The downside to renewable energy

One of the types of renewable energy is hydroelectric power. But in developing nations thirsty (pardon the reference) for power, and we don't want them burning carbon, creating hydroelectric power means flooding an area behind a dam -- and that means a destruction of habitat and a dislocation of indigenous peoples, which also means a loss of human diversity and cultural heritage.

Borneo is providing an example:

Borneo mega-dams proposal raises fears for tribes and wildlife

"Now the rivers are all polluted. The wildlife has slowly disappeared -- wild boar, deer, gibbons. Even the broad-leafed plants that we use for roofing, and rattan which we use to make mats and baskets, is gone," he said.

But what brought him to Miri are new threats to his way of life, the dam project as well as plantation firms who want to clear what is left of the jungle and grow palm oil and foreign timber species.

"Our people oppose our area being included for the dam because that's where we come from, our ancestors lived and died and were buried there. For us we have no other place, that is our only place," he said.

The Penan of Sarawak, famed for their ability to live off the jungle armed only with blowpipes and machetes, number around 10,000 including 300-400 thought to be among the last nomadic hunter-gatherers on earth."