Controversial Belo Monte Dam construction started

The construction start of the world’s third biggest dam project, Belo Monte in the Amazonas region in Brazil, is coming closer. The dam is South America’s largest and most controversial energy project.

On January 26th, the Brazilian Environment Institute gave permission to the cleareance of 238 hectare forest and the construction of accomodation roads and storage areas in preparation of the dam construction.

Erwin Kräutler (Brazil, RLA 2010) received the Award “for his tireless efforts to save the Amazon forest from destruction” and receives life threats for his fight to stop the Belo Monte dam construction. He calls the dam project for sheer lunacy, as the social and environmental impact is incalculable.