The burning of the Amazon: Would the U.S. use this as a pretext for invasion?

 

 

Jornal Nortao, Brazil

After the U.S. Invasion of Iraq, Will Amazonia Be Next?

 

"As we all know, this is the country with the largest reserves of drinking water in the world. And where is the water? In the Amazon! And how might the North Americans intervene here? Easily! They just need an alibi such as, 'they [Brazilians] aren't protecting the forest,' or 'they aren't protecting the indigenous people,' or even 'they aren't fighting slavery in the Amazon."

 

By Eliene Lima*

                           

 

Translated By Brandi Miller

 

April 23, 2008

 

Brazil - Jornal Nortao - Original Article (Portuguese)

As you all know, in January of this year Mato Grosso was the target of harsh criticism from environmental non-government organizations and the federal government after it was singled out by INPE (National Space Research Institute ) as being the state with the most deforestation between August and December 2007.

 

The news caught everyone by surprise, since the state's environmental representatives had taken strong action to reduce deforestation to remove Mato Grosso from the ranks of the worst deforesters.

 

But time passed and justice is being done. Last Tuesday (Apr. 22), the INPE released new figures on Amazon deforestation which were recorded in March. The data show that Mato Grosso had reduced newly cleared areas by 82 percent. This means that between February and March of this year, my state decreased newly deforested areas by over 80 percent. These figures show the commitment of Mato Grosso's leaders to ending the unbridled deforestation that has been occurring in this state for over 15 years.

 

And speaking of deforestation, I want to take this opportunity to comment on a news report from the North American newspaper, The New York Times, which last Saturday criticized Brazil's Operation Arco de Fogo [Arc of Fire], the goal of which is to contain deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon . The newspaper described the operation as “less than promising.” This opinion is unbelievable to me! Unbelievable because we all know that the North Americans aren't the least bit concerned about the environment.

 

If it were so concerned about the environment, the United States would not be the country that emits the most pollutants and greenhouse gases that result in global warming. It comes across at the very least inconsistent if not contradictory, for the largest North American newspaper to criticize our environmental conservation policies while there, on their land, actions to defend the environment are completely ignored.

 

As many know, water and oil will be the most valuable commodities on Earth in the coming years. And as such, many already have an eye on these two items, as is the case with the United States, which has been running after oil.

 

To refresh our memories, in the Middle East and specifically in Iraq, there exists the second largest reserves of oil in the world, and the North Americans invaded that country under the pretext of ending weapons of mass destruction.

 

The Amazon watershed: The largest source of fresh water in the world.

 

As time went on, it became clear that chemical weapons wouldn't be found and Saddam Hussein was killed, yet U.S. troops remain there, where they claim to be trying to bring order to the country.

 

Well then! As water is also destined to be one of the most precious assets within a few years, many have already begun to turn their gaze toward us.

 

As we all know, this is the country with the largest reserves of drinking water in the world. And where is the water? In the Amazon!

 

And how might the North Americans intervene here? Easily!

 

They just need an alibi such as, “they [Brazilians] aren't protecting the forest,” or “they aren't protecting their indigenous people,” or even “they aren't fighting slavery in the Amazon.”

 

It's true that these problems exist, but they should be resolved internally without anybody else interfering.

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

 

I wonder, is the United States really concerned about the lives of indigenous Indians, slave workers or the forest? We know they are not. And with that conclusion, it's a fact that we must continue measures to reduce deforestation and conserve nature. But we need to do it without international pressure that has so bedeviled us.

 

*Eliene Lima is a professor, civil engineer, and currently a member of Brazil's Chamber of Deputies representing Mato Grosso. [Brazil's lower house, which contains 513 deputies. Mato Grosso is Brazil's third-largest state and borders Amazonia].

 

E-mail: dep.elienelima@gmail.com

 

CLICK HERE FOR PORTUGUESE VERSION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US April 29, 11:25pm]