Brazil moves to stop Amazon deforestation amid fears of rising soya planting

Brazil moves to stop Amazon deforestation amid fears of rising soya planting
Thu, Jan 24 2008, 16:19 GMT
http://www.afxnews.com

BRASILIA (Thomson Financial) - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has called a meeting of top ministers to hammer out a plan to stop an alarming rise in deforestation of the Amazon, a presidential aide said.

The ministers in charge of the environment, agriculture, justice, defence, and science, along with the country's police chief were to gather at Lula's request in Brasilia to make the matter an urgent priority.

The move follows comments yesterday from environment minister Marina Silva which suggested the high prices fetched for commodities on the international market were pushing the trend.

While the causes of the destruction were still being investigated, Silva noted that "the typical activities of these states was cattle-raising and soya farming."

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worst thing we can do regarding global warming. These areas have acted like a carburetor or the engine that drives our climate. A direct result seems to be warming and droughts.

that people can view the most incredible wonder of our planet as an obstacle to commerce. Burning down rainforest to raise cattle and soy beans is mind numbing in it's stupidity.

what worries you more: immediation poverty & starvation, or deforestation? Its a non-choice for them.

WTF are you doing in the middle of the rainforest in the first place?

You don't just spontaneously appear in the middle of Amazonia with a chainsaw and a bag of soy. Somebody had to truck you out there from Bahia or Minas or Goias or wherever your old farm used to be. Lula is looking to stop that traffic, and maybe even the exploitation that engenders it.

where else do they go? the rainforest is the one place in Brazil where anyone can show up and squat without getting shot by ranchers or the government. Yes its hard labor and dangerous but when you are faced with starvation and grinding poverty what are your other options? American pioneers living on the frontier faced the same choice: stay in crowded cities try to support your family, or move to the frontier and brave the elements for a shot at making a living. They chose to take the gamble and so are the Brazilians.

Lets be clear - job opportunity and the disparity of wealth in Brazil is driving this problem. 100,000 acre ranches and soy farms are causing massive deforestation but so are the thousands (millions?) of poorer people looking for opportunity. Both need to be addressed if this problem is to be solved.