• Energy

Oil Spills Across the Americas Threaten Precious Ecosystems

• Bolsonaro
• Brazil
• Keystone
• oil spill

Marine scientists in Brazil are closely monitoring a mysterious oil spill from August that has reached the Abrolhos Bank along the central part of the Brazilian coastline–which is the largest biodiversity hot spot in the South Atlantic Ocean.

At the same time, it was revealed last week that the Keystone Pipeline leaked 383,000 gallons of oil in its second big spill in two years. 

• Land

Brazilian Government Plans Mining on Native Lands

• Amazon
• Brazil
• indigenous rights
• mining
• rainforest

Acting without the consent of the indigenous people of the Amazon, who have a guaranteed right to their land under the Brazilian constitution, the country’s new Minister of Mining and Energy announced a plan to permit mining companies to conduct operations on previously protected indigenous lands. 

• Land

Brazil’s Amazon Protected Areas Now At Risk

• Amazon
• Bolsonaro
• Brazil
• carbon
• climate change
• deregulation
• indigenous rights
• rainforest
• reforestation
• trees

Brazil’s new President, Jair Bolsonaro, who is ultra-conservative and ran on a promise of deregulation similar to President Trump’s, has moved the administration of Brazil’s extensive protected areas in the Amazon from the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs to the Agriculture Ministry.  This “paves” the way for new and increased development in the Amazon and the loss of a major global carbon sink.