James Cameron's Avatar in the Amazons

The Amazon river according to wikipedia is the largest river (Nile River is the Longest) in the world with a total river flow greater than the next ten largest rivers combined. The Amazon, which has the largest drainage basin in the world, accounts for approximately one-fifth of the world's total river flowthen a dam project comes over.

Director James Cameron said Monday that a real-life "Avatar" battle is playing out in Brazil's Amazon rain forest (the largest rain forest and most species rich tract of land), where indigenous groups are trying to halt the construction of a huge hydroelectric project.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Cameron said he was in Brazil's capital to support Indian and environmental groups as they stage protests against the Belo Monte dam project.

"I'm drawn into a situation where a real-life 'Avatar' confrontation is in progress," Cameron said in a telephone interview while en route to protests taking place in front of the Mines and Energy Ministry.

"What's happening in 'Avatar' is happening in Brazil and places like India and China, where traditional villages are displaced by big infrastructure projects," he added.

The $11 billion Belo Monte hydroelectric dam — which if completed would be the world's third-largest such project — was cleared for construction Feb. 1 by the Environment Ministry. Bidding for prospective builders is expected to take place later this month.

Brazil's government has said that even if it can't find private partners for the dam's construction on the Xingu River, which feeds the Amazon River, the nation has the funds to finish the project itself.

The administration of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva argues that the dam will provide clean energy and is needed to meet current and future energy needs.

Environmentalists are sharply opposed. They say it will devastate wildlife and the livelihoods of 40,000 people who live in the area to be flooded. They also argue that the energy generated by the dam will largely go to big mining operations in the Amazon, not benefit the average person. - from yahoo

Yup, not to benefit the average person but only their pockets, hope these guys will think this through, what will happen to our earth?

We are bringing upon ourselves our very own extinction. We our inflicting a punishment to this Earth that it does not.even deserve. We have long been cared for our home yet we repay it with its own destruction.