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    Brazilian Dam Clears Hurdle

    The New York Times | A significant hurdle in the construction of a huge dam on a tributary of the Amazon river was removed this week when Brazilian authorities approved the clearing of hundreds of acres of forest at the dam site and the construction of new roads to service the project.

    January 28, 2011
    2,743 views
    1 min read

    Brazil Green Lights Amazon Dam Despite Opposition

    New Dilma Government Approves Fast-Track Forest Clearance and Commencement of Controversial Belo Monte Construction Site

    Brazília, Brazil – The Brazilian government has issued a "partial" installation license allowing the Belo Monte Dam Complex to break ground on the margins of the Amazon's Xingu River despite egregious disregard for human rights and environmental legislation, the unwavering protests of civil society and condemnations by its Federal Public...

    January 27, 2011
    5,302 views
    2 min read

    Risky Business in the Amazon

    New Report Reveals Looming Financial, Legal and Reputational Disaster of Belo Monte, World's Third Largest Dam Project

    Brasília and São Paulo, Brazil – The Belo Monte Dam Complex, slated to begin construction in April along the Xingu River in heart of the Brazilian Amazon, not only threatens ecological integrity and the livelihoods of indigenous peoples and other local communities but also presents tremendous risks for financiers, investors and the country's...

    January 19, 2011
    3,922 views
    3 min read

    Critic of the Belo Monte Dam in Brazil Receives "Right Livelihood Award"

    Belem, Brazil – International Rivers, Amazon Watch and the Movimento Xingu Vivo para Sempre celebrate the news that Bishop Erwin Kräutler will be one of four recipients of this year's Right Livelihood Award, often referred to as the "Alternative Nobel Prize."

    December 6, 2010
    3,705 views
    2 min read

    March and Human Banner Are Reminder that "The Rivers of the Amazon Are Alive"

    700 people, many threatened by dams and deforestation, form a human banner on Tapajós River in Santarém to bring attention to the threat of large dams in the Amazon

    Santarém, Para, Brazil – For the people of the Amazon, the forests and the rivers are life. That is why they mobilized at the V Pan Amazon Forum in a global call to protect the rivers of the Amazon.

    November 26, 2010
    3,852 views
    5 min read

    Amazon Watch is building on more than 28 years of radical and effective solidarity with Indigenous peoples across the Amazon Basin.

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    Just Released: James Cameron's "A Message from Pandora"

    The 20-minute Feature Available on the Avatar Extended Collector's Edition DVD Casts Timely Spotlight on the Battle to Stop the Belo Monte Dam in Brazil

    Los Angeles, CA – James Cameron, the creator of Avatar, has produced a short new film called "A Message from Pandora" – released this week — about an epic battle to stop the massive Belo Monte Dam on the Xingu River in the Brazilian Amazon.

    November 17, 2010
    2,388 views
    3 min read

    Construction of the Belo Monte Dam Could be Delayed

    Brazilian Environmental Protection Agency Technicians Recommend Against Partial Construction License Until Safeguard Conditions Are Met

    Brasilia, Brazil – The technical team from Brazil's environmental protection agency, IBAMA, has issued its long-awaited technical assessment on the Belo Monte Dam Complex strongly recommending against a partial installation license until the dam building consortium, Norte Energia complies with upwards of 40 social and environmental...

    November 16, 2010
    1,295 views
    3 min read

    Indigenous and Riverbank Communities: Suspend the Belo Monte Dam

    As the government prepares to issue the dam's construction license, communities urge the Commission to denounce illegalities in licensing and violations of human rights

    Washington, D.C., Brazil – Today international and Brazilian human rights and environmental organizations submitted a formal petition to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), denouncing grave and imminent violations upon the rights of indigenous and riverine communities that will be affected by the construction of Belo Monte...

    November 11, 2010
    5,949 views
    3 min read

    Belo Monte: It's Not Too Late!

    The Brazilian government is on the eve of granting permission begin construction on the Belo Monte Dam, which would carve the world's third largest hydroelectric dam into the heart of the Amazon. We need to take action now before it's too late.

    November 2010
    911 views
    1 min read

    Amazon in Focus 2010

    In this year’s Amazon in Focus, we are pleased to present to you powerful and insightful articles from our campaigners in the field. The journeys and events that inspired these articles demonstrate the breadth of our work and, at the same time, the depth of our connection to our indigenous partners and the rainforest.

    Fall 2010
    919 views
    1 min read

    The September Eye on the Amazon Is Out!

    The latest version of our Eye on the Amazon enewsletter is out and online. Among other developments, it highlights the historic agreement the Government of Ecuador has made with the United Nations to create a trust fund in exchange for refraining from drilling for oil in the Yasuni National Park.

    September 9, 2010
    5,724 views
    1 min read

    Brazil Dam Project Prompts Animated Response from Director Cameron

    CNN | Movie director, James Cameron has teamed up with environmental campaigners in an effort to help Brazilian tribes' epic fight against the construction of a controversial dam in northern Brazil. "Defending the Rivers of the Amazon" is a 10-minute interactive presentation created jointly by Amazon Watch and International Rivers.

    September 3, 2010
    2,198 views
    4 min read

    Defending the Rivers of the Amazon, with Sigourney Weaver

    10-minute Tour in 3-D Highlights the Dam's Harmful Impacts on Xingu River and Greener Alternatives

    Amazon Watch and International Rivers | Sigourney Weaver Narrates New Google Earth Animation on Brazil's Controversial Belo Monte Dam in the Amazon Rainforest.

    August 30, 2010
    3,188 views
    1 min read

    Sigourney Weaver Narrates New Google Earth Animation on Belo Monte Dam

    10-minute Tour in 3-D Highlights the Dam's Harmful Impacts on Xingu River and Greener Alternatives

    Amazon Watch and International Rivers have teamed up to create a state-of-the-art 10-minute Google Earth 3-D tour and video narrated by actress Sigourney Weaver in support of Brazil's Movimento Xingu Vivo Para Sempre. The video and tour allow viewers to learn about the harmful impacts of, and alternatives to the massive Belo Monte Dam Complex on...

    August 30, 2010
    2,473 views
    3 min read

    Defending the Rivers of the Amazon

    Today, Amazon Watch and International Rivers are releasing a new Google Earth tour and YouTube video called "Defending the Rivers of the Amazon," narrated by Sigourney Weaver, to draw attention to the impacts of the proposed Belo Monte Dam Complex on the people and ecology of the Xingu River.If built, Belo Monte would

    August 30, 2010
    2,677 views
    2 min read

    A Big Push to Stop the Belo Monte Monster Dam

    It's a big day for Amazon Watch and our Brazil campaign team. We're involved in a major push to highlight the struggle against the Belo Monte Monster Dam in the Brazilian Amazon.

    August 27, 2010
    2,758 views
    1 min read

    A Message From Pandora Trailer

    "A Message from Pandora" is a special feature produced by James Cameron about the battle to stop the Belo Monte Dam on the Xingu, one of the great tributaries of the Amazon River.

    August 27, 2010
    2,588 views
    1 min read

    James Cameron and Avatar Cast Shine Spotlight on Real Battles to Defend "Pandoras on Earth"

    "A Message From Pandora" Tells the Story of the Battle to Stop the Belo Monte Dam in Brazil's Amazon Rainforest Watch a 3-minute Trailer on Avatar's Movie website or on www.messagefrompandora.org

    Timed with the re-release of Avatar in theatres today, highly acclaimed director James Cameron has teamed up with Amazon Watch to produce a short feature "A Message from Pandora." The documentary spotlights the battle to stop the massive Belo Monte Dam on the Xingu River in the Brazilian Amazon, which thousands of lo

    August 27, 2010
    5,171 views
    3 min read

    Historic Indigenous Summit Calls for Halting Brazil's Belo Monte Dam

    Hundreds Converge on the Xingu River in Altamira to Highlight Threats from Mega-infrastructure Projects in the Amazon

    Altamira, Brazil – Hundreds of indigenous leaders from throughout the Brazilian Amazon Basin joined local riverbank dwellers and dam-affected people this week for the historic Terra Livre Regional Encampment.

    August 12, 2010
    4,137 views
    3 min read

    Environmental Impact Studies on Dams Count for Little in Amazon

    Inter-Press Service (IPS) | ALTAMIRA, Brazil, Aug 10, 2010 (IPS) - "It's a fait accompli," acknowledges André Villas-Boas, head of the independent SocioEnvironmental Institute (ISA), resigned to the fact that the legal actions and protests have failed to block the construction of the Belo Monte hydroelectric dam in Brazil's Amazon jungle region.

    August 12, 2010
    2,684 views
    5 min read

    Indigenous and Social Leaders Gather in Defense of the Xingu River, August 9-12

    Participants Affirm "The fight is not only against Belo Monte!"

    Altamira, Brazil – At the second day of the gathering "In Defense of the Xingu: Against Belo Monte!", impassioned, steadfast speeches were given amidst colorful feather head dresses, and painted bodies and faces.

    August 10, 2010
    2,119 views
    3 min read

    Indigenous Encampment Planned on Xingu River

    Hundreds to Converge in Altamira to Highlight Threats of Proposed Belo Monte Dam Members of the Press Invited to Attend

    Altamira, Brazil - Hundreds of Brazilian indigenous leaders from the Amazon Basin will be joined by local riverbank dwellers and dam-affected people to participate in a regional meeting of the Terra Livre Encampment, in Altamira, Pará, from August 9-12.

    August 5, 2010
    3,800 views
    2 min read

    Growing Legal Crisis Around Belo Monte

    The Brazilian government's ruthless and politicized attacks on the Ministerio Publico Federal (MPF), in particular its targeting of the key Altamira-based Judge Antonio Carlos de Almeida Campelo, has seriously undermined the legal case against the controversial Belo Monte dam.

    June 11, 2010
    6,101 views
    3 min read

    The Kayapo Continue Blockades of Amazon Highway for the 28th Straight Day in Protest of the Belo Monte Dam

    Brazil's Indigenous Peoples Vow to Block Dam Construction or "Die Fighting for our Rights"

    Piaraçu, Xingu National Park, Brazil – A group of Kayapo indigenous people led by Chief Megaron Txukarramãe have been blockading the Xingu River crossing of the BR-80, ­a major Amazon highway in Mato Grosso State since April 23 in protest of the government's plans to build the massive Belo Monte Dam.

    May 21, 2010
    1,385 views
    3 min read

    Brief on Belo Monte

    The Federal Injunctions of the Belo Monte AuctionThe Belo Monte auction took place on April 20, 2010 amidst the street protests taking place in major cities across Brazil. Leading up to the auction date three injunctions (restraining orders) were issued by a federal judge of Altamira.

    May 19, 2010
    2,995 views
    7 min read