In defence of life and the Xingu River

In defence of the Xingu

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'We wish to express our concern about the possible building of a complex of hydroelectric dams on the Xingu river. If these large dams are constructed on the Volta Grande part of the Xingu river they will affect indigenous peoples, agricultural communities, the forest and its biodiversity and harm life in the Xingu river basin. We are totally opposed to Belo Monte [one of the large dams] because the Xingu river is our life. The death of the river threatens our lives, our future, our people, and our children and grandchildren. Any interference with the XIngu will cause the extinction of game animals, of fish and will profoundly affect our lands and our health. We indigenous peoples wish to live and to breath the Xingu river. Its water are the source of life and we don't want to die. We will not give up on life and we will not abandon our struggle. Our war cries are surging in our throats to oppose the enemy. We want to gather together the indigenous peoples of the XIngu, the Kayapó of the Upper Xingu, the indigenous peoples of the Xingu National Park and of the Amazon and Brazil, and to invite our allies to a big meeting in Altamira where we will show the government of Brazil our indignation and our position against the large scale projects which it is implementing and which are destroying Amazonia. We ask for support and help from national and international institutions so that the communities can fully participate in this big meeting. Altamira, 3 June 2007 Signed by: Xikrin indigenous peoples of  Pykajakà, Potikro, Bacajá, Mrotidjam communities; Kayapó indigenous peoples of Kikretum, Kokraimoro, Pukararankre, Kendjam, Moikarakô, Kôkôkuedjà, Kararaô communities Araweté indigenous people of Igarapé Ipixuna Parakanã indigenous people of  Apyterewa Asurini indigenous people of the  Xingu Juruna indigenous people of Pakisamba and  Km 17 communities; Xipaya indigenous people Kuruaya, indigenous people Arara indigenous people of Volta Grande, Laranjal and Cachoeira Seca communities in Pará Apinajé indigenous people Tembé indigenous people Gavião indigenous people of Rondônia Karitiana indigenous people Together with the social movements and NGOs: Federation of Organisations for Social and Educational Assistance (FASE), Fundo Dema, International Rivers Network (IRN), CIMI (Catholic Indigenous Missionary Council), the Parish of the Xingu, Verbo Divino Congregation, CPPS and Xaverian Missionaries, Movment for the Development of the Transamazonica and Xingu (MDTX), Movment of  women of the countryside and town in the Transamazônica region, Humanitas Institute, International Institute of Education of Brasil (IIEB), Movement of  People affected by dams (MAB), Movement of small scale farmers, Via Campesina, and researchers from the National Institute of Amazon Research (INPA) and  Federal University of Pará (UFPA)

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Statement by Indians and NGOs

In defence of life and the Xingu River

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