At first glance, hydroelectric power from big dams appears to be a greener way to generate electricity than burning fossil fuels. But an organisation called “The World Commission on Dams” has concluded that dams’ impact on eco-systems is “mostly negative” results announced by no less than Nelson Mandela.
According to the commission, which is backed by the World Bank and industry:
Some 80 million people have been displaced by dams, mostly through government force, and over $2 trillion has been invested in them.
That leaves experts to theorise that it might have been better to create electricity by burning gas, oil or even coal.
Source: A Barrage of Criticism, Economist, November 18, 2000.
For text
http://www.economist.com/printedition/displayStory.cfm?Story_ID==3D423621
For Other Water issues http://www.ncpa.org/pi/enviro/envdex4.html#f
