MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Bob Kennedy Jr. promises to fight dam project in Chile

Environmental lawyer Robert Kennedy Jr. pledged to provide all necessary financial and logistical support to prevent the construction of proposed dam projects in southern Chile.

Kennedy publicly condemned the controversial energy projects before leaving the country last Saturday; he had been vacationing in the area with a group of high-profile friends.

After a week of rafting activities on the Futaleufú River in Region X, the nephew of assassinated President John F. Kennedy openly criticized the possible destruction of Chile's rivers, in particular the proposed hydroelectric dam projects in Chile's Aysén region.

"Endesa has little concern for Chile's economic development? (the project) is not going to make Chile very wealthy. It will make Endesa rich and Chile poor," said Kennedy referring to Endesa's attempt to present the plan as a "national project" helping lower energy costs.

The environmental activist plans on returning to visit the rivers affected by Endesa's "mega-project" within the next 12 months to develop more environmentally conscious energy projects under the direction of the Natural Resources Defence Council (NRDC), of which he is lead attorney. Kennedy is also president of the Water Keeper Alliance, an NGO dedicated to the preservation of the world's natural water resources.

"When the projects do not affect the environment, they are economically healthy and create positive conditions that can be passed on to future generations?the cost of turning natural resources into money provides only momentary wealth and long-term destruction," he said.

The 2.4 billion US dollars energy project proposed by Endesa España contemplates the construction of four dams on the Baker and Pascua Rivers, in the southern Aysén area of Region IX, ostensibly to help Chile meet its growing energy needs. The projects have upset many local residents involved in the salmon farming, tourism and livestock industries. Environmentalists claim the government favours trans-national development over more environmentally friendly projects.

Environmentalists have been fighting the energy project since it was first presented to the Lagos government in October last year.

Douglas Tompkins, a philanthropically inclined former businessman and leader in Chile's environmental movement, regularly speaks out against the proposed "mega-project."

In a recent interview with La Tercera, the millionaire businessman condemned Endesa as "arrogant, over-confident, stupid and unprofessional," after company officials illegally trespassed on private property owned by his wife, Kriss Mc Divitt.

It is not the first time that Robert Kennedy Jr. has lent his support to the protection of Chile's rivers. While visiting the country in 1992, the lawyer helped draw attention to the campaign to stop six hydroelectric dams being built on the country's second largest river, the Bio-Bío, in Region VIII.

Kennedy hopes that the election of Chile's new leader President Michelle Bachelet will signal the dawn of a more environmentally-conscious government. "Women have a wider perspective, they also consider their children," he said, adding that women have a natural sensibility that lends itself to environmental conservation.

Actor Kevin Costner was unable to accompany his friend on the trip, but Kennedy promised that Costner will take part in next year's excursion. On this most recent trip the lawyer was joined by Olympic medallist Darren Berber, actor David Chokatchie and business leaders Michael and Annie Falk.

Cristina Dun - The Santiago Times - News about Chile