21/04/2015 - Brazil: Current Environmental, Social and Political Challenges

The Brazilian rainforest presents a globally important biodiversity hotspot. Besides rich biodiversity, the forest harbours also some remaining American Indian tribes with a traditional way of living. Nevertheless, the total area of Amazonia has been reduced significantly in the last decades, as various interests, such as extractive industries, hydroenergetic project, agricultural enterprises and others are advancing into the ecologically sensitive area.

The expert debate of the Iberoamerican centre (IAC) of Metropolitan University Prague counted with two distinguished speakers:
Dr. Ticiano Costa Jordão, The International Sustainability Observatory (CRUSUS), Vice-president of the Czech-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and Dr. Jiří Moravec, Assistant Professor (J. E. Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, MUP)

Most important aspects of the debate are summerized in the documents attached. Also, read Forbes Magazine article on Belo Monte Dam at http://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2014/03/07/was-brazils-belo-monte-dam-a-bad-idea/.

Brazilian Amazonia: Global, National, or American Indians Heritage – Jiří Moravec, Ph.D.

Clean or Dirty Energy? Challenges and Risks Associated to Belo Monte Hydroelectric Dam Complex on Xingu River Basin in the Amazon – Ticiano Costa Jordão