Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Brazil's battle with deforestation

3 comments:

  1. Local people are looking after the forest and land. They are conscious of the problem. They are in the front line, so they would be the first to be slaughtered. They alone are trying, but it is responsibility of everyone, including those who had compromise themselves to make the place livable. Also the outsiders are the big problem with their greed and disregard with life and the Planet future. Let's hope for the best!

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  2. Sorry for bad english. The Brazil waging a real battle between environmentalists, who advocate the end of the total deforestation in Brazil, and peasants, or who prefer a Brazilian economic growth, even if this deforestation occurs. Its members argue that the developed countries grew by sacrificing their forests, and we have the same right.

    For me, it would require greater support from developed countries to which Brazil may be able to preserve the Amazon. The world should indemnify us for choosing the preservation instead of deforestation, as the Amazon region influences the climate of the world. Annual quotas would help to convince local people that keep the forest standing is better, also financially.

    But the U.S. government it seems, follows the same idea of the peasants. The idea that economic growth is more important than the preservation of the environment. At least that's what was clear to the world when it signed the Kyoto Protocol.

    Let's hope now in December the position of the countries of the G2 (U.S. and China) in København, the COP-15. Let's hope that this time the environment is prioritized!

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  3. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, LGBSPAU & Rafael Abreu. You both make valid points and I agree with most of what you said.

    Sadly there is no clear solution to save the Amazon. It is a complex problem. :(

    I do think REDD is a must! I also think protecting indigenous people and setting up more indigenous reserves is extremely important. From what I have read, indigenous reserves help slow forest clearing (and are very effective) in areas with high deforestation. Another thought.... education! People need to be educated about the benefits and value of saving the Amazon rainforest. There are so many animals, plants and species that have never been studied or identified. What if the Amazon has a cure for AIDS, Alzheimer's disease or cancer? If we destroy the forest, we will never know!

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