Crown Prince Haakon of Norway A state-owned Norwegian power company has angered native groups in southern Chile, and someone fired shots at a company executive earlier this week. The incident involving SN Power comes just two weeks before Norway is sending one of its royal couples to Chile, partly in the hopes of drumming up more (carbon credit) business between the two countries.
(See: SN Power, Norway, & Pacific Hydro, Australia, move on La Confluencia dam project on the Tinguiririca River- effort to reduce Europe's Carbon Emissions )
There as yet have been no changes (to visit the Mapuche maybe?) made to the official program of Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who are due to launch their visit to Chile on January 28. They're expected to lay the cornerstone for one of SN Power's new plants.
The three-day royal visit, the first since the late King Olav visited Chile in 1967, will include a large delegation of business executives from Norway. The royals are often used as so-called "door openers" (pawns) for Norwegian business keen to establish new contacts overseas, and all royal visits are aimed at strengthening ties between Norway(i.e. parasite) and the host country.
(No visits are scheduled for Uganda: Power for the Mapuches but not for Uganda- Norwegian Government owner, SN Power, pulls out of Uganda hydroelectric venture citing economic unviability )
Ironically(???), the Norwegian-owned SN Power has instead incurred the wrath of some living in southern Chile. The native Mapuche population claims SN Power's plans to build four hydroelectric plants in their area will threaten holy lands, dry up an important waterway and riverside land and dramatically alter their lifestyle.
(To undersand why, see what Spain (Endesa) has done to the Mapuche:
Journeyman Pictures presents "Damming of the Biobio River" - Endesa SA verses the Mapuche - What to expect from Endesa during the HydroAysen struggle.
Switch Off - 2004 Documentary of the Mapuche struggle against the international energy conglomerate, Endesa SA
Endesa Strategy & Tactics I – Revisiting the Ralco & Pangue Hydroelectric Projects on the Rio Bio Bio )
In an advertisement (wake up call) placed in newspaper Aftenposten last November, representatives for the Mapuche people claimed they have long opposed SN Power's plans and their concerns have been overlooked. They claim the new power plants also violate international treaties ratified by the Norwegian state regarding territorial rights and consideration.
SN Power, which specializes in renewable energy (while Norway is the world's third larget oil exporter), is 50 percent owned by Norway's Statkraft and 50 percent by Norfund. It develops, owns and operates wind and hydropower assets in India, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Peru and Chile.
(While Simultaneously: The Norwegian government is an active participant in and co-owner of Norwegian petroleum operations, both through the state-owned oil company Statoil and the government’s direct financial involvement. See: Cognitive Dissonance)
It describes itself as a long-term investor, and SN Power officials claim they are committed (in their opinion) to "social and environmental sustainability." Mario Marchese, the SN Power executive in Chile who was shot at on Monday, suggested the local population has misunderstood (?) the company's intentions.
(The Mapuche understand only too well: Hydroaysen Keeping Public in the Dark, Say Chile Dam Critics )
"They hear the word 'hydro' and think (Rio Biobio, Ralco, Pangue & Endesa) that large land areas will be submerged," he told newspaper Cronica Digital. "There aren't any power projects that won't affect the environment, but we want our effects to be minimal (tourists love dry rivers). Our alternative is the best for the country (like the SN Power projects in Uganda). We won't pollute the waters. All facilities will be built underground (and all profits will go to Norway)..."
Company director Nils Husby was careful not to blame the Mapuche people for the shooting, and their representatives have denied having anything to do with it.
One local mayor in Chile, however, said SN Power hasn't inspired confidence. "The people must be respected," Alejandro Kohler, the mayor of Panguipulli in Chile's Los Rios area, told Cronica Digital. He said they fear damage to the environment and increased long-term unemployment, even though development of the power plant can provide new jobs (???).
(IBENER S.A.'s two run of the river hydroelectric stations on the Duqueco River require 25 employees to operate: Professionals & Executives = 8, Technicians = 10, Administrative = 5, Aides = 2. See: IBENER S.A. 2002 Annual Report.)
Here is the full article.
Related Stories:
SN Power (Statkraft Norfund) to cancel 600 million dollar hydro-power project after exec. shot at by Mapuche sympathizer in Santiago, Chile
Mapuche Protest against Norwegian Hydroelectric Power
Power for the Mapuches but not for Uganda- Norwegian Government owner, SN Power, pulls out of Uganda hydroelectric venture citing economic unviability
SN Power, Norway, & Pacific Hydro, Australia, move on La Confluencia dam project on the Tinguiririca River- effort to reduce Europe's Carbon Emissions
(See: SN Power, Norway, & Pacific Hydro, Australia, move on La Confluencia dam project on the Tinguiririca River- effort to reduce Europe's Carbon Emissions )
There as yet have been no changes (to visit the Mapuche maybe?) made to the official program of Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who are due to launch their visit to Chile on January 28. They're expected to lay the cornerstone for one of SN Power's new plants.
The three-day royal visit, the first since the late King Olav visited Chile in 1967, will include a large delegation of business executives from Norway. The royals are often used as so-called "door openers" (pawns) for Norwegian business keen to establish new contacts overseas, and all royal visits are aimed at strengthening ties between Norway(i.e. parasite) and the host country.
(No visits are scheduled for Uganda: Power for the Mapuches but not for Uganda- Norwegian Government owner, SN Power, pulls out of Uganda hydroelectric venture citing economic unviability )
Ironically(???), the Norwegian-owned SN Power has instead incurred the wrath of some living in southern Chile. The native Mapuche population claims SN Power's plans to build four hydroelectric plants in their area will threaten holy lands, dry up an important waterway and riverside land and dramatically alter their lifestyle.
(To undersand why, see what Spain (Endesa) has done to the Mapuche:
Journeyman Pictures presents "Damming of the Biobio River" - Endesa SA verses the Mapuche - What to expect from Endesa during the HydroAysen struggle.
Switch Off - 2004 Documentary of the Mapuche struggle against the international energy conglomerate, Endesa SA
Endesa Strategy & Tactics I – Revisiting the Ralco & Pangue Hydroelectric Projects on the Rio Bio Bio )
In an advertisement (wake up call) placed in newspaper Aftenposten last November, representatives for the Mapuche people claimed they have long opposed SN Power's plans and their concerns have been overlooked. They claim the new power plants also violate international treaties ratified by the Norwegian state regarding territorial rights and consideration.
SN Power, which specializes in renewable energy (while Norway is the world's third larget oil exporter), is 50 percent owned by Norway's Statkraft and 50 percent by Norfund. It develops, owns and operates wind and hydropower assets in India, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Peru and Chile.
(While Simultaneously: The Norwegian government is an active participant in and co-owner of Norwegian petroleum operations, both through the state-owned oil company Statoil and the government’s direct financial involvement. See: Cognitive Dissonance)
It describes itself as a long-term investor, and SN Power officials claim they are committed (in their opinion) to "social and environmental sustainability." Mario Marchese, the SN Power executive in Chile who was shot at on Monday, suggested the local population has misunderstood (?) the company's intentions.
(The Mapuche understand only too well: Hydroaysen Keeping Public in the Dark, Say Chile Dam Critics )
"They hear the word 'hydro' and think (Rio Biobio, Ralco, Pangue & Endesa) that large land areas will be submerged," he told newspaper Cronica Digital. "There aren't any power projects that won't affect the environment, but we want our effects to be minimal (tourists love dry rivers). Our alternative is the best for the country (like the SN Power projects in Uganda). We won't pollute the waters. All facilities will be built underground (and all profits will go to Norway)..."
Company director Nils Husby was careful not to blame the Mapuche people for the shooting, and their representatives have denied having anything to do with it.
One local mayor in Chile, however, said SN Power hasn't inspired confidence. "The people must be respected," Alejandro Kohler, the mayor of Panguipulli in Chile's Los Rios area, told Cronica Digital. He said they fear damage to the environment and increased long-term unemployment, even though development of the power plant can provide new jobs (???).
(IBENER S.A.'s two run of the river hydroelectric stations on the Duqueco River require 25 employees to operate: Professionals & Executives = 8, Technicians = 10, Administrative = 5, Aides = 2. See: IBENER S.A. 2002 Annual Report.)
Here is the full article.
Related Stories:
SN Power (Statkraft Norfund) to cancel 600 million dollar hydro-power project after exec. shot at by Mapuche sympathizer in Santiago, Chile
Mapuche Protest against Norwegian Hydroelectric Power
Power for the Mapuches but not for Uganda- Norwegian Government owner, SN Power, pulls out of Uganda hydroelectric venture citing economic unviability
SN Power, Norway, & Pacific Hydro, Australia, move on La Confluencia dam project on the Tinguiririca River- effort to reduce Europe's Carbon Emissions
