Dear friends across Brazil,
Days ago, Congress passed a catastrophic forestry bill that gives loggers and farmers free rein to cut down huge swaths of our precious forests, from the Amazon to the Atlantic. Now only President Dilma can stop it.
Timing is on our side -- in weeks Dilma will host the world’s biggest environmental summit and insiders say she cannot afford to be pinned as the leader who approved the devastation of the Amazon. Dozens have been murdered for standing against deforestation. Now it's up to us to turn up the heat and push her to veto.
Dilma will make her decision in the next 24 hours! Let's get her to veto the bill. Click below to sign the urgent petition to stop the Amazon chainsaw massacre and if you have already signed -- send this to everyone:
Over the last decade, Brazil has succeeded in vastly reducing deforestation rates, achieving a 78% reduction between 2004 and 2011. The reason? A world-acclaimed forestry law, strong enforcement and satellite monitoring. But this dangerous new code threatens to unravel this progress and spark total forest devastation.
The forest slayers are celebrating -- not only does this new law open up an area the size of France and Britain combined to clear-cutting devastation, it also gives them amnesty for all past deforestation crimes.
Dilma has said that she wants to strike a “compromise” between the pro-deforestation lobby and the environmental champions. But we know a compromise is not necessary -- in Brazil, economic development and the protection of our environment go hand in hand. Studies confirm that the impressive transformation of Brazilian agriculture is strongly based on productivity gains more than land area expansion. While in Russia, lenient forest protection has led to disastrous consequences -- with a huge increase in forest fires and a 20% reduction in the country’s wheat production.
79% of us across the country reject this new forest law -- let’s make sure we are heard before it is too late. Sign now the petition to Dilma to veto now and then forward this email to everyone:
In the last 3 years, Brazilian Avaaz members have taken massive leaps towards the world we all want: we helped pass Ficha Limpa against all odds and have lobbied our government to play a leadership role at the UN, protect human rights globally and intervene to support democracy in the Middle East. Now, again, it's up to us to preserve our most cherished natural treasures for the benefit of our children and our grandchildren.
With hope and determination,
Luis, Pedro, Diego, Alice, Ricken, Maria Paz and the rest of the Avaaz team.
MORE INFORMATION:
Brazil's Congress approves controversial forest law (BBC)
Brazil Forest Code Passes In Defeat For Dilma Rousseff (Huffington Post)
Revised Brazilian Forest Code good for environmental criminals, bad for forests (IB Times)
Amazon deforestation record low (BBC)
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