HydroAysen project stopped in its tracks

[rabs]

A Chilean court in Puerto Montt (southern Chile) today accepted appeals against the project. The appeals were filed by several national legislators and environmental groups opposed to the five dams in Patagonia.

In effect, what the court did was to paralyze the project from going ahead for now while legalities are cleared in the courts. That could take months, or years.

This is another setback for Pinera.

http://www.emol.com/noticias/economia/detalle/detallenoticias.asp?idnoticia=488222

edit to add link (Spanish, El Mercurio of Santiago)

[Judi Lynn]

1. If only this can be averted. What a horrible, horrible idea. The people must be heard,

it's their country, after all.

Sure hope there is reason to be tentatively optimistic about this.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Chile court suspends Patagonian HidroAysen dam project

20 June 2011 Last updated at 19:51 ET
Chile court suspends Patagonian HidroAysen dam project

~snip~
The project has sparked a number of protests, some of which have seen violent clashes between demonstrators and the security forces.

The government says the dams are needed to meet the country's increasing demand for electricity.

But environmentalists say they will damage the area's fragile ecology and its tourist potential.

They also say the energy produced will be used mainly for the country's mining industry.

More:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13851219