Judge stops Brazil Belo Monte dam but Brazil president can overturn decision

"The project still has the steadfast support of Brazil’s newly elected president, Dilma Rousseff. Rousseff can simply overturn Judge Desterro’s decision and force the project through to completion."

8/14/12, "Brazilian court halts Belo Monte hydro-electric dam project," BBC

"A federal court in Brazil has ordered the immediate suspension of work on the huge Belo Monte hydro-electric dam in the Amazon.

The court says local indigenous people have not been properly consulted.

Officials point out that the builders of the dam will be able to appeal against the decision.

Once completed, the 11,000-megawatt dam, in Brazil's Para state, would be the third largest hydro-electric dam in the world

Belo Monte would only be smaller than the Three Gorges in China, and Itaipu which is jointly run by Brazil and Paraguay.

The project, which has been heavily criticised by environmentalists, was approved by the Brazilian Congress in 2005.

It is expected to flood a vast area of tropical forest."...

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Brazilian Belo Monte Dam Halted on Judge’s Orders, NCSCarbonCreditsandOffsets.com

map via BBC