I thoroughly enjoyed reading this blog. The dams group brought up a lot of good and neutral perspectives, but ultimately lacks a clear conclusion. Although the blog is clearly divided into three parts: construction, active dams and fisheries; the blog needs a well-rounded viewpoint from an economic, environmental and social standpoint. Evidently, the construction of dams will cause adverse effects in fish population but what about humans? One thing this blog touched upon too briefly is the detrimental effects on human population; especially marginalized populations. Although they mention the populations’ need for natural resources, they fail to acknowledge other ethical issues. such as local pressure and participation, land tenure and human rights standards discussed in class and the Finley-Brook and Thomas readings. The influx of dams absolutely wipe these people of their land and resources, not to mention surrounding environments through the risks of regular floods, water quality and soil degradation, changing lifestyles of local populations for good. Overall, their use of case studies remain highly useful but focusing a little more on the effects of marginalized populations would be even more interesting.
Your blog is very organized and detailed and it was nice to have a brief case study at the very end of the Construction, Active Dam, and Fisheries sections. The first two case studies under the Construction and Active Dam sections effectively illustrated the environmental costs and their significant threat to the species in the area, however they only slightly touched upon the costs to humans, so there was a slight but evident imbalance there. The final case study was solely dedicated to the damage inflicted upon eels. Overall, it would have been nice to have a balance between the detriments to humans as well as the detriments to species. Even though you did state “when evaluating these factors, our discussion mainly stays focused on environmental and a few economic impacts…only brushing upon the numerous and severe humanitarian ramifications…”, I feel as though there should have been a case study dedicated to the humanitarian ramifications, for the issues outline in Finley-Brook and Thomas set off an alarming necessity to address the horrific and unjust consequences imposed upon local people by dam construction.
Despite this, I liked how in depth you went into the multifaceted dimensions of ecological destruction. You talked a bit about how companies claim to reforest damaged lands but how the new species or types of forests introduced do not complement the forests and species already in place. This parallels the problems addressed in our wetland mitigation banking readings in which important ecosystem dynamics are often ignored and also how there is a disregard as to where wetlands are restored even though one wetland area can have totally different species and forests types than another.
I really enjoyed reading your blog. The idea of including more issues regarding the effects dam has on human populations isa great one. However that is not what you stated the intent of your blog was focused on and I feel you did a great job covvering everything in the introduction your group mentioned. Not only that you provided a case study for each of your tabs Contruction, Active Dam, and Fisheries. Focusing on the environmental degradation and its effect on species was a unique addition that others groups did not take on. The only thing I felt you lacked was a conclusion stating your important points and opinions on the contruction of dams even thouhg it is evident your group is against damn building. You did analyze thouhg in the tabs and as you discussed different aspects of each tab.
Dear Dam group. I really enjoyed reading your blog. The research you have done was impressive and I really liked the way you organized the blog. I had a look on the right side of your webpage and got right away a good overview about what you are discussing in it. But I personally prefer to have more information on one page than splitting the information up unnecessary (e.g. Materials, Clearing Space, Post Construction and the Case Study could easily be on the Construction page). But now to the research you have done. You are focusing on the impacts mega-dams have on the environment and on the social life, but I missed some arguments of the mega-dam lobby (which is arguing that mega-dams help to reduce carbon emissions). Carlos Minic, Brazil's environment minister, for example argued that mega-dams would help Brazil in its quest to reduce carbon emissions and they will ensure green energy production at a time when Brazil is facing a five percent increase in energy consumption due to its economic expansion. (Brazil gets almost four-fifths of its electricity from hydroelectric plants). Therefore my main point is. Energy supply demand needs to be fulfilled. And for states as Brazil it might be the greenest solution. As they are easier to control than small dams for example. The word "mega" stands here for a very high economies of scale potential, but you are right mega-dams also cause a lot of problems.
Marull Y. (2010). “Uproar in Brazil over huge Amazon dam plan” Accessed online: http://www.afp.com, viewed 04.30.2010
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this blog. The dams group brought up a lot of good and neutral perspectives, but ultimately lacks a clear conclusion. Although the blog is clearly divided into three parts: construction, active dams and fisheries; the blog needs a well-rounded viewpoint from an economic, environmental and social standpoint. Evidently, the construction of dams will cause adverse effects in fish population but what about humans? One thing this blog touched upon too briefly is the detrimental effects on human population; especially marginalized populations. Although they mention the populations’ need for natural resources, they fail to acknowledge other ethical issues. such as local pressure and participation, land tenure and human rights standards discussed in class and the Finley-Brook and Thomas readings. The influx of dams absolutely wipe these people of their land and resources, not to mention surrounding environments through the risks of regular floods, water quality and soil degradation, changing lifestyles of local populations for good. Overall, their use of case studies remain highly useful but focusing a little more on the effects of marginalized populations would be even more interesting.
Your blog is very organized and detailed and it was nice to have a brief case study at the very end of the Construction, Active Dam, and Fisheries sections. The first two case studies under the Construction and Active Dam sections effectively illustrated the environmental costs and their significant threat to the species in the area, however they only slightly touched upon the costs to humans, so there was a slight but evident imbalance there. The final case study was solely dedicated to the damage inflicted upon eels. Overall, it would have been nice to have a balance between the detriments to humans as well as the detriments to species. Even though you did state “when evaluating these factors, our discussion mainly stays focused on environmental and a few economic impacts…only brushing upon the numerous and severe humanitarian ramifications…”, I feel as though there should have been a case study dedicated to the humanitarian ramifications, for the issues outline in Finley-Brook and Thomas set off an alarming necessity to address the horrific and unjust consequences imposed upon local people by dam construction.
Despite this, I liked how in depth you went into the multifaceted dimensions of ecological destruction. You talked a bit about how companies claim to reforest damaged lands but how the new species or types of forests introduced do not complement the forests and species already in place. This parallels the problems addressed in our wetland mitigation banking readings in which important ecosystem dynamics are often ignored and also how there is a disregard as to where wetlands are restored even though one wetland area can have totally different species and forests types than another.
I really enjoyed reading your blog. The idea of including more issues regarding the effects dam has on human populations isa great one. However that is not what you stated the intent of your blog was focused on and I feel you did a great job covvering everything in the introduction your group mentioned. Not only that you provided a case study for each of your tabs Contruction, Active Dam, and Fisheries. Focusing on the environmental degradation and its effect on species was a unique addition that others groups did not take on. The only thing I felt you lacked was a conclusion stating your important points and opinions on the contruction of dams even thouhg it is evident your group is against damn building. You did analyze thouhg in the tabs and as you discussed different aspects of each tab.
Dear Dam group. I really enjoyed reading your blog. The research you have done was impressive and I really liked the way you organized the blog. I had a look on the right side of your webpage and got right away a good overview about what you are discussing in it. But I personally prefer to have more information on one page than splitting the information up unnecessary (e.g. Materials, Clearing Space, Post Construction and the Case Study could easily be on the Construction page). But now to the research you have done. You are focusing on the impacts mega-dams have on the environment and on the social life, but I missed some arguments of the mega-dam lobby (which is arguing that mega-dams help to reduce carbon emissions). Carlos Minic, Brazil's environment minister, for example argued that mega-dams would help Brazil in its quest to reduce carbon emissions and they will ensure green energy production at a time when Brazil is facing a five percent increase in energy consumption due to its economic expansion. (Brazil gets almost four-fifths of its electricity from hydroelectric plants). Therefore my main point is. Energy supply demand needs to be fulfilled. And for states as Brazil it might be the greenest solution. As they are easier to control than small dams for example. The word "mega" stands here for a very high economies of scale potential, but you are right mega-dams also cause a lot of problems.
Marull Y. (2010). “Uproar in Brazil over huge Amazon dam plan” Accessed online: http://www.afp.com, viewed 04.30.2010