transmission lines and electricity distributors.

Electric utility workers and the general population that pays a very high price for the delivery of energy are invited by MAB to join the journey. “We are building common agendas with the National Federation of Urban Workers (FNU), among other social movements and trade unions that comprise the Workers and Peasants Energy Platform. We stand in solidarity with workers in the electricity sector which, with the wave of privatisation of the electricity sector in years 1990, suffered losses in wages and working conditions” adds Soniamara.