<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/08/brazilian-president-lula-pledges-new-amazon-dream-at-rainforest-summit>
"The Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has vowed to haul the
Amazon out of centuries of violence, economic “plundering” and environmental
devastation and into “a new Amazon dream”, at the start of a major regional
summit on the world’s largest rainforest.
Addressing South American leaders gathered in the Brazilian city of Belém, Lula
offered a bold blueprint for the future of the Amazon, a 6.7m sq km region that
is home to nearly 50 million people spread across eight countries and one
territory.
The Brazilian leftist promised to repair his country’s environmental and
international reputation after four “disastrous” years under his predecessor,
Jair Bolsonaro, during which the rainforest and Indigenous communities came
under growing attack. “Thankfully … we have managed to turn this sad page in
our history,” said Lula, who took power in January after thwarting Bolsonaro’s
re-election plans.
Lula pledged to promote an ambitious model for the rainforest region – 60% of
which lies within Brazil – in which environmental protection was accompanied by
desperately needed social inclusion, economic growth and technological
innovation.
“The rainforest is neither a void that needs occupying nor a treasure trove to
be looted. It is a flowerbed of possibilities that must be cultivated,” Lula
told the audience, which included the presidents of fellow Amazon nations
Bolivia, Colombia and Peru, as well as the prime minister of Guyana and
Venezuela’s vice-president.
Pledging to achieve zero deforestation by 2030, Lula said: “The Amazon can be
whatever we want it to be: an Amazon with greener cities, with cleaner air,
with mercury-free rivers and forests that are left standing; an Amazon with
food on the table, dignified jobs and public services that are available to
all; an Amazon with healthier children, well-received migrants [and] Indigenous
people who are respected … This is our Amazon dream.”"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
