Latin America and the Caribbean Region
Itaipu, the world’s largest hydroelectric plant on the Parana River at the border of Brazil and Paraguay, provided energy of a different kind for URI’s Latin America Regional Assembly in 2008. Its owner, Itaipu Binacional, partnered with URI to bring members of 21 URI CCs from 11 Latin American countries together, a meeting that resulted in the creation of a groundbreaking Indigenous Council to work region-wide for Indigenous intellectual property rights, formal education for Indigenous children and youth, and environmental protection. As part of its commitment to social and environmental sustainability, Itaipu collaborates with governmental agencies, international organizations, businesses, charities, NGOs and community associations on projects to better the lives of the people in its vicinity.
