Lapatilla
Munduruku natives rally in front of the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, on June 6, 2013. Five indigenous tribes are calling for legislation under which they would have to be consulted prior to any official decision affecting them with respect to the dam’s construction. Belo Monte, which is being built at a cost of $13 billion, is expected to flood an area of 500 square km along the Xingu River, displacing 16,000 people, according to the government. Some NGOs have estimated that some 40,000 people would be displaced by the massive project. Indigenous groups say the dam will harm their way of life while environmentalists warn of deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions and irreparable damage to the ecosystem. AFP PHOTO / Evaristo SA