"In this desert there is life, the next desert, the killing zone cease to have life "memory glacier SILVIA geographer Leanza told of IIRSA THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MODEL AND ITS POSSIBLE NEO Extractive SOCIO-ENVIRONMENTAL Neuquén Province
Julieta Pineda Hernan Scandizzo
For .- The Initiative for Integration of Regional Infrastructure in South America (IIRSA) was born in 2000. According to its website, it is a "institutional mechanism for coordination of intergovernmental activities of the twelve South American countries, with the goal of building a common agenda to promote projects of integration of transport infrastructure, energy and communications" . While critics say that this Initiative seeks to Integration of Regional Infrastructure for exploitation.
Our country is crossed by different 'axes' of IIRSA: Capricorn, South Andean, Central Interoceanic, Mercosur-Chile, Paraguay-Paraná and south. The latter includes much of northern and central Patagonia, and its plans for infrastructure improvement appears routes and border crossings, the extension of rail lines, busways and gas pipelines, and expansion of ports, among others.
According to information officer, the area of \u200b\u200binfluence of the South Axis is 502.492km ² and works in the pipeline are four strategic functions: "reduce transport costs to expand trade between the two countries and economic complementarity "; " creating opportunities for economic and social development "; " building a binational tourism around the Lake District " , and "promote the conservation of natural resources in the area" . We estimate an investment of U.S. $ s 2,700 million, of which 2.263 million would be earmarked for 24 transportation projects and $ 450 million s, 3 energy works.
Hub South and surrounding areas. Source: IIRSA
In this interview he spoke of IIRSA
Leanza, its scope in the region and its link with neo extractive in advance. - You made a map of the IIRSA in Neuquen?
is actually a set of maps and diagrams referred exclusively to Neuquén, where we try to overlap, since the processes of desertification, which have the province, mega urban enterprises, agribusiness and mining. And finally, all or most of the products linked to the IIRSA. The original meaning was to locate on a map of the province's mega ventures, mining and energy, which during 2009 were announced by media companies and government officials. Systematize the data and place was quite a task. Why? Because in reality these ads and the news provides data to be loose joint with other information. Because the venture is always enrolled in a project that is heavily armed, and that there is not, and most people only receive an offer beneficial for local development , which will cover the social needs of that community and nearby communities.
Actually all these mega ventures are hinged together by a network, consisting of infrastructure, in general, energy-gas pipelines, oil, water-that make possible the exploitation of natural resources. And this network, which is an infrastructure network is provided by the South American Regional Integration Initiative, which also sets standards for regional integration. It has its own legislation adapted to the needs of these mega-enterprises, which are planned by large multinationals, and in a few cases, for now, "trans" [as Brazilian miner Vale and Petrobras].
Mega mining and hydrocarbons. Source: Ecosur
And a second point we wanted to show is how, in the under the zoning for the Bicentennial, which are working in the Ministry of Planning of the nation and each of the ministries of Planning provinces, mega infrastructure enterprises are projected to serve the mega-projects for the exploitation natural properties, minerals, forests, soy, and will generate a new order based on killing areas. No
areas, in the case of Neuquén almost going to leave the province for the sacrifice, and this is what shows these maps
- Why hold that these projects will not bring development, but that will transform the territory "Sacrifice zones"? 
Because thinking in development also consider the potential for endogenous development, thinking about the development of local potential for local, regional, national, for the people, to generate work that is more than employment, quality and worth. These mega infrastructure (roads, pipelines, oil pipelines, interconnected systems, such as the laying Comahue-Cuyo, new dams, as Chihuidos) involving the displacement of population, small communities which have traditionally been crianceros and develop agriculture under irrigation. Economies, sometimes near-subsistence, but their identity communities. Communities where people work, produce what it consumes, but may not have a job. The works of these mega
generally employ premises for temporary assignments, of lower quality. On the other hand are jobs that last as last works, nothing more
Many communities have their land tax lots, property that could achieve veinteañal are displaced by these mega ventures, who knows where. Sometimes involve the construction of a new town. The reservoir Chihuidos I will cover more than a village in a valley of irrigated fertile, then the solution is to move them to the top of the plateau in the plain bare. And other residents of the province will go to swell the peri-Zapala, Neuquén Capital, and others in deplorable living conditions. Because there is no elements to its own fulfillment and no respect for the dignity of individuals. The
sacrifice zones imply this: population displacement, loss of biodiversity, water shortages. Not only move a mountain but to the implications this move, so we talk about sacrifice
areas. Areas that will be converted into a wilderness much larger than we have. In this desert there is life, the next desert, the area
sacrifice, will no longer have life.
-start IIRSA projects under the Free Trade Area of \u200b\u200bthe Americas (FTAA). Say
FTAA is the arm that enables the integration of Latin America for the benefit of the central countries, in this case, the United States and Canada. It would seem, taking issue especially in the mining and hydrocarbons, which in Canada and the U.S. are planned what they have to do with investment and development of transnational corporations and, as part of IIRSA, execute the works necessary to the plans and projects MNCs can take place.
"At the Summit of the Americas held in Mar del Plata in November 2005, the leaders of Latin America progressive opposed to the FTAA, promoted by the Bush administration. This alternative axis, which then promoted the formation of UNASUR, do not change course?
No. In that sense, no. Because in that sense the UNASUR is guaranteeing the investments of transnational corporations in the framework of IIRSA. Moreover, Venezuela is taking place in relation to IIRSA a process similar to that of Bolivia and Argentina.
"This infrastructure would not be time for industrialization of the region but to further a primary economy.
course. While many who are going to go drop a primary economy, in this case is a re-
primarization of the economy-intensive and export exclusively. For all these mega mining and energy enterprises do not respond as a matter of scale, local needs and / or regional, but respond to the needs of a market that is demanding certain products intensively. Nor can we think of the production of certain minerals is for the domestic sufficiency, as in the case Potasio Rio Colorado in Mendoza, when you need potassium fertilizer. It is said in the presidential decrees that it is exclusively for export: 2.4 million tons of potassium annually, of which 95% goes to foreign markets, in this case, Brazil. With copper is exactly the same, not to supply the domestic technological development, but is exported partly raw.
Mega mining products. Source: Ecosur.
While infrastructure in general, works performed, quietly and piecemeal, and, apparently, to satisfy old claims of local communities. But in reality, the magnitude of these improvements is only to extract the products and bring them to port, either the Atlantic or Pacific. The expansion of the Port of San Antonio Bay East and White or upgrading of border crossing, no more than this. Also, something that is terrible, all works are done with public debt of the provinces or the same nation.
- Chihuidos is to alleviate the country's energy crisis?
Chihuido is to alleviate the energy crisis in Argentina (laughs), but fundamentally, I believe, is to overcome the lack of power demand of the miners in the Comahue-Cuyo. Because on one hand are energy mining projects calling for St George and Potasio Rio Colorado, in Mendoza, perhaps Calypso Uranium for projects and Block North Central Farmers on the Neuquén River. Recently the province adopted new debentures to extend power lines from the central Alicurá to Villa La Angostura and between the bases and bring benefits, including the connection to the energy supply to the plant for uranium enrichment in Pilcaniyeu. But also, presumably, is going to need some energy for the gas extraction of compact clay and lots of water.
must respond powered by National Mining Plan and must be responded to Nuclear Plan Argentine Atomic Energy Commission. The energy issue is one of the strongest of IIRSA, the rail and road as well, but in this region the energy issue is very strong. In the framework of IIRSA are both fields of wind power generation and geothermal fields, plus hydro. All these alternative energy projects
no longer alternative
for its size. There are wind farms already tendered in the area Cutral Senillosa and Co. These are tendered and those projects have a very clear specification, "all will be on public land." In a province where the fiscaleros abound, for them there is nobody, and the 'few' that is, have no rights, even veinteañales. The move ... 'move' is the word soft.
-In IIRSA maps are marked some plays, but in general when run are not presented as part of the Initiative.
We did this survey from newspapers and only once found a mention, linking a work with the IIRSA: the Trans-Andean Railway, which reaches from Las Lajas Zapala.
"The Trasandino of Sobisch"
, I usually say, that does not cross
'no Andean' , because in reality Las Lajas is before the Cordillera and the way he was going to use this Trasandino, which is Lonquimay pass in Chile have not advanced at all, pretty much closed. We assume that the railroad had the sense to reach the vicinity of Bell Mahuida [in Loncopué] and to the output of copper, such exploitation is still not realized.
-rail extension would be as projected for Potasio Rio Colorado. It would be like
the extension of the railroad from the operation of Potasio Rio Colorado, in Mendoza, who will enter the province of Neuquén by Rincon de los Sauces, and out to the south, Meridano Area 10, to enter the province of Rio Black and connect to Ferrosur, former Rock Railroad, at the height of Chichinales.
I realize now, is spreading the Rock! What a paradox! Former Rock, often claimed as intercity passenger rail [in the Upper Valley], will be a major freight railroad to transport cement, oil and, now, potassium, the port of Bahia Blanca. "The map has different layers. Pipelines, pipelines, electro-products, rail and road networks is one, another is that of the hydrocarbon and mining ventures. Forestry and agribusiness, other. All over the map of desertification of Neuquén. When all the layers together, what happened?
Mega mining, oil and 'IIRSA products. " Source: Ecosur.
is a stain! In reality what we're thinking about is making transparencies and tokens, as you can play and can go see what is going to be. And add to this a transparency that accounts for potential problems and conflicts that are coming in different places. And relate to watersheds, because here are affected four river basins: the Colorado, Neuquen, Limay and that of the Black. And the latter is the collector of the other two, so any degradation in the rivers Limay and Neuquen suffers around the Black River Valley
Water and ice will be severely impacted, although there are those say that Patagonia is a land clean of promise, and pristine nature. In fact, at one time might have been, in another format, also developed, but now that neo developmentalism, this neo extractivism foreshadowing an aggravation of problems: water scarcity, desertification and glaciers. Besides the shift of the isotherms and the extension of the summer-very hot and very dry, are indicators of climate change.
"The map is
" to anticipate what's next "
. The opportunities it showed, what was the reaction from people? 
cause high impact and people are looking at the map, not looking at the province as a whole, but looking and wondering: what is this?, Is near where?, What data do you have? (Information about the companies, when it starts.) One has no data! Because sometimes you can not get Official Gazette, it is very difficult to get official information, the shooting as advertisements.
"People look at the map
" of a bit "
rather than the whole. Can you face this "for a bit?
I think so. Scary, huh? When you begin to share these things with people in communities, farmers, people do not know if they are scared, do not give me the impression of panic. My perception is that they learn other things and the stronger those new things and say, "Well, here I have a tool of struggle" .
Somewhere moment, for some meetings, some began to promote the concept of watershed:
"We are all in the same watershed and are all going to end up taking the same water"
. Then one begins to feel that someone is going to happen the same as me, or will suffer the effects of others are suffering or I'm going to suffer. As there is some possibility of joint and stop feeling a bit isolated in the middle of the range.
Patagonia The problem is, most of which we have some top MNC. Our parents or our grandparents, somehow, came to the extractive model, in '30, in '40, in 1910. Overall peasants, no, the Mapuche either. They lived it, but felt very violated and are now able to react, the bigger problem there, we, the urban. + info:
Public Hearing by the little train of Potasio Rio Colorado, a skein with many threads to pull ...
* A short version of this interview was published in The Far South , Comodoro Rivadavia, December 2010.
http://opsur.wordpress.com/2011/01/13/% E2% 80% 9Cen-the-desert-there-life-the-next-the-desert-of-the-zone-de- slaughter-left-to-be-life% E2% 80% 9D /
must respond powered by National Mining Plan and must be responded to Nuclear Plan Argentine Atomic Energy Commission. 