Government Limits Dam Development in Chile’s Southern River Basins

Supreme Court will investigate 1,300 unsolved cases

One of Chile’s Supreme Court judges last week confirmed his ongoing commitment to the investigation of human rights abuses committed under the Pinochet military dictatorship.

After meeting with officials from the special humans rights investigation board and victim organizations, Judge Sergio Muñoz told the local press that he had asked Chilean police “to create folders of evidence” to be used in future investigations.

HidroAysen, the mega-energy project slated for southern Chile’s Region XI (Patagonia), said Monday it will delay its official response to the 1,114 questions raised about its controversial project until next June 30.

The US$3.2 billion energy project, owned by Italian energy company Endesa and its Chilean associate Colbun, plans to build five hydroelectric dams in Chile’s pristine Patagonia area on the Baker and Pascua Rivers. The aim is to generate 2,750 megawatts of energy yearly and then transport the energy 2,000 kilometers north to Chile’s Central Valley.

Study finds that student with well educated parents more likely to succeed in getting into university programs of their choice

As Chile’s students anxiously await the results of their college entrance examinations (PSU results), a recent survey found that family background will play a significant role in their success as university students (ST, Dec. 1).

A study of 10,000 students who took the PSU last year found that scores for students whose parents are college educated professionals are typically higher than those who are the first in the family to attend university.  Good PSU scores, of course, are critical for getting into Chile’s universities.