Atossa Soltani fears that the construction of the Belo Monte Dam Complex in Brazil could have environmental impacts that would spread well beyond the Amazon ecosystem.

Protesters gathered outside the Brazilian Consulate to call attention to problems they believe are being caused by a dam project. (photo by Aaron Blevins)

That concern prompted Soltani, the executive director of Amazon Watch, to protest outside the office of the Brazilian Consulate on Monday, along with about 15 other protestors. The protest coincided with those being held at Brazilian missions in 16 other countries.

Wilshire and La Cienega Boulevard afternoon passers-by were treated with African drums and chants of “Stop the Belo Monte! Save the Amazon!” as participants walked the intersection with signs and passed out materials.

“The Amazon is really the most important organ of the earth’s life support system,” Soltani said as someone offered a supportive honk.

She said the dam, which will be constructed at a cost of about $20 billion, would have devastating environmental impacts on the Amazon, as well as the people who live there. The project has the potential to affect 120,000 acres of rainforest and 60 miles of river, Soltani said. She referenced a part of the project that would divert the Xingu River.

“That diversion means that area of the river will just die,” Soltani said.

She added that the Amazon is the “engine of the global weather system” and pumps water and vapor around the world. Considering that 20 percent of the Amazon basin has already been lost and another 20 percent heavily degraded, Brazil is within a decade of wrecking the Amazon water cycle, Soltani said.

“We need to do everything we can,” she said. “We need Brazil to seek out other (energy) alternatives.”

Soltani said the project was first introduced in the late 1980s and was stopped in 1989. However, the project has now been approved, ensuring a bigger fight this time around, she said. Soltani added that the dam opponents are trying to persuade President Dilma Rousseff, the first woman president in Brazil.

“We’re calling on her to have a heart,” she said.

Brazilian native Carolina Rafols was on hand Monday. She said her mother had been one of the contractors working on the dam in the 80s, but quit when she saw the devastation that was unfolding.

“I really feel it’s not the right way to go for the Brazilian government,” Rafols said, adding that she would like to see “beautiful progress.”

She too believes that the country could use the project price tag to invest in more environmentally friendly sources of energy.

Soltani said the Belo Monte Dam would be the third-largest dam in the world if constructed. She said the Brazilian government is planning to build about 60 large dams in all.

Attempts to reach Brazilian Consulate representatives were unsuccessful by deadline.