Dear Friend of Probe International:

I am writing to ask
you to help save wildlife in Belize, Central America, from a proposed
hydroelectric dam that would destroy one of the world’s last remaining
unspoiled tropical habitats.

Belize is one of
the jewels of the Americas. It is precious because of its rich natural
heritage, as well as its human heritage. My wife Birgit and I have been
there twice with our family and we were delighted with the abundance of
wildlife and the pristine quality of much of the countryside. Because
of the large number of mindful people who live there, it has the
opportunity of being a beacon of beauty and biodiversity for the rest
of the world to emulate for centuries to come.

Although I have not
travelled the Macal River, I have viewed it from a high hill. I have
friends who have navigated it and they raved about its wild riches.
Even the thought of the destruction of this valley, through the
building of a dam, shows a shocking insensitivity to the precious
qualities of that region.

The Chalillo dam
would flood almost 1,000 hectares, which presently provides winter
homes for many of the birds we see in summer, such as the wood thrush
and the endangered Acadian flycatcher. The area is also home to the
jaguar and to endangered species such as the scarlet macaw, tapir,
South American river otter and the Morelet’s crocodile.

We have lost far,
far too many species already. I don’t believe we have the right to make
these irreversible choices for our children and grandchildren.

Probe
International, an organization I have long supported, first became
involved in opposing the dam more than a year ago. Unbelievably, the
dam proposal is actually backed by the Canadian government and a large
Canadian company. Naturally, when environmentalists in Belize asked
Probe for help they couldn’t say no, and neither could I.

Please join me now in supporting Probe International in its efforts to protect this world-class habitat.

Sincerely,

Robert Bateman