February, 02 2018, 12:15pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Lindsay Meiman,Senior U.S. Communications Specialist,lindsay@350.org,us-comms@350.org,+1 347 460 9082,New York, USA
Coastal Community of Sao Paulo Wins Fight Against Giant Thermoelectric Plant
United, citizens of Peruíbe knocked down the power plant projected to be one of the 50 largest in the world and blocked future mega-polluting projects.
PERUÍBE, São Paulo
The city of Peruibe, in the Southeast of Brazil, has been struggling for months against the installation of a thermoelectric power plant, which could be one of the largest of its type in an urban area in the world. Citizens have organized themselves, pressured city councilors, and finally have approved an amendment to the municipal law that would prevent other mega-polluting projects from being built in the city.
The rare conquest can not be considered unprecedented only because 30 years ago, the same municipality won a similar battle against the construction of a nuclear power plant in the region.
"My parents fought against the nuclear power plant and today, with this arduous achievement, Peruibe kept this history of victory. Over a month ago we did not have all the necessary votes, but we were able to reverse the scenario thanks to the people who knew how to demonstrate their will to the councilmen," says the lawyer Enio Pestana, a member of the Raizes group, one of the movements that started the fight against the thermoelectric.
This achievement was only possible thanks to the union of residents and various local groups, who pressured rulers and articulate a Parliamentary Front of city councilors to bar the construction of the 1.7 gigawatt/hour thermoelectric, projected by Gastrading company to be one of the 50 largest of the world, in a region that is one of the last reserves of continuous Atlantic Forest in the world.
"The approval of this amendment is the guarantee to safeguard our quality of life and our socio-environmental patrimony for the next generations. We have to act now. Humanity no longer needs highly polluting industries, which use fossil fuels," says Andre Ichikawa, a member of the Ernesto Zwarg Institute and the Sustainable Coastal Activist Collective.
The community of Peruibe remained mobilized for months. The fight has resulted in the passage of a bill that prevents the installation of polluting industries that cause acid rain - and now in approving the amendment to the organic law with similar content. Prior to this, in December, The Environmental Company of the State of Sao Paulo (Cetesb) denied Gastrading's license application and cited in its opinion the popular resistance to the venture.
"It was an intense fight, where the participation of the population was fundamental to the victory. Peruibe can be proud of its citizens, as well as the Mocan can be proud of its members, who were active throughout this process and was one of the articulators of the conquest. Our love and respect for nature united us," says Mari Polachini, leader of the Movement Against Nature's Aggression (Mocan, in Portuguese).
Peruibe has an unquestionable tourist and ecological potential. The construction of the thermoelectric power plant would affect not only the beaches and their tourist potential. Terrestrial and marine biodiversity, air quality, water availability and dozens of indigenous communities and fishermen would be also put at risk.
"Peruibe will be an inspiration to many communities fighting in defense of their territories around the world and especially now in defense of water. We cannot ignore that battles like this also strengthen the global Fossil Free movement, that aims for a world without climate chaos, " says Nicole Figueiredo de Oliveira, director of 350.org Brazil and Latin America, organization that actively supported the local mobilization.
Juliano Bueno de Araujo, campaigner for 350.org Brazil, warns the population to remain alert and active since other polluting projects such this can be implemented in other areas of the Santos basin. "We congratulate the people of Peruibe for their exemplary resistance in defense of a development with social justice and environmental sustainability. The fight does not end here, the neighboring municipalities must also fight for protection, " explains Juliano.
350 is building a future that's just, prosperous, equitable and safe from the effects of the climate crisis. We're an international movement of ordinary people working to end the age of fossil fuels and build a world of community-led renewable energy for all.
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