Delegation from 45 countries arrive for the International Meeting of People Affected in Belém

by Rafael Zan / MAB 

The first day of the IV International Meeting of People Affected by Dams and Climate Crisis began with the continuous arrival of delegations from five continents. Early in the morning, the CESEP School in Belém, capital of the state of Pará in the Brazilian Amazon, became a meeting point for community leaders, affected youth, representatives of popular organizations, and international delegates.

The MAB reception teams organized a welcome, accommodation, and logistical guidance for each group, in an atmosphere marked by expectation and collective construction. In the early hours, delegations that had arrived after long journeys began to share their initial impressions. Among them was the representative from Uganda, Betty Obbo, who traveled 12 hours to reach Brazil and highlighted:

“In Uganda, many families lost their land, homes, and livelihoods after the Bujagali Dam was built. We are here to learn how other peoples strengthen their struggles and make their voices heard. I hope to better understand the struggles of other countries and strengthen our capacity for organization and advocacy. We came to learn and teach how other communities make their voices heard and strengthen our own struggle for the right to land, energy, and a dignified life.”

Team integration and preparation

Throughout the morning, representatives from different countries circulated through the school’s courtyards and classrooms, arranging accommodations and initiating spontaneous conversations about experiences confronting dams and territorial violations. In each small group, debates arose about the impacts of the climate crisis, human rights, and community organizing strategies. Amidst the movements, it was possible to follow the arrival of the Cuban delegation. Michel Santana shared:

“We came from Cuba after more than a day of traveling. In our country, there is an environmental protection policy to prevent dams from affecting communities. We are here to learn from the experiences of movements in Latin America and other parts of the world and to strengthen our joint struggle. In our country, there is a policy of environmental care: any creation of reservoirs or dams always considers the population, the environment, and the resources of the territory, so that there are no negative impacts. Our expectation is to learn more about the work of the movements and join forces with all our brothers and sisters from MAR,” says Michel.

Throughout the afternoon, the CESEP courtyard became a cultural mosaic: different languages echoed amid flags from various countries, while territorial symbols appeared on backpacks and shirts. Delegations from Africa, Asia, America, Europe, and Oceania shared their stories of conflict, community reorganization, and battles for environmental justice. The general atmosphere was one of rapprochement and recognition between different struggles, but all crossed by the same global logic of rights violations.

To ensure greater integration among the delegates, translation, support, and communication teams circulated among the groups, guiding participants arriving at the meeting for the first time and recording the first moments of integration.

Closing of the day and expectations for the meeting

With all delegations settled in by late afternoon, teams finalized preparations for the official opening and international mystique. Between conversations, agenda reviews, and exchanges of materials, delegates reinforced expectations for the meeting, which will continue until November 12. At the end of the day, Norberto Soares Ximenes, from Timor-Leste, reflected on the political and educational significance of this global meeting. He spoke about his reality and the main struggles of those affected in Southeast Asia.

“In Timor-Leste, we work with popular education and agroecology to raise awareness in communities about the climate crisis, which directly affects the people. This meeting is an opportunity to strengthen a global movement that defends the rights of peoples and farmers. The capitalist system does not care for nature or the people; we need to join forces for freedom and food sovereignty.”

The first day of the IV International Meeting made clear the strategic nature of the event: to bring together people affected by dams from around the world to strengthen alliances, produce common diagnoses, and build popular energy alternatives that respect territories and human rights. The official opening will take place this Friday afternoon (7), kicking off a week of debates, discussions, and collective construction.