Brazil Says More Heads Might Be Cut Due to Amazon Logging Scandal

Brazil’s Minister of Environment, Marina Silva, said, yesterday, that combatting deforestation in the Amazon is an absolute priority of the Ibama (Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources).

This, in spite of accusations of involvement by members of the organ in illicit logging activities.


Silva took part in the commemorations of World Environment Day in Brasí­lia’s City Park.


In her speech, when she referred to corruption in the sector, brought to light by the Federal Police and the Public Interest Defense Ministry in Operation Curupira, she affirmed that she will not yield in this fight and will cut off as many heads as necessary.


Applauded by the crowd attending the commemorations in the park, the Minister said that the operation began with a decision by the Ministry of Environment itself.


The investigations started in 2003, when it was suspected the existence of an internal scheme of corruption, which, according to the enquiry, has been functioning for 14 years.


The scheme is thought to have been in large part responsible for the increasing deforestation that has left the Amazon in a “lamentable state.” According to Silva, 40 career civil servants have already been suspended.


ABr

Tags:

You May Also Like

Japan Premier Koisumi Wants Brazil as World Partner

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met today with the Prime Minister of ...

Domestic Air Travel Up 18% in Brazil

The number of passenger arrivals in national flights last year was of 43,130,559, an ...

Brazil Bank to Finance All Concerning Biodiesel

Brazil’s National Economic and Social Development Bank (BNDES) announced the creation of the Program ...

So, This Is Lula?

Everything Lula has done confirms his intention to live with the free market reforms ...

A Brazilian Model to Fight Poverty and Pollution at the Same Time

Cascata, a 587-hectare settlement run by the Brazilian land reform institute (Instituto Nacional de ...

Denying Education is the Other AIDS. And Brazil Is Guilty of Inflicting It

Some sectors of the fight against AIDS have suggested that Thabo Mbeki, the former ...

New York’s One-Million Crowd Celebrates Brazil

In 1984, near 46th Street, known as the street of the Brazilians in New ...

Frontpage of Folha de S. Paulo shows damage from Israeli air attack in Lebanon

A View from Brazil: Israeli Attacks Are a Crime Against Humankind and Democracy

Another Brazilian Air Force jet reaches the homeland carrying wearied vacationers turned war refugees. ...

Brazil Reaches Oil Self-Sufficiency by Year’s End

Brazilian petroleum output should be enough by the end of 2005 to meet the ...

Brazil Believes Tax Cut Will Give Big Boost to Information Technology

Brazil is expecting to almost double its investments in the information technology sector. That ...