AMERICA/COSTA RICA - Hydroelectric project: communities meet the Bishop to deal with the problem

San Isidro (Agenzia Fides) - More than 100 representatives of the community of La Union, Fatima, Zapotal, San Jeronimo, San Rafael, Barrio Los Angeles, in San Isidro de El General area, in south-central Costa Rica, attended a meeting with the Bishop of the Diocese of San Isidro de El General, His Exc. Mgr. Gabriel Enrique Montero Umaña, O.F.M. Conv., to deal with the delicate situation of the community before the hydroelectric project on the San Rafael river.
According to the note sent to Fides, the residents say the project has created disunity in the community, because it was not presented in a transparent way at all and will not bring benefits to the community, as it provides a restrictive access for residents to the river. During the meeting what was noted was that the project is based on superficial studies without taking into consideration the social and environmental impacts it can have, it also does not represent an opportunity for local development, but only an initiative for the benefit of a few, which has already led to friction and clashes among neighbors.
"The country has a powerful body to produce electricity, the ICE (Costa Rican Institute of Electricity), all that is privately managed, can be a way to weaken the ICE and this system of solidarity economy", said Bishop Montero.
"Why can’t the country continue to produce electricity through the ICE?".(CE) (Agenzia Fides 01/10/2015)

Share:

local churches

---

---

human rights

---

---

economy

---

---

development

---

---