Latest news with #MagdalenaMartinez
Al Jazeera
21-05-2025
- General
- Al Jazeera
Photos: Local communities vow to fight new Panama Canal reservoir
Magdalena Martinez has spent her entire life along the banks of the Indio River, but a proposed dam intended to shield the Panama Canal from drought now threatens to engulf her home. The 49-year-old is among hundreds of residents opposing an artificial lake that would feed the crucial interoceanic waterway. 'I feel sick about this threat we're facing,' said Martinez, who lives in a wooden house with a metal roof in Boca de Uracillo with her husband and five of her 13 children. 'We don't know where we're going to go.' Martinez's family has always lived in the small village surrounded by lush mountains, where locals depend on farming crops such as cassava and maize and raising livestock for their livelihoods. The community insists it will not allow its homes to be sacrificed for the benefit of the world's multibillion-dollar global shipping industry. Last week, hundreds of villagers took to the Indio River in motorised canoes to protest against the planned dam, which would force thousands of families to relocate. The Panama Canal Authority (ACP), the autonomous public body managing the waterway, decided to construct the reservoir to address severe droughts like the one in 2023, which led to drastic cuts in ship traffic. The century-old canal, linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, relies on formerly abundant rainfall stored in two artificial lakes that also provide drinking water. Used predominantly by shipping clients from the United States, China and Japan, the canal operates a lock system to lift and lower vessels, releasing millions of litres of fresh water with each transit. The proposed reservoir, spanning approximately 4,600 hectares (11,400 acres), would deliver water through a nine-kilometre (5.6-mile) tunnel to one of the existing lakes. The project 'meets a need identified a long time ago: it's the water of the future,' said Karina Vergara, an environmental and social manager at the ACP. Work on the reservoir is expected to begin in 2027 and finish by 2032, with an estimated investment of $1.6bn. Of that sum, $400m is allocated for compensation and relocation of about 2,500 people from various villages. 'We have a firm commitment to dialogue and reaching agreements' with those affected, Vergara said. If the reservoir is not built, 'we'll regret it in 15 years,' she said. Civil society groups warn that as many as 12,000 people could ultimately be affected by the project, which enjoys the support of President Jose Raul Mulino, as the entire Indio River basin would be affected. The 80-kilometre-long Panama Canal handles six percent of global maritime trade and remains vital to Panama's economy. It is also at the centre of a diplomatic row, as former US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to 'take back' the waterway, handed over to Panama in 1999, citing alleged Chinese influence.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Villagers vow to fight new Panama Canal reservoir 'to the end'
Magdalena Martinez has lived next to the Indio River all her life, but a planned dam aimed at shielding the Panama Canal from drought now threatens to swallow her home. The 49-year-old is one of hundreds of residents opposed to a new artificial lake that would feed the vital interoceanic waterway at the center of diplomatic tensions with the United States. "I feel sick about this threat we're facing," said Martinez, who shares her wooden house with a metal roof with her husband and five of her 13 children in Boca de Uracillo. "We don't know where we're going to go," she told AFP. Martinez's entire family was born in the small village surrounded by lush mountains, whose residents earn a living growing crops including cassava and corn and raising animals. The community says it is determined to prevent its homes being sacrificed to help the world's multi-billion dollar global shipping industry. "We have to fight to the end," said 44-year-old resident Yturbide Sanchez. Last week, hundreds of flag-waving villagers in motorized canoes navigated the Indio River to protest the planned dam, which would force thousands of families to relocate. "We don't want them to take away the river water -- we need it," 48-year-old farmer Ariel Troya told AFP. "If the project goes ahead, it will take away our entire future," Troya added. - 'The future' - The Panama Canal Authority (ACP), the autonomous public entity that operates the waterway, decided to build the reservoir to cope with severe droughts like the one seen in 2023, which forced a drastic reduction in ship traffic. The century-old shortcut between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans relies on once-abundant rainwater stored in two artificial lakes that also supply drinking water. Used mainly by customers from the United States, China and Japan, the canal has a system of locks to raise and lower ships and releases millions of liters of fresh water for each vessel that passes. The planned new reservoir covering around 4,600 hectares (11,400 acres) would supply water through a nine-kilometer (5.6-mile) tunnel to one of the existing lakes. The project "meets a need identified a long time ago: it's the water of the future," Karina Vergara, an environmental and social manager at the ACP, told AFP. Work is expected to begin in 2027 and be completed by 2032, with an investment of approximately $1.6 billion. Of that, $400 million is earmarked to compensate and relocate around 2,500 people from several villages. "We have a firm commitment to dialogue and reaching agreements" with those affected, Vergara said. If the reservoir isn't built, "we'll regret it in 15 years," she said. - 'Give our lives' - Civil society groups warn that in total around 12,000 people could be affected by the project -- which has the backing of President Jose Raul Mulino -- since it would affect the entire Indio River basin. The 80-kilometer-long Panama Canal handles six percent of global maritime trade and is the engine of the Panamanian economy. It is also at the center of a diplomatic row due to US President Donald Trump's repeated threats to "take back" the waterway -- which was handed over to Panama in 1999 -- from alleged Chinese control. In the village of Limon, about 15 minutes from Boca de Uracillo by motorized canoe, residents also refuse to abandon their homes. "We're not going to leave. They'll have to remove us by force," said Maricel Sanchez, a 25-year-old university student. Villagers are relying on their lands to see them through retirement, farmer Olegario Cedeno said in the house where he lives with his wife and three children, surrounded by chickens, hens and parrots. "We will give our lives in this fight." jjr/fj/dr/sla
Hindustan Times
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Villagers vow to fight new Panama Canal reservoir 'to the end'
Magdalena Martinez has lived next to the Indio River all her life, but a planned dam aimed at shielding the Panama Canal from drought now threatens to swallow her home. The 49-year-old is one of hundreds of residents opposed to a new artificial lake that would feed the vital interoceanic waterway at the center of diplomatic tensions with the United States. "I feel sick about this threat we're facing," said Martinez, who shares her wooden house with a metal roof with her husband and five of her 13 children in Boca de Uracillo. "We don't know where we're going to go," she told AFP. Martinez's entire family was born in the small village surrounded by lush mountains, whose residents earn a living growing crops including cassava and corn and raising animals. The community says it is determined to prevent its homes being sacrificed to help the world's multi-billion dollar global shipping industry. "We have to fight to the end," said 44-year-old resident Yturbide Sanchez. Last week, hundreds of flag-waving villagers in motorized canoes navigated the Indio River to protest the planned dam, which would force thousands of families to relocate. "We don't want them to take away the river water we need it," 48-year-old farmer Ariel Troya told AFP. "If the project goes ahead, it will take away our entire future," Troya added. The Panama Canal Authority , the autonomous public entity that operates the waterway, decided to build the reservoir to cope with severe droughts like the one seen in 2023, which forced a drastic reduction in ship traffic. The century-old shortcut between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans relies on once-abundant rainwater stored in two artificial lakes that also supply drinking water. Used mainly by customers from the United States, China and Japan, the canal has a system of locks to raise and lower ships and releases millions of liters of fresh water for each vessel that passes. The planned new reservoir covering around 4,600 hectares would supply water through a nine-kilometer tunnel to one of the existing lakes. The project "meets a need identified a long time ago: it's the water of the future," Karina Vergara, an environmental and social manager at the ACP, told AFP. Work is expected to begin in 2027 and be completed by 2032, with an investment of approximately $1.6 billion. Of that, $400 million is earmarked to compensate and relocate around 2,500 people from several villages. "We have a firm commitment to dialogue and reaching agreements" with those affected, Vergara said. If the reservoir isn't built, "we'll regret it in 15 years," she said. Civil society groups warn that in total around 12,000 people could be affected by the project which has the backing of President Jose Raul Mulino since it would affect the entire Indio River basin. The 80-kilometer-long Panama Canal handles six percent of global maritime trade and is the engine of the Panamanian economy. It is also at the center of a diplomatic row due to US President Donald Trump's repeated threats to "take back" the waterway which was handed over to Panama in 1999 from alleged Chinese control. In the village of Limon, about 15 minutes from Boca de Uracillo by motorized canoe, residents also refuse to abandon their homes. "We're not going to leave. They'll have to remove us by force," said Maricel Sanchez, a 25-year-old university student. Villagers are relying on their lands to see them through retirement, farmer Olegario Cedeno said in the house where he lives with his wife and three children, surrounded by chickens, hens and parrots. "We will give our lives in this fight." jjr/fj/dr/sla
