With Salles, the government signed 721 measures that impact the environment in one year
With Salles, the government signed 721 measures that impact the environment in one year
Of the many shocking phrases uttered at that memorable April 22 ministerial meeting of last year, one has earned a definite place in the pantheon of national shame. At a time when Brazil was struggling with the pandemic crisis, the Minister of the Environment, Ricardo Salles, saw an opportunity. “It is to pass the infra-legal reforms of deregulation, simplification… While we are in this moment of tranquility, because only talking about Covid and passing the cattle… To change the whole rules.”
A lot of water has rolled under that bridge in this one year. Characters from that meeting were driven out of the government, others ended up being denied by the facts or did not deliver what they promised. The scandal of the then-minister Sergio Moro’s accusations of interference by Jair Bolsonaro in the Federal Police, reason for the release of the entire meeting by the Federal Supreme Court, remained muffled. Only one prediction prospered. “Passing the cattle” has become a government trademark, a symbol of “everything that is there”. And one of the few threats carried out in Brasília. In the last 12 months, Salles, the real “superminister”, has in fact passed the herd. There were 721 measurements. Altogether, there are 76 institutional reforms, 36 privatization measures, 36 revisions of rules, 34 of flexibilization, 22 of deregulation and 20 repeals, according to the Politician Forever monitor. According to the monitor, the numbers refer to norms issued by different federal government agencies that are relevant to the Brazilian climate and environment policy.
The dismantling of inspections, budgets and regulations in the environmental area resulted, among others, in a 216% increase in deforestation, which reached the record mark of 810 square kilometers, the advance of mining on indigenous lands and a 12% increase at fire spots. A devastation encouraged by the military settled in positions of trust in the sector previously destined to technicians. A survey obtained exclusively for details the catastrophic effects of Salles interference. Prepared by the National Association of Environmental Career Servants (Ascema), the document entitled “Dossier: A Tragedy Announced” will be delivered in the coming days to the presidents of the other powers of the Republic and to representatives of the US embassy, as a way of expose the government’s environmental crimes to Brazilian society and the world. “The Amazon is under orchestrated attack by illegal miners, squatters, loggers and ranchers, often coordinated or supported by local, state and national political figures and organizations”, highlights the document, whose first version was sent to Pope Francis at the end last year.
With Salles, the government signed 721 measures that impact the environment in one year
Of the many shocking phrases uttered at that memorable April 22 ministerial meeting of last year, one has earned a definite place in the pantheon of national shame. At a time when Brazil was struggling with the pandemic crisis, the Minister of the Environment, Ricardo Salles, saw an opportunity. “It is to pass the infra-legal reforms of deregulation, simplification… While we are in this moment of tranquility, because only talking about Covid and passing the cattle… To change the whole rules.”
A lot of water has rolled under that bridge in this one year. Characters from that meeting were driven out of the government, others ended up being denied by the facts or did not deliver what they promised. The scandal of the then-minister Sergio Moro’s accusations of interference by Jair Bolsonaro in the Federal Police, reason for the release of the entire meeting by the Federal Supreme Court, remained muffled. Only one prediction prospered. “Passing the cattle” has become a government trademark, a symbol of “everything that is there”. And one of the few threats carried out in Brasília. In the last 12 months, Salles, the real “superminister”, has in fact passed the herd. There were 721 measurements. Altogether, there are 76 institutional reforms, 36 privatization measures, 36 revisions of rules, 34 of flexibilization, 22 of deregulation and 20 repeals, according to the Politician Forever monitor. According to the monitor, the numbers refer to norms issued by different federal government agencies that are relevant to the Brazilian climate and environment policy.
The dismantling of inspections, budgets and regulations in the environmental area resulted, among others, in a 216% increase in deforestation, which reached the record mark of 810 square kilometers, the advance of mining on indigenous lands and a 12% increase at fire spots. A devastation encouraged by the military settled in positions of trust in the sector previously destined to technicians. A survey obtained exclusively for details the catastrophic effects of Salles interference. Prepared by the National Association of Environmental Career Servants (Ascema), the document entitled “Dossier: A Tragedy Announced” will be delivered in the coming days to the presidents of the other powers of the Republic and to representatives of the US embassy, as a way of expose the government’s environmental crimes to Brazilian society and the world. “The Amazon is under orchestrated attack by illegal miners, squatters, loggers and ranchers, often coordinated or supported by local, state and national political figures and organizations”, highlights the document, whose first version was sent to Pope Francis at the end last year.