The Federal Public Ministry supports these organizations, and announced that it will go to international courts if the Brazilian government does not withdraw the authorization.

Don Erwin Kräutler, president of the Indigenous Missionary Council (CIMI), met with Ibama authorities to communicate their rejection to the announcement. Kräutler said to several media that the Belo Monte project will end up being an “irreparable disaster”.

Adital news agency reported that the granting of a license to build the hydroelectric dam was filled with irregularities, and that the public hearings with indigenous communities, which will be the most affected by the project, were not enough.

The plans to build dams on Xingu River started in the late 70s, and were halted after huge mobilizations in 1989. But the 21st century brought plans by the government to restart the project.

Xingu River runs through two thousand kilometers and more than half of its basin covers protected areas. It is estimated that approximately 14 thousand indigenous people live by Xingu River and would be displaced by the floods caused by the dam, according to the organizations.

One of these organizations, the Brazilian Environmental Justice Network, launched this week an international campaign to demand President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, Energy and Environment Ministers and Ibama authorities to put an end to the project.

To join the campaign in defense of the Xingu River go to: http://www.justicaambiental.org.br/_justicaambiental/pagina.php?id=2564

Photo: Os Verdes

Xingu: por que não queremos Belo Monte