Re: Brazil
Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2021 1:19 pm
DUQUE AND BOLSONARO, UNITED IN THE CORPORATE CRUSADE OVER THE AMAZON
30 Oct 2021 , 10:17 am .
The presidents of Colombia, Iván Duque, and of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro (Photo: Joédson Alves / EFE)
This Sunday, October 31, COP 26 (United Nations Climate Conference) will take place, organized by the United Kingdom in collaboration with Italy, where agreements are expected to be established to curb global warming.
Prior to this multilateral meeting, Colombian President Iván Duque recently traveled to Brazil to meet with his Brazilian counterpart Jair Bolsonaro and fulfill an agenda that included political and economic issues.
According to the Brazilian media Brasilwire , one of the common points on the agenda was "the growing commercial relationship and the defense of private initiative, in addition to the preservation of the Amazon."
Of these elements, it is worth asking how important the preservation of the environment has been for these leaders and what role the United States plays as a strategic ally in decision-making.
SIMILARITIES
If there is something that these two countries bordering Venezuela have had in common, in addition to subordinating themselves to the destructive logic that is destroying the Amazon, it is that both have aligned themselves with the United States in their imperial policy that seeks to undermine the stability of the Republic. Bolivarian and promoting regime change.
Last year, the Duque and Bolsonaro governments carried out military exercises in the border areas with Venezuela, maneuvers that were carried out just after tours of US officials through those countries. More than the association between components that seek alliances in matters of cooperation, the military subordination to the US military has deepened through the presence of the Southern Command in the subcontinent.
According to the Brazilian media, a way has also been sought to establish forced relations between elements of the armed struggle in Colombia, as well as drug trafficking, and the Workers' Party (PT) of former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as a way to justify alliances to fight a common enemy.
It should be noted that there are also similarities between both governments in terms of the creation of organizations that function as executing arms of extermination policies. On the one hand, in Colombia the paramilitaries continue to assassinate social leaders, peasants and former guerrillas demobilized from the FARC and, on the other, in Brazil Bolsonaro ignores the activities of the militias in Rio, and the death squads in the favelas. the systematic murder of indigenous leaders.
Something that also unites them is the fact of holding Venezuela responsible for any negative events that happen in their territories. The issue of Venezuelan migration and border security have been the most recurrent, ignoring Achilles heels such as pandemic control, security, human rights, among others.
CONCERN FOR THE AMAZON?
If the meeting between Jair Bolsonaro and Iván Duque makes clear something, prior to the United Nations Climate Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, it is that the environmental issue is not something that is in the foreground.
Although both said that they will arrive together at the conference in defense of the jungle, everything seems to indicate that neither has a real interest in saving the Amazon rainforest.
Bolsonaro defended the sovereignty of the beloved, "rich and desired Amazon," while Duque, who also defended the sovereignty of the jungle, referred to preservation in his speech.
"The Amazon is, for us, a very valuable territory and we take care of it within our sovereignty. It is also very important that this defense carries with it an effective fight against environmental crimes," said the president of Colombia, reviewed by Brasilwire.
Likewise, at the meeting, Duque agreed, along the same lines as Bolsonaro, in carrying a unified message on the protection of forests and defended the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But in practice this is far from the truth.
In Brazil it is demonstrated that the environment is not a priority for the Executive. The massive demonstrations of indigenous movements and environmental protection organizations indicate that measures promoted by the president put the habitat of many indigenous communities at risk and favor large companies that are dedicated to logging and livestock.
And it is that from the first year of management there were signs that Bolsonaro did not really care about agrobiological and cultural preservation in that immense area. The great fires registered in mid-2019, which spread through several Amazonian countries and put the international community on alert, were a sign of what the environmental policy of the Brazilian president would be like, but also of how the neoliberal extractive logic of the right operates. usually.
Once the fire acquired catastrophic dimensions, Bolsonaro was pointed out as one of the main responsible for the disaster. As with the pandemic, he initially underestimated the severity of the event. He even declared that it was the high temperatures and the dry period that were responsible for the forest fires, while blaming the NGOs for causing them.
He was accused not only of letting the fire progress, but of hiding statistics that showed the increase in deforestation after the rise of the extreme right to the country. It also paralyzed funds for the defense of the forest granted by European countries.
Bolsonaro's association cannot be hidden because his candidacy was supported by the Frente Parlamentaria de Agropecuarios, a group of Brazilian deputies and senators who are backed by agro-industrial companies.
That after the disaster he accepted international aid and showed "concern" did not erase the connections with environmental disasters in the Amazon, especially because of the policies he has adopted during his administration.
The progressive governments of Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff only represented a pause to the environmental crime promoted by the right-wing governments that preceded them, and which was advancing by leaps and bounds.
During the government of Lula Da Silva, institutional policies such as the Terra Legal program were promoted, which regulated the use of land for the benefit of small producers. Therefore, 45% less deforestation was registered than the previous year. The coup against Dilma pushed back environmental policies while agribusiness lobbies returned.
"In 2020, official deforestation data was the worst in the last 12 years. The Bolsonaro government has faced criticism over its environmental policy since the start of his administration in 2019." refers the Brazilian media.
THE TRUE INTERESTS
The alliances of the South American countries with the United States are more oriented to business and geopolitical relations than to saving the environment.
"In September 2019, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, Ernesto Araújo, met with the then Secretary of State of the United States, Mike Pompeo, in Washington DC and both announced a new bilateral agreement between the United States and Brazil to open the Amazon rainforest to private sector development, "says Brasilwire .
The Bolsonaro government has already accumulated three accusations against him in the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the destruction of the jungle. In that sense, the environmental situation in Colombia is not very different. According to the Brazilian media, Colombia was named the most dangerous country for environmentalists for the second year in a row: 227 were killed in the country last year.
However, deforestation in Colombia is much lower. In any case, the danger is for environmental defenders, who are victims of paramilitarism. According to official data - Brasilwire points out - in 2020 there was an 8% increase in deforestation in the Colombian Amazon, compared to the previous year.
Recently, the White House released the details "of the new and holistic counternarcotics strategy between the United States and Colombia," which consisted of broadening the focus to include specific actions on security and rural development, and protection of the environment.
"As part of the new strategy, the United States will support the Colombian government's efforts to monitor and counter environmental crimes that sustain and fuel drug trafficking groups and that have a profoundly negative impact on the environment of Colombia and the Amazon region." reads the press release.
As stated in the press release, efforts will be focused on stopping drug production in rural areas and includes the protection of community leaders who promote the rule of law efforts. So far there does not seem to be a favorable outcome for those who are killed daily in Colombia, much less for the boom in the production of illicit substances, whose largest market continues to be ... the United States.
Both leaders agree on the hostile stance towards indigenous peoples. The actions of the Colombian State are insufficient to stop the killing of activists in general, a situation that has even been recognized by the United Nations.
That Duque and Bolsonaro have lost popularity in their respective countries, reaching the possibility that they will not be reelected next year, is another parallel between the two leaders, who seemed to concentrate more efforts on maintaining a servile attitude to the interests of the United States rather than sustain genuine leadership in their countries.
https://misionverdad.com/globalistan/du ... a-amazonia
Google Translator
*********************************************
Kindred Spirits at COP26: US Allies Duque Of Colombia And Brazil’s Bolsonaro
Colombia’s Duque along with Chile’s Piñera and Brazil’s Bolsonaro form the core of an alliance defending US interests in South America. Bolsonaro and Duque both face 2022 re-election campaigns amidst falling popularity and a left wing resurgence.
By Nathalia Urban
Colombian President Iván Duque, one of the leaders of the far right in Latin America and an ally of the United States, recently travelled to Brazil for an official visit and fulfilled a political and economic agenda, meeting with ideological fellow traveller, president Jair Bolsonaro.
Duque stated that the bilateral relationship with Brazil is “at its’ highest point” and highlighted points that he believes are common among the neighboring nations, such as the growing commercial relationship and the defence of private initiative, in addition to the preservation of the Amazon.
The far right leaders share several things in common, but one of the most problematic from a geopolitical point of view is their subservience to the United States and willingness to work for its imperial interests in Latin America, this is especially evident with Venezuela. Also present are efforts to use the history of armed struggle in Colombia, and longstanding conspiracy theories surrounding it, to connect the Workers Party (PT) of former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to drug trafficking.
Bolsonaro also highlighted the “good relationship we have in defense matters where the president (Duque) expressed his interest in renewing his fleet of training aircraft belonging to the Super Tucano family”, manufactured in Brazil.
Iván Duque, announced in 2019 the objection to items that make up the statute by which the Special Justice for Peace is operating, a body created through the agreement that ended the confrontation between the Colombian State and the FARC guerrillas, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.
On February 18, the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) reported that the Colombian Military Forces killed at least 6,401 civilians between 2002 and 2008 whom they presented as combat casualties, which became known as the “False Positive Scandal”. A much higher figure than what had been presented in the past. Seven days later, President Iván Duque spoke on the matter. During the Peace with Legality Seminar held on February 24, the president said that he hopes that no more speculation will be derived from the information given by the JEP.
Duque effectively ignored the killings and gave veiled support for them to continue. This is extremely similar to the position Bolsonaro has about militia activities in Rio, and death squads in the favelas.
The Colombian president addressed issues such as the production of vaccines against the coronavirus, protection of the Amazon, combating the effects of climate change, and paying particular attention to migrants and border security – again an attempt to rattle Venezuela.
The Amazon
The presidents said that both countries of the Amazon region will arrive together at COP 26 (United Nations Climate Conference), in Glasgow, Scotland, in defense of the forest. Bolsonaro defended the sovereignty of the “dear, rich and desired” Amazon, while Duque, who also defended the sovereignty of the forest, defended preservation in his speech. “The Amazon is, for us, a very valuable territory and we take care within our sovereignty. It is also very important that this defense brings with it an effective fight against environmental crimes”, said the President of Colombia.
Duque said that the countries in the region should bring to the climate conference, which starts on October 31, a unified message on forest protection and defended the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Bolsonaro, in the same line, defended that the nations arrive together at COP 26.
The “rich and desired” Amazon is far from being Bolsonaro’s priority. In 2020, the official deforestation data was the worst in the last 12 years. The Bolsonaro government has faced criticism on its environmental policy since the beginning of his administration in 2019.
In September 2019, Brazilian Minister for Foreign Affairs Ernesto Araújo met then US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington D.C. and the pair announced a new U.S.-Brazil bilateral agreement to open up the Amazon Rainforest to private sector development. Araújo called the agreement “…the Holy Grail of Brazil’s foreign policy, at least for the private sector”.
During the current government, deforestation in the Amazon registered historic highs. Bolsonaro calls it a “fine industry”. The area deforested in the year (10,851 km2) reached a level similar to that of 2008. It is the 2nd worst result of the historical series started in 2015. The number is 4.5% lower than the same period ended in July last year, when the indicator reached the record of 9,216 km2. Bolsonaro advocates for mining on indigenous lands and suspended the Amazon Fund, a project financed by Norway and Germany, that earmarked resources to be applied in the preservation of the forest. He has already had three indictments filed against him at the International Criminal Court in The Hague for the destruction of the forest, the last one last week. Brazilians often say that it is necessary to develop the legal Amazon region, an area through which the forest passes and occupies 58.9% of the national territory. The situation in the neighbouring country is also calamitous, Colombia was named the most dangerous country for environmentalists for the second year in a row, 227 were murdered in the country last year. To a lesser extent, Colombia has seen deforestation grow. According to official data, there was an 8% increase in deforestation in the Colombian Amazon in 2020, compared to the previous year.
Both leaders have a hostile stance towards indigenous peoples. Duque’s actions to stop the killing of indigenous peoples was considered insufficient even by the United Nations, and the Colombian himself has already made offensive statements regarding the mobilizations, linking the Minga to terrorist and criminal activities. The Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (Apib, in Portuguese) filed a complaint to the International Criminal Court (ICC), a United Nations (UN) justice agency, to denounce the government of Jair Bolsonaro for genocide.
Among the criminal actions denounced by Apib are Bolsonaro’s explicit refusal to demarcate new indigenous reservations, his attempt to legalize invasions, and his encouragement to conflicts in the countryside by using bills, decrees, and ordinances.
Two peas in a pod
In an interview with Folha de São Paulo newspaper Ivan Duque said: “I will tell you what I saw in President Bolsonaro: first, a person who has an appreciation and affection for Colombia; who worked with Colombia and carried out public policies so that there is more investment, exports and so that ties with other nations are strengthened.I also see him promoting Brazil abroad to generate more investment, exports and well-being. That’s what I can tell from the way I worked with him.”
There are several parallels between their respective mandates. For starters, their approval is similarly low. Duque has 20% and Bolsonaro, 22%, according to Datafolha and Ipec. The two are also expected to leave the post next year. Another commonality is that they both bet on the attempted overthrow of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro in early 2019.
Antony Blinken
One day after his visit to Brazil, Ivan Duque received the US Secretary of State, on his first visit to South America. Just like Bolsonaro, Ivan Duque had a close relationship with the far right president Donald Trump, and the focus of the visit was not so much on the military aspects but also other topics, like climate change and “human rights” but of course, the Secretary used the opportunity to reaffirm how valuable the partnership with Colombia is for the United States. Even though Bolsonaro was snubbed by the US Secretary of State, his is already collaborating on undermining the progress of the left in Latin America. Besides Colombia, Blinken visited president of Ecuador, banker Guillermo Lasso, who came to power amid a smear campaign which baselessly linked his leftist rival Andrés Arauz to Colombian paramilitaries, and said: “There’s something important to be learned from Ecuador, Colombia, and the region in understanding the challenges facing democracies and how to overcome them.”.
https://www.brasilwire.com/duque-meets-bolsonaro/
30 Oct 2021 , 10:17 am .
The presidents of Colombia, Iván Duque, and of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro (Photo: Joédson Alves / EFE)
This Sunday, October 31, COP 26 (United Nations Climate Conference) will take place, organized by the United Kingdom in collaboration with Italy, where agreements are expected to be established to curb global warming.
Prior to this multilateral meeting, Colombian President Iván Duque recently traveled to Brazil to meet with his Brazilian counterpart Jair Bolsonaro and fulfill an agenda that included political and economic issues.
According to the Brazilian media Brasilwire , one of the common points on the agenda was "the growing commercial relationship and the defense of private initiative, in addition to the preservation of the Amazon."
Of these elements, it is worth asking how important the preservation of the environment has been for these leaders and what role the United States plays as a strategic ally in decision-making.
SIMILARITIES
If there is something that these two countries bordering Venezuela have had in common, in addition to subordinating themselves to the destructive logic that is destroying the Amazon, it is that both have aligned themselves with the United States in their imperial policy that seeks to undermine the stability of the Republic. Bolivarian and promoting regime change.
Last year, the Duque and Bolsonaro governments carried out military exercises in the border areas with Venezuela, maneuvers that were carried out just after tours of US officials through those countries. More than the association between components that seek alliances in matters of cooperation, the military subordination to the US military has deepened through the presence of the Southern Command in the subcontinent.
According to the Brazilian media, a way has also been sought to establish forced relations between elements of the armed struggle in Colombia, as well as drug trafficking, and the Workers' Party (PT) of former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as a way to justify alliances to fight a common enemy.
It should be noted that there are also similarities between both governments in terms of the creation of organizations that function as executing arms of extermination policies. On the one hand, in Colombia the paramilitaries continue to assassinate social leaders, peasants and former guerrillas demobilized from the FARC and, on the other, in Brazil Bolsonaro ignores the activities of the militias in Rio, and the death squads in the favelas. the systematic murder of indigenous leaders.
Something that also unites them is the fact of holding Venezuela responsible for any negative events that happen in their territories. The issue of Venezuelan migration and border security have been the most recurrent, ignoring Achilles heels such as pandemic control, security, human rights, among others.
CONCERN FOR THE AMAZON?
If the meeting between Jair Bolsonaro and Iván Duque makes clear something, prior to the United Nations Climate Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, it is that the environmental issue is not something that is in the foreground.
Although both said that they will arrive together at the conference in defense of the jungle, everything seems to indicate that neither has a real interest in saving the Amazon rainforest.
Bolsonaro defended the sovereignty of the beloved, "rich and desired Amazon," while Duque, who also defended the sovereignty of the jungle, referred to preservation in his speech.
"The Amazon is, for us, a very valuable territory and we take care of it within our sovereignty. It is also very important that this defense carries with it an effective fight against environmental crimes," said the president of Colombia, reviewed by Brasilwire.
Likewise, at the meeting, Duque agreed, along the same lines as Bolsonaro, in carrying a unified message on the protection of forests and defended the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But in practice this is far from the truth.
In Brazil it is demonstrated that the environment is not a priority for the Executive. The massive demonstrations of indigenous movements and environmental protection organizations indicate that measures promoted by the president put the habitat of many indigenous communities at risk and favor large companies that are dedicated to logging and livestock.
And it is that from the first year of management there were signs that Bolsonaro did not really care about agrobiological and cultural preservation in that immense area. The great fires registered in mid-2019, which spread through several Amazonian countries and put the international community on alert, were a sign of what the environmental policy of the Brazilian president would be like, but also of how the neoliberal extractive logic of the right operates. usually.
Once the fire acquired catastrophic dimensions, Bolsonaro was pointed out as one of the main responsible for the disaster. As with the pandemic, he initially underestimated the severity of the event. He even declared that it was the high temperatures and the dry period that were responsible for the forest fires, while blaming the NGOs for causing them.
He was accused not only of letting the fire progress, but of hiding statistics that showed the increase in deforestation after the rise of the extreme right to the country. It also paralyzed funds for the defense of the forest granted by European countries.
Bolsonaro's association cannot be hidden because his candidacy was supported by the Frente Parlamentaria de Agropecuarios, a group of Brazilian deputies and senators who are backed by agro-industrial companies.
That after the disaster he accepted international aid and showed "concern" did not erase the connections with environmental disasters in the Amazon, especially because of the policies he has adopted during his administration.
The progressive governments of Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff only represented a pause to the environmental crime promoted by the right-wing governments that preceded them, and which was advancing by leaps and bounds.
During the government of Lula Da Silva, institutional policies such as the Terra Legal program were promoted, which regulated the use of land for the benefit of small producers. Therefore, 45% less deforestation was registered than the previous year. The coup against Dilma pushed back environmental policies while agribusiness lobbies returned.
"In 2020, official deforestation data was the worst in the last 12 years. The Bolsonaro government has faced criticism over its environmental policy since the start of his administration in 2019." refers the Brazilian media.
THE TRUE INTERESTS
The alliances of the South American countries with the United States are more oriented to business and geopolitical relations than to saving the environment.
"In September 2019, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, Ernesto Araújo, met with the then Secretary of State of the United States, Mike Pompeo, in Washington DC and both announced a new bilateral agreement between the United States and Brazil to open the Amazon rainforest to private sector development, "says Brasilwire .
The Bolsonaro government has already accumulated three accusations against him in the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the destruction of the jungle. In that sense, the environmental situation in Colombia is not very different. According to the Brazilian media, Colombia was named the most dangerous country for environmentalists for the second year in a row: 227 were killed in the country last year.
However, deforestation in Colombia is much lower. In any case, the danger is for environmental defenders, who are victims of paramilitarism. According to official data - Brasilwire points out - in 2020 there was an 8% increase in deforestation in the Colombian Amazon, compared to the previous year.
Recently, the White House released the details "of the new and holistic counternarcotics strategy between the United States and Colombia," which consisted of broadening the focus to include specific actions on security and rural development, and protection of the environment.
"As part of the new strategy, the United States will support the Colombian government's efforts to monitor and counter environmental crimes that sustain and fuel drug trafficking groups and that have a profoundly negative impact on the environment of Colombia and the Amazon region." reads the press release.
As stated in the press release, efforts will be focused on stopping drug production in rural areas and includes the protection of community leaders who promote the rule of law efforts. So far there does not seem to be a favorable outcome for those who are killed daily in Colombia, much less for the boom in the production of illicit substances, whose largest market continues to be ... the United States.
Both leaders agree on the hostile stance towards indigenous peoples. The actions of the Colombian State are insufficient to stop the killing of activists in general, a situation that has even been recognized by the United Nations.
That Duque and Bolsonaro have lost popularity in their respective countries, reaching the possibility that they will not be reelected next year, is another parallel between the two leaders, who seemed to concentrate more efforts on maintaining a servile attitude to the interests of the United States rather than sustain genuine leadership in their countries.
https://misionverdad.com/globalistan/du ... a-amazonia
Google Translator
*********************************************
Kindred Spirits at COP26: US Allies Duque Of Colombia And Brazil’s Bolsonaro
Colombia’s Duque along with Chile’s Piñera and Brazil’s Bolsonaro form the core of an alliance defending US interests in South America. Bolsonaro and Duque both face 2022 re-election campaigns amidst falling popularity and a left wing resurgence.
By Nathalia Urban
Colombian President Iván Duque, one of the leaders of the far right in Latin America and an ally of the United States, recently travelled to Brazil for an official visit and fulfilled a political and economic agenda, meeting with ideological fellow traveller, president Jair Bolsonaro.
Duque stated that the bilateral relationship with Brazil is “at its’ highest point” and highlighted points that he believes are common among the neighboring nations, such as the growing commercial relationship and the defence of private initiative, in addition to the preservation of the Amazon.
The far right leaders share several things in common, but one of the most problematic from a geopolitical point of view is their subservience to the United States and willingness to work for its imperial interests in Latin America, this is especially evident with Venezuela. Also present are efforts to use the history of armed struggle in Colombia, and longstanding conspiracy theories surrounding it, to connect the Workers Party (PT) of former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to drug trafficking.
Bolsonaro also highlighted the “good relationship we have in defense matters where the president (Duque) expressed his interest in renewing his fleet of training aircraft belonging to the Super Tucano family”, manufactured in Brazil.
Iván Duque, announced in 2019 the objection to items that make up the statute by which the Special Justice for Peace is operating, a body created through the agreement that ended the confrontation between the Colombian State and the FARC guerrillas, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.
On February 18, the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) reported that the Colombian Military Forces killed at least 6,401 civilians between 2002 and 2008 whom they presented as combat casualties, which became known as the “False Positive Scandal”. A much higher figure than what had been presented in the past. Seven days later, President Iván Duque spoke on the matter. During the Peace with Legality Seminar held on February 24, the president said that he hopes that no more speculation will be derived from the information given by the JEP.
Duque effectively ignored the killings and gave veiled support for them to continue. This is extremely similar to the position Bolsonaro has about militia activities in Rio, and death squads in the favelas.
The Colombian president addressed issues such as the production of vaccines against the coronavirus, protection of the Amazon, combating the effects of climate change, and paying particular attention to migrants and border security – again an attempt to rattle Venezuela.
The Amazon
The presidents said that both countries of the Amazon region will arrive together at COP 26 (United Nations Climate Conference), in Glasgow, Scotland, in defense of the forest. Bolsonaro defended the sovereignty of the “dear, rich and desired” Amazon, while Duque, who also defended the sovereignty of the forest, defended preservation in his speech. “The Amazon is, for us, a very valuable territory and we take care within our sovereignty. It is also very important that this defense brings with it an effective fight against environmental crimes”, said the President of Colombia.
Duque said that the countries in the region should bring to the climate conference, which starts on October 31, a unified message on forest protection and defended the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Bolsonaro, in the same line, defended that the nations arrive together at COP 26.
The “rich and desired” Amazon is far from being Bolsonaro’s priority. In 2020, the official deforestation data was the worst in the last 12 years. The Bolsonaro government has faced criticism on its environmental policy since the beginning of his administration in 2019.
In September 2019, Brazilian Minister for Foreign Affairs Ernesto Araújo met then US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington D.C. and the pair announced a new U.S.-Brazil bilateral agreement to open up the Amazon Rainforest to private sector development. Araújo called the agreement “…the Holy Grail of Brazil’s foreign policy, at least for the private sector”.
During the current government, deforestation in the Amazon registered historic highs. Bolsonaro calls it a “fine industry”. The area deforested in the year (10,851 km2) reached a level similar to that of 2008. It is the 2nd worst result of the historical series started in 2015. The number is 4.5% lower than the same period ended in July last year, when the indicator reached the record of 9,216 km2. Bolsonaro advocates for mining on indigenous lands and suspended the Amazon Fund, a project financed by Norway and Germany, that earmarked resources to be applied in the preservation of the forest. He has already had three indictments filed against him at the International Criminal Court in The Hague for the destruction of the forest, the last one last week. Brazilians often say that it is necessary to develop the legal Amazon region, an area through which the forest passes and occupies 58.9% of the national territory. The situation in the neighbouring country is also calamitous, Colombia was named the most dangerous country for environmentalists for the second year in a row, 227 were murdered in the country last year. To a lesser extent, Colombia has seen deforestation grow. According to official data, there was an 8% increase in deforestation in the Colombian Amazon in 2020, compared to the previous year.
Both leaders have a hostile stance towards indigenous peoples. Duque’s actions to stop the killing of indigenous peoples was considered insufficient even by the United Nations, and the Colombian himself has already made offensive statements regarding the mobilizations, linking the Minga to terrorist and criminal activities. The Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (Apib, in Portuguese) filed a complaint to the International Criminal Court (ICC), a United Nations (UN) justice agency, to denounce the government of Jair Bolsonaro for genocide.
Among the criminal actions denounced by Apib are Bolsonaro’s explicit refusal to demarcate new indigenous reservations, his attempt to legalize invasions, and his encouragement to conflicts in the countryside by using bills, decrees, and ordinances.
Two peas in a pod
In an interview with Folha de São Paulo newspaper Ivan Duque said: “I will tell you what I saw in President Bolsonaro: first, a person who has an appreciation and affection for Colombia; who worked with Colombia and carried out public policies so that there is more investment, exports and so that ties with other nations are strengthened.I also see him promoting Brazil abroad to generate more investment, exports and well-being. That’s what I can tell from the way I worked with him.”
There are several parallels between their respective mandates. For starters, their approval is similarly low. Duque has 20% and Bolsonaro, 22%, according to Datafolha and Ipec. The two are also expected to leave the post next year. Another commonality is that they both bet on the attempted overthrow of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro in early 2019.
Antony Blinken
One day after his visit to Brazil, Ivan Duque received the US Secretary of State, on his first visit to South America. Just like Bolsonaro, Ivan Duque had a close relationship with the far right president Donald Trump, and the focus of the visit was not so much on the military aspects but also other topics, like climate change and “human rights” but of course, the Secretary used the opportunity to reaffirm how valuable the partnership with Colombia is for the United States. Even though Bolsonaro was snubbed by the US Secretary of State, his is already collaborating on undermining the progress of the left in Latin America. Besides Colombia, Blinken visited president of Ecuador, banker Guillermo Lasso, who came to power amid a smear campaign which baselessly linked his leftist rival Andrés Arauz to Colombian paramilitaries, and said: “There’s something important to be learned from Ecuador, Colombia, and the region in understanding the challenges facing democracies and how to overcome them.”.
https://www.brasilwire.com/duque-meets-bolsonaro/