How Renewable is Mega Dam Electricity?

Green, Green Water

Directed by Dawn Mikkelson and Jamie Lee (2007)

Film Review

This documentary is about the ongoing devastation northern Manitoba Cree communities are experiencing thanks to the flooding of their territory by Manitoba Hydro to sell cheap so-called “renewable” electricity* in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Unlike most mega dams, those constructed by Manitoba Hydro dams aren’t sited in preexisting gorges or canyons. Instead the provincial owned power company has transformed a vast swathe of North America’s boreal forest.** In the process they destroyed a delicate ecoystem that supported birds, water fowl and indigenous people for tens of thousands of years.

As water levels rose approximately 25 feet, the homes of many indigenous people were destroyed, along with the native fish and wildlife they relied on for food.

Manitoba Hydro “bought” the right to flood their homes and land through a series of multimillion dollar ($20 – 78 million) deals they signed with individual Cree communities. Only the Pimicikamak Cree Nation refused to sign.

Predictably the jobs and economic prosperity the provincial government promised never materialized. In 1967 average annual income in Northern Manitoba was $48,436 and in 2001 it was $24,200. As employment rates dropped from 90% to 10%, previously alcohol-free communities were plagued by an epidemic of alcohol and drug abuse – and suicide.

At the time of filming, indigenous communities were split over continuing pressure to agree to expansion of Manitoba Hydro’s river diversion and dam building projects. Some believe indigenous people will never enjoy the “modern conveniences” of urban life without pursuing this type of economic development. Others, calling themselves Justice Seekers, believe they have an obligation to protect the environment to justify their claim to indigenous rights. 

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*Many climate advocates question mega dams as a “renewable” power source, owing to their negative impact on numerous animal and fish species, as well as human displacement and methane emissions plants and animals killed by flooding. See Damnation: The Problem with Hydropower

**Canadian boreal forests are commonly referred to as North America’s lungs.

The film can be viewed free on Beamafilm

 

 

Wisconsin Recount Observers Discover Vote Counting Machine Tampering

As reported by Bill Palmer in The Palmer Report, Wisconsin recount observers have discovered vote counting machines in St Croix County with tampered seals.

There has as of yet been no explanation from Wisconsin officials or St. Croix County officials as to why the majority of vote counting machines in the county have been visibly tampered with, and no one noticed during the original vote tally. It’s possible that these seals could have been broken by a hacker who was reprogramming them to produce rigged or false vote totals, and it’s also possible that an election worker could have simply pried open the seals for some unknown reason that didn’t involve malicious intent. But in any case, the broken tamper seals stand out as alarming – and could serve as legal fodder for expanding the scope of the recount.

Palmer reports that 60 of 72 Wisconsin counties have voluntarily agreed to do hand recounts despite last week’s court ruling that there is insufficient evidence to compel hand recounts. According to Palmer, the tampered seals could be sufficient to convince the judge to do hand recounts in the other 12 counties.

Read more at The Palmer Report