the canal is the pet project of nicaraguan president daniel ortega, seen here with wang jing, a little-known chinese telecom billionaire, promising to put up 50 billion dollars to turn a long-held dream into reality. the route, announced in 2013 by wang jing's h-k-n-d group-- and posted on their website, cuts through some of the most environmentally sensitive areas in central america, including lake nicaragua. many in the scientific and legal communities are concerned. >> so this is the map of the company where it indicates all of the area of the canal, all of this is the area that is going to be flood. >> monica lopez baltodano is the director of a popolna, a group fighting the canal. like many who oppose the plan she speaks out at her own risk. >> we are worried along with scientists in the country but internationally that the canal is going to be the end of our main water resource. we have a huge task because the government actually has control over most of nicaraguan media, i mean tv and radio. >> the only way to see what's really at stake here is to get wet. >> listo? listo. >> so right