Nicaragua Constructs Enormous Canal, Blind to its Environmental Cost

``"Today we are a region where we defend the principle of sovereignty...so it is no coincidence that this work begins when in our America we have managed to make this great historical leap toward the integration and unity of our people and our entire region," Ortega said hours before marking what he called the beginning of construction on December 22, 2014. Just six days earlier a study on the environmental impact was released, but not for the canal project itself, rather on preliminary construction. The research was paid for by HKND and performed by consultant firm ERM without government involvement.''