On 13 and 14 March was held in Pinotepa Nacional a cultural day and mobilization in defense of the Río Verde and against the multi-use hydroelectric-dam project Paso de la Reyna, organized by the Council of Peoples in Defense of the Río Verde (COPUDEVER). The activities were had in observation of the International Day of Action against Dams, which has been celebrated globally now for various years every 14 March.
The cultural events held in the Zócalo of the Oaxacan city began on 13 March at 4pm, with informational sessions regarding the Paso de la Reyna project, its potential impacts on the region, as well as murals created by students from affected communities that express their rejection of the project and present information regarding the generation of electricity. The cultural activities ended with the projection of documentaries on dams and the defense of land and territory on the part of communities, sharing, among other things, the case of COPUDEVER and the experiences had at the Third Global Meeting of the Movement of those Affected by Dams, which was had in Temacapulínm, Jalisco, in October 2010, a location in which is planned the construction of the Zapotillo dam, against the wishes of local populations.
On 14 March was had a protest march in which participated representatives of the affected communities organized by COPUDEVER, teachers from Section 22 of the National Union of Educational Workers (SNTE), and groups from several parishes of the Puerto Escondido diocese. The march began from two distinct points in Pinotepa Nacional and met to concentrate forces in the Zócalo of the city. In the march participated some 6000 people who thus expressed their rejection of the Paso de la Reyna hydroelectric-dam project.
For more information (in Spanish):
Comunicado Marchan contra la presa Paso de la Reina en Pinotepa Nacional (EDUCA, 14 March 2011)
Exigen cancelar obras hidroeléctricas (Proceso, 14 March)
Página Web sobre Paso de la Reina y represas
For more information from SIPAZ (in English):
Chiapas: National Meeting of the Mexican Movement of those Affected by Dams in Defense of Rivers (20 March 2011)
Oaxaca: Assembly cancels the authorization given to the CFE in project “Paso de la Reina” (31 July 2009)
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