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This “paves” the way for new and increased development, which had long been urged by powerful business and agriculture interests, as some development was taking place illegally already because protections and enforcement on indigenous lands were increasingly weakened in recent years.
Bolsonaro tweeted in defense of the decision that “More than 15% of the national territory is demarcated as indigenous land and quilombolas. Less than a million people live in these isolated places in Brazil, exploited and manipulated by NGOs. Let us together integrate these citizens and value all Brazilians.”
Many environmental and native rights groups had feared the worst for millions of acres of native controlled and protected lands in the Amazon rainforest after Bolsonaro was elected last year, according to The Washington Post. Sônia Guajajara, one of the country’s most prominent indigenous leaders, said in a tweet, “Have you seen? The breakup has begun.”
Some experts questioned the constitutionality of the move.The New York Times stated that “Brazil’s 1988 Constitution, passed as the country emerged from a 21-year military dictatorship, established strong protections for Brazil’s historically marginalized groups, seeking to make amends for decades of institutionalized discrimination and brutality.”
Why This Matters: This power shift is more than just re-arranging the deck chairs in a new administration, as the government claimed in trying to minimize its impact. Many predict it is just the beginning and that many more anti-environmental policies are likely to be rolled out in the weeks ahead. This move puts at risk a major source of climate change mitigation and the land rights of a million native Brazilians, not to mention the decades of work of many environmental groups who were succeeding in slowing the growth of deforestation in Brazil. Brazil was previously known for its strong environmental protection — just like the U.S. Not so much anymore for either nation.
By Natasha Lasky, ODP Staff Writer The earth is collapsing under Russia’s northeastern towns as global warming melts the permafrost beneath them. Permafrost occupies 65% of Russia’s landmass, making this massive thawing particularly destructive. “There isn’t a single settlement in Russia’s Arctic where you wouldn’t find a destroyed or deformed building,” said Alexey Maslakov, […]
By Ashira Morris, ODP Staff Writer Heirs’ property is a type of land ownership whereby property is passed down without a will, and it’s one of the main reasons Black families in the US are losing their land. But the Mobile Basin Heirs’ Property Support Initiative announced yesterday could help families in Mississippi’s Mobile Bay […]
By Natasha Lasky, ODP Staff Writer The White House announced Friday that President Biden will use his executive authority to restore protections for three national monuments drastically reduced during the Trump Administration. He will reestablish and increase the boundaries of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments, both of which are in Utah. The orders […]
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