Probe International – Press Advisory

November 1, 2001

Environmentalists target TSE-listed power company.

Robert Kennedy, Jr. will join environmentalists Belize, Canada United States news conference Thursday alert Canadian shareholders plans Newfoundland-based Fortis flood Belize’s Macal River Valley, one wildest places remaining Central America. Kennedy other leading environmentalists will urge power company’s shareholders cancel proposed Chalillo dam. Other speakers will present evidence Fortis’ dam bad deal environment economy Belize an international embarrassment Canada.

SPEAKERS:
Robert Kennedy, Jr., Natural Resources Defense Council
Jamillah Vasquez, Belize Alliance Conservation NGOs
Sharon Matola, Belize Zoo
Greg Malone, Newfoundland hydro activist
Elizabeth May, Sierra Club Canada
Gráinne Ryder, Probe International

WHEN:
Thursday, November 1, 2001, 11:30 AM

PHOTO AND VIDEO OPPORTUNITIES:
TV newspaper ad campaign material, well photos wildlife threatened dam, will available. Post-conference interviews with speakers can arranged.

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CONTACT:
Gráinne Ryder, Policy Director, Probe International
(416) 964-9223 ext. 228 cell phone (416) 333-1697

BACKGROUND:
Fortis Inc., billion-dollar Canadian corporation traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange, majority owner Belize Electricity, which wants flood an invaluable stretch Belize’s Macal River Valley. Fortis President CEO Stanley Marshall has said company ready start building $45 million hydro dam January even though Fortis’ own wildlife consultants, the Natural History Museum London, has recommended the dam not built. study, paid Canadian government, concludes dam will cause “significant irreversible” harm more than dozen rare endangered species, including the jaguar, freshwater crocodile, howler monkey, scarlet macaw. Fortis’ dam would flood ancient Maya archaeological sites.

Fortis’ top shareholders include Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board, Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement Board, Royal Bank Investment Management. A complete list major shareholders will presented press conference.

For background on campaign stop Fortis save Macal River Valley, vis coalition’s web site www.stopfortis.org.