Pietro Paolini
Tearsheet
2023
Pietro Paolini
Tearsheet
2023
La Venta, Oaxaca, Mexico, 2023. A plot of land inside the Eurus wind farm, located on the road between La Venta and Union Hidalgo. The park, owned by the Spanish company Acciona, has a total capacity of 250.5 megawatts, making it the largest wind farm in Latin America.
Renewable Energy and Community Rights in Latin America.
Latin America holds vast renewable energy potential, but its expansion is largely driven by private corporations, often at the expense of local communities and the environment. Studies show that Mexico and Central America face the highest number of human rights abuses linked to renewable energy projects.
A key example is Mexico’s Isthmus of Tehuantepec, where 29 wind farms span 32,000 hectares. These projects were developed without environmental or social impact assessments, often violating indigenous land rights. Communities, excluded from decision-making, suffer the consequences without receiving any benefits.
Despite facing threats and human rights violations, indigenous groups have successfully blocked the construction of three wind farms through activism and legal action. Their struggle highlights the tension between corporate interests and the rights of local populations in the push for renewable energy.
Puente Madera, Oaxaca, Mexico, 2023. A farmer of the Puente Madera during a protest organized by the regional indigenous network against the high cost of electricity. Puente Madera is a highly active community that is fighting against the construction of a 350-hectare park 500 meters away from their community, which is scheduled to begin construction by the end of 2023.
La Venta, Oaxaca, Mexico, 2023. Offices of the company SALVACON, specialized in training professional figures, in this case dedicated to the wind energy market.
Juchitan, Oaxaca, Mexico, 2023. Some people clean the road before Easter celebrations.
La Ventosa, Oaxaca, Mexico, 2023. A farmer's house inside the Arbolito 2 wind farm owned by the Spanish company Iberdrola.
Juchitan, Oaxaca, Mexico, 2023. An altar in the headquarters of the community radio station Topocho. The radio station played a fundamental role in organizing the citizen movement against the construction of wind farms. It was instrumental in blocking the park in the Alvaro Obregon community.
Oaxaca, Mexico, 2023. A group of people camping outside the office of the Governor of Oaxaca. Various indigenous organizations gathered in the city of Oaxaca to demand the protection of the territory in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.
Juchitan, Oaxaca, Mexico, 2023. A farmer observing the installed turbines near his farm, which is part of the Bii Hioxo Eolic Park.
Oaxaca, Mexico, 2023. The wind carries plastic bags near the city of Juchitan
Oaxaca, Mexico, 2023. A power plant in the Arbolito wind farm, along the road between Juchitan and La Ventosa
Oaxaca, Mexico, 2023. The road between Juchitan and La Ventosa passes through the Arbolito 2 and BII NEE STIPS wind farms. La Ventosa was the first community to be affected by the construction of wind farms.
Publication on Newsweek Japan
