Xingu Dam of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil might displace 40,000 people

Belo Monte Dam if built will officially displace 16,000 people but some NGOs put the number at 40,000.

Brazil hosted UN Earth Summit in which Amazonian chief Raoni implored to halt 11,200-megawatt Belo Monte dam that will be a threat to the ecosystem of the Xingu.

He was speaking through an interpreter in the Conference on Sustainable Development.

82-year-old chief of the Kayapo tribe urged," I want to ask the whole world to respect the indigenous peoples, to leave us in peace, without dams".

This dam will flood an area of 500 square kilometers (200 square miles) along the Xingu River, flooding hundreds of square kilometers of rainforest, farms, and portions of the urban center of the Amazonian town of Altamira.

Many indigenous tribes, including the Arara, Juruna, Kayapo and Munducuru people who have been living in the forest for hundreds along the river will be displaced from their ancestry lands.

Belo Monte dam will cause many species extinction, malarial infestation, and high CO2 emissions from the methane released by the rotting and flooded forest.

1230-mile long Xingu River is a tributary of the Amazon on which Brazil is planning to built third largest dam in the world in order to provide clean energy for a fast-growing economy

It is being feared that the dam will harm environment by deforestation and greenhouse-gas emissions. It will also deprive downriver communities of their lifeline.

"In this summit, I am going to ask that they respect the rights of those who live near the dam, so that they can continue to fish in the Xingu River, so that my children and grandchildren can fish, eat," Raoni further added.

Chief said," I am going to ask again here that the Brazilian government stops construction of this dam. I am going to continue defending nature and calling for respect of the forest because my ancestors, my parents lived here first".

Dam requires investment of $18 billion that is being provided by "The Consortium". It is a group of Brazilian state-owned energy companies and private mining interests.

Brazil is planning to build 70 such large dams across the Amazon rainforest in the coming decades to meet the solution to periodic blackouts and provide clean electricity.