The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org. December 23, 2014 Nicaragua Begins Canal Project That Could Displace Tens of Thousands --------------------------------------------------------------------- Nicaragua has announced the start of construction for a $50 billion canal project which has been fiercely opposed by indigenous groups and other local residents. The canal, which is being built by a Hong Kong-based firm, would cut through Nicaragua, connecting the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean and passing through the region's largest freshwater source. Protesters say it will displace tens of thousands of people and destroy huge swaths of the rainforest.