“This is absolutely outrageous,” said Marcelo Maquesini,
Greenpeace Amazon coordinator, and part of the team trapped at the
Ibama offices. “The Brazilian state cannot even manage to ensure
basic constitutional rights such as security and freedom of
movement. Rather than standing up to the loggers, the government
has given in to the law of the mob.”
The exhibition has wide support across Brazil, and the governors
of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo had already confirmed their
attendance. By 2006, over one sixth of the Amazon rainforest had
been destroyed, equivalent to an area larger than France.
Deforestation accounts for one-fifth of global greenhouse gas
emissions. Brazil’s rates of deforestation, mainly from the Amazon,
account for three-quarters of its greenhouse gas emissions, and
make it the fourth largest climate polluter in the world.
Loggers blocked the Greenpeace team after collecting the tree.
The activists managed to escape to the Ibama offices, where 300
loggers with eight trucks, ten vans and 15 motorbikes surrounded
the building.
“It is disgraceful that loggers, many involved in illegal forest
destruction, were allowed to stop eight people legally taking one
dead tree,” continued Maquesini. “The Brazilian government still
has a long way to go until proper governance is brought to the
Amazon. If Brazil is to be taken seriously by the international
community in regards to climate negotiations, biodiversity or human
rights, then they need to be able to enforce basic law and order in
the areas where forests are being destroyed.”
Greenpeace demands the expedition team be immediately provided
with local, state and federal security, in order to be able to
return home safely. Greenpeace is also urging the Brazilian
government to allow them to take the Brazil nut tree as agreed, so
that they can continue with their expedition and highlight the
urgent need to stop deforestation, and combat climate change.
Greenpeace, in cooperation with nine other groups, two weeks ago
launched a proposal for a national agreement to end Amazon
deforestation at an event attended by the Brazilian Minister of
Environment and State Governors. The proposal seeks a broad
commitment from the Brazilian government and civil society to
create measures to ensure urgent protection for the Amazon
rainforest.
VVPR info: [email protected]
