Judge Blocks Zipline on Rio's Sugarloaf Mountain
The Spin
Narrative A
Building a zipline on Sugarloaf Mountain — a UNESCO World Heritage site — is a reckless cash grab that sacrifices irreplaceable nature for profit. Drilling into a 560-million-year-old protected monument without proper environmental impact reports is inexcusable, and the noise from screaming riders will devastate nesting birds and wildlife. The court was right to block it and demand $5.77 million in damages.
Narrative B
The Sugarloaf zipline is a world-class attraction that earned approval from both the Rio City Council and IPHAN, and was 95% complete before activists derailed it. Excavation was deliberately minimized by using existing construction areas, making environmental objections overblown. Blocking a fully sanctioned project that would bring millions of visitors a breathtaking new way to experience Rio is a serious mistake.