The advantages and DISADVANTAGEs of the belo monte dam
advantages
Contrary to the popular belief that the Belo 'Monster' Dam that has no notable benefits, the Belo Monte Dam does retain a few major positive impacts, especially to Brazil's people and economy.
AN ECONOMIC BOOST Firstly, the dam will create roughly 19,000 new jobs in construction, This mass production of new jobs will provide Brazil with a huge economic boost that it sorely needs, in light of the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Furthermore, the people of Brazil will reap benefits from these jobs, increasing the livelihood of the population of Brazil. People may also not be tempted to turn to a life of crime to earn money as they will have sufficient funds from these provocative new jobs. This is an important factor in Brazil; the crime rates in Brazil have been critical for the past 25 years and there are around 1 million homicides in Brazil per year. Overall, the 19,000 jobs the dam will produce will highly accommodate a much needed improvement in not only Brazil's economy, but the livelihood of its people and the concerning crime rates. The population of people living in modern villages near the dam will also increase as the job opportunities rise, which is an advantage to the social sector in remote parts of Brazil. This will benefit the thousands of people living in secluded areas of Brazil, as new job opportunities and trading will arise, enabling people to live their lifestyle in private areas of Brazil but also to enjoy the accessibility of a modern Brazil. Furthermore, as population increases, hospitals and health care for remote parts of Brazil will be developed which could possibly even save lives. ENVIRONMENTAL ADVANTAGE? River flooding is a major problem in the area where the dam is being constructed. Regularly, people have to be evacuated from their homes. However, the construction of the dam will stop this flooding and prevent further upset to the people who suffer from this and to the environment.
There are many concerns and protests against what environmental damage the dam will cause. The dam will cause a lot of environmental damage to the rainforest and the river, but it is important to also note the Northern Energy group is paying the sum of $800 million to provide two conservation parks and to help protect the environment.
Animal and plants species may thrive even better under the careful care of a conservation park than their own natural habitat which is constantly being threatened.
WHO'S SUPPORTING THE DAM?
For all the numerous reasons above, groups such as the construction companies are supporting the Belo Monte Dam for the profits they will gain. The government is also in support of the dam due to the economic and social benefits the dam will bring; the hydroelectric project is an encapsulation of their growing ambitions to be an economically powerful country in the future.
disadvantages
Though the plan of the Belo Monte Dam and the vast economic advantages that accompany it may seem ideal for Brazil, there are numerous disadvantages to the project...
THE PRICE TAG
The dam will cost an estimated $13 billion, but in truth, costs may run up to $18 billion by the end of construction. This is a severe economic wound for Brazil, invalidating any economic boost the prospect of 19,000 jobs the dam would create held. Furthermore, this will have to be paid out of the Brazilian population's tax. Poverty rates in Brazil are at 20.5 percent with 1 in 5 people struggling to get by daily, and even a minimal tax increase could possibly result in poverty rising and the population struggling in hardship. As a consequence, some people could be tempted to turn to a life of a crime to earn money to be able to pay off debts-this would lead to Brazil's already critical crime rates exponentially increasing.
A DEAD RAINFOREST
The Amazon Rainforest is often referred to as the lungs of the world and the Belo Monte Dam requires the destruction of over 1500 square km of rainforest for construction. This mass deforestation will result in the eradication of several animal and plant species who the rainforest serves as their natural habitat. While there will be conservation parks built to make up for this loss, they will not match the 1500 square kilometres the project has destroyed. Over 25 percent of our medicine comes from the plants in these rainforests and on average, 137 animal species become extinct everyday-the habitat of the black bearded saki monkey and white cheeked spider monkey will be under threat in the construction of the dam.The construction of the dam will only encourage more deforestation. If we continue to construct and deforest like this, the world's rainforest will quickly be eradicated, losing this precious biodiversity that could help engineer scientific breakthroughs.
The above graph accentuates how much deforestation is occurring in Brazil, and the construction of the Belo Monte Dam will only strengthen other projects which will destroy more valuable rainforest. Conservation groups, as a result, are against the construction in order to continue to protect the rainforest and the thousands of species it holds. Medical researchers and biologists would also be against the construction; in order to carry out their research, they need to explore as many species and rainforest as they can.
A HOME OF GENERATIONS...DESTROYED.
A predicted 20,000 indigenous people will be displaced as a result of the dam and their homes for several generations will be eradicated. They will have to migrate to the cities, which is not only unfair to their human rights but they will be angry with the government for allowing the destruction of their home. As a result, this will cause a mass disruption in the livelihood of these 20,000 people and they may even protest against the government. Brazil will also be losing a crucial part of their rich culture. Furthermore, the economy will have to accommodate a further 20,000 new people in the cities who have never adapted to the urbanized lifestyle so different to their peaceful, simple lifestyles in the rainforest. As a result, indigenous people are completely against the Belo Monte Dam and several human rights organizations are supporting their disputes, as there is even a legal legislation prohibiting this treatment of the native people. This could cause problems for Brazil's developing image, which it is attempting to boost with the economic advantages the dam and the World Cup is offering.