By rachels522
Tonight I arrived back from two weeks traveling up and down the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. This field trip was amazingly fun. We saw all sorts of different ecology, people, and places. I also got to spend a couple of days relaxing on the most beautiful beach that I have ever seen.
The field trip was by no means just fun and games. The main purpose of the field trip was to explore how Costa Rica produces its energy. Costa Rica is known as one of the countries with the cleanest energy in the world. On the trip I went to a solar, wind, geothermal, thermal and hydropower plant. We were able to speak with energy officials that explained to us the pros and cons of each kind of energy.
What struck me most about this experience was looking at hydropower plants. I have always considered water to be a “green” form of energy. Water is a renewable resource, so it has to be cleaner than oil or coal right? Maybe. While at the water plant I was struck by the environmental impacts of the plant. For example, the damming affected migratory patterns of fish and lead to changes in water quality.
Perhaps the most notable aspect of damming is that it can divert water flow greatly. This can affect habitats and human population. Right now Costa Rica is in the process of approving the Diquis Hydroelectric project. This will be the largest hydroelectric project in Central America. When completed it will help provide electricity to more than one million people. This is incredibly important as Costa Rica’s population is continuously growing. However, the Diquis project involves diverting rivers and changing the natural landscape. This will involve flooding the lands of two indigenous groups, flooding archeologically rich areas, and flooding a few cities. This will displace more than one thousand people.
My group was lucky enough to engage first hand with children who were in the flood zone. We visited a school to discuss with fifth and sixth graders the impacts of flooding on the kids and their families. These children and their families will have to move from the only place they have ever known. Every place they know will be drowned in water. The Costa Rican government does say that it will provide housing and relocation for the families. However, many children stated that their families were not sure where they were being relocated to or the quality of the new houses. The children were not pleased with being evicted from their homes. They expressed fear of being separated from relatives. Furthermore, they did not know what their parents were going to do for a living once relocated.
One thing that very much struck out to me was that one little boy stated that he completely understood the necessity of creating a energy for the country, he just didn’t want them to take his home in the process. This whole situation clearly brings up serious ethical questions. Is it okay to flood the homes of a few in order to provide energy for many? What does it say about the Costa Rican society, and society in general, that we need to destroy our landscapes in order to provide for energy? Nobody has the answers to these questions. However, when thinking about this story it is essential that we consider our own personal energy use and how it may possibly affect other people.
P.S. The best part of the day? A bunch of 20 year olds getting their butts seriously kicked by a bunch of 13 year olds in soccer!