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Amazon 'rescue' summit in Brazil | Amazon 'rescue' summit in Brazil |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Brazil is hosting a regional summit to discuss climate change and ways of tackling deforestation in the Amazon. | Brazil is hosting a regional summit to discuss climate change and ways of tackling deforestation in the Amazon. |
Delegates from eight nations who share the Amazon basin, as well as France which has an overseas department there, have been holding talks in Manaus. | |
They are discussing Brazil's plan on slowing deforestation with the financial help from rich nations. | |
The meeting comes ahead of a global summit on climate change in Copenhagen, Denmark, next month. | The meeting comes ahead of a global summit on climate change in Copenhagen, Denmark, next month. |
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is chairing the one-day summit. | |
Delegates from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Venezuela and Surinam, are attending, while French President Nicolas Sarkozy is representing French Guiana. | |
'Ambitious message' | 'Ambitious message' |
Presidents Sarkozy and Lula said richer nations must increase their aid to help the poorer countries fight global warming. | |
"The poor need to be supported without any country giving up its sovereignty," President Lula said. | |
Let no gringo [foreigner] ask us to let an Amazonian starve to death under a tree President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva | |
The BBC's Paulo Cabral reports from Manaus that for the past few days diplomats have been negotiating a common position to be presented by the Amazon countries and France at the conference in Copenhagen. | |
He says most of the presidents invited did not come to Manaus, though diplomats say that the ministers and ambassadors sent in their place are in position to close a deal. | |
Mr Lula's spokesman said the Brazilian leader hoped that the talks would yield "an ambitious message on issues of great relevance to the region". | |
"Brazil believes it is crucial for the [Amazon] region to have a converging and co-operative participation," AFP news agency quoted the spokesman as saying. | |
Brazil is proposing to combat deforestation in the Amazon basin with financial backing from wealthy nations. | |
"Let no gringo [foreigner] ask us to let an Amazonian starve to death under a tree," Mr Lula said in a speech ahead of the meeting. | |
"We want to preserve [the forest], but [other countries] have to pay for that preservation." | |
At the summit, the Brazilian government was expected to present its efforts to reduce destruction in the Amazon as a key part of its strategy to combat climate change. | |
Earlier this month, Brazil's government said the rate of deforestation in the Amazon had dropped by 45% - and was the lowest on record since monitoring began 21 years ago. | Earlier this month, Brazil's government said the rate of deforestation in the Amazon had dropped by 45% - and was the lowest on record since monitoring began 21 years ago. |
It said that just over 7,000 sq km (2,700 square miles) had been destroyed between July 2008 and August 2009. Brazil is seeking an 80% reduction in the deforestation rate by 2020. | It said that just over 7,000 sq km (2,700 square miles) had been destroyed between July 2008 and August 2009. Brazil is seeking an 80% reduction in the deforestation rate by 2020. |
The environmental group Greenpeace has welcomed the latest drop but says there is still too much destruction in the rainforest. | The environmental group Greenpeace has welcomed the latest drop but says there is still too much destruction in the rainforest. |
Earlier this month, Brazil said it aimed to cut its carbon emissions by at least 36% below 1990 levels by 2020. | Earlier this month, Brazil said it aimed to cut its carbon emissions by at least 36% below 1990 levels by 2020. |