Recent trip to Patagonia

Got back a month ago from a wonderful trip to Patagonia. We had great weather and the boys had a great time throwing rocks in the lake, fishing and horseback riding. The lake level on Lago Bertrand was more than a meter higher than normal - wonder whether that's global warming related. The glaciers around the lake are visibly receding and patches of rock are visible that were previously covered with glacial ice. See the rocks peeking through in this picture:



The Balmaceda airport still has a "Patagonia sin represas" billboard above the baggage claim belt and we saw that slogan spraypainted on some rocks along the road down south.



According to the Patagonia Times, HidroAysén, the sponsor of the dam project insists that the project will move ahead as planned. Let's hope that opposition to the project will continue to gain momentum. Please continue spreading the word.

Condors face threats across South America - 07/23/2008 - MiamiHerald.com

Condors face threats across South America - 07/23/2008 - MiamiHerald.com

Chilean Patagonia is home to many condors, which we often see circling high above rivers and lakes. The dam project would bring thousands of workers to Patagonia for a period of years, encroaching on the condors' habitat.

Patagonia Founder Video on the Company's Environmental Commitment

Here is a link to a video of Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia, describing his company's support of the environment.  While it is essentially a 5 minute advertisement for Patagonia, it's worth checking out.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1524596354/bctid1586318901

Solar Can Dig Chile's Copper

Here is a link to an article about the potential for solar power in the Atacama desert of Chile. Sounds encouraging. With oil prices climbing ever higher, "expensive" power looks better and better, particularly since the potential solar power in Chile is so close to the energy-gulping mining industry.

Article: Canadian pensioners and Chile's pristine wilderness

Breaking News from The Globe and Mail:

Development, driven partly by money from two of Canada's largest public-sector retirement funds, threatens a vast 'eco-gem'

MARTIN MITTELSTAEDT AND COLIN BARRACLOUGH

Monday, May 05, 2008

AYSEN, CHILE — The Patagonian region of southern Chile is considered one of the world's last, great wildernesses, dubbed an "eco-gem" for its rare fauna, ice-sculptured fjords and almost total absence of industrial development.

But development is threatening this pristine wilderness, driven in part by money from two of Canada's largest public-sector retirement funds.

The CPP Investment Board and British Columbia Investment Management Corp. have stakes in a vast electricity project planned for this natural area, putting the organizations on a collision course with Chilean and North American environmentalists, and into the middle of a heated national debate over energy development in the Latin American country. more

This is a detailed story on the financing by Canadian pension funds of the massive hydro electric project that threatens the environment of Patagonia. Please consider sharing this article with your contacts and particularly Canadians. Thank you.

New York Times Editorial

Today's NYT has a well stated Editorial opposing the dams in Patagonia. Here is a link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/01/opinion/01tue3.html?ex=1364702400&en=f02daaa4c1685e30&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

There is no doubt that Chile needs more energy to sustain and grow its extractive industries. Chile and Argentina recently signed a new energy cooperation agreement, but that is ultimately reliant on Argentina's natural gas imports from Bolivia, which are subject Morales risk.

With the mining industries (and Chilean government by extension) reaping such a huge windfall from high copper prices, it seems as though more expensive (but not environmentally devastating) energy solutions such as massive-scale solar power or algae-derived biodiesel could be alternatives to the large scale hydro projects. I hope that the Chilean government will hear and heed the voices from around the world that are opposing this project.

Just back from Patagonia

OK, so this blog is in some pretty serious need of updates. A lot has happened recently. From our latest trip down to Patagonia, it is clear that the local population is decidedly against the dam project (particularly since many of them make their livings from tourism and raising animals) and is very suspicious and concerned about the fate of their lands and livelihoods. On the plane back to Santiago, we met a film and production crew that had been down shooting footage for a documentary about Patagonia. Stay tuned for that. In the meantime, please consider supporting the opposition to the dams. More later as there are a lot of developments to catch up on.

Patagonia, a global treasure

Patagonia, a global treasure

Here is a well articulated opinion piece from the San Francisco Cronicle, written by Glen Switkes who "is the Latin American Program director for International Rivers Network, an organization dedicated to protecting rivers and defending the rights of communities that depend on those rivers." Though dated (from February 2007), it is well worth a read.

Patagonia, Chubut Argentinean province: GENERAL IMPACTS OF THE EL PORTÓN DAM IN THE PUELO RIVER BASIN - Bolsonweb

Patagonia, Chubut Argentinean province: GENERAL IMPACTS OF THE EL PORTÓN DAM IN THE PUELO RIVER BASIN - Bolsonweb

This is a great, in depth summary of a report on the impacts of the Puelo River dam project.

The Looting of Patagonia Has Begun, Say Chile Dam Opponents - Worldpress.org

The latest article from The Santiago Times about the rush of hydro projects targeting rivers in Chilean Patagonia. The Aysen Project, if it goes ahead will pave the way for further devastation of Patagonian wilderness.