Brazilian environment minister says G7 aid for Amazon welcome as Bolsonaro attacks Macron

Record ID: 1428662

  • Title: Brazilian environment minister says G7 aid for Amazon welcome as Bolsonaro attacks Macron
  • Date: 26th August 2019
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) BRAZILIAN ENVIRONMENT MINISTER, RICARDO SALLES, SAYING: "So, it's a a series of irrational and demagogic, ideologized, unbalanced public policies (from prior governments) that add up to a sum that doesn't pan out. It was no different with the issue of the moment: the Amazon. The vision of an economy based on the biodiversity of our Amazon that needs to be and should be preserved - in that sense, the stance of the Bolsonaro government is absolutely laudable, to be applauded, who was the first to decree the application of the law of order of environmental vision to protect the Amazon, to protect the forest, who's deforestation has been increasing since 2012." SALLES DURING EVENT (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) BRAZILIAN ENVIRONMENT MINISTER, RICARDO SALLES, SAYING: "It wasn't the Bolsonaro government that allowed mining in the Amazon for example. The estimated 850 illegal prospectors have been there for 20, 30 years. So, when various former environment ministers criticize, well, it occurred under their governments, too. The illegal forest exploitation occurred, or did that all start on January 01, 2019 (Bolsonaro's inauguration) like some want you to believe?" (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese - loose translation) BRAZILIAN ENVIRONMENT MINISTER, RICARDO SALLES, SAYING: "[JOURNALIST ASKS QUESTION ABOUT AID FROM G7 NATIONS TO HELP FIGHT FIRES] I think that's an excellent measure, it is very welcome. And, I'll take the chance to also remind you that since 2005 Brazil has close to 250 million tons of carbon gas [inaudible] to receive."
  • Embargoed: 9th September 2019 16:36
  • Keywords: insult Brazil Ricardo Salles President Jair Bolsonaro Emmanuel Macron deforestation environment minister attack wildfires Amazon
  • Location: SAO PAULO & BRASILIA, BRAZIL / INTERNET
  • City: SAO PAULO & BRASILIA, BRAZIL / INTERNET
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: Government/Politics,Editors' Choice
  • Reuters ID: LVA002ATUW0G7
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Brazilian Environment Minister Ricardo Salles told reporters in São Paulo on Monday (August 26) that financial aid to help fight fires in the Amazon rainforest from the group of G7 nations is welcome.
    Speaking at an event hosted by Brazil's real estate group Secovi, Salles also said that "a series of irrational and demagogic public policies" from previous governments were to blame for the forest fires.
    Meanwhile, in Brasilia, President Jair Bolsonaro expressed scepticism of the idea of creating an international alliance to save the Amazon rainforest. "Why do they have their eye on the Amazon? What do they want there?" he said.
    On Twitter, Bolsonaro also questioned the intentions behind French President Emmanuel Macron's attempts to garner support for an international action plan to help preserve the Amazon calling it an attack on the country's sovereignty.
    Bolsonaro also addressed his reelection chances, saying "I'm not worried about my reelection."
    Bolsonaro's government saw its approval rating plunge to 29.4% from a previous level of 39% in February, according to a poll by CNT/MDA on Monday.
    The poll, which also saw Bolsonaro's personal disapproval rating surge to 53.7% from 28.2%, was conducted between Aug. 22 and Aug. 25.
    (Production: Daniel Vorley, Patrick Alwine)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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