NGOs Call Decisions of Brazil’s Biological Diversity Convention Illegitimate

Members of NGOs at the 8th Conference of the Parties to the Biological Diversity Convention (COP-8), being held in Brazil, complain that their participation has been minimal.

There are 3,600 delegates from 173 countries at the conference. Brazil has a delegation of 160 people, of which 73 are representatives of civil associations.

Everyone can present opinions and observations, but the actual negotiations take place within a very restricted group of people. In the case of Brazil, eleven diplomats are the country’s official representatives.

"The structure of the COP is hegemonic, favoring the interests of capital and people who see natural resources as marketplace goods for private use," sentences Roberto Baggio, a coordinator of the Via Campesina, an international alliance in favor of land reform.

"Civil society and the people are not represented. And for that reason, the decisions made here are not legitimate."

Meanwhile, Grace Dalla Pria, an environmental analyst at the National Industrial Confederation, called the participation of the Brazilian farm sector "timid."

"It is not easy to get a businessman to participate in a discussion of the environment that goes on for ten days. The industrial sector should be more engaged in this debate.

We are present in domestic forums, such as the National Environmental Council (Conama [Conselho Nacional de Meio Ambiente]), the National Biodiversity Council (Conabio [Conselho Nacional de Biodiversidade]), the Genetic Property Management Council (CGEN [Conselho de Gestão de Patrimônio Genético]) and the National Forest Council (Conaflor [Conselho Nacional de Florestas])."

ABr

Tags:

You May Also Like

Picasso, Matisse, Dali and Monet Stolen at Gunpoint in Brazil

Four armed men entered the Chácara do Céu Museum, in the Santa Teresa district ...

In Brazil, Where 70% of Computers Are Pirated, Piracy Is the Rule

It is estimated that out of every 100 computers in use in Brazil, 70 ...

Stirred Up by Venezuela Brazil Is Outspending Everyone in Arms Race

Latin America former political leaders and security experts, several of them, expressed concern over ...

Lower than Expected Inflation in the Horizon for Brazil

Latin American shares moved in different directions today, with Brazil trending lower and Mexico ...

Brazilians Betting China’s Growth Will Help Brazil

Brazilian exports will be favored by the increase in prices of some of the ...

By the Book

Fearless in his cultural pursuit, this intellectual dared to publish Karl Marx in the ...

Brazil’s Coffee Growers Want More Federal Help

Coffee prices improved 21.41% this year in relation to 2004, but it was still ...

Brazil and Mercosur Prepare Summit Under Chavez Cloud

Foreign Affairs and Economy ministers from Mercosur met Friday, October 26, in Montevideo, capital ...

Lula Ridicules Free Market and Sees Self as Don Quixote Amid Cassandras

Commenting on the international economic crisis during a trip to Rio, Brazilian president Luiz ...

Brazil Gypsies Want a Birth Certificate for Starters

Gypsies form a group which is little known but present in the imagination of ...