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28 Jul 2022 RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil

Water Diplomacy Talks - A Call For Justice For Dam Disaster Victims

Water Diplomacy Talks is a series of guest columns written by participants in different parts of the international water community. 

Paulo Carvalho Shinji Yoshimoto has a master’s degree in development studies from the Geneva Graduate Institute specializing in Environment and Conflict. He is a Bertha Challenge Fellow, young LGBTQIA+ person, water activist, and co-lead of the World Youth Parliament for Water with experience working in International Organizations. Currently, Shinji has been travelling Brazil in a jeep-home, working with communities who are key in the protection of water resources.

14 Feb 2022 BUENOS AIRES, Argentina

Parana River Hits 80-year Record Low Level

Historic drought has affected commodity transportation on the river, regional ecosystems, fishing industry and tourism and power production. Continuation of below-normal levels of precipitation anticipated.

8 Jun 2021 Sao Paulo, Brazil

Brazil: Worst Drought In Nine Decades Threatens Crop Transportation

Government to reduce number of cargo ships permitted on the Parana River basin, part of Brazil’s fourth- largest waterway for cargo transport. Restrictions could impact Brazil’s agriculture sector, particularly in the major farming states of Goias, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais and Sao Paulo which rely on the 2,400km waterway for crop transportation.

2 Jun 2021 Sao Paulo, Brazil

Brazil Drought Threatens Electricity Supply And Crop Yields

Persistent dry weather in central and southern Brazil has led to a water scarcity warning, rising electricity prices, falling crop yields and the threat of wildfires. Lowest reservoir levels since 2015 cause headache for the country's largest electricity source, while commodities markets see hike in sugar and coffee futures.

30 Apr 2021 OTTOWA, Canada

Canadian Trade Union Urges Pension Investor To Withdraw From Brazilian Water Deal

Canada Pension Plan Investments comes under fire for its participation in privatisation of Brazilian public water utility. Trade union CUPE calls out "outrageous" use of "workers' retirement funds to profit from people's need for clean water". Challenges wisdom of deal amid political uncertainty.

9 Feb 2021 BRASILIA, Brazil

Brumadinho Mine Disaster: Vale Agrees $7 Billion USD Reparation Settlement

Mining company Vale SA has reached agreement with the government of Minas Gerais in Brazil to pay $7 Billion USD to compensate the state for socioeconomic and environmental damage caused by the collapse of one of its trailings dams in January 2019 which killed 270 people, also polluting rivers with toxic slurry and devastating swathes of local countryside and infrastructure...

3 Jan 2021 VITORIA

Brazil Approves License For Dam Disaster Mining Site

Samarco Mineração is set to resume operations at its Germano complex in Minas Gerais and Ubu complex in Espírito Santo, Brazil, after it met the licensing requirements. The company has commenced production of iron ore pellets. The operations were suspended following the failure of the Fundão tailings dam on 5 November 2015...