Brazilian Environment Minister Resigns

CHEN:
Over to Brazil where Marina Silva, Brazil's environment minister, has resigned. This could be a setback for the country's rainforests—many think the president is more concerned with economic development than conservation.

STORY:
She is known by many as the environment's guardian angel but Marina Silva has given up her ministerial fight to protect Brazil's rain forests.
The champion of the green movement has quit her post as Environment Minister. She says it's become too difficult to do her job.

Her decision has reinforced fears that Brazil's President is more interested in economic development than conservation. He said he regretted her decision.

[Luiz Inacio Da Silva, President of Brazil]:
"I'm obviously sad, because she was a friend who was one of the most qualified people on earth to speak about environmental issues."

The Amazon basin covers half of Brazil. It holds a fifth of the world's fresh water and 15 per cent of the earth's plant and animal species.

But illegal logging and mining are rife and vast areas are also felled legally. An area the size of the United States has disappeared in recent years.
And there's no end in sight.

Brazilian commodities such as soybeans are in demand around the world and farmers are keen to cash in. They've welcomed Silva's resignation.
Two hydro-electric plants in the forest and a new road through it have also been given the go ahead.

The former rubber-tapper turned politician can't take any more. Environmentalists say neither can the rain forest.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

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• ntdtv
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• Brazil
• Environment
• minister
• Silva
• economic
• conservation
• rain
• forests
• green
• movement

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