11 disgusting facts about a massive dam project just approved in Chile

12 members of a local environmental committee unanimously approved Hidroaysén, the largest hydroelectric project in the history of Chile.

A particularly gnarly example of how multinational corporations can dictate policy-making, basically shitting on public opinion, long-term environmental and economic considerations, and most of all the local people.

Within 30 minutes of the protestors gathering, police drove 4 buses along the curve of the street to block the demonstration from view by the commuting public, and then fired water cannons and tear gas into the crowd when protesters attempted to cross the street from Plaza Italia. The protestors, chanting Piñera, entiende, Patagonia no se vende (Piñera (president of the Republic), understand, Patagonia is not for sale), expressed what’s so wrong about the project, that it’s essentially selling off irreplaceable Patagonian land and water.

Here are 11 facts of this project:

1. The policies that set the stage for the dam go back to Chile’s military dictatorship.

Chile’s Constitution and Water Code, signed during the Pinochet dictatorship in 1981, established a privatized freshwater market under which water rights are bought, sold and traded as commodities in perpetuity. Rights to massive watersheds were purchased by multinational corporations such as Gener (US), Xstrata Copper (Swiss), and Endesa (Spain, Italy).
2. As a project controlled by outside corporations, there is little in the way of direct accountability for environmental impact.

Hidroaysén is a joint venture of Chilean corporations Colbún and Endesa, however these companies are controlled by Endesa Spain, which is a property of the Italian corporation Inel. Whatever happens as a result of the dams, it’s far “out of sight, out of mind” for stockholders and officers on a different continent.
3. Hidroaysén’s approval came in the face of mass opposition.

61% of Chileans polled opposed the project.

4. Hidroaysén used a “terror campaign” to try to sell the project to the public.

The media campaign, launched in 2010, told Chileans that they’d be “left in the dark” unless they approved the project, which, as tweeted by Rodrigo Miranda, secretary general of Chile’s national journalists association, “brought back memories of the 1988 ‘Yes’ campaign waged by Pinochet.”

5. The scale of the project forever alters one of the world’s last “reserves” of pristine wilderness.

The project consists of 5 different dams, which once constructed, will flood an area the size of Manhattan (part of which includes a national park). In addition, the clear cutting necessary for the transmission line will be one of the longest in history, some 1,400 miles – roughly equivalent to the entire West Coast of the United States, much of it going through virgin forest and pristine Patagonian wilderness. In addition:

6. The area traversed by the transmission lines is one of the most seismically-active in the world.

From International Rivers:

“The region in which the project would be located, Aysen, has recently experienced damaging seismic events. Despite the existence of numerous fault lines and other unstable geology in the region, the EIA [environmental study] did not even attempt to describe potential seismic risks that could lead to catastrophic loss of life in the areas where the dams and related structures would be located.”

7. The environmental study submitted by Hidroaysén was basically a joke.

The lack of seismic considerations were among more than 3,000 issues identified in the EIA by the 32 public services which participated in its review (International Rivers). Other considerations insufficiently examined or completely left out of the study include:

*Flooding levels
*Soil impact
*Precise geographic information
*Landslides and other hydrological impact
*Social impact (including relocation of people)
*Impact on local tourism
*Impact on Flora / Fauna

8. There are violations of laws on protected areas.

The project will impact 6 national parks, 11 national reserves, 12 important conservation sites, and 16 wetlands. As reported in International Rivers, “It is improper under Chilean law for an EIA to propose plans that would violate the law or to ignore the clear potential that these plans would violate Chilean law.”

9. Chile is squandering an opportunity to be a world leader in sustainable energy.

The Atacama desert in northern Chile has one of the highest solar potentials in the world. Chile is one of the few South American countries with the industry to produce innovations.
10. Most of the energy from the dams is going to operate massive mining operations.

Instead of benefiting local populations, the energy produced will be used largely to power mining operations hundreds of miles away.

11. It’s not just “in the middle of nowhere.”

Based on the report of David Miller:

http://matadornetwork.com/change/11-disgusting-facts-about-a-massive-dam-project-just-approved-in-chile

Easter Island - Rapa Nui

Easter Island (or Rapa Nui) lies in the Pacific Ocean, nearly 3700 km. to the west of the Chilean coast. This is the most famous and mysterious of Chilean islands. Geographically and culturally belongs not to America, but to Polynesia. This is the most remote island on the planet, because the nearest inhabited place is situated in 2500 km. from him.

Easter Island or Rapa Nui, as the locals call it - is of volcanic origin. The origins of the ancient culture of Rapa Nui is still unknown to science, and a number of existing versions and suppositions can not give answers to all the riddles posed by the world of Easter Island. The main mystery of the island - is the origin of the giant stone moai statues, standing with the back to the sea in different places of Rapa Nui. You can visit volcanoes, is a cult centers of the ancient inhabitants of the island, to see their petroglyphs and other traces of a vanished culture. The entire population of Easter Island lives in the village of Hanga Roa. On the island there are hotels and all tourist amenities. Beautiful subtropical climate and beautiful beaches with warm ocean are available all year-round. The island is accessible only by planes of Chilean airline Lanchile, several times a week, doing the the flights from Santiago.

Places visited by the tourists:
Ahu Vinapu - the church in which sculptures resemble stonework of the Incas - proofs that the first inhabitants of the island were people from South America.

Rano Kau - Volcano - one of most interesting sight on Easter Island.

Orongo city - home in the city, made of stone lighthouses, were restored, and the rock that surrounds the city, remained intact. Pictures of people-birds are cut out (Tangata Manu, Tha Manu Tara, Makemake).

Ahu Tahai - fortress, restored in the late 60's by the American archaeologist William Mullou. This temple is 7 th century is the oldest architectural structure on the island, which represents 3 different types of gravestones (ahu): Ahu Ko Te Riky (a huge statue (moai) weighing 20 tons with a symbolic stone on his head, 690 AD ), Ahu Vai Uki (group of 5 statues) and Ahu Tahai.

Rano Raraku - a quarry, in which all the statues (moai) carved out of soft tufa of the volcano. The height of many sculptures up to 6 m and they weigh several tons. Deceased family members are usually laid in a crypt under the statue.

Ahu Akahanga - a plate, which is a long stone pillar with 4 fallen statues, a place which according to legend is the grave of one of the first king of the island Hoto Matua. Ahu Tongariki - the largest gravestone ever built on the island, was destroyed by the tsunami in 1960, then re-restored and now all 15 statues are standing together in a row.

Chile Traditions

In Chile dominates the European blood, so here travelers from Western countries are not as distinguished as in Peru and Bolivia. For centuries, the Paris education of many Chilean intellectuals influenced the art, music, architecture.  This resulted in art galleries, museums, and theaters. Art, literature and music influence on world culture. Among the Chilean Nobel Prize  are poets Gabriela Mistral and Pablo Neruda. Until the military coup in 1973, Chile filmmakers were the boldest experimenters in Latin America. Folk music is particularly important for the victims of tyranny, and she often played a political emigrant abroad during the Pinochet regime.

Over 90% of the population is Catholic, but Evangelical Protestantism is becoming increasingly common. Catholic Architecture is impressive and ubiquitous, from grandiose colonial churches, holy places and finishing along the roads from which others are excellent examples of the fusion of various forms of folk arts. The official language in Chile - Spanish, but there are some folk languages. In the north of the country over 20 000 carriers Aymara, and in the south about half a million carriers of the Mapuche.

The most interesting linguistic minority - 2000 Media Rapa Nui, a Polynesian language of the inhabitants of Easter Island.

Chilean cuisine is diverse and includes seafood, beef, fresh fruits and vegetables. Among Chilean dishes listed as: empanadas (large tortillas with various fillings); humitas (corn volumes) and several types of bread prepared from flour or potatoes. The most satisfying dish - lomo a lo pobre («meat dish for the poor") is a huge piece of beef, put two fried eggs with potatoes, fried. Dish parillada confuse vegetarians and cardiologists, as its membership includes intestines, udders, as well as black pudding. One of the most delicious dishes - curanto - a hearty chowder with fish, shellfish, chicken, pork, lamb, beef and potatoes. Chilean wines - the best in South America. The popular drink pisco sour is a grape brandy with lemon, egg white and powdered sugar.

Whale watching has become one of the most popular attractions ...

Whale watching has become one of the most popular attractions for tourists in Latin America: last year alone the number of travelers who come just for this, more than a million people.

Moreover, many South American countries, notably Chile, argue that whale watching can be a much more profitable and more profitable than their extermination. In Chile, have commercial whaling has already been banned, and along the coast will be organized the whale sanctuary.

According to official statistics, in 2006, whale watching has brought to Latin America about $ 80 million, reports Reuters. Total income from this industry is about $ 1 billion in 90 countries annually.

Now in South American waters are inhabited by about 64 species of whale, which is 75% of the world's diversity. It is worth noting that the whale watching - is a popular form of ecotourism around the world, such as Iceland, Australia and South Africa.

Brazil is also great for whale watching trips. Florianopolis, in Southern Brazil, is where southern right whales appear during the months of June to November. As June is winter in Florianopolis, it can be quite cold, so best to visit in October or November if you want to see whales, plus have a beach vacation (Brazilians will tell you that Florianopolis has Brazil’s best beaches).

At the same time of year (June to November), the Valdes Peninsula in Argentina sees the same right whale migrations - Puerto Madryn being the best base for whale watching trips.

Chile invites tourists...

Chile is preparing to take more and more tourists and promises its guests a multitude of different kinds of attractions. In this way, now it is developed the route "Chile Way", which will unite all the natural attractions of the country from north to south. The total length of the well-equipped route is 8500 kilometers. To overcome the selected areas will be possible on foot or by bicycle. In part, these roads have already been discovered in Patagonia and around Sanyago and fully route should be formed by 2015.

Still popular type of tourist attractions in Chile is whale watching. This is one of the best places in the world, here all year around you can see different kinds of whales. In the highlands tourists are offered a variety of winter classes - from alpine skiing to golf in the snow. There is a growing demand for wine, and on gastronomic tourism in the country. In addition, the coast of Chile is among the most popular cruises in South America.

It is worth noting that the race Paris - Dakar moved to South America until 2011. On the territory of Chile route will pass through the Atacama Desert and Patagonia. In addition to the direct participants in the race, the country expects to take a large number of spectators.

Global hotel chains are prepared to accommodate the growing number of tourists in Chile. A year ago there was opened Hotel & Spa Tierra Atacama - a small boutique hotel with the views of the volcano Licancabur. In March 2009, guests will take W Santiago -  the first luxurious hotel chain W in South America.