Hundreds to Eleodoro Matte: Stop Patagonia Dams

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On January 22, 2009, our Chilean partners in the Patagonia Campaign delivered hundreds of personal letters – from 39 different US states and 9 different countries – to Eleodoro Matte, chief executive of the Matte Group that controls the Chilean partner in the plans for dams and transmission lines in Patagonia. Most of Chile’s leading media organizations published news of this extraordinary mail delivery to Mr. Matte. Read the articles about the delivery event (in Spanish).

Here is one example of these powerful letters, from Dr. James McVey, a professor at the University of Colorado (Boulder):

Dear Sr. Matte,

I am writing to express my opposition to your companies in their promotion of dam construction in Patagonia that would provide electricity for Santiago, 1,500 miles away. This project, which threatens so much of Patagonia’s wilderness and rivers and endangered species, is not worthy of your support. This is not responsible behavior for a president of a company which exports wood and wood products on the international market. It’s abundantly clear that the planet can no longer sustain itself if we continue down the road of “business as usual.” You are in a unique position to guide future activities that affect the planet and how we as a species inhabit it. Please use this position wisely. The planet and future generations are counting on you.

By now, you are aware of the growing commitment of international consumers to environmentally responsible production. I urge you to keep the promise that the Matte Group will protect Chile’s unique native forests, not destroy them.

I implore you to withdraw the Matte Group from the HidroAysén project and to invest instead in renewable energy development that is better for Chile and for the planet as a whole. This is an opportunity for you to support and participate in a more sustainable vision of the world.

Sincerely,

Dr. James McVey

  • Add your voice to the “growing commitment of international consumers to environmentally responsible production”! Tell Home Depot and 84 Lumber, two of the biggest US customers of the Matte Group, that you will not buy their products as long as they keep their ties to the plans that would destroy Patagonia!