Dams and Water

Indigenous Peoples across the globe face a range of threats from what they frequently describe as 'development aggression'. As they struggle to defend their land, much of it is in 'unspoilt' areas that are rich in natural resources, and so conflicts often arise with companies who want to exploit those resources - mostly without the consent of the Indigenous Peoples.

The main problems that Indigenous Peoples face are from interesting in oil, gas or mining that despoil their land, in the construction of large-scale dams that flood their land, in widespread logging that deforest their land. The creation of nature reserves or areas for tourism can see them ejected from or restricted in access to their own land. Finally agriculture, particularly intensive plantation agriculture or fish farming can cause similar problems to those listed above.

All of these activities can lead to conflict which leads to militarisation of their land, and in loss of livelihood or encroachment of settlements which can lead urbanisation. All of these activities can also be encouraged by multilateral development agencies such as the World Bank.

Brazil - Yudja indigenous people request consultation regarding Belo Sun

Ecuador: Girón advances toward a community plebiscite to stop mining in Kimsacocha

Malaysia - Calls for CM Adenan and Sarawak Energy to be Accountable

Malaysia: Orang Asal want Parliament’s action on land rights

Guatemalans Are Taking Their Democracy Back

Mongton Dam Consultations a ‘Rubber Stamp’: Community Groups

DRC - Inga Dam in the DRC to Result in the Resettlement of up to 20,000 People

Panama: Banks failed to comply with standards in financing the Barro Blanco dam

Dust, TB and HIV: the ugly face of mining in South Africa

Malaysia: Indigenous Landowners Assert Opposition to the Proposed Baram Dam

Uranium Contaminated Indigenous Australian Communities' Water

Social licence: easy to grant, hard to revoke

Ghana - Chaos at Newmont Ahafo Mine

India - Communities Sue World Bank Group in US for Destructive Coal-Fired Power Plant

Canada - Xeni Gwet’in activist to be honoured with Goldman Prize in San Francisco

Guatemalan mine manager jailed for alleged river fouling

NGOs asks Centre to stop building mega dams

India: United stand against dam

Mongolia: 'When I was herding I had a plentiful life

Malaysia: Orang Asal want ADB loan to Sarawak Energy cancelled

World Bank whitewashes Ethiopia human rights scandal

India: Nagas against Mapithel dam

Hundreds of mines around world at risk of catastrophic waste dam failure

Bruno Manser Fund demands a Royal Commission of Enquiry

Cambodia: Human Rights Concerns Over Hydropower Development in Cambodia Brought to the UN

Brazilian Judge Sides With Tribe Over Land Threatened by Dams

India: Changes to environment, land acquisition laws jeopardise human rights

Cambodia’s Environment: Good News in Areng Valley?

Sarawak villagers’ dam blockade removed again, as heavy machinery move in

Attempt to Expel Indigenous Peoples from Proposed Baram Dam Site Denounced By Human Rights Groups

Asian Development Bank Urged to Shelve Loan For Power Grid in Sarawak

Peru protests reviving at Cerro Verde, Tía María

Large Dams Just Aren't Worth the Cost

Indigenous Peoples’ Right to Not Consent Malaysian Dam

Baram villagers witness first hand proof of empty promises

Statement of Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact on access to justice

World Bank email leaks reveal internal row over 'light touch' $50bn loans

Protests escalate at Vale's nickel mine in New Caledonia

Cambodian villagers fight Chinese developers to save ancestral home

Asia Regional Indigenous Peoples’ Workshop Declaration

Indigenous populations disproportionately hit in environmental conflicts

Malaysia disallows UN Special Rapporteur to visit, assess treatment of indigenous people

Belo Monte Construction Intensifies Conflicts with Indigenous Peoples

Communities Denounce Forced Labour near Goldcorp's Marlin Mine

Areva and Niger's uranium fight

U.S. Tightens Development Safeguards

‘Always fight’ for indigenous rights, Amazon tribe’s chief says in Toronto

Chiapas: Localities declare ban against mining, hydroelectric development

Malaysia’s Indigenous People Intensify Anti-Dam Battle

Respect Indigenous Penan’s Native Customary Rights over the Murum Dam Project

Sarawak Energy defends Murum hydropower resettlement plan

Groups Protest World Bank Support for Destructive Dams and Fossil Fuels

Aglukkaq will have final say on controversial Fish Lake mine in B.C. Interior

Aboriginal elder loses bid to block $30bn Olympic Dam mine expansion

Peru 'washing its hands' of Newmont’s Conga mine issues: local authorities

A Mine, a Movement and a Town Divided

Peru: Conga protest camp fired on

Environmental protection order for leaking Primrose oil sands project

Indigenous leaders want government help to stop copper sulphide leaks at Redbank mine

Alberta First Nation concerned about six leaks at oil sands project

Anglo American pulls out of Pebble copper project

Indigenous protest against Agua Zarca dam in Honduras criminalised

Legal hurdles could hinder Canadian gold miner plans in Brazil’s Amazon

Illegal gold mining exposing Peru's indigenous tribes to mercury poisoning

Dams, Gold, and Dissidence

First Nation discovers large petrochemical sheen on Athabasca River

Mongolian herders submit complaint to European public bank

Peru peasant squads rally against $5bn Conga gold project

Peru protesters push to stop $5bn Newmont mine

Guatemala: Judge Sets Precedent in Release of Rubén Herrera, Citing International Human Rights Standards

Stop construction of mega dams

Goldcorp grilled in shareholder meeting, poor practices make “toxic zones” protestors say

Peru rolling back indigenous law in win for mining sector

Honoring the River: How Hardrock Mining Impacts Tribal Communities

Rio Tinto accused of environmental and human rights breaches

Press Statement: Asia Indigenous Peoples’ raise alarm on the worsening landgrabs and violation of their rights

Colville Tribes Win Long-Running Environmental Lawsuit against Teck Metals

New report shows World Bank tough talk on climate is just a mirage in Mongolia’s Gobi desert

Guatemala's Chixoy dam: where development and terror intersect

Mining Saps a Thirsty Desert

Belo Sun Mining Sets Sights on Golden Opportunity in the Xingu

Namibia: UN expert calls for greater inclusion of indigenous peoples at all levels

World Bank and Others Poised to Invest in Rio Tinto’s Flawed Mongolian Mining Project

Community Maps Can Empower Indigenous Peoples to Assert Land Rights

Peru may give environment ministry more power over new mines

Central America: Verdict of the International People's Health Tribunal on Goldcorp

Peru police detain Newmont opposition leader after violent protests

Indigenous peoples threatened by resource exploitation

Tsilhqot'in Applaud Affirmation of Aboriginal Rights by BC Court of Appeal

Ecuadorian communities welcome IAMGOLD’s retreat and warn INV Metals that there’s no social license for Quimsacocha

Tsilhqot’in Vow to ‘Stand Ground’ Against New Prosperity Mine at Taseko AGM

Peru uses emergency rules to end violent protests at Xstrata mine

Basarwa lobby UN to force Botswana to recognise their land rights

Latin American indigenous groups join forces to fight dams

Penans write S'wak Energy's CEO to halt Baram Dam

Namibia: Indigenous Coalition Opposed to New Dam

Hundreds of Indigenous Protest Belo Monte Dam, Brazilian Government Boycotts Talks

Landmark Vote Upholds Indigenous Rights on Belo Monte

Ethiopia’s ‘bulldozer’ government arrests 100 tribal people over dam

Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Issues: A Note on his official mission to Costa Rica

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