About Dams
The Dam Truth: Unveiling the Dam Reality
In the shadows of seemingly noble pursuits for "clean and sustainable energy," the truth behind the relentless construction of dams is obscured by a veil of profit-driven motives. Dams are contributing to species extinction, displace communities worldwide, and worsen climate change.
Here's why it's time to unravel the concealed realities:
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Profit Over Sustainability:
- Dams have become lucrative ventures for investors seeking financial gains, often at the expense of environmental and social well-being. The construction of dams is fueled by profit-driven interests, turning once pristine rivers into channels for wealth accumulation.
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Lack of Public Awareness:
- The perpetuation of dam construction relies on keeping the public in the dark. Deliberate efforts to suppress awareness and education about the true environmental and social costs of dams serve the interests of those who profit from these projects.
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Outdated Energy Paradigm:
- Despite advancements in alternative energy sources, the push for dams persists based on outdated notions. Contrary to the perception of dams as a sustainable energy solution, evolving data highlights their inefficiency and ecological devastation, rendering them obsolete in the current energy landscape.
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Systemic Corruption in the Balkans:
- Montenegro's political and economic landscape is marred by corruption, further exacerbating the dam dilemma. The manipulation of systems allows for the unchecked advancement of dam projects, often at the expense of transparent governance and ecological integrity.
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Monopoly on River Resources:
- Rivers, which inherently belong to everyone, face exploitation when investors enter the scene. Once a dam is erected, the river ceases to flow for the collective benefit and begins serving the exclusive pockets of the investor, perpetuating a cycle of environmental degradation.
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Balkan Dam Epidemic:
- The Balkans, home to over 3,500 proposed dam projects, stands on the precipice of an environmental catastrophe. This impending dam boom threatens not only the ecological balance but also the livelihoods and access to clean drinking water for millions, all to fill the coffers of a select few.
- It's time to shatter the illusions, expose the vested interests, and demand transparency. The rivers that run free should remain the lifeblood of communities, not tools for profit.
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Dams & Diversions:
- In the Balkans, over 91% of the 3,000 proposed dam projects involve small hydropower diversion dams, diverting and, in some cases, entirely draining stretches of rivers. Studies reveal that the cumulative impact of multiple small diversions often surpasses that of a single large dam, posing severe threats to ecosystems.
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Over-dependence on Hydro:
- What makes the hydro sector even more crazy is that governments and utility companies spearheading new hydropower projects seem to ignore a critical factor
- most Balkan countries have been reported to already exhibit an over-dependence on hydropower.
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Increasing climate change vulnerability:
- Moreover, the hydropower sector is increasingly susceptible to risks and climate vulnerability.