14.08.2009
Workers and Dam Affected People protest
in the Ministry of Mines and Energy in Brasília

Thousands of protesters and dam affected people participating in the National Camp in Brasília, marched today through the Ministries’ Esplanade in Brasilia, stopping in various places like the Presidential Palace and the Ministry of Mines and Energy. Some 3.500 members of Via Campesina, labour unions, student movements, urban movements and the Popular Assembly amongst others, participated in the march.

There was special attention paid to the Ministry of Mines and energy where people protested their anger against the policies developed by the current minister Edson Lobão. The activists protested against the high electricity tariffs charged especially to the poorest sectors of society throughout the country. According to the protesters the price of electricity is at least eight times as high as the actual production cost and at the same time all profits stay with multinational companies. On the other hand the Ministry of Mines and Energy is just legitimizing this unfair system.

Another important point was the connections of Minister Lobão with his personal friend and head of the Senate Jose Sarney and their attitude against the people expelled by dam construction which is causing even more conflicts and increase the numbers of landless people in Brazil. According to the leaders of MAB “dam affected farmers have not received fair compensations or land plots for resettlement or minimal conditions for them to start up a new life. Data reveal that more than one million people have been expelled from their land due to dam construction in Brazil”.

The camp in Brasilia was set up on the 10^th of August and will remain in place at least until the 21^st of the same month.