The Petition to Save the Rio Penas-Blancas in Costa Rica: Stop the Destruction Caused by Hydroelect

Costa Rica is home to some of the most beautiful places on the planet. One of these special places is the Penas-Blancas River. Rio Penas-Blancas is an energetic, rushing whitewater river that is the center of a thriving, diverse ecosystem that includes birds, monkeys, sloths, anteaters, various jungle cats, rare species of butterflies and orchids, and much more. It's truly a magical place, and everyone who visits here is touched by its beauty and vitality.
A company called Conelectrica is now trying to get approval to do a hydroelectric project in an area called Pocosol, right outside the entrance to the Children's Eternal Rainforest. Conelectrica wants to divert a large part of the Penas-Blancas into a 10 foot diameter tube that will feed into a reservoir they plan to dig in the middle of this amazingly beautiful and delicate ecosystem. To divert such a large portion of the flow of the river into this tube will effectively destroy it, and greatly alter the whole web of life that depends on the river to sustain it, not to mention the devastation that will be caused by the bulldozers, tractors and dynamite that these projects routinely use to accomplish their goals. To add insult to injury, the power generated by this proposed project will not even go to serve the energy needs of Costa Ricans, but will be fed into a massive network of power lines that runs all the way through Central America and Mexico, on into California and the western United States. So, the power generated from diverting and destroying the Penas-Blancas goes to power microwaves, TV's and air conditioners in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
There is still a chance to stop this project from happening, but we need help from the international community. Please sign the petition to Save the Rio Penas-Blancas, and forward this petition and website to your network. Add your voice to the growing number of people who oppose this project and the many projects like it all over the world that are destroying the beauty and magic of life so that a few people can get richer. Once these special places are gone, no amount of money can bring them back. Add your voice to the growing number of people who want to preserve and protect and nurture the beautiful, wild places that are vital to the well-being of us all. Thanks for signing and pass it on!!!

I AM OPPOSED TO THE PROPOSED HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT THAT CONELECTRICA WANTS TO DO IN POCOSOL de SAN RAMON. I URGE THOSE IN THE REGULATORY AGENCIES OF COSTA RICA (SETENA) TO STOP THIS PROJECT FROM HAPPENING. IT IS UNTHINKABLE TO ALLOW THE DESTRUCTION OF THE PENAS-BLANCAS RIVER THAT SO MUCH LIFE DEPENDS ON, A RIVER THAT SO MANY PEOPLE AND FAMILIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD COME TO EXPERIENCE AND ENJOY, SO THAT A PRIVATE COMPANY CAN MAKE SOME MONEY. NO AMOUNT OF MONEY CAN REPLACE THE RIVER ONCE IT IS GONE. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS WATCHING TO SEE IF COSTA RICA IS LIVING UP TO ITS REPUTATION AND COMMITMENT TO BE ECO-FRIENDLY AND TO PROTECT THE SPECIAL PLACES THAT PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD COME TO SEE. PRESERVE THE RIO PENAS-BLANCAS!!!
MUCHAS GRACIAS!
In addition to signing the petition, send letters to these two agencies letting them know that you oppose the Pocosol Hydroelectric Project:

SETENA ( the environmental agency in Costa Rica that will approve or deny the project)
SETENA
Apdo 10104-1000
San Jose, Costa Rica
Attention: Eduardo Madrigal Castro Secretario General
Include that your letter is regarding the Pocosol Hydroelectric Project #227-2003

and send a letter to:
Costa Rica's Ministry of Tourism
Apdo 777-1000
San Jose, Costa Rica