Sting makes Amazon dam project plea (From Salisbury Journal)

Sting makes Amazon dam project plea

6:33am Monday 23rd November 2009

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Sting has said Brazil's government should listen to the voices of local indigenous groups before building a massive hydroelectric dam in the Amazon rainforest.

The Police singer told a news conference in Sao Paulo the decision to build the Belo Monte dam should be made by all Brazilians, especially the native communities that would be most affected.

The multibillion-dollar project would dam the Xingu River in Brazil's north.

Brazilian officials say the dam is needed to meet the energy demands of its growing economy, while environmentalists say it will swallow rainforest, kill off native fish and displace thousands.

Sting founded the Rainforest Foundation in 1989 after meeting a group of Amazon Indians.

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