Opening the Amazon to Commercial Mining - What's At Stake

Pres. Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil wants to open up the Amazon rainforest to commercial mining. We talked to Indigenous leader and activist Sônia Guajajara to learn about the impacts of removing the rainforest from the protection of Indigenous communities.
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On February 5, 2020, President Jair Bolsonaro presented a new a bill to the Brazilian congress that would bring commercial mining, oil, and gas exploration to Indigenous reserves of the Amazon.
'There's really important data that Indigenous people represent 5% of the world's population, but we protect over 82% of the global biodiversity that is still alive in the world,' says activist Sônia Guajajara. 'It's real important data to show the scale of removing territories from Indigenous peoples.'
#Amazon #Brazil #Indigenous #Earth #Environment #Science #NowThis
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[@JustinDeRosa]

We need journalism like this times 1000. Please keep it up.

[@harveytheparaglidingchaser7039]

These indigenous people show us how to love and protect your country, they are role models. Let's respect nature. We're all part of it

[@chasthanhburns123]

I love global warming.

[@mateomurn7505]

@@chasthanhburns123 Sorry but I and most of the global population don't.

[@chasthanhburns123]

@@mateomurn7505 Yes they do. You all to stupid to know it tho. It's like when you mistreat a girl and only realize how much you loved her after she leaves you. If the earth goes back into an ice age because we stop global warming you will be crying for the days of warmth.

[@mateomurn7505]

@@chasthanhburns123 Wanna bet I wont.

[@mateomurn7505]

@@chasthanhburns123 You know that ice ages sooner or later happen.

[@TahtahmesDiary]

Indigenous people worldwide have been suffering and warning about the planet for generations. The "civilized" way of living is driving us extinct. 🍃💔🌎

[@mateoarnez2528]

Yep, that’s right...

[@YassmineWantsPeace]

You're absolutely right

[@chasthanhburns123]

Turn off your civilized electronics and get off the civilized internet then.

[@Aquateenmitch]

This headline made me sick to my stomach... my kids are inheriting an environmental dumpster fire.

[@livinglegacy7]

Bringing awareness everyday!

[@markmaurer6370]

Brazil just wants to extract the resources. The rest of the world including the US should pay Brazil and other countries with natural resources like the rainforest, ones whose value is rooted in their unchanging persistence, to protect those resources. But that compensation should be significant enough to thwart industrial exploitation on a dollar value level, not through policy extorted by the rest of the world

[@Druuna55]

Bolsobaro sounds a million times crazier than Trump... and Trump was already scary beyond belief :(

[@MimiMimi-dh2sb]

Only 59 comments for something so sad and disturbing! This will affect all of our future generations 😡

[@happycamper4734]

They need to find ways to financially benefit from the rainforest without killing it, like through tourism, harvesting nuts etc

[@hfjiswnation4338]

Wish we could but tourists don’t like getting bit by mosquitoes and seeing giant roaches, and nuts aren’t as profitable as mining unfortunately

[@happycamper4734]

@@hfjiswnation4338 oh yeah I forgot about that :( Since you're Brazilian, how would you suggest people protect the rainforest?

[@antrikshtewari]

I get where you are coming from but seriously, how about first protecting the forest for the sake of just that.. a globally impacting and beautiful forest.

[@evgim7606]

🇧🇷🇧🇷This indian is a LIAR!! THE TRUTH 👇🏻. Indigenous people participate in an online hearing with US representatives This is a great opportunity to work with a great team and be a part of the team. Indigenous leaders from different regions of Brazil participated on Monday afternoon (12) in an online audience with representatives of the United States government. On the occasion, topics related to environmental and climate issues and of importance to Brazilian indigenous peoples were discussed, such as the preservation of the environment, sustainable development and the autonomy of communities. The meeting was led by the US ambassador to Brazil, Todd C. Chapman. Leaders from different ethnic groups and regions of the country and representatives of different indigenous entities were present. During the meeting, the participants presented the plurality of peoples and cultures existing in the national territory. At the request of the North American Embassy to the National Indian Foundation (Funai), the agency indicated the participation of the indigenous leaders Azelene Inácio and the chief Gentil Belino, of the Kaingang people; Arnaldo Zunizakae, of the Paresi ethnicity; Felisberto Cupudunepá, from the Umutina people; Edson de Oliveira Santos, of the Bakairi ethnic group; Jocélio Leite Paulino, of the Xucuru people; Irisnaide Souza Silva, of the Macuxi ethnicity; and José Lucas Lemos Duarte, from the Tukano people. Azelene Inácio highlighted the wealth of indigenous voices and realities. “The indigenous peoples of Brazil are not all the same, our realities are very different. I speak of the state of Santa Catarina, in the southern region of Brazil, where the size of our territories, our environmental, cultural and social diversity is very different from the reality of the Amazon ”, he commented. Felisberto Cupudunepá also pointed out the diversity of ethnicities and representativeness. “There are 305 ethnic groups in the country, more than 200 languages ​​spoken. There is not a single representative or institution that speaks on behalf of all indigenous peoples, precisely because of this diversity ”, highlighted the leadership, who is one of the spokespersons for the Group of Indigenous Farmers and Producers of Brazil, which defends the right indigenous peoples to produce and seek autonomy. “Our group represents about a third of the country's indigenous population, who want to work and develop, seeking to align economic development, social development and sustainability. We want the indigenous people to achieve their independence and to be able to produce autonomously and within the legal framework, ”said Cupudunepá. “The policies that apply to the Amazon do not necessarily apply to other regions of the country, which is why it is important to listen to representatives from all of these regions. We, for example, need to produce in order to survive, ”said Azelene Inácio. "There is no point in preserving the environment and not preserving human life," added the indigenous leader, who also stressed the importance of dialogue and respect for the sovereignty of States in international discussions. Arnaldo Zunizakae also showed concern for the preservation of life. “It is important for us to be concerned with the climate issue and the preservation of the environment, but first of all we need to be concerned with the people who live in it. In this sense, we must not confuse Indigenous Lands with Conservation Units ”, stressed Zunizakae. Leader Paresi emphasized the importance of sustainable development and income generation in the villages for improving the living conditions of the communities. "One of our concerns is to see our people well, free from hunger and misery, problems that unfortunately have been occurring in many communities due to the lack of opportunity to work and produce in their territory," he said. Communication Advisory / Funai

[@mikeybohunicky2696]

This is what true patriotism looks like!

[@UKOlsen]

Great to see that your are fighting for a good cause 👍 - I am on your side - MORE perservation of nature and the Amazon forest - and LESS exploit of nature and the Amazon forest 👍 Best regards Ulrik from Denmark

[@evgim7606]

European liars, The Norwegian government, responsible for harsh criticism of Brazil's environmental policies in the past week, is the main shareholder of mining company Hydro, the target of complaints from the Federal Public Ministry (MPF) of Pará and almost 2,000 lawsuits for contamination of rivers and communities of Barcarena (PA), a municipality located in one of the most polluted regions of the Amazon rainforest.

[@mateomurn7505]

@@evgim7606 Dude why are you attacking us. We aren't the government or corporation.

[@evgim7606]

@@mateomurn7505 we will not accept telling lies about our country.

[@mateomurn7505]

@@evgim7606 What lies TROLL? Only lie I see is you.

[@ilikepizza5292]

If this goes through we’re doomed the rainforest is pretty much keeping us alive at this point

[@Josue-th2ho]

BRINGING AWARENESS!

[@EmiliaBRodrigues]

OBRIGADA Sônia Guajajara!

[@karlay455]

The lungs of our planet 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@juanisaaccassador9205]

Let’s end the deforestation & save the Amazon rainforests. Who would become superheroes of the environmental ecosystem!?.

[@ambitiousgirlR]

No respect or regard.....I hope he's stopped!

[@joedirt5327]

Now Its gona get harder to breathe 😔🙏🏾

[@pats9516]

So what can I do to stop this ?

[@Christoff070]

Exactly. I don't understand why the info is presented but ways to help are not

[@theonewind]

It depends where you live, but generally donating to environmental funds in said country will help. Make sure to look at a groups history and credibility before donating. Alternatively, if you are a brazilian you can likely contact your legislators via email, directly, etc to speak your mind about the issue

[@marlenefumagalli7252]

Que mulher inteligente! what an intelligent woman! Unfortunatly the power is irrational and blind!

[@pvtmeepmeep]

Lols what is the cost of lumber right now.

[@Josue-th2ho]

leave the forest alone we’ve done too much damage.

[@neliborba101]

External influences trying to cash in the Amazon.

[@sassysigns8029]

Make people aware of this!!

[@evgim7606]

North American and european are the great liars.....The Norwegian government, responsible for harsh criticism of Brazil's environmental policies in the past week, is the main shareholder of mining company Hydro, the target of complaints from the Federal Public Ministry (MPF) of Pará and almost 2,000 lawsuits for contamination of rivers and communities of Barcarena (PA), a municipality located in one of the most polluted regions of the Amazon rainforest.

[@heygianluca9428]

And people idolize and glorify this guy like he's the best thing to ever happen to brazil 🤦🏻‍♂️ stop this nonsense

[@guillermojarne2803]

Unbelievable!!!

[@mulichii08]

Please....protect the amazon.

[@thisismetoday]

Why are we only talking about indigenous land? Talk about biodiversity! The Amazon is the most biodiverse area on the planet!

[@abrahamnhd3517]

When you cut it down, take the minerals, you re-plant them back up. That simple.

[@keirfarnum6811]

Bolsonaro is nuts.

[@Jarod-te2bi]

The head of Brazil’s army, airforce, and navy resigned in protest of the Brazilian president trying to make the military loyal to him and not the Brazil constitution.

[@evgim7606]

North American and european are the great liars.....The Norwegian government, responsible for harsh criticism of Brazil's environmental policies in the past week, is the main shareholder of mining company Hydro, the target of complaints from the Federal Public Ministry (MPF) of Pará and almost 2,000 lawsuits for contamination of rivers and communities of Barcarena (PA), a municipality located in one of the most polluted regions of the Amazon rainforest.

[@hfjiswnation4338]

@@evgim7606 how is that related to the armed forces

[@mateomurn7505]

@@evgim7606 BOT😆!

[@johnjude2685]

Plenty of coal in Kentucky and we the USA owns it.

[@Paine137]

We are the asteroid.

[@AA-wz8vv]

Welcome to the great reset

[@tompeled6193]

Good, Brazil is finally developing.

[@ThePinkpanda678]

I’m confused Tom, did you watch the video?

[@evgim7606]

North American and european are the great liars.....The Norwegian government, responsible for harsh criticism of Brazil's environmental policies in the past week, is the main shareholder of mining company Hydro, the target of complaints from the Federal Public Ministry (MPF) of Pará and almost 2,000 lawsuits for contamination of rivers and communities of Barcarena (PA), a municipality located in one of the most polluted regions of the Amazon rainforest.

[@laborincana4490]

Developing into what, a graveyard?

[@evgim7606]

@@laborincana4490 nothing to do with your ignorance. You know nothing about Brazil.

[@theonewind]

???????????????

[@pvtmeepmeep]

Yeah cut it all down and dig it all up

[@justinthyme7275]

Mine away... It's your country.

[@ThePinkpanda678]

Did you take the time to listen to anything she said?

[@justinthyme7275]

@@ThePinkpanda678 This has been going on in Brazil for decades. You kids don't know much about the world.

[@evgim7606]

North American and european are the great liars.....The Norwegian government, responsible for harsh criticism of Brazil's environmental policies in the past week, is the main shareholder of mining company Hydro, the target of complaints from the Federal Public Ministry (MPF) of Pará and almost 2,000 lawsuits for contamination of rivers and communities of Barcarena (PA), a municipality located in one of the most polluted regions of the Amazon rainforest.

[@theonewind]

@@justinthyme7275 did he/she laim to not know about the past activities of Brazil?

[@ThePinkpanda678]

@@justinthyme7275 considering I don’t have any children your technically right. I am really interested though in trying to understand why you feel too inferior to communicate like an adult. Rather than throwing around baseless insults, why not take the time to have a genuine and productive conversation?