In the case of PWD, the production of Chilean Patagonia as an
‘‘exceptional’’ place happened at and from various locations. For
instance, an Italian chapter of the campaign was established,
Patagonia Senza Dighe, with Italian activists travelling to Chile to
participate in meetings, give presentations at the National
Congress, and travel through Aysen (Radio Universidad de Chile,
2010). This international campaign is now known as Stop ENEL, a
broader initiative that opposes big investment projects of the
Italian conglomerate ENEL11 in different countries around the world
(Stop ENEL, n.d.). Furthermore, the production of Patagonia has manifested
itself differently at different levels. At the regional and local
level, for instance, issues around identity have been more salient,
with the local ‘‘Patagon culture’’ turning into a key element in the
controversy. At the national level, HidroAysen has come to mean a
threat to an ‘‘exceptional’’ place. Patagonia became a place of contestation
and empowerment, where citizens fight against a system
based on private profits and the exploitation of natural resources.