A Brazilian judge halted work on the multi-billion dollar Belo Monte dam, ruling in favor of fisheries groups who argued that the dam posed a threat to the livelihoods of indigenous communities on the Xingu river. The government has said that the dam, which would be the world's third largest, is necessary to meet Brazil's growing energy needs and will provide electricity to 23 million homes. But Judge Carlos Castro Martins barred Norte Energia, the company behind the project, from building infrastructure that would interfere with the flow of the river and affect fish stocks. The injunction is the latest development in a decades-long battle against the Belo Monte dam. Last March, a federal judge had ordered construction stopped until precautions to avoid reduced water level were met. One week later, a higher court lifted the ban, saying that construction could continue without all precautions being met, in spite of protest from indigenous groups who said that up to 50,000 indigenous people will lose their livelihoods. For the full story, see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-15102520 and http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/sep/29/brazilian-judge-monte-bello-dam.