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On Wednesday, an environmentalist campaign gathered steam against public funding $2.6 billion Camisea Gas Project Peru, Inter-American Development Bank delayed week vote approve $75 million loan pipeline. A decision $200 million loan pending Export-Import Bank.

And week London, global environmental groups fighting proposed hydroelectric dam Belize argued before British Privy Council what activists said first environmental case council's history.

The trend fighting internationally funded energy projects through global efforts not new. But over past decade, under pressure environmentalists other nongovernment organizations, multilateral development banks other agencies have gone little public scrutiny some most environmentally damaging white elephants incorporating environmental other impact assessments into their decision making

A dam China

Case point: controversial, milewide Three Gorges Dam on Yangtze River China. dam being built, but has World Bank funding.

"What you have going on an internal dynamic within multilateral development agencies has put more scrutiny on these projects," said Robin Rosenberg, deputy director North-South Center University Miami. "They don't stop projects, but strength nongovernment organizations only amplifies what has been happening over past six seven years."

One hard-fought case involves Peruvian project extract gas areas inside government reserve indigenous people transport across tropical forests an export terminal wetlands area.

The project brings dozens companies, including division Techint Pluspetrol energy firms Argentina, SK Corp. South Korea, Sonatrach Algeria G y M Peru.

Eye on Halliburton

Yet has garnered attention because involvement Hunt Oil Halliburton, both which have close ties Bush administration. (Vice President Cheney formerly headed Halliburton.)

Efforts Amazon Alliance, Amazon Watch Environmental Defense have had some impact, several lawmakers recently sent letters banks.

"It's unfortunate U.S. tax dollars are going fund destruction rain forests indigenous cultures prof those companies with ties White House," said Atossa Soltani, executive director Amazon Watch.

But, government insists, current decision making not influenced corporate pressure.

"I have heard pressure," said Tony Fratto, spokesman Treasury Department, which oversees representative IDB. "I've never seen any evidence."

Phone not ringing

He added one had called Treasury say must support project.

For U.S. government, Fratto said, an equally important question is: Should development bank lend money giant energy companies can obtain commercial bank loans?

In Belize, activists have fought Canadian energy company Fortis' construction Chalillo Dam on Macal River. BioGems project Natural Resources Defense Council local activists leapfrogged over an appeals court decision ask full hearing before Privy Council, which has standing former British colony.

On Wednesday, activists asked an injunction against construction, pending full hearing set Dec. 3-4. Belize's government representative has pledged abide court's decision, could contradict Macal River Hydro-electricity Act, which gives project go-ahead despite any court ruling.