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Brazil’s Bolsonaro on the Environment, in His Own Words Brazil’s Bolsonaro on the Environment, in His Own Words
(1 day later)
Facing an avalanche of criticism over the fires raging across the Amazon, President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil pledged in a televised address on Friday that his government would take a “zero tolerance” approach to environmental crimes.Facing an avalanche of criticism over the fires raging across the Amazon, President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil pledged in a televised address on Friday that his government would take a “zero tolerance” approach to environmental crimes.
But that position is at odds with Mr. Bolsonaro’s own track record on safeguarding his country’s environment. Since taking office, he has worked relentlessly and unapologetically to roll back enforcement of Brazil’s once-strict environmental protections.But that position is at odds with Mr. Bolsonaro’s own track record on safeguarding his country’s environment. Since taking office, he has worked relentlessly and unapologetically to roll back enforcement of Brazil’s once-strict environmental protections.
More broadly, Mr. Bolsonaro has championed industries that want greater access to protected areas of the Amazon, sought to weaken the land rights of Indigenous people and scaled back efforts to combat illegal logging, ranching and mining.More broadly, Mr. Bolsonaro has championed industries that want greater access to protected areas of the Amazon, sought to weaken the land rights of Indigenous people and scaled back efforts to combat illegal logging, ranching and mining.
But last week, a surge in fires in the Amazon set off a wave of international outrage, with politicians, celebrities and protesters raising the alarm. It soon became clear that Brazil stood to lose mightily if Mr. Bolsonaro did not take action to protect the forest: European leaders said they might walk away from a trade deal struck in June and calls to boycott Brazilian products were gaining traction on social media.But last week, a surge in fires in the Amazon set off a wave of international outrage, with politicians, celebrities and protesters raising the alarm. It soon became clear that Brazil stood to lose mightily if Mr. Bolsonaro did not take action to protect the forest: European leaders said they might walk away from a trade deal struck in June and calls to boycott Brazilian products were gaining traction on social media.
Mr. Bolsonaro felt compelled to dispatch the military to put out blazes — but also rejected millions in aid pledged by the Group of 7 nations to help. Here is a sample of his long history of remarks on Indigenous protections and the environment, which range from dismissive to caustic and crude.Mr. Bolsonaro felt compelled to dispatch the military to put out blazes — but also rejected millions in aid pledged by the Group of 7 nations to help. Here is a sample of his long history of remarks on Indigenous protections and the environment, which range from dismissive to caustic and crude.
Mr. Bolsonaro has often criticized agencies that enforce environmental laws, and called fines for environmental crimes an “industry” that needs to be abolished.Mr. Bolsonaro has often criticized agencies that enforce environmental laws, and called fines for environmental crimes an “industry” that needs to be abolished.
Last week, in a video broadcast live on Facebook, he chided agents from IBAMA, the main federal agency tasked with enforcing environmental laws, for issuing too many fines.Last week, in a video broadcast live on Facebook, he chided agents from IBAMA, the main federal agency tasked with enforcing environmental laws, for issuing too many fines.
“The guy would arrive with a pen in each hand, applying astronomical fines … We put an end to that.”“The guy would arrive with a pen in each hand, applying astronomical fines … We put an end to that.”
The agency’s enforcement actions decreased by 20 percent during the first six months of this year, compared with the same period in 2018.The agency’s enforcement actions decreased by 20 percent during the first six months of this year, compared with the same period in 2018.
Early last week, Mr. Bolsonaro said he suspected the fires had been set by pro-conservation N.G.O.s, in an effort to undermine him. He provided no evidence to back up the assertion.Early last week, Mr. Bolsonaro said he suspected the fires had been set by pro-conservation N.G.O.s, in an effort to undermine him. He provided no evidence to back up the assertion.
“This is the war we face … We are going to do whatever it takes to contain these criminal fires.”“This is the war we face … We are going to do whatever it takes to contain these criminal fires.”
Mr. Bolsonaro has been dismissive of the value of conservation efforts, arguing that environmental regulations should be relaxed to spur economic growth.Mr. Bolsonaro has been dismissive of the value of conservation efforts, arguing that environmental regulations should be relaxed to spur economic growth.
This month, when Germany announced it would halt spending from its $39 million fund for conservation efforts in Brazil, Mr. Bolsonaro said Brazil didn’t need the money. He said he had “a message to dear Madam Angela Merkel,” referring to Germany’s chancellor.This month, when Germany announced it would halt spending from its $39 million fund for conservation efforts in Brazil, Mr. Bolsonaro said Brazil didn’t need the money. He said he had “a message to dear Madam Angela Merkel,” referring to Germany’s chancellor.
“Take that money and use it to reforest Germany, O.K.? You need it way more than we do here.”“Take that money and use it to reforest Germany, O.K.? You need it way more than we do here.”
When a reporter asked Mr. Bolsonaro in early August if economic growth and sustainable development could coexist, the president responded with a crude remark, saying that all people had to do was defecate “every other day, and you will really make everyone’s life better that way.”When a reporter asked Mr. Bolsonaro in early August if economic growth and sustainable development could coexist, the president responded with a crude remark, saying that all people had to do was defecate “every other day, and you will really make everyone’s life better that way.”
“All you need to do is eat a little bit less.”“All you need to do is eat a little bit less.”
Mr. Bolsonaro also recently announced that a sliver of coastline in Rio de Janeiro, a region in his home state that is currently a wildlife reserve, could lose that designation and be developed into a “Brazilian Cancun.”Mr. Bolsonaro also recently announced that a sliver of coastline in Rio de Janeiro, a region in his home state that is currently a wildlife reserve, could lose that designation and be developed into a “Brazilian Cancun.”
When asked about the consequences of such a venture, Mr. Bolsonaro said that environmental issues mattered solely to “vegans, who only eat vegetables.”When asked about the consequences of such a venture, Mr. Bolsonaro said that environmental issues mattered solely to “vegans, who only eat vegetables.”
[Despite the international outcry, many in Brazil strongly support Mr. Bolsonaro’s policies.] [Brazil’s environmental workers have come out against Mr. Bolsonaro as the Amazon burns.]
The president has also argued that ecological reserves “hinder development,” and said that there should be fewer national parks.
When Mr. Bolsonaro was a federal lawmaker in the 1990s, he said he admired the ruthlessness with which the American cavalry fought Native Americans during the expansion of the United States.When Mr. Bolsonaro was a federal lawmaker in the 1990s, he said he admired the ruthlessness with which the American cavalry fought Native Americans during the expansion of the United States.
“The Brazilian cavalry was very incompetent,” Mr. Bolsonaro said.“The Brazilian cavalry was very incompetent,” Mr. Bolsonaro said.
“The North American cavalry were the competent ones because they decimated their Indigenous people in the past and today, they don’t have this problem in their country.”“The North American cavalry were the competent ones because they decimated their Indigenous people in the past and today, they don’t have this problem in their country.”
Mr. Bolsonaro has been a longtime critic of the land demarcation process established by the 1988 Constitution, which set aside large areas of the country as Indigenous reserves. Last year, Mr. Bolsonaro called those territories anachronistic, adding:Mr. Bolsonaro has been a longtime critic of the land demarcation process established by the 1988 Constitution, which set aside large areas of the country as Indigenous reserves. Last year, Mr. Bolsonaro called those territories anachronistic, adding:
“Why must we keep them in reserves, as though they were animals?”“Why must we keep them in reserves, as though they were animals?”
Indigenous people in Brazil are not required to live in reservations, but many feel strongly that doing so is the only way to preserve their culture and heritage.Indigenous people in Brazil are not required to live in reservations, but many feel strongly that doing so is the only way to preserve their culture and heritage.
Soon after taking office, Mr. Bolsonaro vowed he would not sign off on any new land demarcations for Indigenous people. He has argued instead that Indigenous people are eager to make money off their land.Soon after taking office, Mr. Bolsonaro vowed he would not sign off on any new land demarcations for Indigenous people. He has argued instead that Indigenous people are eager to make money off their land.
“They don’t want to be live as though they are confined, like prehistoric beings.”“They don’t want to be live as though they are confined, like prehistoric beings.”
In a meeting this week with governors from Brazil’s nine states in the Amazon region, he said of Indigenous people:
“They want to be integrated into society, they want electricity, they want to be who we are.”
At the same gathering, Mr. Bolsonaro referred to the designation of Indigenous territory as an “industry” that needed to be stopped, adding:
“Indigenous people don’t lobby, don’t speak our language, and yet today they manage to have 14 percent of our national territory … One of their intentions is to hold us back.”