Comments on: Ixcan, Guatemala says NO to Xalala Dam

By: Kimberly Kern

Kimberly Kern — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 18:06:13 +0000

Mariel,
I am sorry this article makes you angry, but some of your comments have corrupted my point. I am not saying I’m against electricity for the people of the Ixcan. I think they deserve it as much as any other Guatemalan, but if we look to history to educate ourselves of the future, if this dam is built, it is highly unlikely that they will recieve elecricity or be able to afford it as an option.

You say “a region where there is no power whatsoever”. This is not true. Many village centers have generators and many people have solar panels.

Also, they did not use mayan symbols to vote in this consulta. Most communities raised hands together as a group and voted “si” or “no”. Some others had a secret ballot.

I also think your comment about the literacy rate of the people in the Ixcan is offensive. One, where did you find the figure 99% illiteracy in the Ixcan. I serched for this figure and couldn’t find it, but in ,my experience living and working in the Ixcan, I faind it hard to believe this is true. Two, just because someone doesn’t know how to read or write does not make them stupid. They are mostly subsistance farmers. They don’t need to read to be able to realize that if their land and water is taken away, they can’t survive.

But the significant point of this planned dam is the lack of transparancy of the project. The government and INDE are stating that the dam is planned to happen, but will give no information whatsoever as to who will be the contractors?, has environmental research been done in the proposed area?, will the displaced communities be compensated?, will INDE be held accountable for the transactions of money from the world lenders? These are questions that by law should be answered BEFORE any money is lent.

If we had answers to these questions, we could make a better judgement whether this would, in fact, benefit the people of the Ixcan. None of these questions were asked regarding the Chixoy dam and it ended up a disaster, both for the people of Rio Negro and for the country as a whole who ended up paying back the money for the loans that members of INDE stole. In my opinion, the same is bound to happen with the Xalala dam.

By: godsman ellis

godsman ellis — Thu, 17 May 2007 04:20:46 +0000

I would have had great encouragement if the UN had passed the Resolution on Indigenous Rights. The best to hope for in the face of the inevitable Plan Puebla Panama is a mitigation plan

By: chris considine

chris considine — Mon, 14 May 2007 17:23:00 +0000

I am so grateful that the Guatemala has said NO to this project.
They are taking a lesson from their Belizean neighbors after seeing that
project built, and seeing their electricity bills go higher and higher.
Of course the builder (Fortis) said this dam would ensure LOWER prices for all of the country, and in fact the profits of Fortis are hitting record highs on the backs of the Belizeans.
In addition the Belizeans have lost one of the most significant ecological
areas in all of Central America with the flooding from the dam. One of the most pristine areas for Scarlet Macaws was swallowed by the waters behind the dam, as well as a horrible increase in the hunting of all species in the entire area by the Chinese workers brought in to build it.

By: Mariel

Mariel — Fri, 11 May 2007 23:40:17 +0000

As Guatemalan I get angry reading these kind of articles.
First of all the World Commission of Dams is using the “or” in their statements – so generating electricity especially in a region where there is no power whatsoever should be reason enough…
Second please have a look on the tools like consulta popular and research it a bit more. There have been very few “legal” consultas and the result is everytime the same 91% or more NO – why? Because interest groups with foreign money are making a good dime blocking and getting people to riots. There is nothing easier than corrupting these consultas with some money and incentives – there are kids at 7 year old voting – sometimes younger – 99% of voters can’t read or write – yes and no are usually simbols – often using Maya arts to reflect bad or good … the bad sign goes usually for the “yes”…

I am sorry, but please “dissidents” and interest groups all over the world – start taking the chances of people in 3rd world countries serious. There is no other way than through educations and yes capital investments into infrastructure to bring people forward. People are starving hunger and don’t advance in generations – how can they expect better lives, if they are forced to vote “no” on progress – electricity…

By: Patrick

Patrick — Fri, 11 May 2007 16:54:00 +0000

uuuhhhh i dont get it!

By: o. rana

o. rana — Fri, 11 May 2007 16:26:21 +0000

IXCAN SAY NO!
As ever, it seams that the rights of indienous people are under attack again. The destructive forces of capitalism seams to never understand anything else than their own greed for material wealth. But there are other values… If man is to survive we must learn from natives, to protect, not to destroy nature. I stronly believe it is imperative to the world society that we learn before it is too late. If nature goes down, we go down with it! The rights of native people to their land, way of life, and to decide upon their own future are secured in the UN Declaration of Human Rightc, HONOUR IT. OR