Chile Forum

I may be presumptuous to think that our letter to RFK, Jr. a while back prompted this, but reportedly, Robert Kennedy Jr. will head to the Fu area on March 22. From another news site:

"This will be Kennedy’s fourth trip to Chile, where he plans to spend much of his time along Region X’s Futaleufú River, a world class destination for fly fishing, rafting and kayaking. The upcoming visit, however, also has an advocacy angle, as Kennedy – a senior attorney for the U.S.-based environmental organization the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) – plans to lobby against the so-called Aysén Project."

I don't know if anything, or anyone can stop the giant, stomping gorilla from rolling over Patagonia and changing it forever, but it's possible that we can at least try.

RFK Jr. has also committed to "come back to Futaleufu, as many times as necessary" to help save this pristine area.

Thank god there's someone in a position of power that values natural beauty over profits... just too bad its a rare positon to see among the political elite in the US. Thank god there's someone in a position of power that values natural beauty over profits... just too bad its a rare positon to see among the political elite in the US.

"Patagonia sin Repressas" is an incredible book, however even in Futa you would be hard pressed to find one. I believe there are only two places, El Barranco and Martin Pescador, both restaurants. It does show all the beautiful scenery of Patagonia, with high-tension power lines. What it does not show, is the devastating impact it will have on people's lives here, not to mention the additional threats by proposed mining in this area.

Aside from the ecological damage, consider the sociological effects. I realize that some in these areas may be courted by the promise of jobs, and who am I to interfere. But the reality is that in almost every case(projected dam sites or mining areas), the way of life for people will be destroyed. If the rivers are dammed (damned), a few might have jobs, but certainly not many...a few low-tech jobs might be created, and initially blue-collar work. But in the end, the high-paying work will most likely be done by outsiders, leaving the rest of the areas cut off from the revenues derived from eco-tourism. Without that, places like Futa would be crushed. The three month season (roughly) provides revenues for these people to continue a close, multi-generational society that opens its "home" to people from all over the world for a time, then happily, and quietly goes back to it's ever unchanged ways, living much like they did in the early part of the century.

I don't think people here want dams, or mining, but I think the town would be much more vehemently against it if there was a closer connection with the rafting, fishing, and kayaking companies. Not to knock them, but some of them have little connection with the community itself, except for the beauty. They employ few locals, I think. I suspect they buy supplies from Argentina, and Santiago, not in Futa. Their international guests come, stay exclusively at their lodges, eat there, play there, pay there. People go to these beautiful lodges, raft the rivers, fish the fish, and rarely step foot to spend a dime in the town of Futa. I may be wrong, but if a tourism place employs even five locals during season (???) where guests pay around $2-3,000 for the week, how much goes back to the community? Granted, some, and anything is better than nothing. But I think the majority of revenue the town sees is from individual backpackers and independent tourists. I've seen rafting company vans bring people into town for a one-hour look-see. People get out, go to the internet, the ATM, buy some cheese and wine, get back on the bus and leave. One group I ran into were in town during the big rodeo, and didn't realize that it was happening, or that it was the town's big anniversary fiesta. They couldn't stay to check it out because the van was leaving to go back to the lodge. A huge missed opportunity to see Patagonia culture, spend 700 peso on a beer and 1,500 for a place of asado and dance the cueca with a local.

I may be wrong, and I welcome anyone to set me straight. Just my observations, and they are often wrong. A sincere effort needs to be made to closer relationships between the town, and the tourism companies who benefit from the culture and natural resources here.