Flooding the Amazon for Ineffecient Energy

With a world full of over 7 billion people, many governments have trended toward desperate fixes to keep up with the increased needs of their people. Unfortunately the worlds ever increasing appetite for energy often comes at the cost of nature. In Brazil, yet another large scale energy project has been launched, the Belo Monte dam. It is planned to be the world’s third largest in installed capacity.  However, it will only produce 39% of its maximum capacity, so the majority of its effect on the environment will not even produce energy.  David de Rothschild, the adventurer behind the well-known Plastiki project, has started a new organization named MYOO to address environmental irresponsibility just like this.

His new project, Articulate, has already traveled to Ecuador for the Toxico expedition, and has now returned to South America for a second round to discover the impact of the proposed dam.

“MYOO’s focus will be on ‘what is lost?’, the team asked this question by visiting and engaging the local communities that reside within the Amazon rainforest, discovering the real impact of the Belo Monte project through the eyes of their children. MYOO will create a library of visually striking content narrating the most precious natural resources from Brazil’s national heritage, hoping to engage and inspire action on an international scale.”

Photo above by Matthew Grey.

Photo by David de Rothschild

With a simple mission to “Give nature a voice,” over three weeks in November the team worked with local children to build a forked totem pole. The totem will depict visually what will be lost through the flooding of the area. The concept for the totem was born from the Juruna tribe legend that “Sinaa will bring about the end of the world when he finally decides to pull down the enormous forked stick that supports the sky.” The Juruna tribe will be forced out of their land if the project goes through, and the forked stick will be taken down signaling the end of the Juruna world.

Photo by David de Rothschild

While this project may seem to some as nothing more than a group of dreamers creating art in the Amazon, the importance of the mission is undeniable. From obtuse pollution to destruction of natural environments, the world continues to choose progress over sustainability.  Without groups like MYOO, many of these issues would be overlooked.  Unlike many activist groups merely stomping their feet and shaking their fists, David’s organization goes the extra mile.  Beyond raising awareness, MYOO is a meaningful marketing agency, online news portal and adventure group, specializing in sustainability consultancy, material science and product design.  Groups like this are helping to create a different, more inspiring vision of the future, reminding us that our natural environment is one of our most precious resources.

Photo by Matthew Grey

Photo by Matthew Grey

Photo by Matthew Grey

Photo by Matthew Grey

Photo by Matthew Grey

David de Rothschild, photographed by Adam Broomberg and Oliver Chanarin

Photo by Matthew Grey

Photo by David de Rothschild

Photo by Matthew Grey

Photo by Matthew Grey

Photo by Matthew Grey

Photo by Matthew Grey

Photo by Matthew Grey

Photo by Matthew Grey

Photo by Matthew Grey

Self-portrait by Matthew Grey