GIBE III HYDRO-ELECTRIC PROJECT

MAN MADE DISASTER

Facts• The Omo River is a lifeline for hundreds of

thousands of indigenous people in southwest Ethiopia and northern western Kenya

• Construction of Gibe III commenced in 2006• EIA Studies were undertaken in 2008• Lake Turkana is 90%Omo River• Omo River is a transboundary river• Cost of the project is 1.4 billion Euros- does not

take into account mitigation costs (No Mitigation would save the people)

Main Concerns of Gibe III•  The dam will cause; 1. food insecurity, 2. chronic hunger, 3. poor health, 4. food aid dependence, 5. conflicts among the local communities for the

control of the already scarce natural resources and

6. a general unraveling of the economy and social safety net throughout the region

• catastrophic destruction of the ecosystem that supports the survival of the indigenous communities that live within the lake basin as well as animal and plant life that are significant with the region.

•  Alteration of the annual Omo flood will greatly affect food crops of 100,000 indigenous farmers living in the Lower Omo Valley who plant seeds each year along the fertile river banks as the flood waters recede.

• The dam will reduce the Omo River's flow into Lake Turkana, causing the lake to drop up to 10 meters. Reducing the lake's inflow will critically alter the ecosystem, affecting 300,000 people in four ways.

1.The lake's salinity will increase, making this local water supply undrinkable.

2. increased salinity will harm the lake's biodiversity, making it unlivable for many species. This will particularly harm the local fishing industry, which directly supports 100,000 local people.

• The impacts to the fishing industry will affect food security and local economy for 300,000 Kenyans

• Tri-nation conflict between Ethiopia, Kenya and Sudan due to scarce pasture and livelihood resources, fueling further claims to disputed lands, known as the Ilemi Triangle, between the countries

Domestic & International Violations

• Ethiopian Violations1. Ethiopian pastoralists have the right to free land

for grazing and cultivation as well as the right not to be displaced from their own lands. (Article 40, 5)

2. Ethiopian people have the right to pursue a livelihood of their choice anywhere within the national territory (Article 41 of the Ethiopian Constitution) and the right to choose their place of resident (Article 32 freedom of movement);

3. Every Nation, Nationality and People in Ethiopia has an unconditional right to self-determination. (Article 39, 1)

4. Ethiopia’s international obligation under African Eurasian Waterbird Agreement; which could further be breaching its conservation and protection obligations of migratory birds to the detriment of other contracting parties such as Kenya

• In Kenya:1.NO consultations till AfDB carried them out

due to a complaint by the communities2.The right to a clean and healthy environment.

(Article 44, 1)3.Government has the duty to ensure that all

Kenyans get equal opportunity to improve their economic condition and to promote equitable distribution of wealth among them. (Article 89, 2)

4.Government shall take measures to avert any natural and man-made disasters. (Article 89, 3)

5. The design and implementation of programmes and projects of development shall not damage or destroy the environment. (Article 92, 2)

China’s Input

In the recent years, China's Ministry of Environment Protection (MEP) launched a series of green finance policies that marked significant progress in addressing environmental matters both domestically and internationally. The principles guiding the activities of foreign investment firms issued by the State Council of China in October 2006 includes:-

• The mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, complimentary and "win - win" cooperation

• Ensuring protection of environmental resources

• Caring for and supporting local communities and local people's livelihoods

• Complying with local laws and regulations

• In January 2008, the State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission issued “Guidelines on Fulfilling Social Responsibility by Central Enterprises”. According to these Guidelines, state-owned enterprises, including Dongfang Electric Corporation and ICBC, must “be responsible to stakeholders and the environment, so as to realize a harmony between the growth of enterprises, society and the environment”.

International Agreements

• United Nations Norms on the Responsibility of Transnational Corporations. Approved in 2003, the norms state that transnational corporations are responsible for upholding human rights as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

• In September 2007, China voted in favor of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which emphasizes the rights of indigenous peoples to maintain and strengthen their own institutions, cultures and traditions and to pursue their development in keeping their own needs and aspirations.

• In signing the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) in 1992, the Chinese government demonstrated its commitment to the philosophy of sustainable development.

• In 1992, the United Nations Committee on Environment and Development adopted the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, which set forth a code of environmental responsibility for states, particularly in the area of sustainable development

• In 2000, the World Commission on Dams established the most comprehensive guidelines for dam building. The WCD report describes an innovative framework for planning water and energy projects.

Current Situation