22 March 2010 | Interviews | Resisting neoliberalism | Forests and biodiversity
Let´s Dialogue
Friends of the Earth Brazil at the 3rd Forum Social Missões
2:31 minutes
Download: MP3 (1.7 Mb)
With the aim to warn on the impacts of tree monoculture plantations and dams on biodiversity, culture and territories of the peoples, Nucleo Friends of the Earth Brazil (NAT) held on Friday a three-hour workshop at the 3rd Forum Social das Missoes, in Santo Angelo, Rio Grande do Sul State.
The activity was divided in two sections called “Cellulose in the Southern Cone: reconfiguration of the sector and impacts on the territory” and “From Belo Monte to dams on the Uruguay River: energy for the developmentalist delusion and the business of climate”. In addition to the members of NAT, representatives from Friends of the Earth Argentina and REDES-Friends of the Earth Uruguay spoke at the workshop.
Real World Radio was present in the activity and interviewed Fernando Campos, from the Brazilian group.
The activist highlighted the importance for NAT to be present at the Forum, which came to an end on Saturday and is part of the World Social Forum process. He said that the event opened new possibilities to dialogue with representatives of the Workers´ party, currently in office. He also said that NAT supports the process of the World Social Forum and considers it a space for political building and exchange.
With reference to forestry companies, Campos said that when the origin of these companies is analyzed, one can find links with the colonization period of Latin America. It is crucial that the population is aware of these links, as well as the strengthening of the resistance in the territories.
He also regretted the development of huge energy projects in Brazil. “If we take a look at the Energy Plan of the country, it includes over 200 medium and big hydroelectric dams and 50 nuclear plants by 2050”, he said.
Nevertheless, he supports the dialogue with the government with reference with the political situation before the elections in Brazil and the role played by social movements. He said that “it is extremely important to open a process of dialogue now. It is important that the social and environmental movements have a way to dialogue with the left-wing government”.
Campos explained: “we have to make clear that we have worked to build this government, we helped Brazilian people to accept a left-wing government in Brazil, after all the campaign carried out by the right-wing criminalizing social movements”.
