Brazilian bishop says he'll continue to strike until water plan stops

Published: 2007-12-12

BARRA, Brazil (CNS) -- Despite a court order halting work on a controversial water project, a Brazilian bishop who has been on a hunger strike said he would continue until the government shelves the plan. Bishop Luiz Cappio of Barra in the northeastern state of Bahia began a protest of fast and prayer Nov. 27 over a project designed to rechannel water from the Sao Francisco River, which flows through five states and 503 districts. On Dec. 11, a Brazilian court issued an injunction halting work on the project, which began in March and involves the construction of more than 400 miles of canals. The government said it would appeal. Officials say the $3.7 billion project is needed to provide water to 12 million people in northeastern Brazil, an area plagued by drought and poverty. Opponents say the project will benefit mining companies, large-scale farmers and export shrimp producers while threatening drinking and irrigation water supplies for small farmers and communities. The Pastoral Land Commission and grass-roots and labor organizations supporting Bishop Cappio have proposed less expensive alternatives that they say could serve more than 30 million people.

Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .