• Duke Energy pulls out of dam project

In late January 2001, Duke Energy International withdrew its backing for the proposed Chalillo dam in Belize, which would flood more than 2000 acres of unique wildlife habitat in the Macal River valley -- home to the jaguar, scarlet macaw and other rare rainforest creatures. The decision came after more than 20,000 activists wrote protest letters to Duke. The campaign to stop the dam goes on, with NRDC and Belizean activists stepping up the pressure on Fortis, the Canadian company that is the driving force behind the Chalillo dam.