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LATIN AMERICA |
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Greenpeace
Urges Brazilian Government To Set Zero
Deforestation Goal
RIO DE JANEIRO - Some Greenpeace activists
protested in front of the Brazilian
government headquarters on Tuesday,
demanding Brazil present a zero
deforestation proposal at the upcoming
United Nations' Climate Change Conference in
Copenhagen.
The activists called on Brazilian President
Luiz Inacio Lula daSilva to present a
concrete proposal for tackling the impact of
global warming at the UN conference.
"Greenpeace came here to demand from the
Brazilian government an active stance in the
fight against climate changes. We want zero
deforestation, renewable energy and
protection of the oceans," said Joao
Talocchi, Greenpeace's climate campaigner.
Brazil should reduce its carbon emissions as
well, he added.
According to Talocchi, the first step is to
set a goal of zero deforestation in the
Amazon rainforest region by 2015. His
proposal is much tougher than the Brazilian
government's, which foresees an 80 percent
deforestation reduction by 2020.
The government's plan, which is considered
bold and praised by several world leaders,
is deemed insufficient by Greenpeace, as it
leaves room for over 1.5 billion trees to be
cut down in the next decade.
"Brazil cannot allow 5,000 hectares of
forest to be destroyed every year," Talocchi
said .
When the Greenpeace activists protested,
President Lula was discussing with his
ministers the proposal to be presented in
Copenhagen. A government official met with
the protesters, and promised that their
proposals would be sent to the president.
Greenpeace is a non-governmental
organization for the protection and
conservation of the environment. |
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