ABSTRACT
Hydroelectric dams have frequently been slated as a be-all and cure-all for developing countries. Proponents for dams argue that there would be an almost limitless and enduring supply of energy to build infrastructure and provide the necessary goods and services that would accrue from power generation. In developing countries, such as Brazil, the growing demand for energy would make the use of its large supply of hydrologic resources seem as only a natural and logical step in converting this potential into a much needed power supply, responding to the demands of its industry and growing population. Yet this position has been challenged by many, as the impacts of dam building have often been downplayed and the benefits to be gained from hydroelectric power can be limited and selectively earmarked for determined segments of the population. As the voices of local stakeholders have become more prominent in the wake of heavy development, the unintended and unforeseen circumstances of dam building and power generation have been revealed.
