Amazonas Jungle
Like a sad chronicle of an announced death, in the midst of the great deforestation that is affecting the entire globe. When we are all experiencing the effects of climate change, pollution, the continuous destruction of nature ... We understand something. The exploitation of the planet in exchange for money to eat, will end up giving money with nothing to eat. Money is not destroyed, the planet is. How much wisdom is there in the Indian prophecy that says: “Only when the last tree has been cut down; only when the last river has been poisoned; only when the last fish has been caught; only then will the white man discover that money is not edible. '
Despite everything, we sometimes come across news, which seems to come from a place where none of this affects. This time, a measure decreed by the president of Brazil, Michel Temer. Which? The crazy idea of auction a huge part of the Amazon rainforest, equivalent to the entire area that the country of Denmark occupies. The motives? Economic mining in the area.
Brazilian justice overturns the decree promoted by Temer
Brazil is immersed in a process of large privatizations in general. The auction in this area of the Amazon was intended to serve as a bargaining chip for the country's political crisis and economic growth. Little by little coming out of the recession, but with very slight growth. This measure also involved the entry of private companies, and has not been without great controversy. Ecologists, politicians, environmentalists, peoples, have echoed this news "The auction of the lung of the planet".
This measure, which was adopted last week, has not taken long to reach the courts of the country of Brazil itself. A week later, this past Wednesday, the Brazilian justice suspended the decision made by the Michel Temer government. The importance of this area lies in the mineral sources that lie there. Copper, iron, manganese, gold ... A further area very extensive, 47.000 square kilometers. The judge of the federal district of Brasilia understands that a mineral reserve cannot be modified by a simple administrative act of the president.
How was it intended to be carried out?
Once the area has been released for mining, the next step would be to auction the licenses for its exploitation to the companies. The Government confirms that all protection areas would continue to be so. On the part of the opposition they assure that contrary to this, 90% of the authorized areas for their exploitation correspond to areas that are protected.
Luiz Jardim, Professor of Geography at the State University of Rio de Janeiro who is also a member of the National Committee in Defense of the Territories against Mining said, “the Government knows that this is an area of intense biodiversity and highly preserved. And even so, it is showing that it has an interest in opening the place for big projects. Furthermore, he continues, «we know that mining is the gateway to other interests, like opening roads, attracting loggers ... it is a threat to those units in conservation.
The rich Amazon, in grave danger
The Amazon is not only the lung of the planet, producing 20% of the world's oxygen. 20% of the world's fresh water belongs there. 1 in 5 species of birds is native to the Amazon. 80% of the world's fruits originate from there. Let's not even talk about insects, and the great biodiversity that we find there. A huge and gigantic natural wealth that is.
The Senator of Amapa, Randolfe Rodrigues, qualified the decree as "The worst attack in history on the Amazon." He also added in the interview with Reuters, “we are going to do everything we can, legal actions, legislative actions, pressure on leaders, artists and if necessary we will go to the pope«. A month ago, Pope Francis expressed support and greater protection for the Amazon as well as for the indigenous people who live there, in Ecuador.
We hope we don't have to find out any more about an atrocity like this. It is not a very good way to thank this beautiful jungle that has given us so much and continues to give us, to exploit it for its minerals.