Director James Cameron says ’small victory’ in Brazil delaying bidding on Amazon dam

Cameron: ‘Victory’ in Brazil halting dam

BRASILIA, Brazil — A judge on Wednesday temporarily halted bidding on a controversial hydroelectric dam in the Amazon, a move hailed as a “small victory” by movie director James Cameron, who has taken up the fight against the project.

A Brazilian federal judge in the Amazon state of Para delayed the bidding process for construction on the dam, which would be the world’s third-largest hydroelectric project. The bidding was set for Tuesday.

Judge Antonio Carlos Almeida Campelo said more time was needed to examine claims from Brazil’s attorney general that there were not enough environmental protections in place during the planning of the project.

The decision can be appealed by the administration of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who strongly supports construction of the dam, arguing it will help Brazil meet ever-growing energy needs.

The decision came after Cameron visited Indian villages the past two days in the jungle near the small Amazon city of Altamira near the proposed site of the dam on the Xingu River.

Cameron has taken a personal interest in the battle against the Belo Monte dam, recently lending his voice to groups opposed to the project.

“It’s a small victory for us, but I don’t expect the battle is over,” Cameron told The Associated Press in a telephone interview from Altamira.

Cameron, director of the hit movie “Avatar,” has criticized the project during his visit to Brazil this week. He said he met with about 50 leaders of various Indian groups this week, some of whom traveled by days on rivers for a meeting about the dam.

“Avatar” depicts a fictitious Na’vi race fighting to protect its homeland, the forest-covered moon Pandora, from plans to extract its resources. Many, including Cameron, have drawn parallels between the movie and the campaign by environmental activists and indigenous groups to fight the dam and to protect the Amazon rain forest.

“There was cheering in the streets of Altamira outside our hotel,” Cameron said of the judge’s ruling. “The people of the town and the area are opposed to the dam. There will be few local benefits of this dam.”

Opponents of the Belo Monte project say the energy supplied by the dam will mostly benefit major mining companies in the Amazon.

Brazil’s government, however, says the dam will provide much-needed clean energy for the region.

Cameron send he sent a letter to Silva earlier this week requesting a meeting to discuss the dam. He has yet to hear back from the Silva, who was traveling back to Brazil after a visit to the United States.

Despite it being an uphill battle, Cameron said the environmental and indigenous groups battling against the dam “have made an impact.”

Brazil uses hydroelectric power for more than 80 percent of its energy needs and Silva has been pushing for the construction of more dams.

China’s Three Gorges dam is the world’s largest hydroelectric project in terms of generating capacity, while the Itaipu dam straddling the border between Brazil and Paraguay is the second largest.

Associated Press Writer Alan Clendenning in Sao Paulo contributed to this report.