South Asian Delegates
With Maria Guadalupe Lara Lara who fought the Arciediano dam successfully
International dam affected communities, civil organizations and activists met at the 3rd International Rivers Meet at Temacapulin, Guadalajara-Mexico from the 1st to 7th October 2010 under the umbrella organization the International Rivers Network (IRN) Chaired by its Executive Director Mr. Patrick Macully.
The Indian delegates were led by the International Rivers South Asian Director Mr. Samir Mehta. Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) was represented by General Secretary Dawa Lepcha.
The seven days meeting was attended by participants from 56 countries from all the continents. The sessions and workshops dwelled on the dams, displacement, networking, support, exchange of ideas and experiences. The meeting also expressed and displayed solidarity to the host village Temacapulin which is facing submergence threat from El Zapatillo dam being built on the Rio Verde.
Field trips were also conducted to nearby dam sites which were being opposed by the local people. One such trip was the visit to the successfully fought Arcediano dam where one single woman, Maria Guadlupe Lara and her family stood their ground (after others had given up). With their homestead bulldozed and razed to the ground and the odds heavy against them she fought on with the help and support of civil societies and international support and finally won her battle after nine years.
All delegates pledged to continue with the struggle against unjust and absurd developmental programmes and support each other in their struggle. The meeting ended with endorsement of The Declaration of Temaca in which solidarity, achievements, challenges, demands and commitments were declared. More information on http://www.internationalrivers.org/
Water For life, Not For Death!
Free Rivers, For Free People!
.jpg)
