CLIMATE CRISIS
- Deforestation leads to ‘lost decade’ in Brazil
Between 2010 and 2021 the country registered a 40.7% increase in gross greenhouse gas emissions, fueled mainly by deforestation, according to figures from the Climate Observatory, which defines the period as Brazil’s “lost decade” in the fight against climate change. According to ((o))eco, the numbers jeopardize the country’s goals of reducing emissions by 2025. - Climate crisis creates risk of food insecurity
Almost two-thirds of the municipalities in the Legal Amazon exhibit high degrees of vulnerability and food insecurity and are not in any position to cope with the consequences of the climate crisis, according to figures from the Information and Analysis System regarding the Impacts of Climate Change (Adapta Brasil), of the Ministry of Science, examined in a report by InfoAmazonia. - ‘Climate adaptation needs to make saving lives a priority’
Climate adaptation needs to be incorporated into public policy and be geared towards saving lives – rather than just being an isolated plan of a few public agencies, states the new National Secretary of Climate Change, Ana Toni, in an interview given to Agência Pública. - Scientists issue ‘final warning’ on climate crisis
The world needs drastic action to limit global warming, according to a report by the UN’s scientific climate panel. Although some damage is irreversible and the window is narrow there is still a chance to curb the most serious impacts using cheaper technologies, according to the latest UN report covered in The Guardian.
FOREST IMPACTS
- Flood in a river rerouted by a power plant leaves families homeless
Families living in the Karipuna Indigenous Land, in the State of Rondônia, were left homeless after the Jaci Paraná River, whose course had been rerouted by hydroelectric power plants, overflowed. The river’s flooding is not natural, but “induced and managed by private electric energy generation concessionaires,” according to researchers interviewed by Amazônia Real. - Illegal mining threatens giant trees
A sanctuary in the Paru State Forest in the State of Pará, which is home to trees more than 80 meters high that may be between 400 and 600 years old, is in danger of being destroyed by illegal miners and land grabbers, according to forest engineer Jakeline Pereira, in an interview given to Deutsche Welle.
POLITICS
- Bolsonaro primed an anti-indigenous bomb
The Bolsonaro government was marked by an “explosive combination of contempt for territorial and human rights and a sophisticated corporate lobbying strategy” in Congress that generated a “boom period” for industrial mining and illegal gold mining in the country, according to a report by the Observatório da Mineração (Mining Observatory) and the socio-environmental monitor Sinal de Fumaça. The document, which you can read here, outlines a timeline of the policies of destruction fostered by the former president.
Imagem aérea de queimada próxima à Flona do Jacundá, no estado de Rondônia, em agosto de 2020. Foto: Bruno Kelly/Amazônia Real
- Lula keeps unconstitutional regulation on indigenous lands
Despite a promise to “repeal” Bolsonaro’s environmental measures, Lula’s government is maintaining a regulation that allows logging and farming operations inside indigenous lands, explains a report by O Joio e o Trigo. This has caused concern among indigenous movements. - Lula gives green light to asphalt BR-319, says Renan Filho
The Transport Minister, Renan Filho, affirmed that he received the endorsement of President Lula to pave the BR-319 federal highway, which runs from Porto Velho to Manaus. However, he admitted there are “environmental problems” in relation to the construction work, according to the portal BNC. - Allies of mining companies launch a congressional front
Deputies and senators who are in favor of gold prospecting launched the Congressional Front for Sustainable Mining at an event with representatives from companies in the area, according to the Observatório da Mineração. The group is headed up by Zé Silva (of the Solidarity Party), who is an ally of the governor of Minas Gerais, Romeu Zema.
PERSECUTION OF DEFENDERS
- Defense lawyer in Bruno and Dom case criticised Dorothy Stang
Américo Leal, who is working for the three men accused of murdering Bruno Pereira and Dom Phillips last year, previously defended the kingpin who ordered the killing of Dorothy Stang, reports Amazônia Real. He also blamed the missionary for her own death in 2005, - Carbon market stirs up agrarian conflicts
Dormant land conflicts in the state of Acre have been rekindled by a rush to take advantage of carbon credit opportunities, reports ((o))eco. Rubber tapper families in the region, who once had to fight off ranchers, are now the target of repossession suits due to the lack of land title regularization. - Critic of illegal gold mining faces death threats
An well-known community leader, Manoel Silva da Cunha, who is an environmentalist and coordinator of the Médio Juruá extractivist reserve, in the municipality of Carauari (in the State of Amazonas), was relocated on safety grounds by ICMBio (Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation), according to Amazônia Real. He received threats after equipment used in illegal gold mining was seized during a joint operation by the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) and the Federal Police in November 2022.
Spell check (Portuguese): Elvira Gago
Translation into Spanish: Meritxell Almarza
English translation: Mark Murray
Photography editing: Marcelo Aguilar, Mariana Greif and Pablo Albarenga
