Hands to Hearts International

Vision

International Rivers seeks a world in which rivers and the ecosystems they support are valued, and the importance of the links between healthy environments and healthy societies are understood. We envision a world where development projects neither degrade nature nor impoverish people, and where all people have a voice in decisions affecting their lives and livelihoods.


Mission

International Rivers' mission is to protect rivers and defend the rights of communities that depend on them. We oppose destructive dams and the development model they advance, and encourage better ways of meeting people’s needs for water, energy and protection from damaging floods. To achieve this mission, we collaborate with a global network of local communities, social movements, non-governmental organizations and other partners. Through research, education and advocacy, International Rivers works to halt destructive river infrastructure projects, address the legacies of existing projects, improve development policies and practices, and promote water and energy solutions for a just and sustainable world. The primary focus of our work is in the global South.

To achieve our mission International Rivers uses five core strategies:

1. Promoting Water and Energy Solutions: We build awareness internationally that efficiency and small-scale, decentralized and renewable solutions are essential for meeting energy and water needs, alleviating poverty and protecting the planet.

2. Changing Perceptions, Policies, and Decision-Making Processes: We coordinate international campaigns to discourage financial, government and industry support of large dams; and work to reform institutional policies and practices. We seek to block the hydropower industry’s efforts to exploit concerns over climate change and we raise awareness of reservoir emissions and the impact of climate change on dams.

3. Movement Building: We collaborate with and support a global network of dam-affected communities, non-governmental organizations and other partners.

4. Raising Visibility: We increase awareness of the destructive impacts of large dams and the viability of sustainable and just alternatives.

5. Stopping Destructive Projects and Addressing the Legacy of Existing Projects: We challenge the construction of new destructive river development projects, and advocate for reparations for communities affected by existing dams.

 

History

Seeking to protect the world’s rivers from destructive dams and amplify the voices of dam-affected communities, a small group of volunteers formed International Rivers Network in 1985. Their vision was simple and yet remarkably ambitious: to develop a worldwide network of people working to protect rivers and promote just and sustainable water and energy development.

Today, almost everywhere that a big dam is being planned or built there is organized local opposition. In communities where existing dams have created severe problems, dam-affected people are demanding reparations. International Rivers stands with these people, providing advice, training and technical assistance, and advocating on their behalf with governments, banks, companies and international agencies. The rate of large dam construction has fallen by half since our founding along with a dramatic increase in worldwide understanding of the need for better options.