Jair Bolsonaro Launches Assault On Amazon Rainforest Protections
Last edited Thu Jan 3, 2019, 02:05 AM - Edit history (2)
Source: The Guardian
Hours after taking office, Brazil's new president, Jair Bolsonaro, has launched an assault on environmental and Amazon protections with an executive order transferring the regulation and creation of new indigenous reserves to the agriculture ministry - which is controlled by the powerful agribusiness lobby.
The move sparked outcry from indigenous leaders, who said it threatened their reserves, which make up about 13% of Brazilian territory, and marked a symbolic concession to farming interests at a time when deforestation is rising again. "There will be an increase in deforestation and violence against indigenous people," said Dinaman Tux, executive coordinator of the Articulation of Indigenous People of Brazil (Apib). "Indigenous people are defenders and protectors of the environment."
Sonia Guajajara, an indigenous leader who stood as vice-presidential candidate for the Socialism and Freedom party (PSOL) tweeted her opposition. "The dismantling has already begun," she posted on Tuesday. Bolsonaro defended the measure in a tweet on Wednesday. "More than 15% of national territory is demarcated as indigenous land and quilombos. Less than a million people live in these places, isolated from true Brazil, exploited and manipulated by NGOs. Together we will integrate these citizens," he posted.
Previously, demarcation of indigenous reserves was controlled by the indigenous agency Funai, which has been moved from the justice ministry to a new ministry of women, family and human rights controlled by an evangelical pastor.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/02/brazil-jair-bolsonaro-amazon-rainforest-protections
Brazil's new president Bolsonaro, the 'Tropical Trump' was inaugurated yesterday Jan. 1, 2019, New Years Day. Bolsonaro's far-right positions are supported by agribusiness, evangelicals and other conservative groups.
More on the views, positions and inauguration of Bolsonaro, https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142233895
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Brazil's new health minister just suggested there would be spending cuts on healthcare for indigenous people. Bolsonaro promised to end demarcation of new indigenous lands, reduce environmental agencies' power, and increase mining and commercial farming on indigenous lands. The agriculture ministry now has power over new 'quilombos,' rural settlements inhabited by descendants of ex slaves.
Influential televangelist and Bolsonaro friend Silas Malafia, said developed countries that cut down their forests years ago should pay Brazil if they want it to preserve the Amazon. Indigenous leader Tuxa commented: "We will go through another colonisation process, this is what they want."
Protest over Brazil's indigenous land rights, the Amazon and the environment.
Brazil's 'quilombolos,' rural communities made up of descendants of escaped slaves/'maroons.'
Wiki, 'Slavery in Brazil,' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_Brazil Brazil was the last country in the Western world to abolish slavery. By the time it was abolished, in 1888, an estimated four million slaves had been imported from Africa to Brazil, 40% of the total number of slaves brought to the Americas.
Slaves mining diamonds in Brazil, 1770s.
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And fuck the far right in every country on earth. 
