RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — A leading Brazilian biologist who has fought for the cleanup of Rio de Janeiro's polluted waterways called Saturday on interim President Michael Temer to release emergency funds to pay for the dredging of toxic lagoons hugging the Olympic Park.
Around 650 million Brazilian reais ($184 million) were earmarked for the project years ago but it was held up and has yet to begin.
Biologist Mario Moscatelli made the call during a seaside protest attended by surfers, sailors, rowers and other Rio residents.
Moscatelli is the most visible face of the fight to clean up the Olympic city's waterways, which are polluted by human sewage.