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Dear friends,
As a proud Brazilian, I’m burning with shame. Often with the blessing of far-right President Bolsonaro,
gangs of illegal farmers are burning down swathes of the Amazon rainforest. Many indigenous people standing in their way have been murdered.
We have to stop this insanity. And we can.
President Bolsonaro is desperate to close a multimillion-dollar trade deal with the European Union, but with the forest ablaze, EU leaders are considering last-minute changes to build Amazon protections into the deal.
This would force Brazil to clean up its act to trade with some of the world’s biggest economies.
Let’s not leave the Amazon to burn -- add your name to call for Europe to act, and when this is huge, we’ll launch opinion polls and deliver our voices to key decision makers and the media:
Tell the EU: Don't let the Amazon burn!
Already
major investors and pension funds are threatening to pull out billions from Brazil unless there is real action to combat the destruction of the Amazon. Even Brazilian bankers, leading businesses, and former finance ministers are joining calls to defend the forest.
But Bolsonaro’s eyes are squarely on the trade deal. Many Brazilians like me believe that he needs to
hear a simple message from Europe: no Amazon protection, no deal. If Europe stands strong, it would be a gamechanger!
As recent studies confirm, the EU is part of the problem -- as large quantities of the soy and beef imported from Brazil may be coming from land that has been illegally deforested. But now it can and must be part of the solution.
Germany, France, The Netherlands, and Belgium have already voiced concerns about Brazil’s Amazon destruction. Let’s
show they have massive public support to block the deal if necessary -- add your name while we still have time.
Tell the EU: Don't let the Amazon burn!
I am so proud of our global community, and how we have showed up, time and again, joining hands with Brazilian Avaazers to defend our country’s rainforests, and more recently to provide food and vital healthcare materials to indigenous communities on the frontlines. Let's not give up! The Amazon and its people need us more than ever.
With hope and determination,
Diego, Laura, Luis, Patri, Spyro, Ana Sofia, Aloys and the whole Avaaz team
MORE INFORMATION:
Amazon tragedy repeats itself as Brazil rainforest goes up in smoke (The Guardian)
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/02/amazon-fires-brazil-rainforest-bolsonaro-destructionEurope Can Help Us Save the Amazon (Human Rights Watch)
https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/07/31/europe-can-help-us-save-amazonMerkel: Amazon deforestation threatens EU-Mercosur deal (Deutsche Welle)
https://www.dw.com/en/merkel-amazon-deforestation-threatens-eu-mercosur-deal/a-54651194Mercosur accord contradicts EU Green Deal and fails to protect communities, study says (Irish Times)
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/mercosur-accord-contradicts-eu-green-deal-and-fails-to-protect-communities-study-says-1.4350923A fifth of Brazilian soy in Europe is result of deforestation (The Guardian)
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/16/a-fifth-of-brazilian-soy-in-europe-is-result-of-deforestation-amazon-jair-bolsonaro
