The meeting between Edouard Philippe and Indian leader Raoni takes "a form of cynicism" and "obscenity", said Monday David Cormand, MEP and National Secretary of Europe Ecology-The Greens.
"There is a form of cynicism and even, I would say, obscenity in showing his closeness to Chief Raoni to enhance himself, and at the same time, as Prime Minister, not to interrupt the policies of destruction of the Amazon that Raoni is fighting against, "said the elected ecologist on RFI. Chief Raoni, figure of the defense of the Amazon rainforest in which lives the tribe he leads, was on Saturday the surprise guest of the returning campus of La Republique en marche, in Bordeaux, where he met Prime Minister Edouard Philippe.
The "contradictions" of a government that "supports mining projects"
"We give ourselves a good conscience by making beautiful pictures with the chef Raoni," said David Cormand, pointing out the "contradictions" of a government that "supports, including in Guyana, mining projects." "We must look at our responsibility in the face," added the environmental leader, saying that "it is the Western countries who are also responsible for the destruction of the Amazon" benefiting from the international economic model denounced by environmentalists as the cause of the -this.
Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest almost doubled between 2019 and 2018, affecting an additional 6.404.4 km² between January and August, against 3.336.7 km² over the same period a year earlier, according to official data. Specialists and conservationists explain this increase in deforestation by pressure from foresters and pastoralists encouraged by the support of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro to open indigenous reserves and protected areas to develop these activities as well as mining prospecting.