ALERT: Protest Home Depot's Complicity in Destruction of Patagonian Wilderness by Proposed Chilean Dams
Patagonia's wild rivers to be dammed, destroying ancient temperate forests, for 50 years of electricity; please let supposedly environmentally responsible Home Depot know they should not be doing business with the project's primary Chilean advocate
TAKE ACTION! One of Chile's last true pristine and intact wildernesses is to be dammed and logged to provide hydroelectricity. The dams -- two on the Baker River and three on the Pascua River -- would irretrievably damage Patagonia [search], one of the Earth's wildest and most beautiful places. The HidroAysén project will flood river valleys containing several thousand hectares of ancient primary forests. The project's transmission line would require extensive clearcutting of further pristine Chilean native forests [search], clearing more than a 1,500-mile swath that will impact fourteen national parks and wilderness reserves.
Shockingly, the main Chilean project proponent -- the Matte Group -- does extensive business with U.S. mega-corp Home Depot [search], broadly perceived as being "green". In consultation with International Rivers, Ecological Internet is working to get Matte to withdraw from the project by highlighting their business interests with Home Depot. Please challenge Home Depot to live up to their green image and refuse to participate in the greenwashing of Patagonian wild river and ancient forest destruction. Insist Home Depot cease doing business with Matte until they withdraw from HidroAysén. TAKE ACTION!
Comments
Almost unbelievable that this still takes place in 2008.
So hooked to enormous energy use during our life time that this kind of projects backed up by the green back is continuing.
Rsulting in the end of the variety of the local surroundings and the impoverishing biodiversity.
Shame on us.Leaves one in despair.
Posted by: Marc Sommer | April 21, 2008 8:13 PM
While generally opposed to the destruction of forests, (old growth or not), I guess I'd like to know more about the alternatives Chile would consider. If blocked from developing hydroelectric capacity, would Chile turn to wind generated electricty or would they instead turn to coal fired or nuclear power generation? If those latter were the primary alternatives being considered, they one must consider what would be the least damaging impact. It's unrealistic to say that Chileans must go without electricity.
Posted by: sue | April 22, 2008 3:25 PM
I'm not for destroying forests in general, but Chileans have an opportunity at having clean renewable energy. To deny them is absurd. They can't burn coal, natural gas is out of the picture, wind energy would kill too many birds, and nuclear produces radioactive waste. Give it up, and leave the Chileans alone.
Posted by: Bob | April 22, 2008 10:04 PM
Agree with stopping de-foresting the Earth.
Growing more plants, design more environmental friedly products and processes are always self-advocating, helpful and should be encouraged.
Result of trade embargo is doubtful! The reason that people building such damp is most likely because of cost of oil are soaring, because of speculation in rich countries! Should we do something on this as well?
Engage these de-forestation parties and help them to stop doing that might be more productive!
AC
Posted by: AC | April 23, 2008 3:05 AM
Indeed, who are we to tell Chile they are not entitled to electricity that all of us here obviously possess. Energy and the resulting affluence allows us the luxury of environmental concern, poverty is the major cause of environmental abuse.
Posted by: Ray | April 23, 2008 8:50 AM
Quote: 'Energy and the resulting affluence allows us the luxury of environmental concern, poverty is the major cause of environmental abuse.'
I think, that poverty is not a major cause of environmental abuse, but the very use of Power.
There is ONE person or a GROUP of very tightly connected people, who decide about the direction of every single country, also about the use of its main resources and about application of hydro power plants in Chile.
To accomplish such a project one needs to obtain local authority, official documents, licenses, technical and managing knowledge and finances = power. Poor people really don't play any role here, except, that the whole process of decision making is even much easier and faster.
Maybe, solution could be in foreign Eco investments into other renewable energy sources, under the topics of carbon offsetting, foreign development aid, preserving natural habitat, etc.
Posted by: curt | April 23, 2008 5:47 PM
Curt, I applaud your thinking and the use of the word maybe.
Perhaps time will tell.
Cheers!
Posted by: Ray | April 23, 2008 10:53 PM