London (AFP)
Nearly forty distributors, companies and mainly European federations threaten Brazil to boycott its agricultural products if it does not withdraw an agrarian reform project which, according to them, risks accelerating the deforestation of the Amazon, in a letter released on Wednesday.
Supermarket chains like the German Aldi, the British Asda, Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury's or Morrisons, the Swiss Migros are worried about a bill which provides for the privatization of land and "threatens the Amazon like never before", which was the subject of "forest fires and deforestation at extremely high levels" last year.
This letter addressed to Brazilian parliamentarians, also signed by the British fast-food chain Greggs, professional federations or the financial companies Skandia and Legal and General, notes that "the objectives to reduce the levels of" deforestation "and the budgets to do so. to achieve are increasingly inadequate ".
She emphasizes that "the Amazon is a vital part of the Earth system (...) essential for the security of our planet while representing a vital element of a prosperous future for Brazilians and all of society".
The signatory groups note that the "existing protections in Brazilian legislation have been decisive for our organizations" which have faith in the fact that their products, services and investments in Brazil "are in line with our environmental and social commitments".
"Our door remains open for our Brazilian partners" to achieve "sustainable land management and agriculture" which preserves economic development and the rights of indigenous peoples, but "without endangering" ecosystems "essential for the health of the world".
They conclude that if these measures become law, "we will have no choice but to reconsider our use of the Brazilian agricultural supply chain" and urge the government to "reconsider this legislative proposal".
Deforestation destroyed 8,426 km2 of Amazon jungle in Brazil in 2020.
The number of fires had also increased by 61% in September 2020 compared to the same month of 2019.
In January the chief Raoni Matuktire, emblematic defender of the Amazon rainforest, asked the International Criminal Court to investigate for "crimes against humanity" against Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, accused of "persecuting" indigenous peoples by destroying their land. habitat and violating their fundamental rights.
© 2021 AFP