It’s still early days for President Lula. With his country diving into economic recession, the division accelerating between the many poor and far fewer rich, Lula has declared that his first concern is not with Avança Brasil - massive investments in the Amazon region to advance the industrial and agricultural sectors into ‘virgin’ regions.
On the contrary, Lula has come to the presidency of Brazil determined to take on the campaign Fome Zero, or ‘Zero Hunger’ for Brazil’s diverse population, especially in areas, such as the Northeast, which traditionally have suffered from recurrent droughts and failing agriculture.
Avança Brasil is by no means dead, but it is clear from Lula’s choice of environmental minister, Marina Silva, that he is determined that policies affecting the future of Brazil’s Amazon Basin should necessarily take into account both ecological prerogatives and social needs. Silva is the daughter of a rubber tapper, whose family were close friends with Chico Mendes, all of whom were instrumental in the establishment of ‘Extractable Reserves’ in which the forest, with its rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis) and Brazil nut trees would be protected. Meanwhile, Mary Alegretti, the minister with a special mandate for the Amazon, who also was associated with the Chico Mendes movement, continues in the job she first undertook under the Cardoso administration.
Perhaps, most revealing is the recent government statement ‘on the place of Amazonia in the development of Brazil’. There, undisguised criticism of past policies and their consequences must be seen against a new appraisal of how best the region can serve the long term interests of Brazilians. The old way of measuring success - gross national product (GNP)- is seen for what it is – a brute indicator that gives no idea of wealth distribution nor of environmental degradation. Between 1970 and 1996, the GNP in Brazil’s Legal Amazonia, jumped from US$8.5 billion to $53.5 billion, while the population in the region increased from 7.7 million to 18.7 million, a six-fold increase in ‘wealth’ compared with a 2.4 fold increase in population; but at what cost? In terms of indices of ‘human development’, all the Amazonian states had a much poorer showing than was found in the rest of the country, with a large proportion of the local population earning less than the minimal wage. All that can mean only one thing: the wealth generated in Brazil’s Amazonia had mostly been exported at the expense of the environment and people.
Avança Brasil to date has been concerned almost exclusively with establishing the infrastructure for the export of millions of tonnes of soya, as well as of minerals and wood. Through a mixture of private and public investment, the plan envisaged as much as US$228 billions being spent over 8 years, which would lead, according to INPA, the Institute of Amazonian Research, to a rate of forest clearing of between 269,000 and 506,000 hectares per year up until 2020. This ‘additional’ deforestation would give rise to an increase in carbon greenhouse gas emissions from 52.2 millions of tonnes a year to 98.2 million, equivalent to an annual cost of up to US$2 billion. Lula’s report claims that all that investment, plus its environmental costs, will result in few local benefits and in poor social participation.
Electricity projects of the past, such as the Tucuruí and Balbina hydroelectric schemes, come under heavy criticism for their failure to meet with expectations, while having a disastrous impact on the surroundings. Balbina, for instance, despite causing the flooding and destruction of around 3,000 square kilometres of forest is incapable of meeting the electricity needs of nearby Manaus during dry summer seasons. Far from being benign sources of energy with regard to carbon emissions, such hydroelectric plants bring about the release over their lifetimes of at least as much carbon greenhouse gases as from a coal-fired plant generating the same amount of electricity.
In essence, Lula and his ministers are using their mandate for social reform in Brazil to give Amazonia something of a breathing space. Nonetheless, the pressures for making a quick buck are ever present, thereby creating something of a schizophrenic situation. A few months back, a delegation from the Mato Grosso visited Europe to inform on new initiatives to regulate and curb deforestation in Amazonia’s most southern state. According to officials, the legislation, ‘Environmental Licensing System on Rural Properties’ brought the rate of deforestation down in the State by one-third in its first year. That achievement resulted from focussing on large rural enterprises - above 500 hectares - which, although accounting for less than 10 per cent of the total number of rural properties, have been responsible for over 85 per cent of total deforestation. The claim is that other benefits have resulted, such as a better partnership between government and civil society, more government revenue and of tying environmental concerns in with development agendas.
But how does all that square with 2002 being one of the worst years for forest destruction, and particularly in Mato Grosso? Some of the answers may lie with the governor of Mato Grosso, Blairo Maggi, who is one of the world’s biggest soya producers. He, it seems unilaterally, has been offering land at dirt-cheap prices to US farmers. Earlier this year, he told a visiting delegation from the American Soya Association that only 5 per cent of ‘agricultural land’ in the State was currently being used. He was looking to 40 per cent of that land being developed over the next few years.
Some farmers have taken up the offer of land at US$20 per hectare in the North of the State, compared with $300 in Goias and $1,215 in the United States. Three years ago, Douglas Ferrell bought 10,000 hectares. He has started cutting back the forest. “This year, (2002)” he said, “we cleared 500 hectares and we will open up a further 500 hectares next year.”
Current legislation in Brazil demands that rainforest deforestation must first be authorized by IBAMA, the Ministry of the Environment. Just how the governor’s plans to expand the agricultural base in Mato Grosso will comply with government jurisdiction on environmental grounds remains to be seen.
We will have to see how environmental protection of Amazonia will fare in a region where frontier politics have so far largely held sway. It took just 13 years for more than half of all the forests to be eradicated in Southern Pará. In recent years, a similar process of deforestation and degradation has been taking place in other States of Amazonia, such as Rondonia. There will need to be some dramatic changes in the rate of deforestation if we are going to see significant reductions from the tally of more than 2 million hectares a year of forest destruction over the Legal Amazon of Brazil.
The Institute of Science in Society
Science Society Sustainability http://www.i-sis.org.uk
https://www.presidencia.gov.br/
Photo of President Lula courtesy of Brazilian Presidency:
https://www.presidencia.gov.br/
Please also see:
"Slaughter" of the corn people:
http://www.indiancountry.com/?1064252640
'IMF Go To Hell'The People of Argentina have tried the IMF approach; Now they want it their way, by Naomi Klein
http://www.commondreams.org/views02/0316-01
Now on the WTO website:
MEMBERS VOICE STRONG SUPPORT FOR HONDURAS' REFORM PROGRAMME
WTO members, in concluding their first trade policy review of Honduras on
1 October 2003, expressed strong support for the country's ongoing
economic and institutional efforts, including trade and investment
liberalization. They were heartened by Honduras' statement that it sees
closer integration in the world economy as a development tool.
Press release: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp219_e.htm
(Click on the links or copy and paste them into your browser.
Alternatively, you can go to our home page http://www.wto.org and follow
the links.)
TIP: When pages are newly published you might at first have difficulty
viewing them. Try clicking your browser's reload or refresh button. If
that still does not work, try again a bit later.
-------------------------------------
LES MEMBRES EXPRIMENT UN FORT SOUTIEN AU PROGRAMME DE RÉFORMES DU HONDURAS
Les Membres de l'OMC, lors de la conclusion de leur premier examen des
politiques commerciales du Honduras, le 1er octobre 2003, ont exprimé un
fort soutien aux efforts économiques et institutionnels mis en oeuvre par
le pays, y compris en matière de libéralisation des échanges et de
l'investissement. Ils ont trouvé encourageant la déclaration du Honduras
pour qui une plus grande intégration dans l'économie mondiale constitue un
instrument de développement.
Communiqué de presse:
http://www.wto.org/french/tratop_f/tpr_f/tp219_f.htm
(Cliquez sur les liens ou copiez-les sur votre navigateur. Autre
possibilité, vous pouvez aller à la page d'accueil (http://www.wto.org) et
suivre les liens.)
UNE SUGGESTION: Il se peut que vous ayez quelque difficulté à visualiser
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ou "Rafraîchir" de votre navigateur. Si le problème persiste, essayez à
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-------------------------------------
LOS MIEMBROS EXPRESAN SU FIRME APOYO AL PROGRAMA DE REFORMAS DE HONDURAS
Los Miembros de la OMC, al concluir su primer examen de las políticas
comerciales de Honduras el 1° de octubre de 2003, expresaron su firme
apoyo a los esfuerzos económicos e institucionales en curso en el país,
incluida la liberalización del comercio y las inversiones. Les resultó
alentadora la declaración de Honduras en el sentido de que considera que
una mayor integración en la economía mundial es una herramienta de
desarrollo.
Comunicado de prensa:
http://www.wto.org/spanish/tratop_s/tpr_s/tp219_s.htm
(Haga clic en los enlaces o cópielos y péguelos a su explorador. Como
alternativa, puede ir a la portada http://www.wto.org y seguir los
enlaces.)
CONSEJO PRÁCTICO: Cuando las páginas están recién publicadas, puede ser
que al principio tenga dificultad para visualizarlas. Intente hacer clic
en el botón de refrescar y recargar de su explorador. Si esto no diera
resultado, intente de nuevo un poco más tarde.
World Trade Organization
Rue de Lausanne 154
CH-1211 Geneva 21,
Switzerland
Website: http://www.wto.org
On the contrary, Lula has come to the presidency of Brazil determined to take on the campaign Fome Zero, or ‘Zero Hunger’ for Brazil’s diverse population, especially in areas, such as the Northeast, which traditionally have suffered from recurrent droughts and failing agriculture.
Avança Brasil is by no means dead, but it is clear from Lula’s choice of environmental minister, Marina Silva, that he is determined that policies affecting the future of Brazil’s Amazon Basin should necessarily take into account both ecological prerogatives and social needs. Silva is the daughter of a rubber tapper, whose family were close friends with Chico Mendes, all of whom were instrumental in the establishment of ‘Extractable Reserves’ in which the forest, with its rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis) and Brazil nut trees would be protected. Meanwhile, Mary Alegretti, the minister with a special mandate for the Amazon, who also was associated with the Chico Mendes movement, continues in the job she first undertook under the Cardoso administration.
Perhaps, most revealing is the recent government statement ‘on the place of Amazonia in the development of Brazil’. There, undisguised criticism of past policies and their consequences must be seen against a new appraisal of how best the region can serve the long term interests of Brazilians. The old way of measuring success - gross national product (GNP)- is seen for what it is – a brute indicator that gives no idea of wealth distribution nor of environmental degradation. Between 1970 and 1996, the GNP in Brazil’s Legal Amazonia, jumped from US$8.5 billion to $53.5 billion, while the population in the region increased from 7.7 million to 18.7 million, a six-fold increase in ‘wealth’ compared with a 2.4 fold increase in population; but at what cost? In terms of indices of ‘human development’, all the Amazonian states had a much poorer showing than was found in the rest of the country, with a large proportion of the local population earning less than the minimal wage. All that can mean only one thing: the wealth generated in Brazil’s Amazonia had mostly been exported at the expense of the environment and people.
Avança Brasil to date has been concerned almost exclusively with establishing the infrastructure for the export of millions of tonnes of soya, as well as of minerals and wood. Through a mixture of private and public investment, the plan envisaged as much as US$228 billions being spent over 8 years, which would lead, according to INPA, the Institute of Amazonian Research, to a rate of forest clearing of between 269,000 and 506,000 hectares per year up until 2020. This ‘additional’ deforestation would give rise to an increase in carbon greenhouse gas emissions from 52.2 millions of tonnes a year to 98.2 million, equivalent to an annual cost of up to US$2 billion. Lula’s report claims that all that investment, plus its environmental costs, will result in few local benefits and in poor social participation.
Electricity projects of the past, such as the Tucuruí and Balbina hydroelectric schemes, come under heavy criticism for their failure to meet with expectations, while having a disastrous impact on the surroundings. Balbina, for instance, despite causing the flooding and destruction of around 3,000 square kilometres of forest is incapable of meeting the electricity needs of nearby Manaus during dry summer seasons. Far from being benign sources of energy with regard to carbon emissions, such hydroelectric plants bring about the release over their lifetimes of at least as much carbon greenhouse gases as from a coal-fired plant generating the same amount of electricity.
In essence, Lula and his ministers are using their mandate for social reform in Brazil to give Amazonia something of a breathing space. Nonetheless, the pressures for making a quick buck are ever present, thereby creating something of a schizophrenic situation. A few months back, a delegation from the Mato Grosso visited Europe to inform on new initiatives to regulate and curb deforestation in Amazonia’s most southern state. According to officials, the legislation, ‘Environmental Licensing System on Rural Properties’ brought the rate of deforestation down in the State by one-third in its first year. That achievement resulted from focussing on large rural enterprises - above 500 hectares - which, although accounting for less than 10 per cent of the total number of rural properties, have been responsible for over 85 per cent of total deforestation. The claim is that other benefits have resulted, such as a better partnership between government and civil society, more government revenue and of tying environmental concerns in with development agendas.
But how does all that square with 2002 being one of the worst years for forest destruction, and particularly in Mato Grosso? Some of the answers may lie with the governor of Mato Grosso, Blairo Maggi, who is one of the world’s biggest soya producers. He, it seems unilaterally, has been offering land at dirt-cheap prices to US farmers. Earlier this year, he told a visiting delegation from the American Soya Association that only 5 per cent of ‘agricultural land’ in the State was currently being used. He was looking to 40 per cent of that land being developed over the next few years.
Some farmers have taken up the offer of land at US$20 per hectare in the North of the State, compared with $300 in Goias and $1,215 in the United States. Three years ago, Douglas Ferrell bought 10,000 hectares. He has started cutting back the forest. “This year, (2002)” he said, “we cleared 500 hectares and we will open up a further 500 hectares next year.”
Current legislation in Brazil demands that rainforest deforestation must first be authorized by IBAMA, the Ministry of the Environment. Just how the governor’s plans to expand the agricultural base in Mato Grosso will comply with government jurisdiction on environmental grounds remains to be seen.
We will have to see how environmental protection of Amazonia will fare in a region where frontier politics have so far largely held sway. It took just 13 years for more than half of all the forests to be eradicated in Southern Pará. In recent years, a similar process of deforestation and degradation has been taking place in other States of Amazonia, such as Rondonia. There will need to be some dramatic changes in the rate of deforestation if we are going to see significant reductions from the tally of more than 2 million hectares a year of forest destruction over the Legal Amazon of Brazil.
The Institute of Science in Society
Science Society Sustainability http://www.i-sis.org.uk
https://www.presidencia.gov.br/
Photo of President Lula courtesy of Brazilian Presidency:
https://www.presidencia.gov.br/
Please also see:
"Slaughter" of the corn people:
http://www.indiancountry.com/?1064252640
'IMF Go To Hell'The People of Argentina have tried the IMF approach; Now they want it their way, by Naomi Klein
http://www.commondreams.org/views02/0316-01
Now on the WTO website:
MEMBERS VOICE STRONG SUPPORT FOR HONDURAS' REFORM PROGRAMME
WTO members, in concluding their first trade policy review of Honduras on
1 October 2003, expressed strong support for the country's ongoing
economic and institutional efforts, including trade and investment
liberalization. They were heartened by Honduras' statement that it sees
closer integration in the world economy as a development tool.
Press release: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp219_e.htm
(Click on the links or copy and paste them into your browser.
Alternatively, you can go to our home page http://www.wto.org and follow
the links.)
TIP: When pages are newly published you might at first have difficulty
viewing them. Try clicking your browser's reload or refresh button. If
that still does not work, try again a bit later.
-------------------------------------
LES MEMBRES EXPRIMENT UN FORT SOUTIEN AU PROGRAMME DE RÉFORMES DU HONDURAS
Les Membres de l'OMC, lors de la conclusion de leur premier examen des
politiques commerciales du Honduras, le 1er octobre 2003, ont exprimé un
fort soutien aux efforts économiques et institutionnels mis en oeuvre par
le pays, y compris en matière de libéralisation des échanges et de
l'investissement. Ils ont trouvé encourageant la déclaration du Honduras
pour qui une plus grande intégration dans l'économie mondiale constitue un
instrument de développement.
Communiqué de presse:
http://www.wto.org/french/tratop_f/tpr_f/tp219_f.htm
(Cliquez sur les liens ou copiez-les sur votre navigateur. Autre
possibilité, vous pouvez aller à la page d'accueil (http://www.wto.org) et
suivre les liens.)
UNE SUGGESTION: Il se peut que vous ayez quelque difficulté à visualiser
des pages qui viennent d'être publiées. Cliquez sur le bouton "Recharger"
ou "Rafraîchir" de votre navigateur. Si le problème persiste, essayez à
nouveau après un petit moment.
-------------------------------------
LOS MIEMBROS EXPRESAN SU FIRME APOYO AL PROGRAMA DE REFORMAS DE HONDURAS
Los Miembros de la OMC, al concluir su primer examen de las políticas
comerciales de Honduras el 1° de octubre de 2003, expresaron su firme
apoyo a los esfuerzos económicos e institucionales en curso en el país,
incluida la liberalización del comercio y las inversiones. Les resultó
alentadora la declaración de Honduras en el sentido de que considera que
una mayor integración en la economía mundial es una herramienta de
desarrollo.
Comunicado de prensa:
http://www.wto.org/spanish/tratop_s/tpr_s/tp219_s.htm
(Haga clic en los enlaces o cópielos y péguelos a su explorador. Como
alternativa, puede ir a la portada http://www.wto.org y seguir los
enlaces.)
CONSEJO PRÁCTICO: Cuando las páginas están recién publicadas, puede ser
que al principio tenga dificultad para visualizarlas. Intente hacer clic
en el botón de refrescar y recargar de su explorador. Si esto no diera
resultado, intente de nuevo un poco más tarde.
World Trade Organization
Rue de Lausanne 154
CH-1211 Geneva 21,
Switzerland
Website: http://www.wto.org