RJA#9a: Thesis Statement

Research Question:
Should we continue to build dams even though they cause significant damage economically and environmentally?

Precise Claim:
Production of dams should be stopped because of the extreme economic and environmental impacts they incur.

Reasons/blueprint:
- dams hinder the natural flow of water that ecosystems/fish/forests rely upon
- dams significantly reduce fish populations by blocking their migratory/spawning patterns
- dams increase the salinity of the water making it nearly impossible for agriculture once the water becomes “water-logged”
- while they’re meant to reduce flooding, they can and do actually aid in flooding by overflowing
- diminish the land by deforestation in order to make room for all the accommodations that come along with dam construction
- spread disease
- reservoirs from newly built dams attract developers (golf courses, resorts etc)
- dams displace thousands if not millions of people
- resettlement locations and plans are barely adequate reparations for moving
- displaced persons are promised “x,y, and z” but very rarely ever receive anything promised
- people have been known to starve to death in “resettlement and rehabilitation” sites
- Average cost overrun of dams is 56% (proving that they cost more than they’re worth)
- Funding for large dams isn’t in the interest of the people, but in the interest of big business/corporations
- People who don’t receive power from dams end up paying high taxes for it (almost as much as the people receiving fresh water/power etc from it)

Complete thesis statement:
Production of dams should be stopped because of the devastating effects they bring about economically and environmentally in regards to diminished ecosystems and biodiversity, the mass displacement of people, and the large debt they accrue.