Belo Monte dam construction halted by Brazilian court | World news | guardian.co.uk.
wow. (remember, James Cameron has been involved with this resistence…)
Opponents of the world’s biggest new hydroelectric project – the Belo Monte dam in Brazil – notched up a rare victory this week, when a federal appeals court ordered construction to be suspended until indigenous groups are properly consulted about the project.
The judgment on Tuesday may prove only a temporary reprieve but it is seen as a scathing verdict on the government’s efforts to rush forward with the Xingu River project in the Amazon, which – despite controversy – is one of the pillars of Brazil’s efforts to reduce dependency on fossil fuels. It is also a setback for developers, led by Electrobras, which now face expensive delays or daily fines of up to R$500,000 (£166,00) if they do not comply with the court order.
