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Brazil hunger strike bishop worse Brazil bishop's fast 'to go on'
(about 10 hours later)
A Brazilian bishop who has been on hunger strike for more than three weeks has been admitted to hospital after he lost consciousness. A Brazilian bishop who has been on hunger strike for 24 days in protest at a major river diversion scheme is said to want to continue his fast.
Luiz Flavio Cappio has been fasting for 23 days in protest at an irrigation project involving the diversion of South America's fourth largest river. Dom Luiz Flavio Cappio is recovering in hospital after collapsing on Wednesday and losing consciousness for some time.
On Wednesday Brazil's Supreme Court annulled a ruling halting the plan. He is calling for an end to a project to divert waters from South America's fourth largest river, saying it will cause lasting environmental damage.
The government says millions in Brazil's arid north-east will benefit.
Bishop Cappio, 61, began his hunger strike on 27 November to protest against the scheme to divert waters from the Sao Francisco river.
See a map of the irrigation project
He was taken to hospital in the city of Petrolina on Wednesday after losing consciousness, prompting increasing worries over his health.
Bishop Cappio and other protesters say it will damage the environment and serve only the interests of the rich.Bishop Cappio and other protesters say it will damage the environment and serve only the interests of the rich.
The Brazilian government says more than 12 million people will benefit from the project on the Sao Francisco river.The Brazilian government says more than 12 million people will benefit from the project on the Sao Francisco river.
A lower court had originally suspended work over alleged irregularities in the approval of the $2bn (£1bn) project.A lower court had originally suspended work over alleged irregularities in the approval of the $2bn (£1bn) project.
But the Supreme Court overturned that ruling by a margin of six votes to three. But on Wednesday the Supreme Court overturned that ruling by a margin of six votes to three.
Vatican talks No compromise
Bishop Cappio, 61 - a prominent opponent of the scheme - began his hunger strike on 27 November. On Thursday, local indigenous groups came to the clinic where Bishop Cappio is being treated to sing and dance in a show of support for him.
Water from the river would be used to irrigate north-eastern Brazil
Both the Vatican and the Brazilian Council of Bishops have been in negotiations with the bishop in an attempt to end his protest, citing his own safety as a factor.Both the Vatican and the Brazilian Council of Bishops have been in negotiations with the bishop in an attempt to end his protest, citing his own safety as a factor.
He was said to be developing health problems. Bishop Cappio is said to want to return to his chapel in Sobradinho to discuss his next moves with the various social movements that back his cause, the BBC's Gary Duffy reports from Petrolina.
A Church spokesman, Roberto Malvezzi, told the Associated Press news agency that Bishop Cappio had passed out on hearing about the Supreme Court decision. The bishop's chapel is in Sobradinho on the banks of the Sao Francisco
He was revived but hours later slipped into semi-consciousness, Mr Malvezzi added. But the room for compromise seems limited, our correspondents says, with the bishop demanding a complete stop to the project and the government keen to press on with it.
Damage limitation
The most immediate impact of the latest court decision is to intensify the dilemma for the government over the hunger strike, says the BBC's Gary Duffy in Sao Paulo.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is a keen supporter of the project, which would bring water through 700km (435 miles) of canals to people and farmers in the north-eastern region of the country, where he was born.Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is a keen supporter of the project, which would bring water through 700km (435 miles) of canals to people and farmers in the north-eastern region of the country, where he was born.
Environmental activists say the project would badly affect biodiversity and possibly the navigability of the river.Environmental activists say the project would badly affect biodiversity and possibly the navigability of the river.
The Supreme Court disagreed and said the project could proceed. In its ruling, the Supreme Court disagreed and said the project could proceed.
But the court did not rule on the alleged irregularities in the project's approval process, and work on the dam can only go ahead until the court decides on the merits of the case at a later date.But the court did not rule on the alleged irregularities in the project's approval process, and work on the dam can only go ahead until the court decides on the merits of the case at a later date.
If the court decides against the plan, it could be shelved for a second time.If the court decides against the plan, it could be shelved for a second time.
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