Tag Archives: Brazil

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The Amazon approaches its moment of truth … a message from Greenpeace Activist

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I’ve written a few blogs since I’ve been on the Rainbow Warrior, but my time in Brazil has given me enough material for thousands more. I worked as a journalist before Greenpeace and that is how I have approached this trip, trying to tell you the stories that happen every day in this magical country and do some justice to the people who live in it.

Today I produced a more personal account of my work as well as my impressions of this truly unique place. I wanted to do this because on Friday the President of Brazil will make a decision that could affect this amazing rainforest for decades to come. I believe that the people I have met here want the world to know what is at stake, so I tried to explain how the past few weeks have affected me.

The Rainbow Warrior sails through the Amazonas river.

As I’ve learned, changes to Brazil’s forest code could be one of the worst things to have happened to the Amazon for years. I also know that the concept of zero deforestation is tantalizingly close to becoming a reality.

I hope you enjoy the film, but more importantly I ask you take action with us.

Together we can do it. Together we can all save the Amazon.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

CEO John Watson … Wake Up


Rainforest Action Network
Send Chevron CEO John Watson a wake up call now!
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Take Action

RAN activists will be joining a large coalition of labor groups, community organizers, climate activists, and other environmentalists tomorrow at a protest outside of Chevron’s annual shareholder meeting. While protesters call out Chevron for putting profits ahead of people and planet outside, I’ll be going inside the meeting with people from communities impacted by Chevron operations from Nigeria to Brazil.
Two of the brave Ecuadoreans suing Chevron to clean up of its massive oil contamination in the Amazon — Luz Trinidad Andrea Cusangua and Robinson Yumbo —  will travel to San Ramon, CA to take their calls for justice directly to the company.
Chevron needs to know that for every person like Luz and Robinson inside the meeting and for every protestor outside the meeting, there are thousands more who stand with us. Can you call Chevron CEO John Watson and ask him to take responsibility for his company’s oily mess in Ecuador?
We’ve set up a page that has everything you need to send a wake-up call to Watson: Phone number, sample call script, and a form so you can report back to us how the call went. Send Chevron’s CEO a wake up call now!
Even a large number of Chevron shareholders feel the company’s executive team has badly mismanaged the Ecuador lawsuit. One recently wrote: “Chevron’s actions are hurting shareholders as well as the indigenous people of the rainforest.” You can be sure Chevron shareholders will make their voices heard at the meeting, just as Luz and Robinson will be making their calls for justice in Ecuador loud and clear.
Chevron CEO John Watson needs to hear from you too.

Ginger Cassady

For a cleaner future,
Ginger Cassady             Change Chevron
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Sign the petition to end fossil fuel subsidies

From June 20-22, the eyes of the world will be on Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. World leaders, drawn by the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (aka “Rio+20”), will decide how to deal with a broad range of issues that affect the environment. Earth Day Network will be there to make sure your voices are heard.

You can learn more at www.earthday.org/rio.

Rio+20 offers a chance to jumpstart the green economy and chart a course to a sustainable future. But this will be next to impossible if fossil fuel subsidies continue hampering the progress of clean energy technology.

Please sign this petition asking leaders at Rio+20 to create a plan to phase out fossil fuel subsidies around the world. And then share the petition with friends.

– The Earth Day Network Team
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Stop the Amazon Chainsaw Massacre Luis Morago – Avaaz.org

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Brazil‘s Congress has just passed a bill that gives loggers and farmers free rein to cut down huge swaths of the Amazon. Only President Dilma can veto it. Domestic pressure is mounting, but a massive global outcry will prove her international reputation is at stake. Let’s tip her over the edge to stop the Amazon chainsaw massacre — sign the urgent petition and tell everyone:

Sign the petition

The Brazilian Congress has just passed a catastrophic forestry bill that gives loggers and farmers free rein to cut down huge swaths of the Amazon.

Now only President Dilma can stop it.


Fortunately, the timing is on our side — in weeks Dilma will host the world’s biggest environmental summit and insiders say she cannot afford to open it as the leader who approved the destruction of the rainforest. She’s facing mounting domestic pressure, with 79% of Brazilians rejecting this new bill. Now, if we join them we can turn up the global heat and push her to axe the bill, not the rainforest.
Dilma could make her decision any day.

Let’s get her to veto the bill now. Click below to sign the urgent petition to stop the Amazon chainsaw massacre and if you have already signed — send this to everyone:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/veto_dilma_global/?vl
The Amazon is vital to life on earth — 20% of our oxygen comes from this magnificent rainforest, and it plays a key role in mitigating global climate change.  Over the last decade, Brazil has vastly reduced deforestation rates, achieving a 78% decline between 2004 and 2011. The reason? A world-acclaimed forestry law, strong enforcement and satellite monitoring.
But this dangerous new bill would open up an area the size of France and Britain combined to clear-cutting and gives loggers amnesty for all past deforestation crimes. This would not only spark total forest devastation in Brazil, it would also set a bad precedent for other countries. That’s why it’s so crucial that we all protect it.
Brazil is a rapidly developing country, battling to lift tens of millions out of poverty. Despite evidence that growth does not require deforestation, Dilma is under pressure from the powerful agriculture lobby that helped her get elected to cut down rainforest for profit. And it is an ugly battle — activists are being murdered, intimidated and silenced. But ex-Environmental Ministers and people across Brazil have sent a clear message to Dilma that they want to save the Amazon. Now, it’s up to all of us to stand with them and urge President Dilma to remain strong.

The fate of Brazil’s rainforests is dangling by a thread. But, with President Dilma so vulnerable to public pressure right now, we can bring the global force of people power to get a win for our planet! Sign the urgent petition below and tell everyone — the petition will be delivered by Brazil’s former Environment Ministers directly to Dilma:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/veto_dilma_global/?vl
In the last three years, we have won battle after battle against the odds. Now, let’s come together before it is too late to stop the destruction of the Amazon, protect our planet and herald Dilma as a true international environmental leader.
With hope and determination,
Luis, Pedro, Maria Paz, Alice, Ricken, Carol, Lisa, Rewan and the entire Avaaz team
MORE INFORMATION:
Brazil’s Congress approves controversial forest law (BBC) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-17851237
Brazil Forest Code Passes In Defeat For Dilma Rousseff (Huffington Post) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/27/brazil-forest-code_n_1457149.html
Revised Brazilian Forest Code good for environmental criminals, bad for forests (IB Times) http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20120501/revised-brazilian-forest-code-environmental-criminals-forests-common.htm
Amazon deforestation record low (BBC) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8358094.stm
Brazilians reject axing of forest protections (WWF) http://wwf.panda.org/?uNewsID=200698

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

a message from greenpeace

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A decade of progress protecting the Amazon rainforest is in serious trouble.

The Brazilian agribusiness lobby is on the offensive. They’ve already used their influence to limit the government’s ability to enforce laws out in the field. Now they have their sights set on a new Forest Code bill that would provide amnesty to forest criminals, severely weaken protections for the Amazon and open up a section of forest larger than the state of Minnesota to possible deforestation.

This bill would spell disaster for the Amazon rainforest if passed. It’s already made its way through the Brazilian Senate and now it’s up to President Dilma to decide whether or not it becomes law. Now is our chance.

President Dilma cares about Brazil’s global reputation and wants to be a leader. Let her know that the world is watching and urge her to veto the new Forest Code bill before it’s too late!

Our goal is to get 30,000 Americans to join their allies in Brazil in speaking out against this law before she makes her final decision. That could be any day now in the coming weeks.

On the campaign trail, President Dilma stated that she wouldn’t sign a law that grants amnesty to forest criminals or reduces the size of protected areas in the Amazon. Politics are the same everywhere. And just like in the US, it is going to take massive public pressure from inside and outside Brazil to overcome special interests and make sure that President Dilma keeps her word.

The situation is so urgent that we’re sending our new flagship, the Rainbow Warrior, to Brazil later this month to help out. She’ll be leaving Florida and setting sail for the Amazon to support the campaign directly.

Brazilians have made it clear they don’t want this — about 80% oppose the bill. But this isn’t just a Brazilian issue. Amazon rainforest destruction has global consequences.

Greenpeace, along with other groups in the Amazon and allies within the Brazilian government, have made huge strides in the last ten years when it comes to protecting the Amazon. We can’t afford to let big agribusiness win this one.

President Dilma needs to hear from you…send her a message now.

For the forests,

Daniel Brindis Greenpeace Forest Campaigner