Article Critique: Study on Belo Monte Dam Project

The article “Down go the dams” by Jane C.Marks aim to provide an informative view on the current pending issue on Dams. The article starts out my mentioning the important nature of dams in our society. For example, Jane C.Marks states that today about 800,000 dams operate worldwide as well as the fact that most were built in the past century, primarily after World War II. Furthermore, the author lays down informative facts about dams such as the fact that dams control flooding and their reservoirs provide a reliable supply of water for irrigation, drinking and recreation which are all very important to society. In an economic standpoint, although it is very high maintenance dams provide jobs for people. The

The Grand Coulee Dam, located in Eastern Washington, was one of controversy, risk, and a point of no return. While the water captured made the desert area blossom in agriculture and it powered some large cities, it created a sense of accomplishment, that humans can control Mother Nature. While many people were very excited for this new construction – which gives power and resources - at the time, some thought it should not be allowed, they are not proud of containing the Columbia River. In this analysis, I am going to focus on the economic and social effects that the Grand Coulee Dam created in its build.

BPA, a power marketing agency of the United States Department of Energy (DOE), supplies roughly half of the electricity used in the Pacific Northwest. The power that BPA markets comes primarily from 31 Federal hydroelectric projects (known collectively as the Federal Columbia River Power System, or FCRPS), and one non-federal nuclear plant. BPA is a co-manager of the Federal hydroelectric projects, but it does not own or operate them. Such responsibilities belong to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Bureau). For the purpose of this case study, Bureau of Reclamation owns and operates the dams and the Army Corps of Engineers builds and maintains the dams.

In this article, the plan of a pipeline that is attempting construction is being rejected by those of Native American descent who live on the affected land. Their claim is that, since the pipeline is intended to cross the Missouri River near the Standing Rock reservation, the drinking water has an extremely high risk of becoming contaminated. Since the people living there depend on the river for a majority of their basic needs―such as drinking, fishing, and irrigation―it is an argument that a vast number of lives could be greatly affected. In order to prove a crucial point, thousands have moved indefinitely to a main protest camp called Oceti Sakowin. A community has been established here, where common societal things such a school and security system have been founded.

The Three Gorges Dam is an unfinished project which will be the largest dam ever constructed on the planet Earth. It is situated in China on the third largest river in the world – the Yangtze. The dam has been debated over since the 1919 and is still a hot topic of debate because of its many pros and cons. In 1994 construction began on the dam, and it is expected to be finished by the year 2009. The massive dimensions of the dam are mind boggling and its functions – if the dam actually works – are truly remarkable; however, with such a large structure also comes difficulties, sacrifices, and cynics. The goal of this essay is to lend an understanding of the dam itself, the prospective benefits of

American Indians are being treated in atrocious, illegal, and terrifying mater, while peacefully trying to protect water for all of us. On the Other side of this battle, sits Energy Transfer Partners who fund the Dakota Access Pipeline, the real outlaws. This is part of a bigger picture, Native American lands are under threat, and being stolen.. Now is the time that we must fight this if we don't our future is threatened. This is more than about water, but the bigger threat of climate change. This is a story of courage, culture, environmental protection, climate change, and the real world danger facing all of us.

The Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River was meant to provide irrigation and electricity in this age of technological advancement, yet its consequences and its subjecting implications upon its completion were never advertised to the public. As seen in “A River Loved,” the major repercussions of the Grand Coulee Dam’s construction ultimately affected the environment and anything that relied on the environment. These consequences included the disruption of annual salmon migration, which in turn affected the cultural and economic foundations of the Native American people who relied on the salmon’s return upstream. Upon completion of the Grand Coulee Dam, the fish in the Columbia River became subject to the dam, a multitude of predators, and the American government who established the dam. Because Native Americans were also subjected to the salmon, these indigenous populations became subjected to everything the salmon were subjected to (Nyong’o). The Native Americans who relied on salmon migration for their economic foundation, food source, and traditions, were essentially marginalized by the creators of the Grand Coulee

When deciding whether of not to support the construction of a new dam, we have to use the process of cooperating, communicating, and thinking to come to a logical conclusion that is best for this world. Cooperating is important because it allows people to work together to come to a final decision by using everyones knowledge. Communication is also needed to tell others your opinion and to share the pros and cons of creating a dam. Lastly, thinking like a scientist is greatly needed. When making a decision like this, bias must be out of the opinions given and facts are needed because creating a dam can greatly affect the

The multi-billion dollar Dakota Access oil pipeline stretched across four states is standing in the way of one big thing- a clean and healthy environment for the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. This is a fight that they have been battling since April, and tensions are on the rise. The pushes and violations that the government has had against Indian tribes since the dawn of this country is one of the main reasons for the violent protests against the pipeline. The U.S. government has consistently pursued and exploited indigenous peoples and their land and forced them to hand it over. The Standing Rock tribe has not given up yet, though, as they continue to protest and stand in solidarity at the site of the pipeline construction. (Martin)

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe currently fights to save its only water source from natural gas and oil contamination. This troubling current event has a somewhat forgotten historical analogue where very similar themes presented themselves. The Kinzua Dam Controversy, which took place in the 1950’s and early 1960’s, resulted in the displacement of over 600 Seneca Indian families and the acquisition of a large tract of traditional Seneca Land for dam building. Additionally, the acquisition of Seneca land represented a breach of “The Treaty with the Six Nations of 1794,” which explicated prevented such action by the US Government. The dam and its construction, which primarily benefitted Pittsburg, inspired a heated discourse concerning the ethics of native relocation.

This paper is a comparative analysis of the legislation in the Central American Region regarding the fiscal and economic incentives granted to private and public persons who wish to develop hydroelectric projects. The paper begins by analyzing the importance of incentives, for these types of projects. It then describes and analyzes the terms and conditions of those incentives granted in each of the Central American countries. Furthermore, incentives granted in other jurisdictions are explained, in order to be used as a comparative analysis of how incentives may be improved in the region. Finally, suggestions are made on how Central American legislations should be amended or improved.

The World Bank is known to fund many infrastructure projects in developing countries, presumably as a means to achieve their goals of increasing development in those countries. Hydroelectric dams are some of the much-maligned infrastructure projects funded by the World Bank. In a report authored by employees of the World Bank itself, the authors themselves highlight the “adverse environmental and related social impacts” of large dams, while attempting to draw a distinction between “relatively good dams and bad dams”. (Ledec & Quintero, 2003)

Finally, Brazilian infrastructure is a major obstacle on the path to development. Brazil is ranked 105th out of 139 countries surveyed in quality of roads; out of the BRIC nations, only Russia is worse. Many of the cost advantages that Brazil enjoys are negated by the high

Hydropower has many applications are a clean and cheap way to efficiently bring power to devel- oping countries. The use of small hydro, specifically both micro and pico hydro, can power a small village or group of houses with little to no environmental impact. Systems have been successfully implemented in both Brazil and other developing countries. The social and geographic character- istics of this region make it a perfect place to implement policy regarding the integration of small hydro into the rural setting. The first segment of this report will seek to outline the historical implications of small hydro power, define relevant terms and theory, while also giving a geographic and cultural outline of Brazil in a historical context. The

This is the problem that raises, not only for the men of the village but the woman as well. Some are worried that they will have nowhere else to go. Others are worried about finding another source of income. The people feel as if the government is not listening to their concern, and they have every right to feel this way. The risk of Mphanda Nkuwa have not been assessed and could have daring consequences. There are economic of course, considering that dams are well known for falling short of their goals and often under–perform. According to This is signaled by the fact that Mozambique’s largest dam, Cahora Bassa, finds it difficult to sell the power it produces at a fair price. In a video titled “we fear the unknown future” testimonies of Mphanda Nkuwa Dam Affect” Mozambique is one of the poorest countries in the world and if Mphanda Nkuwa encounters a similar problem, Mozambican citizens would pay the consequences. The environmental impacts of the project are also detrimental to the river and those whose livelihoods depend upon a healthy river. The dam's intermittent turbine operation would negatively affect the downstream ecosystem. According to the feasibility study, "intermittent turbine operation with large daily variation in flow and level would reconfigure the river channel… Reconfiguration of the channel would have significant consequences for the ecology of the river,