Representatives of churches and civil society organizations during prayers at the ninth edition of the ecumenical and binational “Free Rivers” celebration held in Alecrim, Brazil. Photo: LWF/E. Albrecht
Lutherans, Catholics, local organizations at ninth annual celebration against construction of hydroelectric dams
(LWI) –Churches and civil society organizations in southern Brazil and northern Argentina are unrelenting in their years-long opposition to the construction of hydroelectric dams on the Uruguay and Paraná rivers. Participants in the ninth edition of the ecumenical and binational “Free Rivers” celebration emphasized the need for rivers to flow freely without obstruction for the wellbeing of ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
Held in Alecrim, Brazil, on the Uruguay River banks surrounded by the forest, the 14 March event brought together more than 300 people from Misiones province and Rio Grande do Sul. From Brazil, they represented the Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil (IECLB) and the Catholic Diocese of Santo Ângelo; and from Argentina, the Evangelical Church of the River Plate (IERP) and the United Evangelical Lutheran Church (IELU). Civil society organizations including the Movements of People Affected by Dams in both countries (MAB Brazil and MAR Argentina), and the Association of State Workers (ATE Argentina), among others, also attended.
The event took place against the backdrop of renewed talks of building new dams on the Uruguay and Paraná rivers that are shared by Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Pastors and priests from the participating churches jointly facilitated a liturgical celebration that emphasized responsibility to care for water as a precious part of God’s creation.
Commitment to justice
Presiding over the liturgical celebration, IELU pastor Rev. Eva Ross drew on the words of the prophet Amos to offer a critical reading of the present: in contexts of concentrated wealth and growing inequality, God is not pleased with empty celebrations, but with a faith committed to justice. “Let justice flow like water and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5:24). These words, she said, continue to challenge our realities today.
Ross denounced the impact of hydroelectric projects on the Uruguay River and its communities, warning that water is for life, not for death. Referring to the significance of water in Christian baptism, she called for a church that unites celebration and life, raising its voice on behalf of those who risk being displaced and the threatened creation. Defending the river, she affirmed, is also a testimony to the God of life.
The celebration was important because it reaffirmed the commitment of churches and civil society organizations to preserving the most precious aspect of God’s creation: water. And, along with it, the entire ecosystem that depends on it,
Rev. Fabio Rucks, Northwest Rio Grande Synod, Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil
“The celebration was important because it reaffirmed the commitment of churches and civil society organizations to preserving the most precious aspect of God’s creation: water. And, along with it, the entire ecosystem that depends on it,” said Rev. Fabio Rucks, IECLB Northwest Rio Grande Synod. “I believe we must continue to celebrate free-flowing rivers, because this celebration is a focal point for ecclesiastical and social organization around environmental issues in the region surrounding the Uruguay River,” he noted.
Rev. Carlos Kozel, IERP Misiones District, highlighted broader regional challenges, including youth migration and the precarious situation of agricultural producers. He said the event sought to strengthen the struggle for a just society and advance climate justice, while reinforcing cooperation between faith communities and organizations with shared commitments. “This celebration challenges us to continue building bridges of cooperation between brothers and sisters in faith and organizations that share the same commitment,” he concluded.
This celebration challenges us to continue building bridges of cooperation between brothers and sisters in faith and organizations that share the same commitment
Rev. Carlos Kozel, Misiones District, Evangelical Church of the River Plate
Sustaining life
If poorly planned, large dams in subtropical regions can cause lasting harm—destroying rainforests, endangering species, and displacing communities. Rivers may stagnate, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases, a concern long raised by the World Health Organization. These impacts are often irreversible, casting doubt on whether the benefits outweigh the costs.
For many communities, these fears are grounded in experience. Accounts of displacement, lost land, and broken promises shape how new projects are viewed, raising concern that the same patterns could be repeated. Listening to these voices is essential so that development does not come at the expense of people and ecosystems.
The Uruguay River flows for thousands of kilometers from Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) and empties into the Río de la Plata (Buenos Aires, Argentina). Photo: LWF/ E. Albrecht
Clergy leading the ecumenical celebration on the Uruguay River banks in Alecrim, Brazil. Photo: LWF/E. Albrecht
A branch of the alecrim tree that was used to sprinkle water taken from the Uruguay River over the participants during the celebration, as a symbol of communion with creation. Photo: LWF/E. Albrecht
“The ‘Free Rivers’ celebration showcases the commitment of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) member churches and other faith-based and civil society organizations to climate justice. They stand alongside affected communities and defend water as a sacred gift that sustains life,” said Elena Cedillo, LWF Program Executive for Climate Justice.
The celebration included symbolic and commemorative moments. Tributes were paid to environmental defenders, including Argentinian IERP pastor Rev. Claudio Schvindt who died in 2025, and the Catholic friar Sergio Görgen, who died in Brazil in 2026. In a symbolic ritual, a group of women drew water from the Uruguay River and sprinkled it over participants using branches from the alecrim tree, after which the town is named.
The event concluded with a communal meal and artistic performances, reinforcing its role as both a religious gathering and a space for social and environmental mobilization.
