Hi John,

The devastating fires in the Amazon have been burning for over two months, ripping through irreplaceable habitat and destroying the lands where Indigenous people have lived for generations. Brazilian President Bolsonaro is fanning the flames with his vicious rhetoric and gutting of environmental protections. This opens the door to the destruction of forest land for cattle ranching and animal feed. [1]

Will you sign the petition telling the UK government to suspend trade talks with Brazil until the Amazon and its people are protected?

While the Amazon is in flames, the UK government is busy exploring a trade deal with Brazil. And Bolsonaro has sent his Environment Minister, Ricardo Salles, on a trip to Europe to reassure politicians and business. Right now he’s in the UK and his meeting yesterday with Environment Minister, Theresa Villiers, was marked by protests.

With the future of our planet at risk, the UK should not be discussing trade with Bolsonaro’s government. Not until the Amazon and its people are protected. How the UK government decides to handle trade talks with Brazil is a key test of whether they are actually prepared to stand up for environmental and human rights.

Since taking office in January, the Bolsonaro government has systematically attacked and undermined the agencies responsible for monitoring and implementing environmental safeguards. [2] At the same time, Bolsonaro’s inflammatory rhetoric encourages more people to clear forests, and threatens Indigenous and local communities.

If Boris Johnson really is "deeply concerned by the increase in fires in the Amazon", as he has suggested, the UK government should suspend trade talks with Brazil until the Amazon and its people are protected. [3]

The UK government should take this opportunity to carve out a positive vision for Britain, and use its leverage to protect Brazil's forests and stand up for human rights.

This must start with suspending trade talks with Brazil while the Amazon is still burning.

We need more people to sign the petition so the government continues to feel the pressure.

Thanks for all you do,

James and the forests team.

Notes:

1. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-brazil-environment-wildfire-investiga/day-of-fire-blazes-ignite-suspicion-in-amazon-town-idUKKCN1VW1N9
2. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-brazil-environment-ibama-exclusive/exclusive-as-fires-race-through-amazon-brazils-bolsonaro-weakens-environment-agency-idUSKCN1VI14I
3. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/23/boris-johnson-deeply-concerned-by-fires-raging-in-the-amazon

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