Photographic report exposes impacts of hydroelectric dams in the Amazon

This is the theme of the reportage project “Águas para Vida” (Water For Life), which the photographer Joka Madruga and social movements want to portray. “The idea of the project is to show the struggle of indigenous and riverine peoples who will be affected by hydroelectric plants in the Amazon region,” says Joka. The Madeira, Xingu and Tapajós rivers will be photographed, because the power plants of Belo Monte, Santo Antônio and Jirau the Tapajós Complex are in these areas.

“1100 hydroelectric plants are in operation in Brazil; 24 are in the Amazon, six are under construction and 23 more projects are planned; seven are planned to be built in untouched areas. To whom and for what is all this energy? How will these projects affect the people?”

The impact of the constructions is already being felt by the people who live there: According to the Movement of People Affected by Dams (MAB), the Norte Energia company, responsible for the Belo Monte dam, registered 7790 families affected, but are building only 4100 new houses for those affected.

“The Brazilian energy model is unfair and violates human rights because it is controlled by large transnational companies seeking to take advantage of our natural resources, our wealth, to the accumulation and exploitation of our people and our society,” says Robson Formica from MAB.

Collaboration

“Águas Para a Vida” is an independent project and is being collectively financed through the website kickante.

According to Joka, the idea of this reportage is to support the struggle of the Amazonian people, as a register of the history of the region, to show the impacts of the construction of dams, before, during and after construction.

“The photographs can be understood as art, as protest, as a work instrument. In this project the image will be a narrative against the injustices caused to families who have been or will be displaced, as well as the impact caused to the environment”.

To know more about the project and to collaborate, please click here.