Today we travelled from Chacabuco to Cochrane. Once in Cochrane, we spent the day meeting stakeholders in the proposed dam project.
The most educational meeting of the day was with Cesar Meneba and Carlos Fuentes, the sub-governor and governor´s advisor, respectively, in Cochrane. During this meeting we had the opportunity to ask about the local goverenment´s perception of the proposed dams. Meneba and Fuentes presented very interesting perspectives that helped point to issues that the dams might cause in Cochrane. In sum, the men predict that a complex web of technological, social, economic and environmental issues will occur throughout the construction, initiation and operation of the dams. They are dually wary and supportive of the proposed project. New jobs, ¨floating populations,¨ community development, technological advances and increased tourism, are just a few of the many pros and cons that the local government predicts for Cochrane.
We spend tonight sleeping at Camping Hospedaje — a camping spot located in a Chilean´s dusty backyard. Full of crab apple trees, kittens and mutts, and a whole slew of noises, this plot of dirt serves as our home for the night.