The activities were coordinated by the Mexican Movement of People Affected by Dams and in Defense of Rivers (Mapder), a leader in the national resistance to projects La Parota, El Zapotillo, Las Cruces, Paso de la Reyna, Arcediano and Boca del Cerro, among others.

They also denounced the attempts by the government to build other dams in Veracruz state and on Usumacinta River, and of the small hydroelectric dams in Chiapas state, and demanded "justice" for the peasants and fisherfolk impacted by La Yesca, Pichachos, El Cajon and Cerro de Oro dams, which are already built.

According to a statement published by them, the defense of lands, territories and water continues in Mexico because the National Water Commission (Conagua) and the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) “in complicity with government authorities and construction companies of Mexico and other countries, continue worsening the conflicts”.

“Between 40 and 80 million people have been displaced by the building of dams in the world”, states the Mapder.

In this way, the Mexican organization expressed its solidarity with the struggles carried out by the Movement of Dam-Affected People (MAB); the Colombian association of communities affected by El Quimbo (Asoquimbo) and Rios Vivos; the citizen movement Patagonia Sin Represas against the Hydroaysen project and the Latin American Network of People Affected by Dams (RedLar), among others.

They also express their solidarity with the Alternative World Water Forum in Marseille; the Fisherfolk Forum of Pakistan against the Bhasha Dam; the meetings of social organizations of people affected by dams (Coagret) of Spain; International Rivers and the Buen Vivir Meeting, also carried out in Mexico.

“Our days of action go beyond March 14th, towards the Rio+20 peoples’ summit which will be held in Brazil, in June, where we’ll advance on the building of a new energy model”, they conclude.

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hoymexico/