It was over two decades ago that British rock star Sting fought against building one of the world’s biggest dams in the middle of the Amazon. Now he’s back, to do it all over again.
As reported in Britain’s Telegraph, the former Police bassist and keen environmental activist is campaigning against the Brazilian government’s plans to build a huge dam on the beautiful Xingu River. The project will not only destroy the area’s rich ecosystem but will leave thousands of local people homeless.
“All of the reasons I fought against it 20 years ago are still there,” said Sting from a gig in Venezuela. “It will destroy an entire river system and destroy the lives and culture of the people who live there and have lived there for thousands of years,” he added.
If the project goes ahead, it’s likely to displace over 40,000 indigenous people and kill hundreds of plant and wildlife species. Plus, once the initial dam has been built, it’s believed that others will follow. “The plan is for it to be the first of six or seven dams, with even more destruction,” said Sting.
Big on helping the environment, the musician set up the Rainforest Foundation Fund, in 1989 with his wife Trudie Styler after meeting Chief Raoni Mentuktire, a leader of Brazil’s Kayapo Indians who was worried that his tribe would soon be extinct. Ever since, Sting has led a number of projects in the Amazon to secure land protection and preserve the native culture.
The musician joins other environmental do-gooders James Cameron and Sigourney Weaver in their battle to convince the Brazilian government not to go ahead with the project. President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva claims the dam is essential in providing clean energy for it’s expanding economy.
Photo via ideagirlconsulting.