Brazil Approves Belo Monte Dam Construction - AFP

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Over the strong objections of indigenous groups, activists and environmentalists, Brazilian authorities gave a green light Wednesday to what will be the world's third largest hydroelectric plant and dam.

The massive $11 billion project is to be built in western Para state, along the Xingu river in Brazil's Amazon rainforest.

Once completed, the Belo Monte plant will generate some 11,200 megawatts of energy, equivalent to about 11 percent of the power currently produced in Brazil.

Indigenous communities, ecologists and the Catholic Church have spent more than a year campaigning against the dam, which will flood an area of 516 square kilometers (198 square miles) along the banks of the Xingu. Construction of the dam will displace 16,000 people, according to government figures. Local communities also fear the arrival of thousands of workers in the jungle area.

EDIT

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Brazil_approves_huge_Amazon_power_plant_999.html

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1. We can't stop

We just can't help ourselves.