Chilean TV Report aired Jan 26, 08
However, there is great opposition to the dams. Local residents have much hope for growth linked to clean activities such as tourism, fishing lodges, and adventure travel. Environmental organizations and local residents have partnered to stop construction of the hydro dams.
Environmentalist organizations have organized in the campaign to have a Patagonia without Dams, the organization is building a national campaign and are travelling abroad to gain international support. Part of the campaign has attracted leading opposition voices that include US businessman turned environmentalist Douglas Tompkins, owner of the Aysen Pumalín Nature Reserve. A number of personalities, including Robert Kennedy Jr., have visited Chilean Patagonia and have pledged their support for an international campaign to save the last wild rivers of Patagonia and ensure sustainable development in the region.
Endesa Chile and Colbun have yet to file an environmental impact study, they are also building a campaign in support of the construction of the hydro dams. The Chilean Government is playing a wait and see attitude, in one hand hearing environmentalists' concerns but saying Chile is facing an energy crunch and new sources of energy, like damming rivers in Aysen is an option.
Next March Hidro Aysen will present its environmental impact study, one that surely will be raise serious debate. Both Endesa and Colbun will have the much needed support of the business sector that will argue that the large dam project is needed to satisfy Chile's present and future energy needs. Business groups will also say that Chile needs to have a stable investment environment and that the government cannot be hold hostage to "special interest" and foreign environmental activists.
As for the Government, it most likely will seat on the sideline testing the waters and perhaps try to come in between the business needs and that of environmental groups that oppose the damming of Patagonia's wild rivers.
