Exploitation of Brazilians

Will a country suffer from being dependent on a main source of energy if they do not have plans to diversify their sources? 

Most Likely 

Brazil is currently “highly dependent on hydropower for its electricity, with about 80% of its electrical energy coming from large dams.”  The development of multiple dams in Brazil may generate energy and allow for expansion and economic growth but in the process has enormous social and environmental impacts.

Electronorte, Brazil’s state dam company, is currently moving ahead with plans to build the Belo Monte Dam on the Xingu River in the state of Pará.  This movement is also helping to push the development of many other dams upstream that will cause an even greater and devastating impact.  First, the Belo Monte dam and reservoir will generate no energy during the three to five month dry months each year.  It is also predicted to flood 400 square kilometers of agricultural lands and forests, impacted nearby reserves of indigenous people causing relocation of thousands of families.  If this is any prediction of what is to happen to the country the outlook is not good.  People who are displaced will be pushed onto other occupied lands thus pushing people deeper into poverty and intensifying the war for resources between indigenous people, traditional communities, ranchers and industrialists.  Brazil’s greenhouse gas emissions are also increased due to more dams and reservoirs being built because of submerged rotting vegetation.  The Brazilian government has ignored the recommendations of the World Commission on Dams saying that the guideline makes in more difficult to build new projects.  However, by ignoring the recommendations, the government is only exploiting the resources and people of Brazil.

In order to prevent the people of Brazil from suffering due to a dependence on one main energy source other energy methods needs to be developed.  This includes more cost effective investments and alternate energy efficient sources including co-generation, biomass, and wind.  This will allow the country’s future energy needs to be met without greatly affecting the majority of the population of Brazil.